AB Majlis

In this episode of AB Majlis, e& Life and e& International CEO Khalifa Al Shamsi discusses the technology giant's ambitious plans to create four unicorns by 2030 through its digital lifestyle arm. Two years after e&'s major rebranding from Etisalat, Al Shamsi reveals how the company is leveraging its massive telecom customer base to expand into fintech, super apps, and entertainment across 19 countries. He shares insights on Careem's evolution beyond ride-hailing, e& Money's focus on financial inclusion, and how AI is reshaping customer experience. The conversation, recorded at the World Government Summit in Dubai, offers a rare glimpse into e&'s strategy to generate 40% of its revenue from digital solutions.

In this special edition from the World Government Summit, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with Khaled Murshed, who took the helm as CEO of e& Enterprise in January 2024. With over 25 years in technology, Murshed discusses the meteoric rise of AI in the Middle East, predicting it will contribute to 11% of the region's GDP by 2030. He shares insights on e& Enterprise's role in digital transformation across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, from modernizing judicial systems to implementing AI-powered remote investigation capabilities. Murshed also tackles the ongoing debate about AI's impact on productivity, drawing parallels with historical technological revolutions, while offering a glimpse into the future of 6G technology in the UAE. This episode offers a comprehensive look at how e& Enterprise is shaping the digital landscape of the Middle East through cloud computing, IoT, and AI initiatives.

In this special edition from the World Government Summit, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with Ragy Magdy, Chief Commercial Officer of e& enterprise, to unpack the UAE's ambitious zero government bureaucracy initiative. Magdy offers unique insights into how the UAE is revolutionizing government services by not just digitalizing them, but completely reimagining them. He reveals how the initiative aims to eliminate 2,000 federal government services and cut processing times by 50%. Drawing from his experience partnering with the Prime Minister's office, Magdy discusses how e& enterprise is helping transform traditional government processes into two-click solutions through AI integration. The conversation explores the stark contrast between the UAE's rapid government transformation and other countries' challenges, highlighting the crucial role of public-private partnerships in driving innovation. A compelling look at how the UAE is setting new benchmarks in government service delivery.

In this World Government Summit special episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with e& UAE CEO Masood M. Sharif Mahmood to explore the critical imperative of digital transformation.

Mahmood reveals how e& navigated the challenging dynamics of rising infrastructure investments and declining consumer prices, transforming from a traditional telco into a digital-first powerhouse. From achieving a 40% drop in customer complaints to launching innovative super apps and fintech solutions, the conversation offers a masterclass in corporate evolution.

In this special World Government Summit episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with e& Group CEO Hatem Dowidar to explore the company's ambitious AI strategy, including its 900 ongoing AI projects and vision for technological transformation.

From discussing the UAE's pioneering role in AI adoption to addressing workforce concerns in an AI-driven future, Dowidar shares insights on how e& is evolving from a traditional telco to a global tech powerhouse.

What happens when a city reimagines what premium office space can be? In this episode of AB Majlis, Savills Middle East's Head of Commercial Agency Toby Hall reveals how Dubai's commercial real estate market evolved from oversupply to becoming a global magnet for blue-chip tenants. Drawing on two decades of experience across London and Dubai markets, Hall unpacks why major firms are migrating east, how developments like ICD Brookfield Place have redefined corporate real estate standards, and what's driving rental values to historic highs.

SPONSORED - In this episode of AB Majlis, host Tala Michel Issa sits down with Estonia's Minister of Health, Riina Sikkut, to explore how the Baltic nation became a global leader in digital healthcare.

From implementing the world's first nationwide e-health system to leveraging blockchain technology since 2007, Minister Sikkut shares insights on Estonia's journey from paper records to AI-assisted healthcare. The conversation delves into the delicate balance between artificial intelligence and human touch in medical care, the future of telemedicine, and Estonia's growing collaboration with the UAE in advancing digital health solutions.

SPONSORED - On this episode with Reporter Nicole Abigael and Irfan Tansel, CEO of Al Masaood, we take an in-depth look at the UAE's evolving automotive landscape. Starting as a mechanic's apprentice in Germany, Tansel's remarkable 40-year journey provides unique insights into the industry's transformation.

He shares perspectives on the future of electric vehicles (EVs) in the UAE, the evolution of consumer preferences, and the strategic initiatives driving Al Masaood's success. From the significance of the company's Project Falcon initiatives to the challenges of EV adoption in high-rise communities, Tansel offers a blend of historical context and future outlook.

From a cathedral organist to the CEO of the world's busiest international airport, Paul Griffiths has helped transform Dubai's aviation sector into a $37 billion economic powerhouse. In this episode of AB Majlis, Griffiths reveals his revolutionary vision for Al Maktoum International Airport - not one mega-hub, but eight intimate airports connected by advanced transport systems. He discusses how Dubai Airports navigated recent challenges, from record-breaking passenger numbers to unprecedented floods, and shares his ambitious plans to eliminate airport queues through cutting-edge technology. Join Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa for an in-depth conversation about the future of air travel, sustainability in aviation, and Dubai's continuing role in reshaping the global aviation landscape

SPONSORED - Financial criminals in the Middle East are increasingly exploiting advanced technologies and the region’s economic disparities to orchestrate sophisticated scams, Collin Lobo, HSBC’s regional head of financial crime warned on this episode.

The region’s unique combination of high-net-worth individuals, transient populations, and proximity to sanctioned nations makes it particularly vulnerable to various forms of financial crime, from sophisticated AI-driven fraud to traditional money laundering schemes.

The evolution of financial crime has accelerated dramatically over the past two decades, transforming from simple check fraud in the 1990s to today’s sophisticated cyber threats.