As the FIFA World Cup 2026 was underway, Khan jetted off to Vancouver to support Team Qatar's journey. With the summer being quiet, we've seen it's still business as usual with announcements. We decided to pull off another episode in the air (counting this as our 6th one), especially as we crunched what's relevant to the MENA region from all the announcements.Another milestone for the podcast just one year laterUAE being first in the Middle East to regulate social media for teenagersMeta's hunger for more subscriptions, now with their "Plus" options alongside Meta VerifiedMore of Meta: Threads' 500M+ milestone, AI-based dubbing in Arabic for Reels, and Instagram's newer way for Your Algo tweaksCapCut's cross-platform presence to get a worthy challenger when Edits makes its desktop debutGoogle's new creator search profiles to better surface influencers/creators in searchHow different social media platforms are tapping into the FIFA World Cup 2026and much more.P.S: Khan was travelling light, so he used his AirPods for this. Apologies for his voice quality (even with lot of post-production editing), but we're very adept at being 'on the move' when recording our episodes.-- Chapters --(00:00) Opening and Intro(02:51) Podcast milestone(07:33) UAE's Newly-Announced Social Media Regulations(15:57) Meta's New Subscription Options as 'Plus'(20:53) Too many Subscriptions(25:35) FIFA World Cup across Social Media(29:50) Instagram Algorithm Changes(35:00) Edits on desktop to challenge CapCut(41:13) Meta's Arabic Dubbing and Content Accessibility(46:08) Google's new Creator Search Profiles(48:20) Catching AI-generated music with Deezer's new tool(50:32) NVIDIA's RTX Spark vs Qualcomm's Snapdragon X for Windows on ARM(52:54) Apple's Pricing Strategy and Consumer Behavior(55:15) Wrapping up with final thoughts---If you're keen to suggest topics that you'd want to hear more about with a Middle East focus, follow us on our accounts below and drop us a message.Yasser Masood (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Gazanfarulla Khan (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The Geeky Nomads (⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

After a few months of a quiet period due to the current geopolitical tensions and challenges in the Middle East region, we're back with our new season right up in the air.What do we have lined up?SpaceX's Starlink saw a rollout to additional markets during the regional conflictImpact of the data centers from AWS to Google CloudWHOOP is going big in the Middle East regionTakeaways from the Google IO 2026, unveiling what's coming to the MENA regionSports fans following their favourite sports/leagues should check out the Apple Sports app, especially with the upcoming FIFA World CupPlus, we have some updates to our upcoming episodes as well. Sit back, put on your headphones and enjoy it either as video our audio. Don't forget to subscribe and share this with your network.-- Chapters --(00:00) Opening(01:00) Welcome Back and Personal Updates(03:20) Navigating Challenges in the Middle East(06:12) Tech Resilience Amidst Geopolitical Tensions(09:00) Investments in the Middle East Tech Landscape(11:51) The Future of Events and Tourism in the Region(14:48) Gaming and eSports Developments(16:35) Starlink expansion to Kuwait and UAE(18:42) Apple Sports App going global(20:13) AI and Its Impact on Sports and Beyond(25:20) Using AI Mode with searching our names(28:01) The Evolution of AI in Search(29:57) AI Models and Competition(32:36) Google's AI Innovations and Subscriptions(33:42) AI Transparency and Content Verification(35:23) The Future of App Development with AI(38:12) Imagine: AI agents to plan our episode?(39:15) WHOOP: Going big in the Middle East region(40:11) Health Tech Innovations in the Middle East(46:43) The Rise of Fitness Tracking Devices(50:38) Looking Ahead: Future Episodes and Topics---If you're keen to suggest topics that you'd want to hear more about with a Middle East focus, follow us on our accounts below and drop us a message.Yasser Masood (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Gazanfarulla Khan (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The Geeky Nomads (⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

As 2025 crawls to its conclusion, we look back on the whole season with the Middle East grabbing plenty of headlines spanning three major countries. What better way to reflect than with another episode at 36,000ft up in the air featuring our c-host.With the whole focus on AI and even branching out to mergers/acquisitions, there hasn't been a quiet period at all. Yet, there are some surprises that have crept in as well including Qatar joining their neighbor's ranks with their own efforts related to AI and many more.With the podcast, it's been a significant step-up as we brought on guests focused on many themes relevant to the Middle East region itself.-- Chapters --(00:00) Introduction and Context of the episode(02:02) Reflecting on Season Highlights and Guest Appearances(06:03) Emerging Trends in the MENA Region's Tech Landscape(09:59) AI Developments and Investments in Qatar(14:04) Data Centers and Digital Transformation in the Region(17:53) OpenAI and Regional Partnerships(21:31) Future of Data and AI in the MENA Region(27:39) Data Center Embassies and Geopolitical Challenges(30:26) AI Demand and Regional Developments(33:42) AI Subscriptions and Market Dynamics(38:43) GCC Cooperation and Regulatory Challenges(40:59) Saudi Investments in Entertainment and Technology(44:58) Airline Innovations and Passenger Experience(47:28) VPN Adoption and Regional Regulations---If you're keen to suggest topics that you'd want to hear more about with a Middle East focus, follow us on our accounts below and drop us a message.Yasser Masood (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Gazanfarulla Khan (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The Geeky Nomads (⁠⁠Website⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Sami Fathi's love for tech and writing began as an editor to the popular Apple news site ⁠MacRumors in 2021⁠, making him one of the few Arabs (even quite a young one) to publish for a global and popular site covering the latest rumors/announcements on Apple while residing in Saudi Arabia.Since leaving the role in January 2023, he's become a prominent tech commentator and Apple observer via his ⁠X account⁠ and publishing on ⁠Cupertino Lens⁠, while also representing Saudi Arabia internationally on behalf of ⁠MISK⁠.With 2025 being a major year that saw many tech announcements made for and in Saudi Arabia, we dove deep into the country's growing influence and strategic goals as they spread their influence and showcase the opportunities leading upto the country's Nation Vision 2030. As a citizen of Saudi Arabia, Sami has witnessed the evolving tech landscape in the region, chiming in on Apple's expansion into Saudi Arabia (after many years), and the importance of human capital in driving tech growth. From the challenges tech companies face in the Middle East to the ambitions of Saudi youth, nothing is off the 'virtual majlis'.With the likes of NVIDIA, Qualcomm, AMD, Adobe and more tech heavyweights announcing new ventures and partnerships, Sami highlights the potential of Saudi Arabia as a new hub for technology in the MENA region. The results also impact Vision 2030 on the country's economy and the wider region. -- Chapters --00:00 Episode overview03:10 Sami Fathi's beginnings at MacRumors06:25 Navigating the Media Landscape as a Saudi Tech Commentator12:32 Apple's Expansion into Saudi Arabia20:33 Apple's Strategic Approach to Market Entry24:51 The Silicon Valley Tour by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince27:39 The Tech Savviness of Saudi Citizens28:34 USA vs Middle East: process simplicity and efficiency35:01 Big tech names opening up: Is it enough?36:04 Investing in Human Capital42:34 Opportunities for Young Saudis44:04 Sami's multiple hats and Saudi society behavioural trends46:59 Global Brands' mistakes entering Middle East region50:25 Geographic parity on feature rollouts54:05 Middle East at the bottom for global brands57:23 MENA feature rollouts yet only UAE and Saudi Arabia are highlighted01:00:21 Future Innovations from Apple01:03:19 Final remarks as Saudi forges ahead to Vision 2030---If you're keen to suggest topics that you'd want to hear more about with a Middle East focus, follow us on our accounts below and drop us a message.Yasser Masood (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)Gazanfarulla Khan (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) The Geeky Nomads (⁠Website⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Gazanfarulla Khan travels from Doha, Qatar to Lisbon, Portugal to attend the 10th edition of Web Summit Lisbon - the main anchor event among all the Web Summit chapters held throughout the year. Along with highlighting the Lisbon event's significance, the focus for the event has still been on AI and alongside the growing demands for it across industries. With more than 71,000 attendees also including representation of women in startups, Khan even chimes in on the intersection of technology and Formula 1. As the calendar year draws to a close, Qatar is also set to host WSJ Tech Live Qatar and MWC Doha in the coming weeks. Plus, we expand a bit more on our next episode related to job hunting in the Middle East region.Related readings referenced in the episode: Microsoft's AI Diffusion reportProgress of Stargate UAEMicrosoft's $15.2Bn investment in UAE for AI-- Chapters --00:00 Onsite in Lisbon, Portugal04:38 Web Summit Lisbon's Opening Night10:19 AI Trends and Innovations at Web Summit Lisbon17:46 Investment Trends and Market Dynamics19:44 Energy consumption trends for AI Data Centers23:42 Women in Startups and Social Impact26:41 Upcoming episode on job hunting in the MENA region28:08 Career Ladder at Web Summit Lisbon30:03 Web Summit Lisbon Highlights35:29 F1 at Web Summit42:10 Media Landscape and Opportunities45:35 WSJ Tech Live in Qatar48:00 Ending Remarks

Personal branding has been growing in places like the USA/Canada and Europe, and the MENA region is slowly seeing a shift in embracing it. South Asians and Arabs believe their social standing is completely tethered to a fancy job title and/or prominent business brand. We've invited Sabine Kuhn - founder of Talent and Truth, a boutique personal branding consultancy dedicated to building high-impact executive brands on LinkedIn and beyond - to expand and dive into the shift and trends of personal branding by professionals in the region. If you're looking to elevate and enhance your personal brand, we've got some actionable insights and even simple tricks to kick-start the process.You can use "50SIGNUPS" to avail her first course to kick-start your personal brand journey based on years of work with their pool of clients.Don't forget to follow Sabine Kuhn and Talent and Truth on LinkedIn.-- Chapters --00:00 Opening00:33 Today's episode: Personal branding in MENA region02:02 Introducing our guest04:19 The Birth of Talent and Truth08:11 Common Myths of Personal Branding09:19 Cultural Perceptions in the MENA Region13:05 Trends in Personal Branding18:07 The Role of Content Creators for CEOs20:18 Navigating LinkedIn and Instagram for Branding27:17 Language and Quality Control30:08 Common Pitfalls in Personal Branding33:46 Balancing Authenticity and Professionalism36:40 Understanding ROI in Personal Branding40:29 Those who want LinkedIn Top Voice status42:53 Challenge of Virality vs. Thought Leadership47:21 Future of Recruitment and Likeability52:04 Random: Yasser and Khan's presence on LinkedIn54:58 Importance of Direct Communication57:24 Building Connections on LinkedIn58:49 Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile for success01:02:47 Crafting an Engaging LinkedIn Biography01:06:32 Establishing a Posting Routine01:08:28 Future Directions for Talent and Truth01:10:47 Learning from Experience01:15:17 Overcoming Personal Branding Fears---If you're keen to suggest topics that you'd want to hear more about with a Middle East focus, follow us on our accounts below and drop us a message. You can also suggest it ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠via Google Forms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Yasser Masood (⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠)Gazanfarulla Khan (⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠) The Geeky Nomads (⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Fellow tech enthusiasts! We're bringing you along on our journey to the first-ever Web Summit in Vancouver (previously known as Collision held in Toronto, Canada). We're diving into the heart of the tech world, sharing our personal experiences and the incredible energy of this event. From AI to machine learning, and the unique vibe of Vancouver, we're excited to share what we've discovered.- Chapters -00:00 Introduction to Web Summit Vancouver02:39 Comparing Web Summit Locations05:05 Key Highlights from Web Summit Vancouver08:23 Insights on BlueSky and Decentralized Social Networks11:16 Startup Ecosystem and Investment Opportunities14:13 Vancouver's Tech Landscape and Industry Drivers17:08 Reflections on Event Organization and Experience20:43 AI and Machine Learning Discussions22:50 Closing Thoughts and Future Prospects26:41 AI's Understanding of Identity28:31 Governance and AI Accessibility30:31 The Future of AI Investments33:14 Media Presence and Community Engagement39:55 The Evolution of Content Creation49:05 Reflections on Web Summit Vancouver---If you're keen to suggest topics that you'd want to hear more about with a Middle East focus, follow us on our accounts below and drop us a message. You can also suggest it ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠via Google Forms⁠⁠⁠⁠.Yasser Masood (⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠)Gazanfarulla Khan (⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠) The Geeky Nomads (⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠)

We're back with another episode up in the air at 36,000ft and going even higher with a guest joining us on the move while on-ground. Shashank Nigam (CEO of aviation consultancy Simpliflying) joins us to talk about the evolving landscape of the aviation industry, focusing on sustainability, connectivity innovations, and the role of technology in enhancing customer experience. We even explore the challenges and opportunities presented by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and the importance of airports in shaping the future of air travel. All while being focused on the Middle East region and the aviation players that have disrupted the status quo.Chapters(00:00) Introduction to the Podcast(01:30) Let's introduce our guest(04:30) Recent Boeing Aircraft Orders(05:35) The Impact of Technology on Air Travel(08:05) Riyadh Air's product strategy(09:04) In-flight Wi-Fi connectivity(11:37) The early path for in-flight connectivity(14:05) Enhancing Customer Experience with Connectivity(16:37) Personalized AI interactions for travellers(18:17) AI resolving a major issue(21:05) Airline apps that made inconveniences better(23:34) Airports as Key Differentiators(24:32) A Long-Term Vision for Smart Airports(26:14) The Role of Pre-Clearance Facilities(30:44) Innovative Funding for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)(33:03) Corporate Responsibility in Aviation Sustainability(36:44) Evolving Technologies and Government Policies in Aviation(39:59) Balancing Growth and Sustainability in Aviation(46:54) Navigating Connectivity Challenges(49:33) Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the Middle East(52:16) Innovative Airport Designs for Sustainability(54:49) Leadership in Aviation Sustainability(56:03) Closing Thoughts and Future Directions(56:19) Navigating Connectivity Challenges(57:28) Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the Middle East(01:00:12) Leadership in Aviation Sustainability(01:03:22) The Future of Airports and Airlines(01:06:26) Closing Thoughts and Future Insights---If you're keen to suggest topics that you'd want to hear more about with a Middle East focus, follow us on our accounts below and drop us a message. You can also suggest it ⁠⁠⁠⁠via Google Forms⁠⁠⁠.Yasser Masood (⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠)Gazanfarulla Khan (⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠) The Geeky Nomads (⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠)

It's a new milestone for our podcast - we've brought our first guest, ready to unravel more of a big news piece we discussed a few episodes ago (hint: iHeartMedia). Andy Kelly, the Senior Vice President of Ruby (iHeartMedia's branded content studio), joins us to discuss the vision behind their international expansion in partnership with the GCO of Qatar, the role of podcasting in the region, and the importance of creating localised content. The conversation also highlights the significance of human connection in audio, the challenges and opportunities in the MENA market, and the future of audio advertising with international expansion.Note: As of the moment the episode was published, Andy Kelly has been promoted to EVP of Global Brand Partnerships at iHeartMedia.- Chapters -(00:00) Introduction to iHeartMedia and Podcasting in MENA(02:57) The Journey of iHeartMedia's International Expansion(06:21) The Vision for Podcasting in the MENA Region(09:07) Insights from Web Summit Qatar 2025(12:00) The Role of Audio in Advertising(15:19) Building a Podcasting Ecosystem in Qatar(18:08) Creating Localised Content for Diverse Audiences(21:11) Navigating Cultural Sensitivities in Content Creation(24:08) Live Events and Community Engagement(27:01) Future Plans for iHeartMedia in the MENA region(38:59) Building a Creative Hub in Doha, Qatar(42:03) The Future of Podcasting in MENA(45:04) Understanding the Podcast Audience(47:28) Collaborating with Regional Creators(52:16) Branded Content and Market Demand(53:52) Analytics and Support for Creators(56:00) The Importance of Storytelling in Podcasting---If you're keen to suggest topics that you'd want to hear more about with a Middle East focus, follow us on our accounts below and drop us a message. You can also suggest it ⁠⁠⁠via Google Forms⁠⁠.​Yasser Masood (⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠)​Gazanfarulla Khan (⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠) ​The Geeky Nomads (⁠Threads⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠YouTube⁠)

This episode takes us to new heights — literally in every possible sense — as we decided to try something new. Gazanfarulla Khan was travelling to Montreal, and we recorded our episode live while Yasser was at home. The venue and occasion made it quite an ideal scenario to discuss something relevant to the Middle East region - airlines/aviation/airports with the intersection of technology and AI, particularly focused on the advancements in the Middle East.Tapping into Starlink technology for the in-flight Wi-Fi to record the episode, we cover everything related to: the digitization of airlines and airports, innovations in air traffic control, and the importance of sustainability in aviation. On a future note: the possible return of hypersonic travel and growth in space tourism, Middle East's role as a hub for aviation innovation, and the significance of personalization in enhancing customer experience to remove pain points in the journey.Note: These are our individual opinions, as I used to work for an airline and Khan is still currently employed at an airline.-- Chapters --(00:00) Introduction and Unique Recording Setup(03:50) Technology in Aviation: A New Era(09:57) Innovations in Airport Experience(17:32) Sustainability in Aviation(23:19) Future Trends and Technologies in Aviation(32:15) The Rise of Hyper-Personalization in Aviation(33:42) Sustainability in Air Travel(35:41) The Future of Autonomous Technology in Aviation(38:03) Innovations in Space Travel and Hypersonic Flight(42:15) The Evolution of Airport Infrastructure in the Middle East(48:07) The Role of Innovation Hubs in Aviation(52:54) The Impact of Technology on the Travel Experience---If you're keen to suggest topics that you'd want to hear more about with a Middle East focus, follow us on our accounts below and drop us a message. You can also suggest it ⁠⁠via Google Forms⁠.Yasser Masood (LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube)Gazanfarulla Khan (LinkedIn, Instagram) The Geeky Nomads (Threads, Instagram, YouTube)