Durov vs WhatsApp, Disneyland Abu Dhabi & Saudi PIF

·21 min·2 clips

Telegram's Pavel Durov calls WhatsApp users braindead as Disney reveals Abu Dhabi's park site and Saudi's $1 trillion fund lifts a major ban.

The episode opens with hosts Abdul Majid Awan and Kiki Virdag introducing three key stories from the Arab business world. They first discuss Telegram founder Pavel Durov's criticism of WhatsApp's security, calling users who trust it 'braindead.' Durov's comments come amid his legal troubles in France, where he faced 12 charges and travel restrictions before having them lifted in November. The hosts note Durov's UAE citizenship and his appearances in Dubai, where he criticized Europe. The conversation shifts to Disney CEO Bob Iger's Instagram post revealing the construction site for Disneyland Abu Dhabi on Yas Island. The park will be Disney's first in the Middle East, fully funded by Abu Dhabi developer Miral and featuring a crystal-inspired castle reflecting Emirati culture. It will be built indoors to handle the heat, with no opening date announced but targeting around 2030. The hosts discuss the regional trend of theme parks, mentioning Saudi Arabia's Six Flags and anime parks. Next, they cover Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund lifting its year-long ban on PwC, which had led to 1,500 job cuts in the region. The ban was reportedly triggered by PwC attempting to hire an audit officer from Neom. Finally, they detail Saudi Arabia's plan to expand its premium residency program, requiring around $30 million in assets for ultra-wealthy applicants, mirroring the UAE's golden visa program. The episode concludes with casual banter about the hosts' reading habits and a mention of upcoming IPOs for Saudi BNPL firms Tabby and Tamara.

As heard by us

A brisk Gulf business round-up tying WhatsApp security, Disney, PwC, and premium residency to the region's commercial momentum.

The Smashi Business Show frames Pawel Durov's attack on WhatsApp security as the sharp opening note in a broader Gulf business round-up. From there, it moves through Bob Iger's construction-site post about Disneyland Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund lifting its…

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Why you'd press play

You get Disneyland Abu Dhabi on Yas Island, Saudi premium-residency talk around a $30 million figure, and Pavel Durov calling WhatsApp security braindead in one brisk Gulf-focused listen.

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