Hasnae Taleb spells out a governance test for women in finance in the GCC
Women in finance in the GCC have more access to capital, senior networks and decision rooms than when Hasnae Taleb began her career. The investor and market commentator told ICN Business the progress is real. Then she moved the conversation from headcount to control. The harder question, she said, is who “holds the pen.” In […]
UAE business accelerators 2026: what founders get and what they give up
UAE business accelerators no longer sell classroom time, and ICN.live research across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah found that the shift is close to complete. Founder value now sits in four places: market access, institutional balance sheet backing, regulatory permission, and enterprise procurement. Desks and workshops still exist. They stopped being the reason anyone applies. […]
Gulf Investment Priorities Shift as Geopolitical Risk Redraws Capital Flows
Gulf investment priorities are under fresh scrutiny, and the questions investors ask have changed shape. Bilal Sabouni runs the Middle East, Africa, Turkiye and Central Asia business at Guidepoint, the global expert network. He told ICN Business that client demand now circles one theme. “A lot of the questions we are hearing come back to […]
Mahmoud Bartawi: The Entrepreneur Building a New Generation of Business Stories
From banking to entrepreneurship, Mahmoud Bartawi, a Dubai-based entrepreneur, investor, and business storyteller known for his journey from corporate banking to building successful companies. After gaining experience in the financial sector, Bartawi transitioned into entrepreneurship and co-founded Under500, a healthy food brand that grew into a recognized regional business before becoming part of Kitopi. His […]
