The Mal Show

Your Life Is a Business Story | The Mal Show (Podcast) with Brandy Scott

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0400

After more than 20 years interviewing CEOs, founders, ministers, and world leaders, Brandie Scott has learned what separates great leaders from everyone else.

In this episode of The MAL Show, we talk about journalism, leadership, AI, trust, the art of asking better questions, and why every business story is ultimately a human story.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or simply curious about the people behind business, this conversation is full of insights you won't want to miss.

Topics covered:

Journalism in the age of AI
The future of media
Leadership and communication
The power of curiosity
Why every business is a human story
Lessons from two decades of interviewing global leaders

Don't forget to subscribe to our channel to get the latest episodes of the Mal Show

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:44 Why Journalism & Business Journalism
5:06 AI & The Future of Creative Writing
11:02 The Novel: Not Bad People
13:29 Covering the Dot-Com Boom in Dubai
18:15 Leaving Dubai & Reverse Culture Shock
22:38 The Survival of Radio
32:17 Journalism Ethics & Interviewing Style
45:26 Interviewing Powerful People Without Intimidation
54:21 From Moderation to Mediation
58:16 Managing Anxiety Through Radio
1:03:34 The Most Memorable Interview
1:10:47 AI, Misinformation & The Future of Newsrooms
1:21:30 Financial Literacy & Business Media's Role
1:23:50 Tribute to Malcolm Taylor
1:30:20 Don't Wait to Live: Life Lessons

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
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To get in touch with Brandy Scott
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandy-scott-9552a624/

#TheMALShow #BrandieScott #Business #Leadership #Journalism #AI #Media #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #Dubai #BusinessBreakfast

Bootstrapped to 10 Markets | The Mal Show (Podcast) with Mustafa Koita

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0400

Health has become one of the biggest industries in the world. Every day we're sold a new diet, supplement, longevity hack, or wellness trend—but how much of it is real science, and how much is just great marketing?

In this episode of The MAL Show, we sit down with Mustafa Koita, Founder & CEO of Koita, to explore what it really takes to build one of the Middle East's most trusted food brands.

We discuss:

Why he left corporate to build Koita
Bootstrapping vs. raising venture capital
How to build a brand people genuinely trust
Why customer listening beats traditional marketing
The business behind the health and wellness industry
Organic, lactose-free, and plant-based products—what actually matters?
How social media is changing the way we think about nutrition
The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when scaling a business
Why Koita shut down its U.S. expansion
Building a long-term company instead of chasing hype
Leadership, resilience, and navigating crises
The legacy every entrepreneur should aim to leave

Whether you're an entrepreneur, marketer, business owner, or simply someone trying to make better health decisions, this conversation is packed with practical insights on business, branding, and consumer trust.

Subscribe for more conversations with founders, investors, and business leaders shaping the future of the Middle East.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
3:08 Tough Father & Humble Origins
5:17 Career in Defense & Startup Failure
6:44 Anti-Corporate Mindset
8:59 Leaving Corporate
12:20 Baby Steps vs. Go Big
15:08 Why Food & Why Milk
20:13 The GCC Health Crisis
24:33 Health Trends — Vegan, Keto, Ozempic
26:32 Building the Koita Brand
33:30 Shutting Down the US
36:01 Navigating Wars & Supply Chain Crises
40:05 Resilience Through Setbacks
42:33 Naming the Brand After Himself
44:41 Scaling Health Across the Region
48:21 Responsibility & Win-Win Philosophy
53:39 Being Tough on Yourself
55:21 Indian-American-Middle Eastern Identity
58:18 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
1:01:25 From Corporate to Startup
1:02:41 Advice to Policymakers & Local Suppliers

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Mustafa Koita
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mustafakoita/

#TheMALShow #MustafaKoita #Koita #Entrepreneurship #Business #Branding #Marketing #HealthyFood #Wellness #Startup #Founder #consumertrust

Funding Secrets Nobody Tells Founders! | The Mal Show (Podcast) with Armineh Baghoomian

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 20:00:00 +0400

In this episode of The MAL Show, we sit down with Armie Baghoumian, one of the leading voices in private credit and growth financing in the Middle East.

Most founders understand venture capital. Raise equity, give up ownership, and use the capital to grow. But what if there was another way?

We explore the world of business financing, venture debt, growth debt, and private credit—and uncover what actually makes a company fundable.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why some companies get funded while others get rejected
• What investors and lenders look for before providing capital
• The biggest mistakes founders make when raising money
• When debt can accelerate growth—and when it becomes dangerous
• How startups like Tabby, Bayzat, and Trukker used debt to scale
• The hidden rules of business financing
• Why banks reject many growing businesses
• Asset-backed lending vs. traditional business loans
• The future of private credit in the Middle East
• How founders should think about risk, leverage, and growth

Whether you're building a startup, running an SME, or simply want to understand how business financing really works, this conversation offers valuable insights into a side of entrepreneurship that most people never see.

Don't forget to subscribe for more conversations with founders, investors, operators, and business leaders shaping the future of the region.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
3:54 Growth Debt vs. Banks
7:07 Loans vs. Asset-Backed
14:43 Fintech Chicken-Egg Problem
19:22 Covenant Traps Explained
24:32 Advice for Equity Investors
28:15 Debt Literacy Evolution
31:52 Pricing & Term Sheets
36:22 Tenors & Case Studies
42:46 Multiple Lenders & Enforcement
50:09 Shariah Finance Explained
54:16 Stress Testing & Global Credit Risks
1:05:42 Retail & Wealth Bubble
1:08:39 Why PFG Is in the Region
1:13:27 Egypt & GCC Expansion
1:16:12 Cross-Cultural Business
1:18:30 Armineh's Career Path
1:24:51 Operators vs. Investors
1:27:30 14-Year Team Culture
1:29:43 Approaching PFG & Hiring

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
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To get in touch with Yousef Salem
https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Armie Baghoomian
https://www.linkedin.com/in/armineh-baghoomian-045262/

#TheMALShow #BusinessFunding #Entrepreneurship #StartupFunding #VentureDebt #PrivateCredit #BusinessGrowth #Startups #Finance #middleeastbusiness

Why Most People Never Start a Business?! | The Mal Show (Podcast) with Jad Antoun

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0400

In this episode of The MAL Show, we sit down with Jad Antoun, Founder and CEO of Huspy, one of the fastest-growing proptech companies in the Middle East and Europe.

We discuss entrepreneurship, risk-taking, fear of failure, building global companies from the Middle East, and the future of real estate in an increasingly uncertain world.

How do you know when it's time to leave a stable job and start a business? Why do so many people spend years thinking about entrepreneurship but never take action? What does it take to scale a company across multiple countries, raise capital, and build a high-performance team?

Jad shares the lessons he learned building Huspy from a startup launched during COVID into a company operating across international markets. We also explore leadership, company culture, AI, real estate, and the psychology behind life-changing financial decisions.

Topics discussed:

Entrepreneurship and risk-taking
Fear of failure and decision-making
Building a global company from the Middle East
Scaling teams and company culture
AI and the future of real estate
Dubai's property market
Fundraising and startup growth
Leadership and high-performance teams

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:24 Starting a Business During COVID
03:14 The Real Risk of Quitting Your Job
05:43 Lebanon's Entrepreneurial DNA
08:20 How SF Changed His Thinking
12:16 Middle East Needs Bigger Ambition
13:58 Why Huspy Went to Europe
16:01 Raise First or Expand First?
19:45 AI Won't Replace Brokers
22:03 Psychology of Buying a Home
25:41 Is Dubai Real Estate a Bubble?
26:58 Dubai's Value Prop in 5 Seconds
30:48 Launching 5 Cities in 60 Days
36:46 Who Huspy Hires & Why
47:17 Employee Secondaries Explained
51:21 Managing Cash & Runway
54:02 Risk vs. Paranoia as a Founder
56:49 How to Become a Broker
1:01:59 Where to Invest in Real Estate

Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of business, technology, investing, and human behavior.

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
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https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Jad Antoun
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jad-antoun-204/

#TheMALShow #JadAntoun #Huspy #Entrepreneurship #Startups #Business #RealEstate #Dubai #Technology

Why Women Make Better Financial Decisions? | The Mal Show (Podcast) with Rami Tabbara

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:00:00 +0400

- Real estate has long been considered one of the most powerful ways to build wealth. But for most people, investing in property feels out of reach — requiring large amounts of capital, long-term commitments, and access to opportunities that are often reserved for a small group of investors.

In this episode of The MAL Show, we sit down with Rami Tabara, Co-Founder and CEO of Stake, to explore how technology is changing the way people invest in real estate and why the future of wealth creation may look very different from the past.

We discuss fractional real estate investing, tokenization, passive income, property ownership, investing psychology, the future of real estate in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and whether access to investments is becoming more important than ownership itself. We also explore how younger generations think about money, why real estate remains one of the world's largest asset classes, and how platforms like Stake are opening the market to millions of new investors.

In this episode:

- Can you really invest in real estate starting from AED 500?
- How does fractional property ownership actually work?
- Is real estate still the best way to build long-term wealth?
- Why are younger investors changing the investment landscape?
- What is tokenization and how could it transform ownership?
- Should you invest in real estate, stocks, crypto, or all three?
- How do you create a second source of income?
- Why are global investors increasingly attracted to Dubai and Saudi Arabia?
- What does the future of investing look like?

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe and turn on notifications for more conversations about money, investing, business, and human behavior.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
3:04 Why Everyone Should Invest in Real Estate?
6:37 Real Estate Culture in the Middle East
10:02 Investing from 500 AED
13:58 SPV vs. Tokenization
21:35 Weekly Dividends Explained
26:02 Your Second Income
27:08 How Much Real Estate in Your Portfolio?
29:10 Launching During COVID
35:09 Real Estate Made Easy
38:25 Buying a Full Home Through Stake
40:54 Mubadala, Aramco & ENBD as Investors
42:24 Managing 1.2 Billion AED
51:31 Women Invest Better Than Men
53:19 Gen Z vs. Older Investors
1:00:14 Golden Visa Through Stake
1:05:42 Why Rami Started Stake
1:08:12 Own Dubai Property in 3 Minutes
1:17:31 Skills to Work at Stake
1:21:27 Message to Regulators

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
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https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Rami Tabbara
https://ae.linkedin.com/in/rami-tabbara

#RealEstate #Investing #Stake #Dubai #WealthBuilding #PassiveIncome #Finance #TheMALShow

Why Most People Stay Broke? | The Mal Show (Podcast) with Sherine Kabesh

Tue, 26 May 2026 22:00:00 +0400

What does financial freedom actually look like — and how do you get there?

In this episode of The Mal Show, Youssef sits down with Sherine Kabesh, founder of Flash, Egypt's leading financial wellness platform and Ex - Uber. Shireen brings rare honesty to the conversation — from the social challenges of being a woman in fintech, to how she walked away from a Dubai salary to build a startup, to her take on investing, data privacy, credit culture, and what it really means to be financially free.

If you've ever spent money to impress people, avoided saving because of what others might think, or wondered how to start building real financial wellness — this episode is for you.

Don't forget to subscribe to our channel to get the latest episode of The Mal Show

CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction
1:06 Women in Fintech: The Real Challenges
4:23 Where Do Women in Finance Disappear To?
5:34 From Finance to Marketing — Numbers Are Everywhere
6:53 What Is Financial Wellness?
10:45 How Shireen De-Risked Before Starting Flash
13:23 Breaking Free From Social Pressure
14:10 Confidence Comes From Within
15:52 What Is Financial Freedom?
18:37 Ethics & Investing — Is the S&P 500 Halal?
22:00 How Flash Uses Your Financial Data
25:04 The Culture of Credit
29:54 Why You Should Trust QR Code Payments
32:26 Digitization Is Like Electricity
34:35 Uber, Safety & Moral Responsibility
36:46 One Step Towards Financial Freedom

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Sherine Kabesh
https://eg.linkedin.com/in/sherine-kabesh-9b385860

#TheMALShow #financialfreedom #Startup #Fintech #IslamicFinance #UAE #entrepreneurship #business

The SME Paradox No One Is Fixing! | The Mal Show (Podcast) with Dr. Vishnu Katara

Tue, 19 May 2026 22:00:00 +0400

In this episode of The MAL Show, we sit down with Dr. Vishnu Katara — GM of SMEs at MAL, investor, operator, and former finance leader at companies like Flipkart, Noon, and Ola — to explore how AI, ethical finance, and SME banking could completely reshape the future of business.

We discuss why traditional banks continue to fail SMEs, why 90% of the economy is powered by small businesses while only a tiny percentage gets funded, and how AI-native banking could change underwriting, collections, payroll, and business operations forever.

Dr. Vishnu also explains how companies like Flipkart, Noon, and Ola competed against Western giants like Amazon and Uber — and won through local understanding, speed, and entrepreneurial culture.

The conversation also dives into:

The transformation of the UAE into a global business hub
Ethical and Sharia-compliant finance
AI agents replacing entire business functions
What founders actually need to raise capital
Angel investing and startup evaluation
Why learning and curiosity matter more than ever in the AI era
The mindset shift from employee to entrepreneur

This is a deep conversation about the future of finance, startups, technology, and building meaningful businesses in the Middle East and beyond.

Don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations on business, finance, technology, and culture.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:56 From Heavy Industry to Startups
5:05 Being Entrepreneurial Inside a Corporate
6:19 The Non-Unicorn to Unicorn Secret
8:06 Competing With Western Giants
11:22 Why the Middle East?
13:26 UAE as a Global Business Hub
15:38 From CFO to Running a Business Segment
17:23 The SME Funding Gap
18:26 Why Banks Fail SMEs
20:08 MAL's AI-Native Banking Vision
26:17 AI Agents Working for Your Business
29:44 Competing With Traditional Banks
36:48 Sharia Compliance & Ethical Finance
44:23 MAL's Hiring & AI-Driven Recruitment
49:51 The Obsession With Learning
53:49 Angel Investing: How to Start
1:06:36 Finance Career Advice: From CFO to CEO
1:17:42 Advice for Founders Raising Capital

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/themal.show/
https://www.tiktok.com/@themalshow.podcast
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To get in touch with Yousef Salem
https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Dr. Vishnu Katara
https://ae.linkedin.com/in/vishnukatara

#TheMALShow #AI #SMEs #Startup #Fintech #IslamicFinance #UAE #Entrepreneurship #Business #ArtificialIntelligence #MiddleEast #MAL

Private Credit Want Small Businesses to Win! | The Mal Show (Podcast) with Omar Al Yawer

Tue, 12 May 2026 22:00:00 +0400

In this episode of The MAL Show, we explore the world of private credit, SME financing, and alternative investments in the Middle East.

Why are startups and SMEs still massively underserved by traditional banks in MENA? Why does the region allocate only around 2% of financing to SMEs compared to nearly 28% globally? And why are private credit and alternative financing becoming one of the biggest emerging opportunities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?

Our guest is Omar Alyawer, Partner and Chief Capital Formation Officer at Ruya Partners, with more than 25 years of experience across global firms including J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Franklin Templeton, and Man Group.

We discuss:
• The SME funding gap in the Gulf
• Why banks avoid startups and SMEs
• Private credit vs venture capital vs growth debt
• How returns of 15–18% are generated
• Direct lending vs sponsor-led deals
• The impact of mega projects on capital demand
• Sovereign wealth funds and institutional capital
• Why private credit is booming globally
• The future of alternative finance in MENA

This is a conversation about where money is really moving — and how the financial system is changing in the Gulf.

Subscribe to The MAL Show for more conversations on money, business, technology, and the human side of finance.

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
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https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Omar Al Yawer
https://www.linkedin.com/in/omaralyawer13/

#themalshow #islamicfinance #ai #podcast #fintech #shariafinance

People Are Tired of Unethical Banking | The Mal Show (Podcast) With Dr. Angel Wesley

Tue, 05 May 2026 22:00:00 +0400

In this episode of The MAL Show, we go beyond finance… and into the deeper forces shaping how we make decisions about money.

How much do your beliefs influence your financial choices?
Can a modern financial system truly align with faith and values?
And what happens when AI enters the equation?

We explore the intersection of faith, law, and innovation—and unpack what it really takes to build a financial system that is not only advanced… but principled.

Our guest is Dr. Angel Wesley—Chief Legal Officer at MAL, with over 20 years of experience in corporate and commercial law, and a graduate of Harvard Law School.

We discuss:

The real meaning of Sharia-compliant finance in today’s world
The legal and ethical challenges of building an AI-native bank
How culture shapes our relationship with money
Whether innovation can coexist with deeply held values
And what MAL is trying to build at a much bigger level

This is not just a conversation about finance.
It’s a conversation about belief, systems, and the future of money.

Powered by MAL
An AI-native financial platform rethinking money through the lens of ethics, values, and intelligent systems.

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our channel to get the latest episodes of The MAL Show.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:45 Dr. Angel's Introduction to Islam
05:35 Does the West understand Islam?
14:04 The UAE culture
32:40 Joining Mal
35:29 How is Mal changing Islamic Finance?
39:09 Commercial Transactions in Islam
45:01 What does Ai Native mean?
53:07 The underserved demographic Mal is solving for
1:02:55 Ethical Banking?

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/themal.show/
https://www.tiktok.com/@themalshow.podcast
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566478614883

To get in touch with Yousef Salem
https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Dr. Angel Weslely
https://ae.linkedin.com/in/angel-wesley-abudhabi

#themalshow #islamicfinance #ai #podcast #fintech #shariafinance

Why Civilizations Fall? | The Mal Show (Podcast) with Dr. Roy Casagranza

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0400

In this episode of The MAL Show, we step beyond finance and into the deeper forces that shape how we think, believe, and act.

This conversation takes us on a journey through philosophy, religion, political economy, and civilizations—exploring ancient history, Islamic history, Egyptian history, and the roots of how societies form, evolve, and understand themselves over time.

Our guest is Roy Casagranda—an academic and lecturer known for his powerful ability to connect civilizations, belief systems, and historical moments into one coherent, thought-provoking perspective. Through years of teaching political science and history, he has developed a unique lens on power, meaning, and the evolution of human societies.

Together, we explore:

The roots of civilizations and why they rise and fall
The relationship between religion, philosophy, and power
How historical narratives shape modern societies
The search for meaning—and whether it can ever be fully understood
The deeper forces—seen and unseen—that continue to shape the world today

This is not just a conversation about history…
It’s a conversation about understanding the world—and our place in it.

Powered by MAL — the first AI-native Islamic digital financial platform.
https://www.mal.ai/

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our channel to get the latest episodes of The MAL Show.

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/themal.show/
https://www.tiktok.com/@themalshow.podcast
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To get in touch with Yousef Salem
https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Dr. Roy Casagranda
https://www.instagram.com/roycasagranda/
https://www.youtube.com/@UCUGwVgtUewevtLvu7NaxVrw

#themalshow #history #economy #war #podcast

The Hidden Rules of VC | The Mal Show (podcast) with Dalia El mohamady CFO at Sawari Ventures

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0400

What really happens when founders raise money? How do venture capitalists evaluate startups, and why do so many founders fail to secure funding?

In this episode of The MAL Show, we go deep into the world of venture capital and startup fundraising. We break down how investors think, what VCs look for in founders, and the real reasons startups get rejected during the funding process. From pitch preparation to deal-making, this conversation gives a clear, insider perspective on how venture capital actually works.

We also explore the realities of building startups in emerging markets, including currency volatility, raising capital in dollars while operating in local currencies, and how venture capital firms support founders through these challenges.

Our guest is Dalia El-Mohamady, CFO at Sawari Ventures, one of Egypt’s leading venture capital firms. She shares practical insights on fundraising, venture capital decision-making, startup investment strategies, and what founders need to understand before raising money.

If you're a founder, entrepreneur, or interested in venture capital, startup funding, and how investors make decisions — this episode breaks it down.

Please don’t forget to subscribe to our channel to get the latest episodes of The MAL Show.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:32 Ethics in Business
13:49 Between Judgement & Scrutiny
23:08 Transparency for founders
25:09 Balancing investment portfolio as VC
27:13 Due-diligence for founders
29:13 Preparing the right pitch
36:05 What do VCs want?!
43:37 Signs of troubled companies
46:10 The role of Finance
51:23 Currency's risk management
58:00 Expansion and diversification
59:08 Who is Dalia El Mohamady?
1:01:00 VCs' real clients?
1:04:49 Founders & VCs relationship
1:11:33 How VCs choose founders?
1:14:16 Final advice from Dalia

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/themal.show/
https://www.tiktok.com/@themalshow.podcast
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To get in touch with Yousef Salem
https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Dalia El Mohamady
https://eg.linkedin.com/in/dalia-elmohamady-76270370

#themalshow #vc #entrepreneur #fundraising #podcast

Mortgage Secrets You Need to Know | The Mal Show (podcast) with Mohamad Kaswani

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:00:00 +0400

In this episode of The MAL Show, we sit down with Mohamad Kaswani — entrepreneur and fintech & proptech leader, and former Managing Director of Mortgage Finder, part of the Property Finder Group — for a deep conversation on how money, systems, and technology intersect in the real world.

We dive into the mortgage and real estate ecosystem, unpacking why the mortgage process has historically been complex, how technology and data are reshaping the experience, and what’s really driving the Dubai real estate market today.

From there, the discussion expands into the broader startup and investment landscape, exploring the relationship between companies, customers, and investors, and what it takes to build and lead ventures in a fast-moving environment like Dubai.

Along the way, we touch on the role of initiatives and organizations in enabling entrepreneurship across industries, and how ecosystems are built through collaboration between different players.

Toward the end, the conversation shifts into something more personal, reflecting on the situation in Syria and the support initiatives taking place there. Mohamad Kaswani is a venture builder who has spent years operating at the intersection of technology, real estate, and financial services, contributing to the growth of platform-driven businesses and supporting initiatives that empower entrepreneurs and innovation across different markets.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
2:37 Startup ecosystem & Mohamad initiatives in Syria
10:12 The advantage of adversity
12:23: Mentorship
19:43 Ethical standards
21:02 ChatGPT vs Claude
26:32 Transparency loop
27:37 Most important factor in home buying
31:15 Buying Vs Renting
40:35 How Mortgage is calculated?
46:22 Mortgage period
48:26 Balancing Business vs Ethics
54:42 Choosing the right bank
1:08:36 Rent Now, Pay Later
1:11:45 Growth Debt in Startups
1:22:21 Mohamad Kaswani at heart
1:29:41 Investors as partners
1:38:38 Final advice from Mohamad

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
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To get in touch with Mohamad Kaswani
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamadkaswani/

#themalshow #proptech #mortgage #realestate #entrepreneur #podcast

How People Actually Make Money in Crypto | The Mal Show (Podcast) with Talal Tabbaa

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 22:00:00 +0400

Cryptocurrency is one of the most talked-about industries in the world today.

Some people see it as the future of finance. Others see it as speculation and hype. But beyond the headlines and price charts, an entire financial infrastructure is being built — exchanges, platforms, and systems that allow millions of people to buy, sell, and store digital assets.

One of the people helping build that infrastructure in our region is today’s guest.

Talal Tabbaa is the CEO of CoinMENA, a cryptocurrency exchange serving users across the Middle East and beyond, providing access to digital assets within a regulated environment.

In this episode of The MAL Show, we explore Talal’s personal journey into the crypto industry and what it takes to build a company in such a fast-moving and often controversial space.

We also break down cryptocurrency itself — why it exists, the problems this technology is trying to solve, and how the crypto market actually works. From trading and exchanges to the risks and realities of the industry, this conversation aims to help viewers better understand the world of digital assets.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

Talal Tabbaa’s journey into crypto
How cryptocurrency works and why it exists
How crypto exchanges operate
How trading works in the crypto market
The risks and opportunities in the industry
Building a regulated crypto company in the Middle East

Subscribe to the channel to get the latest episodes of The MAL Show.

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/themal.show/
https://www.tiktok.com/@themalshow.podcast
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To get in touch with Yousef Salem
https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Talal Tabbaa
https://www.linkedin.com/in/talaltabbaa/

#themalshow #crypto #bitcoin #cryptocurrency #entrepreneur #podcast

Fundraising, Careem and the AI Bubble | The Mal show (Podcast) with Wael Nafee

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:00:00 +0400

In this episode of The MAL Show (Podcast), we sit down with Wael Nafee — former Careem executive and now Partner at Raed Ventures, one of the region’s leading venture capital firms.

Wael has seen both sides of the table:
• building companies as an operator
• and backing founders as an investor

After studying and working abroad, he made the decision to come back and build in the region.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why some founders choose to return and build in emerging markets
• The culture of money and capital in the Middle East
• What Sharia-compliant fundraising actually looks like in venture capital
• Whether ethical constraints make companies weaker — or more disciplined
• The responsibility that comes with building products used by millions

And perhaps the most important question:

When your capital shapes companies used by millions of people…
what do you owe society?

A conversation about nation building, capital with consequence, and the moral weight behind scale.

We hope you enjoy this episode and don't forget to subscribe to our channel to get the latest episodes of the Mal Show.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro and Wael's journey
10:28 Sources of Fundraising
17:51 Sharia compliance Fundraising
23:09 Careem's positioning & acquisition
27:06 Careem's culture
33:23 Joining Raed Ventures
40:15 What do Investors look for?
44:32 Self assessment, correction & reflections
52:26 Money & Culture
57:55 Women & Money
1:01:12 Final advice on money

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

Follow us on Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/themal.show/
https://www.tiktok.com/@themalshow.podcast
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566478614883

To get in touch with Yousef Salem
https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Wael Nafee
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wael-nafee-2b78abb/

#themalshow #fintech #islamicfinance #entrepreneur #podcast

$230M to Build the First AI Islamic Bank | The Mal Show Podcast with Abdullah Abu-Sheikh

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0400

Islamic finance is worth trillions; but does it actually fix anything?

In the first episode of The Mal Show (podcast), we sit down with Abdallah Abu Sheikh, Founder & CEO of MAL, who raised $230 million in one of the largest seed rounds in the region to build what to be the world’s first AI-native Islamic digital bank.

But this conversation goes deeper than fintech.

We explore:

• Are Islamic banks truly different — or just conventional banks with different terminology?
• Is Sharia compliance enough to make finance ethical?
• How do you handle venture capital pressure while staying aligned with faith-based principles?
• What is Islamic finance really trying to fix in today’s system?
• Is debt always bad — or is it about structure and intention?
• Is investing in stocks and crypto halal?
• Why do so many high earners still feel financially stressed?

We also unpack Mal specifically:

• Why build another Islamic financial institution?
• What does “AI-native banking” actually mean for users?
• Can Islamic fintech scale globally like Revolut or Stripe?
• What changes the moment someone switches to Mal?

This is a conversation about capital and conscience.
About growth and responsibility.
About whether we can build serious financial infrastructure from the UAE — without copying the West.

If you care about money, ethics, investing, Islamic finance, or the future of banking in the region — this episode is for you.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:32 Building & Solving the region's problems
16:44 What is Islamic Finance?
19:33 Ethics vs Sharia Compliance
24:37 Reality of Islamic Banking
26:35 What problem is Mal trying to solve?
30:13 The System challenges
36:46 Financial safety
43:54 Mal as the first Ai native digital bank
45:21 Is a college degree still necessary?
49:26 Dealing with industry pressure & frustrations
55:09 What Talent is Mal looking for?
48:43 Voluntary vs involuntary Struggle and debt
1:05:41 Social Media & financial traps
1:10:03 Crypto and Islamic Finance
1:11:03 On being progressive..

We hope you enjoy this episode and don't forget to subscribe to our channel to get the latest episodes of the Mal Show

To get in touch with us:
podcast@mal.ai

To get in touch with Yousef Salem
https://www.linkedin.com/in/youssefsamysalem/?skipRedirect=true
https://www.instagram.com/youssefsamysalem?hl=en

To get in touch with Abdullah Abu-Sheikh
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdallahabusheikh/
https://www.instagram.com/abdallahabusheikh/

#themalshow #fintech #islamicfinance #entrepreneur #podcast