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- Rockefeller Name Enters Dubai Property Market; Saudi Women’s Football Expands; Vault Founder Backs the Long Game
Rockefeller Name Enters Dubai Property Market; Saudi Women’s Football Expands; Vault Founder Backs the Long Game
AI, tech, startup and business stories from the Arab world. For the driven, the dreamers and the doers
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Happy Sunday everyone!
From New York to Dubai, the Rockefeller name is entering the emirate’s property market with a 400-metre commercial tower on Sheikh Zayed Road, marking the brand’s global real estate debut. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is building a professional women’s football industry, with rising investment, international talent and growing prize money under Vision 2030. And in our featured interview, Vault Wealth founder Bilal Abou-Diab shares his perspective on wealth management, investment strategies and the importance of building a portfolio for the long term.
Markets
EGX30 | 51,052.26 | Closed |
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ADX | 9,588.41 | Closed |
Tadawul | 9,695.86 | Closed |
Saudi Arabia Invests in Women’s Football as Professional League Expands
🔹 What Is It About
Eight years ago, Saudi women could not attend football matches. Today, they are playing professionally. In 2017, footballer Bayan Sadagah and her teammates established the Jeddah Eagles, an amateur club born from their struggle to find somewhere to play. Today, Sadagah represents Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Women’s Premier League, launched in 2022. The league now has over 1,000 licensed coaches, while nearly 50,000 girls participate in school football.
🔹 Why It Matters
What began as a grassroots movement is becoming a professional industry under Saudi Vision 2030. Clubs are investing in local talent, infrastructure and international recruitment, with reported annual packages for some foreign players reaching $120,000. Prize money is also increasing. Al-Nassr earned SAR 2 million ($531,000) for winning the 2025–26 championship, four times the inaugural season award. The expansion creates opportunities for players, coaches and commercial partners.
🔹 What’s Next
The challenge is turning participation into sustainable business growth. Attendance remains low, despite rising investment and international recruitment. Clubs must develop loyal audiences, attract sponsors and expand revenue beyond government backing. For players like Sadagah, however, the transformation is already remarkable: a generation that once struggled to find a football pitch now has a professional league and a national team.
RAKIS 2026 Set for November 11–12
Less than a month remains until RAKIS 2026 brings investors, developers, government leaders and business executives to Ras Al Khaimah.
The summit, taking place on November 11–12 at the RAK Exhibition Centre, will focus on investment opportunities and partnerships across real estate, infrastructure, tourism, technology and sustainable development.
The event aims to connect decision-makers and industry experts to discuss the opportunities shaping the emirate’s next phase of economic growth.
Organisers are inviting delegates to register for a free pass ahead of the event.
Register for your free delegate pass here.
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From New York to Dubai: Rockefeller Name Enters Property Market With 400-Metre Tower
🔹 What Is It About
The Rockefeller name is entering Dubai’s property market with a 400-metre, 87-storey commercial tower on Sheikh Zayed Road. Developed by LMD in partnership with Christian A. Rockefeller, a sixth-generation descendant of the American business dynasty, the project marks the brand’s first real estate development worldwide. Scheduled for completion in Q2 2031, it is expected to become Dubai’s tallest commercial tower.
🔹 Why It Matters
The Rockefeller family helped shape American business through John D. Rockefeller, who founded Standard Oil in 1870 and became one of history’s wealthiest industrialists. The family also left a lasting architectural legacy in New York through Rockefeller Center, the landmark Manhattan development financed by John D. Rockefeller Jr. during the Great Depression. The Dubai project draws on that association with business and urban development, introducing hospitality-led offices with wellness facilities, infinity pools, restaurants and corporate lounges.
🔹 What’s Next
The tower is expected to open in 2031, with Devmark leading sales and marketing. Its location near DIFC, Downtown Dubai and Business Bay positions it within a major commercial district. Christian A. Rockefeller said Dubai was selected for its investment environment and long-term outlook. According to Iconique Living Group, the development also marks the beginning of a planned international expansion of the Christian A. Rockefeller brand.
Vault Wealth Founder Bilal Abou-Diab: Why Investors Should Focus on the Long Term
Bilal Abou-Diab, founder of Vault Wealth, an Abu Dhabi-based digital private wealth management platform, has emphasised the importance of long-term investing, diversification and financial planning in preserving wealth amid global market volatility.
Speaking on the Smashi Business Show, Abou-Diab discussed the changing wealth landscape across the UAE, the limitations of traditional banking and the importance of providing investors with independent financial advice.
He highlighted the differences between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, noting that Abu Dhabi is home to major sovereign wealth funds and offers a family-friendly lifestyle, while Dubai attracts investors and entrepreneurs drawn to real estate, trade and its fast-paced business environment. Both cities continue to appeal to affluent expatriates seeking security and a high quality of life.
Abou-Diab said he founded Vault Wealth after observing that traditional banks often prioritise selling financial products over providing genuine advice, leaving high-net-worth individuals underserved. The platform focuses on financial planning, gap analysis and independent advisory services to help clients achieve their long-term financial goals.
Discussing investment strategies, he advocated diversification and a long-term outlook over short-term speculation. While artificial intelligence-related developments and geopolitical tensions can create volatility in global markets, he said company earnings remain a key driver of long-term market growth.
He also highlighted the role of productive assets, including global equities, infrastructure and real estate, in building and preserving wealth, contrasting them with assets such as gold and cryptocurrencies. However, he noted that younger investors may be better positioned to take on higher risks early in their careers.
Addressing regional conflicts, Abou-Diab pointed to the resilience of markets and continued business growth, attributing confidence in the region partly to trust in local leadership.
Looking ahead, Vault Wealth plans to expand into estate planning and contribute to modernising private wealth advisory services globally.
👨💻From Smashi Business’ Desk
Dubai-born fragrance brand KAYALI will enter China on October 15.
Saudi-born dining platform SPICE has ruled out offering cashback on shisha or alcohol at partner restaurants as it keeps its rewards model aligned with Islamic principles.
Uber will invest $50 million in Jordan over the next three years, targeting the country’s mobility ecosystem while supporting economic opportunities, tourism and access.
Dubai Crown Prince HH Sheikh Hamdan just shared his Etihad Rail ticket on Snapchat as Dubai-Abu Dhabi passenger services prepare to launch on September 30.
🔍In other news…
UAE Fintech Ziina Becomes First Homegrown Firm to Hold Three Central Bank Payment Licenses
Jared Kushner Rejects Explosive Vanity Fair Allegations, Dismisses Report as ‘Fantasy and Fiction’
British Billionaire Richard Desmond Overhauls $1.5 Billion Fortune After Relocating to Dubai
Saudi Dairy Giant NADEC Reports 72.5% Drop in Third Quarter Profit Amid Rising Costs
Qatar’s Snoonu Buys US Startup BiteSight to Bring Social Commerce to Gulf Food Delivery
🦄 World of Startups
Echelon: Riyadh AI firm Echelon names East40, RAED Ventures, Avra and Ben Horowitz as backers.
MNT-Halan: MNT-Halan prices its EGX IPO at EGP 24.50 per share, valuing the 20% stake at EGP 7.84 billion.
Project Suppliers: Saudi platform Project Suppliers raises $1 million in pre-seed funding to develop AI cash-flow tools.
MoneyHash × VaultsPay: MoneyHash merchants can now accept VaultsPay’s UAE card and wallet payments without separate integration.
TiE Women MENA: Five startups win regional TiE Women MENA tracks and advance to the GITEX Global final.
Sheraa × Nestlé UAE: Sheraa, Nestlé UAE, MAJRA and UAE Food Cluster launch a three-month programme for young founders.
