Latest news with #MENA-focused
Mid East Info
05-05-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
London Business School Hosts Pivotal Gathering of MENA Changemakers in Landmark 22nd Annual Conference - Middle East Business News and Information
The conference addressed key themes including digital transformation, capital investment, and regional entrepreneurship. The event featured prominent speakers including H.E. Dr. Nabeel Koshak Dubai, United Arab Emirates: London Business School (LBS) hosted its 22nd Annual MENA Conference at the School's London campus. The conference is a landmark gathering that continues to shape conversations around innovation, entrepreneurship, investment, and impact in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Held on May 3, 2025, this year's conference built on a proud legacy of insight, dialogue, and regional leadership. For over two decades, LBS has proudly hosted the region's foremost MENA-focused conference, uniting influential voices from across the Middle East and North Africa. This flagship event has evolved into a cornerstone for intellectual exchange, bringing together senior policymakers, business leaders, and changemakers to explore the most pressing regional and global challenges. Year after year, the LBS Annual MENA Conference draws a distinguished audience of leaders, diplomats, academics, industry experts, and students committed to shaping the region's future. With a spotlight on transformative progress, the 2025 conference theme, ' Beyond Visions: Inspiring Change, Creating Impact' , reflected the region's dynamic shift from ambition to execution where innovation, private capital, and entrepreneurial spirit converge to create tangible, lasting value. 'This year's MENA Conference captured the region's growing momentum where bold visions are turning into real-world impact,' said Florin Vasvari, Executive Dean of Executive Education, Middle East, at London Business School. 'More than just a platform for thought leadership, the conference continues to serve as a catalyst for meaningful connections and cross-border collaborations. By bridging the global perspectives of our school, the conference contributes to the region's transformation.' The conference agenda this year spanned three thematic pillars: Innovation & Digital Transformation, including AI's role in shaping industries and the future of work Investments & Capital, focusing on public-private partnerships, regulatory evolution, and global capital flows Entrepreneurship, highlighting the rise of regional unicorns, fintech pioneers, and inclusive innovation The event headlined by H.E. Dr. Nabeel Koshak, CEO of Saudi Venture Capital Company and sponsored by KAPSARC and SEDCO Holding featured a curated selection of panels, fireside chats, and keynote conversations. With a legacy of hosting Presidents, Royals, Ministers, C-Suite executives, and iconic changemakers, the conference continues to attract a global audience of investors, academics, policymakers, and future leaders. High-profile speakers from institutions like SEDCO Holding, BCG, The Economist, Actis, Raed Ventures, and Salla shared perspectives on capital allocation, AI disruption, ecosystem building, and inclusive leadership across MENA. Past speakers have included H.M. Queen Rania of Jordan, H.H. Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah, and Mr. Naguib Sawiris, among others. A diverse range of voices from visionary founders and fintech innovators to digital transformation leaders and champions of inclusive growth took the stage. With compelling sessions such as 'Fintech Frontiers', 'Women Reshaping MENA's Business Landscape', and 'Scaling MENA's Startups to Global Unicorns', the conference promised inspiration, insight, and forward-looking dialogue. Organised by the region's future leaders, who are also current students at London Business School, the 2025 Conference was chaired by Omar Hashim, the MENA Club President, and Vice-President, Fatima AlMesaieid with a broader organising committee drawn from across the Gulf and North Africa representing a wide range of industries from private equity and consulting to tech, healthcare, and academia. As part of its ongoing commitment to the region, LBS will soon open an executive office in Riyadh, which will strengthen the School's deepening relationships with organizations and leadership in Saudi Arabia. This office will enable LBS to further engage with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals and expand access to world-class executive education, which is critical to shaping the region's future. The opening of the Riyadh office aligns perfectly with the discussions and momentum from the LBS Annual MENA Conference, creating new opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and leadership development in Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA region.
Zawya
30-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Arqaam Capital to convene leading investors and CEOs at 12th Annual MENA Investor Conference in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, UAE – Arqaam Capital, a leading MENA-focused investment banking institution, is pleased to announce that it will host its 12th Annual MENA Investor Conference from 19–20 May 2025 at the Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX). The conference will bring together over 500 senior executives, global investors, policymakers, and leading economists to discuss the emerging opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the region's capital markets. The conference is expected to see participation from institutions managing over USD 1 trillion in assets, reaffirming the region's growing significance in global investment strategies. "As the global macroeconomic landscape continues to evolve, the depth, resilience, and innovation of MENA's capital markets have never been more important," said Riad Meliti, CEO of Arqaam Capital."The 12th Annual MENA Investor Conference will address the macroeconomic shifts impacting investment flows, the role of Abu Dhabi's leadership in AI-driven industrial expansion, the booming MENA IPO markets and the transformation of sectors such as real estate, financial services, and venture capital. Record levels of bond and sukuk issuance, a surging IPO pipeline, and growing liquidity provision activities all point to a maturing, globally connected investment landscape. Arqaam Capital is proud to provide a platform for strategic dialogue and collaboration, connecting global investors to the opportunities shaping the future of the region's economies, while delivering liquidity solutions, market insights, and corporate access across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the broader GCC." Held under the theme 'From Vision to Value Creation: Navigating MENA's Market Transformation,' the two-day event will explore the most critical trends influencing regional investment strategies. Topics will include the Abu Dhabi Vision and its long-term diversification agenda, a GCC macroeconomic update amid shifting global trade policies, the expansion of AI and data centers as catalysts for industrial and energy market growth, and the future of the regional IPO pipeline. Additional sessions will address rising interest rates and fintech innovation within the financial sector, the role of real estate investment vehicles and REIT reforms, venture capital trends in MENA, and new strategies for strengthening market confidence through sell-side research, liquidity provision, and strategic investor relations. The conference will also record activity across the region's debt and equity markets, with GCC bond and sukuk issuance reaching nearly $150 billion and IPOs raising over $13 billion in 2024, driven by strong investor appetite, market sophistication, and economic diversification initiatives. The conference will feature prominent speakers including Abdalla Al Nuaimi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange (ADX), Klaus Froelich, CIO at ADNOC Group; Youssef Salem, CFO of ADNOC Drilling; Paul Gamble, Senior Director of the Sovereign Group at Fitch Ratings; Mr. Fayez Ibbini, Founder and CEO of Alpha Data; Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi, CEO of Dubai Taxi Company; Saif Al Hamhami, CEO of Abraj Energy Services; and Haitham Al Salmi, CEO of Muscat Stock Exchange. Senior executives from MSCI, leading financial advisory firms, and GCC-listed corporates will also participate, offering unique perspectives on market development and investor engagement. In addition to plenary sessions and panel discussions, the conference will feature private lunches, issuer workshops, and corporate access meetings, enabling deeper dialogue between investors and management teams from across the region's leading corporates. About Arqaam Capital Founded in 2007, Arqaam Capital has established itself as a leading institutional financial services firm in the MENA region, with operations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Lebanon. Combining global best practices with deep regional expertise, Arqaam bridges capital with opportunity, offering unmatched solutions to institutions, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. Renowned for its professionalism, innovation, and award-winning products, Arqaam is a trusted partner, driving growth and delivering value in some of the world's most dynamic markets.
CairoScene
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Eslam Jawaad Dreams of Arab Unity on Heartfelt Anthem ‘Umaton Wa7ida'
Released on the MENA-focused collective ARXP Cartel, the track sees Jawaad delivering raw bars in rapid flows with absolute assertiveness. Mar 04, 2025 Lebanese-Syrian rapper Eslam Jawaad returns with a new single 'Umaton Wa7ida', a powerful anthem calling for the unity of the Arab nation. Released under the MENA-focused collective ARXP Cartel, the track features Cilvaringz, a Dutch-Moroccan record producer and rapper who is associated with the Wu-Tang Clan, and is known for producing the world's most expensive music album, 'Wu-Tang Clan's Once Upon A Time in Shaolin'. Against the background of a hard-hitting beat, Jawaad delivers raw bars in the vernacular Syrian dialect in rapid flows with absolute assertiveness. The track is accompanied by an AI-generated music video, depicting life in a war-torn Syria during Ramadan. Despite the signs of destruction, the video emphasises unwavering resilience and hope for an indefinite Arab unity, using cultural motifs that highlight the country's heritage and roots as a reminder of the beauty of Syria.
Zawya
06-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman's 44.01 completes $5mln additional Series A investment
MUSCAT: Award-winning Omani climate tech startup 44.01 has received an additional $5 million in Series A investment from Norwegian sovereign investor Nysnø Climate Investments and MENA-focused VC fund Jasoor Ventures, bringing the total Series A fundraise to $42 million. The Series A round was led by Equinor Ventures in July 2024 with Shorooq Partners in the UAE, as well as (in alphabetical order) Air Liquide Venture Capital (ALIAD), Alumni Ventures, Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, Climate Investment, Innovation Development Oman, Planet A Ventures, Salica Oryx Fund, Siemens Financial Services, Sumitomo Corporation and several other investors. Existing investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures also recommitted to 44.01's technology by participating in the round. Nysnø Climate Investments, the Norwegian state's climate investment company, invests in companies and funds with technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With a managed capital of 5.4 billion NOK, Nysnø invests in renewable energy, digital technologies, resource efficiency, sustainable consumption and circular economy. Additional investment from Norway and MENA reflects international optimism about the potential of mineralisation to help countries meet their Net Zero ambitions. Mafic and ultramafic rock formations capable of mineralising CO2 are found on every continent making 44.01's mineralisation technology a truly global climate solution. Mineralisation projects can be built quickly and modularly, offering a cost-effective alternative to conventional geological carbon storage. 44.01 is now working to further develop and commercialise its technology. In 2024, 44.01 and ADNOC announced plans to scale up deployment of carbon mineralisation in the UAE following a successful pilot. 44.01 is also evaluating international opportunities, including in Norway where the company has recently established an office. Talal Hasan, Founder and CEO of 44.01, said 'I am excited to welcome Nysnø and Jasoor to 44.01. We believe carbon mineralisation will play a significant role in helping protect and repair our climate, and I look forward to working with our new investors to help scale our technology internationally.' John E Johannessen at Nysnø Climate Investments, said 'We are very excited to support the talented 44.01 team and to join a strong investor consortium. Norway has long been a frontrunner in carbon capture and storage, and we are now looking forward to seeing 44.01's solution for permanent CO2 removal through mineralisation being adopted and scaled in Norway as well as internationally, making significant impact in reducing climate gas emissions to the atmosphere.' 44.01 won the Earthshot Prize in 2022 and the company's Project Hajar in the UAE was named an XPRIZE Carbon Removal Top 20 Finalist.
Observer
05-02-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman's 44.01 completes $5m additional Series A investment
MUSCAT: Award-winning Omani climate tech startup 44.01 has received an additional $5 million in Series A investment from Norwegian sovereign investor Nysnø Climate Investments and MENA-focused VC fund Jasoor Ventures, bringing the total Series A fundraise to $42 million. The Series A round was led by Equinor Ventures in July 2024 with Shorooq Partners in the UAE, as well as (in alphabetical order) Air Liquide Venture Capital (ALIAD), Alumni Ventures, Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, Climate Investment, Innovation Development Oman, Planet A Ventures, Salica Oryx Fund, Siemens Financial Services, Sumitomo Corporation and several other investors. Existing investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures also recommitted to 44.01's technology by participating in the round. Nysnø Climate Investments, the Norwegian state's climate investment company, invests in companies and funds with technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With a managed capital of 5.4 billion NOK, Nysnø invests in renewable energy, digital technologies, resource efficiency, sustainable consumption and circular economy. Additional investment from Norway and MENA reflects international optimism about the potential of mineralisation to help countries meet their Net Zero ambitions. Mafic and ultramafic rock formations capable of mineralising CO2 are found on every continent making 44.01's mineralisation technology a truly global climate solution. Mineralisation projects can be built quickly and modularly, offering a cost-effective alternative to conventional geological carbon storage. 44.01 is now working to further develop and commercialise its technology. In 2024, 44.01 and ADNOC announced plans to scale up deployment of carbon mineralisation in the UAE following a successful pilot. 44.01 is also evaluating international opportunities, including in Norway where the company has recently established an office. Talal Hasan, Founder and CEO of 44.01, said 'I am excited to welcome Nysnø and Jasoor to 44.01. We believe carbon mineralisation will play a significant role in helping protect and repair our climate, and I look forward to working with our new investors to help scale our technology internationally.' John E Johannessen at Nysnø Climate Investments, said 'We are very excited to support the talented 44.01 team and to join a strong investor consortium. Norway has long been a frontrunner in carbon capture and storage, and we are now looking forward to seeing 44.01's solution for permanent CO2 removal through mineralisation being adopted and scaled in Norway as well as internationally, making significant impact in reducing climate gas emissions to the atmosphere.' 44.01 won the Earthshot Prize in 2022 and the company's Project Hajar in the UAE was named an XPRIZE Carbon Removal Top 20 Finalist.
