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Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
This app changes how UAE can hire musicians, artists, and even magicians
For three decades, Nizar Ahmadi operated in the upper tiers of global finance. Now, he's channeling that operational discipline into a mission that's decidedly human: connecting magicians, DJs, dancers, painters, and performers directly with the people who want to hire them — without commissions or gatekeepers. 'I've been in banking for over 30 years,' he says in a chat with City Times . The itch to build in the arts, though, never left. 'Music and entertainment, since I was a kid, I've been exposed to it through my parents, through friends, which I had loved… And it's always stayed in the back of my mind. And I always wanted to get involved in it. I just didn't know how.' Recommended For You The 'how' arrived after Covid. 'After Covid, when tech came in, the idea came and I actually spent about three, four months just with a blackboard in my room, putting the user journey together,' he said. That idea became MADE — short for Music, Arts, Dance, Entertainment — a Dubai-born platform where creatives can post video showcases, set prices, be vetted for authenticity, and connect with clients in minutes. Ahmadi's frustration with the old discovery model is visceral — those fleeting living-room moments where someone sings beautifully and then, nothing. 'What about the 99 per cent talents that are out there that are unseen?' he asks. The premise of MADE is simple: 'Let's have thousand people looking at the talents that are out there instead of a thousand talents being seen by one or two agents.' That extends to access. 'I needed entertainment to come into everybody's lives," he said. "It's not a rich man's game.' MADE allows a hotel with a tight budget, a restaurant just starting out, or a parent planning a birthday to find talent at transparent prices, fast. 'All they have to do is showcase their talent clearly, where we have to do a bit of vetting to make sure that they do have a talent… It's free for them to showcase their talent and post a free video.' The driver, he adds, is livelihood: 'A person can eat. A person can pay his rent that night and they're exposed.' UAE as a launchpad If MADE's ethos is global, its launchpad is intentionally local. 'UAE is such a melting hub for everybody… it's the best place to come in because entertainment is growing,' Ahmadi says, noting government-backed cultural momentum and an events calendar that needs talent at every price tier. 'We've launched four or five months ago. We've gotten a couple of thousand talents to begin with.' Early on, the team nudged creators to raise their presentation game: 'We had to filter some and clean up some posts and send them messages to upgrade the quality of the posts… you're going to stop to the ones that catch your eye.' A mentor gave him another shorthand: 'Basically this is the Uber of talents.' But he stresses the role: 'We're not competing with anyone. We're facilitating and connecting talent to talent seekers in minutes.' For all the tech, this is still about human habits. When asked about the challenges, he takes a minute to ponder. 'From many, many sessions that we've had… the main bottleneck for talents, they're lazy," he says. "I need them to come and put a profile and put a video.' Clients have habits too. He adds, 'For the talent seeker, they're wary because they're so used to having an events manager… They think it's already vetted.' MADE's answer is to keep the process simple but rigorous: vet profiles for authenticity and performance, then make contact instantaneous. 'The connection is instantaneous… Here, the pricing is right there. You see the pricing, you connect, you can meet them in an hour.' The platform also serves makers through a second track: 'On Made, you have two platforms. You have a performance platform and you have a made to sell platform… it's not an e-commerce, it's a one-to-one where they meet.' That covers independent fashion, jewelry, sculpture — work you might see at a pop-up or gallery, now discoverable without a storefront. Commission-free by design On monetisation, Ahmadi is explicit: 'We are not taking any commission.' Growth, he says, is about scale and simple paid tiers. 'We're looking at the scalability and the numbers game over the next couple of years.' Because MADE doesn't skim fees, there's no incentive to 'go behind our back' after a first booking. 'It's futile… we're not taking a penny. So why leave when you have a thousand people looking at you?' That philosophy underpins the mission: 'The philosophy we've built it to begin with is two things, is to empower talents, increase their livelihood, and expose talent seekers to talents that they never thought existed or they haven't seen.' Early traction matters more than press clippings. 'We have quite a few people that were connected,' Ahmadi says. 'There are people that got connected after a day and there's people that got connected after two or three months.' The genres span 'bands… musicians, DJs, some artwork and painters.' AI: Filter, accelerate, but don't replace Ask Ahmadi about AI and he's candid. 'I feel sorry for a lot of the artists and musicians out there today,' he says. He isn't doom-scrolling, though; he's building. 'There's three things that I want AI for. It's to filter through a lot of the posts… AI is going to be implemented in the app in January, and what we're trying to do is expedite the connection even faster.' He also wants MADE to surface in external AI searches: 'People will go on AI… it will show you the top five searches. So we will strive to be one of the top five names.' What he won't concede is the core experience. 'We are blessed and lucky that the performances are still done by people… you still need that human factor.' As for 'future-proof'? He adds, 'I'm not going to say future-proof… AI is a must. And we have to incorporate AI into certain angles to facilitate and make the user journey easier, friendlier. But using humans is extremely important.' What comes next? Geographically, the expansion arc is clear: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, then global hubs in Europe, South America, and the Far East. Strategically, the platform continues refining the 'supply of talent' and the speed of connection. Emotionally, the north star hasn't changed. 'Seeing the smile on their faces,' he says of newly booked performers, 'nothing happier than when a person has talent and he's been discovered'. And if you're looking for the founder's identity, he says, 'I see myself as somebody that just wants to empower talent. Just to be a small bandage in this world to bring out the talented people out there that are unseen and unheard and undiscovered.' husain@ Husain Rizvi is a Senior Features Writer who covers entertainment and lifestyle stories and has a profound interest in tech (games) and sports. When he's not working, you can find him at the gym, or finishing a boss fight in a video game.
Arabian Business
2 hours ago
- Arabian Business
The UAE is leading the fight for a cleaner gold market
When it comes to protecting the integrity of the global financial system, few nations pack a punch quite like the UAE. The country's influence stems from a rare combination of factors – it is a major hub for global trade and finance that remains deeply committed to multilateralism, international co-operation and the rules-based order. One sector where this leadership is especially visible is gold. In 2023, the UAE became the world's second-largest gold trading hub. This was achieved through leadership that balanced the importance of building a trusted regulatory framework for gold trading with the creation of a business-friendly environment. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has developed robust regulations and compliance procedures that are in line with – and in some areas exceed – the highest international standards. Meanwhile, efforts by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre have contributed significantly to the sector's trade growth. More than 1,500 gold and precious metals companies now operate from the emirate and collectively benefit from specialised industry infrastructure, products and services. Yet with scale comes responsibility. Gold is a high-value, low-volume, fungible commodity that is an attractive target for illicit use, including money laundering. The Financial Action Task Force has identified many of the risks associated with the gold sector – risks that have been echoed in the UAE's latest National Risk Assessment. This assessment calls on all public and private stakeholders to identify, understand and mitigate the risks involved in conducting their activities, in close collaboration with the authorities. Many gold-exporting countries have limited oversight of artisanal mining, where gold often functions as an informal currency. Globally, there is no consistent reporting standard, and regulatory regimes vary widely, creating gaps that criminals can exploit. UAE sets global gold trade benchmark The UAE has chosen not to step back but to set a new global benchmark for responsible trade in gold, aligning its framework with international best practices, including the OECD's Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas. Since 2023, the UAE Ministry of Economy has required all gold refiners to conduct full supply chain due diligence in line with the OECD's guidelines and submit independently audited reports. In addition, many refineries have signed up to the UAE Good Delivery standard for accreditation, which includes further disclosure on a refinery's technical state, capacity and financial health. Traders must also report suspicious transactions to the UAE's Financial Intelligence Unit through the UN-developed goAML platform. Unlike other bullion centres, the UAE's framework is mandatory, not voluntary, setting a new global precedent. Crucially, it applies not only to UAE Good Delivery refiners but to all refiners operating in the UAE, regardless of Good Delivery accreditation. Compliant entities are rewarded with market access, while those that fall short face tougher conditions as buyers prioritise trusted partners. Those with serious failings face tough sanctions and enforcement, including closure orders. Gold traders in the UAE fall under the category of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions, bringing them under Federal Decree Law No. 20 of 2018 on anti-money laundering and combating terrorism financing, in line with FATF standards. The Ministry of Economy and Tourism enforces strict supervision. Inspections were carried out on dealers in precious metals and stones, resulting in significant fines where companies were found non-compliant. In addition, between 2022 and 2024, the total number of seizures of gold and precious metals and stones from all points of entry increased by more than 70 per cent, illustrating how enforcement fights illicit flows. The UAE requires disclosure of portable gold, including its source and purpose of entry. This measure supports efforts to thwart illegal trading and promote responsible precious metals transactions. As part of its efforts to enhance integrity across the gold supply chain, the DMCC joined forces with the World Gold Council in 2022 to address the challenge of hand-carried gold linked to illicit trade. This partnership includes an annual training programme for the gold industry, engagement with bullion banks, the development of retail gold investment principles and the commissioning of consumer research to better understand market dynamics. Trade data discrepancies can also arise between exporting and importing countries. While these often occur due to a number of understandable factors, such as time lags created by customs processing procedures, the rerouting of a commodity while in transit, or the impact of long-term warehousing, they nonetheless create challenges when monitoring illicit flows. The UAE, however, reports its gold imports comprehensively and on time, including to international databases, aligning with OECD expectations for transparent mineral supply chains. What this means is that there are cross-border challenges at stake that call for shared international responsibility and require renewed and constant commitments by all concerned countries. The UAE is working closely with the World Gold Council and other partners on several initiatives to strengthen the integrity of the gold market. This includes the development of an anti-money laundering training programme for the sector and running trade workshops with key industry bodies including the Dubai Jewellery Group and the DMCC. Work has also begun on a review of rules regarding hand-carried gold and rules to strengthen border enforcement. We are also exploring innovative technology, from chemical 'fingerprinting' to verify declared provenance, to mobile refining units for artisanal and small-scale miners. These measures reduce environmental damage, enhance traceability and help channel gold to legitimate buyers, including central banks, all in line with OECD-aligned responsible sourcing frameworks. The bottom line is this: the UAE is not just trading gold, it is shaping the future of the gold industry, working transparently, responsibly and through international co-operation with other global standard-setters.
Arabian Business
2 hours ago
- Arabian Business
Dubai office sales values up 84% as transactions hit AED 5.4bn in H1 2025: Report
Dubai's office market recorded a surge in sales values and transaction volumes in the first half of 2025, with investors increasingly favouring ESG-aligned assets and modern, high-quality office space. According to a new report by Cavendish Maxwell, office sales values rose 84 per cent year-on-year to AED 5.4 billion across 1,900 deals, marking the highest half-year activity since 2014. Transaction volumes were up 22 per cent compared with the same period last year, reflecting robust demand in both prime office and logistics segments. Dubai added 34,000 square metres of new office space between January and June, bringing the total gross leasable area to 9.32 million square metres. An additional 110,000 square metres is expected by the end of 2025, with 340,000 square metres forecast for 2026, the report said. By 2028, the total gross leasable area in Dubai's office market is projected to reach 10.85 million square metres. Vidhi Shah, Director and Head of Commercial Valuation at Cavendish Maxwell, said: 'Dubai's investment landscape continues to flourish, further cementing the emirate's status as the UAE's leading economic hub – and a global destination for business. In H1 this year, Dubai attracted more than 500 new FDI projects, securing over AED 11 billion in capital inflows, while the DIFC registered more than 1,080 new businesses – a rise of 32 per cent year-on-year.' 'With strong government backing and sustained investor confidence, Dubai's office market continues to deliver an outstanding performance, with yet more records for sales volumes and values. This momentum is expected to continue, with a wave of new supply further strengthening the market and offering buyers and renters more flexibility,' he added. Sales and rental growth Office sales prices rose 22.2 per cent year-on-year to AED 1,748 per square foot, while rents increased 26.4 per cent on average and by nearly 35 per cent in prime districts. Compared with the second half of 2024, sales prices rose almost 13 per cent, and rents by 10 per cent, reflecting a strong appetite for premium office space. Prime districts such as DIFC and Downtown Dubai recorded rental growth of 35 per cent and 33.5 per cent, while older hubs such as Bur Dubai, Deira and Healthcare City saw more modest increases of 3.8 per cent, 2.6 per cent and 2.2 per cent, respectively. Investors and occupiers are increasingly targeting A-grade buildings with modern amenities and ESG credentials. Off-plan market surges While ready office units accounted for 85 per cent of transactions, off-plan sales gained traction, rising almost 180 per cent year-on-year and 90 per cent compared with the second half of 2024. Rising demand for modern, innovation-led and ESG-aligned developments is driving the off-plan market. Business Bay retained its position as the top sales location, with 672 transactions, followed by Jumeirah Lakes Towers with 534 deals, Motor City with 216, Barsha Heights with 160, and Dubai Silicon Oasis with 77. Offices of 1,000 to 2,000 square feet represented 48 per cent of sales, units below 1,000 square feet made up 39 per cent, 2,000 to 5,000 square feet accounted for 12 per cent, and spaces above 5,000 square feet comprised 2 per cent. Dubai's office market currently offers 9.32 million square metres of gross leasable area, with 110,000 square metres due to come online by the end of 2025 and a further 340,000 square metres in 2026. Long-term forecasts indicate another 1 million square feet of office space will be delivered in 2027 and 2028, increasing total inventory to 10.85 million square metres. 'While the development pipeline appears robust, completion timelines may vary. Occupancy rates are likely to remain high in the short term, with most new supply expected between 2026 and 2028, when price pressures on sales and rentals may ease,' Shah said.
