Saygin Yalcin on marketplace economics, viral tools, and going public - Inside SellAnyCar.com's path to IPO
What do license plates, biochemistry, and rocket ships have in common? According to tech entrepreneur Saygin Yalcin, they're all pieces of the puzzle in building the Middle East's next internet champion. In this episode, the founder of SellAnyCar.com reveals to Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa how his company's number plate valuation tool went from 50,000 daily queries to over 3 million total valuations in just months — without spending a dirham on marketing.Yalcin, who recently led a $135 million investment into iMENA and joined its board, explains why AI has fundamentally killed the traditional marketplace business model and how his "bicycle, car, rocket ship" framework determines when entrepreneurs should fuel their businesses with venture capital.Most startup founders dream of unicorn status, but Yalcin shares the sobering statistics — only 4 in a million companies in China and 9 in a million in the U.S. ever reach the billion-dollar valuation mark. So what separates the car builders from the rocket scientists? According to Yalcin, it comes down to pain tolerance, delayed gratification, and the understanding that "building a great company should take decades, not years."Listen as we explore the hidden economics of marketplaces, the biological barriers between humans and AI, and the path to creating the Middle East's next tech IPO.
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Inside UAE's Real Estate Revolution | A Chat with Bayut & dubizzle’s CEO
Host Nicole Abigael, Reporter at Arabian Business, sits down with Haider Ali Khan, CEO of Bayut and dubizzle, and CEO of Dubizzle Group MENA, to explore how technology is reshaping the UAE’s real estate sector.Khan discusses how Bayut and dubizzle are driving market transparency and enhancing the home search experience in a booming property market. With Dubai’s real estate sector experiencing unprecedented demand, Khan reveals how AI-driven search tools and real-time data are helping users make smarter decisions, while supporting developers and agents in a fast-moving digital economy.He shares insights into the company’s customer-first approach, the future of property technology in the UAE, and how platforms like Bayut and dubizzle are helping redefine how residents interact with real estate — from browsing to buying.The conversation also touches on broader regional trends, smart city integration, and how proptech innovation is set to shape the next chapter of growth in the Middle East’s property markets.
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How will you get around Dubai when the population hits 4 million? Hala CEO explains their plan
Host Tala Misha Issa, Chief Reporter at Arabian Business, sits down with Khaled Nuseibeh, CEO of Hala, the joint venture between Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) and Careem that has revolutionised taxi hailing in the emirate.Nuseibeh reveals how Hala has captured a significant portion of Dubai's e-hailing market while growing its customer base by 21% year-on-year, even as new competitors like Bolt and Yango enter the scene. He shares insights from his journey from the telecom sector through Careem's landmark Uber acquisition to leading Hala, and explains how the company uses data analytics to stay ahead of Dubai's growing traffic challenges as the city approaches 4 million residents.The conversation explores Hala's sustainability initiatives with its expanding electric vehicle fleet, innovative customer solutions like WhatsApp booking for tourists, and how "booking a Hala" has become part of Dubai's everyday language. Nuseibeh also offers his perspective on the future of mobility, including autonomous vehicles and the possibility of flying taxis in Dubai's skyline.A must-listen for anyone interested in transportation technology, urban mobility solutions, and how innovative leadership is transforming one of the world's fastest-growing cities.
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The brand that dared to compete with Netflix - Inside Yango Play
In this exclusive episode of AB Majlis, Roman Shimansky, Chief Executive at Yango Play, sits down with host and Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa to discuss how this tech company is challenging global streaming giants. Shimansky reveals Yango Play's unique strategy of offering seamless transitions between music, video, and gaming while focussing on culturally relevant content for Middle Eastern audiences. He shares insights on their rapid growth across GCC countries and Egypt, their metrics for measuring success, and their vision to become a platform for rising regional talent. Shimansky also announces Yango Play's launch on PlayStation and discusses their experimentation with gamification features. A must-listen for anyone interested in the evolution of entertainment technology in the region and how local players are carving their niche in a globally dominated market.
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Would you trust AI with your 25-year mortgage? Mashreq's Mohamed Abdel Razek on building trust in tech
Can your bank's AI agent talk to your personal AI agent to handle your finances? Mashreq's technology chief Mohamed Abdel Razek reveals how the UAE's largest private bank is deploying 70-80 AI use cases across fraud detection, credit decisions, and customer experience. While he envisions a future of conversational banking—imagine talking to an ATM like a person—Razek questions whether you'd trust a computer to approve your 25-year mortgage today. In this candid conversation, discover why "trustworthy AI-infused banking" is Mashreq's strategy, how voice recognition could revolutionize banking, and why the UAE's digital infrastructure gives it a massive advantage in the global AI race. Plus: the surprising reason why even tech experts wouldn't get in a pilotless drone.
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