Dr Razouki has over 15 years of experience in venture capital and private equity investment with a focus on healthcare and technology, shifting from an excellence in clinical practice and research to the management and financing of healthcare and education systems. A graduate of Columbia Business School, Dr Razouki is the first ever Arab national…
With the explosion of financial technology (fintech) and the resulting disruption of traditional business models, banking financial services and insurance (BFSI) firms have no choice but to now adopt new technologies to adapt to the changing market dynamics. For our latest interview, we sat down with Sagheer Mufti the Chief Operating Officer of Abu Dhabi…
Walid has been active in venture capital and in new venture development for the past 18 years with 40+ VC investments executed since 2010. Prior to founding MEVP and growing its AUM to $120M, Walid was the CEO of Dubai International Capital’s venture arm “the Arab Business Angels Network” (ABAN), which managed a regional seed…
Theodore L. (“Trey”) Goede III is currently Head of Portfolio Management for Aramco Entrepreneurship Ventures, a USD 200mn venture fund launched by Saudi Aramco in 2013 to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and create high-quality Saudi jobs. After participating in fund formation, Mr Goede helped lead the fund through its first 15 approved transactions in 3.5…
While the GCC region remains a technologically sophisticated BFSI market, many financial institutions are still missing out on the digital innovations that are radically changing business models and redefining customer experiences. Digital-only banking is a new wave that is expected to change the way the banking industry works, with concepts such as card-less payments, blockchain…
Oracle Hospitality (an exhibitor at HITEC Dubai) has released a new report entitled Hotel 2025. The report identifies consumer attitudes to new technologies and how their implementation will shape consumer behaviour in the years to come. Insights from the report highlight that consumers are most willing to engage brands with new technology if they feel that…
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the “Dubai Cyber Security Strategy” that aims to strengthen Dubai’s position as a world leader in innovation, safety and security. His Highness called for unifying the efforts of public and private…
Chinese state media has reported that China may soon publish rules restricting outbound investment by Chinese firms in certain sectors. According to Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong Shan, a few Chinese companies have invested overseas “blindly and irrationally”. The government will now seek to closely monitor “irrational” investment in sectors like real estate, sports and entertainment,…
In 2016, Chinese entities made 932 deals worth over USD 220 billion, representing an increase of 246 percent over the previous year. The massive rise in deal value mirrored the shifting direction of Chinese economic growth, toward a model driven by technological innovation, consumption and industrial knowledge. It was also at least partly driven by…
Rising incomes and a growing middle class in China is boosting investment into healthcare, pharmacy and self-care. This was recently highlighted by the announcement that a Chinese investor group will be acquiring the condom division of Ansell Ltd, the world’s second-largest condom maker, for USD 600 million. The amount represents 16 times the division’s earnings…