In a week where there was outrage that Britain’s new Christmas stamps looked ‘too Eastern’ (hmm, whatever can they mean?) and Beirut’s Christmas decorations were too Islamic (Oh, I give up), Musletter is busy checking flight prices and local temperatures and wondering if it can squeeze in Umrah before work starts again. In the meantime, here’s what we have for you in this edition:
Martial apps: UAE launches global Jiu-Jitsu platform
Sky high: Jeddah skyscraper seeks to dwarf the competition
Down under: Can Australia become a halal food leader?
MidEast Mickey: Disneyland goes tech in Abu Dhabi
Big bond: MEA’s largest digital bond issued in Qatar
Plus: Our weekly recommendations on what to read, watch, and buy!
Let’s jump right in!
THE RUNDOWN
Here’s the scoop on everything you need to know
🇦🇪 UAE launches global Jiu-Jitsu platform: UAE-born app Ujitsu is a global digital platform aiming to bring together the world of Jiu-Jitsu. (Check out Eddie from the Deen Show teaching Mohammed Hijab the basics of the Japanese close combat martial art). The app aims to create a single ecosystem of athletes, coaches, and academies. It has already expanded into Europe and the U.S., helping users regardless of their level. The sport has grown rapidly worldwide recently, with over 125,000 people training in the UAE alone. But with a fragmented global community, Ujitsu hopes now to provide a centralized hub.
🇸🇦 KSA’s Jeddah Tower eyes 2028 completion date: Not just a tall building, it’s the tallest building. Or at least it will be when Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah Tower (previously known as Kingdom Tower) is completed in 2028, breaking the 1km mark and annoying the owners of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in the process. The structure will form the centerpiece of the $20bn Jeddah Economic City development and is not only 180 metres higher than the Burj Khalifa but is also designed by the same architect. Progress has been stop-and-start since its inception in 2010, but re-started properly in 2023, and now it’s full steam ahead.
🇦🇺 Australia halal export sector growing fast: With global demand for halal food projected to reach $3tr by 2028, Australia is stepping up to the plate (or some Australian sports metaphor which I don’t know.) Australia already exports more than $5bn in halal-certified goods each year (primarily meat and dairy) and is seen as one of the world’s most reliable sources due to its strict auditing processes and animal welfare rules. This has made Australian halal food products particularly attractive to the GCC market, given the region’s increasing focus on transparent supply chains.
🇦🇪 Why Abu Dhabi’s Disneyland will be the tech version: The UAE capital is set to open Disney’s seventh global resort in the early 2030s. Located on Yas Island, it will be within a four-hour flight for over 500 million people. So expect long lines. But what really sets it apart is that it’s the first Disneyland designed for the future and will be the company’s most technologically advanced resort. That means a futuristic waterfront design with immersive gaming and all the bells and whistles. Apparently, choosing Abu Dhabi was a no-brainer for The Mouse House – it was ‘a clear example of one of the world’s biggest brands deciding to go where it’s treated best.’
🇶🇦 Qatar’s first digital native bond: QNB Group and HSBC have issued Qatar’s first digital native bond, a $500 million three-year floating interest rate instrument. This marks the largest issuance of this kind by a financial institution in MEA. The bond is structured via HSBC Orion and is part of QNB’s strategy to diversify funding sources and tap into digitally innovative markets. This helps position Qatar as a regional pioneer in digital assets and signals the growing role of blockchain-based solutions in capital markets.
THE SPOTLIGHT
Roundup of interesting stories from the webosphere
🏝️ Your next vacation: Bursa, Türkiye, the Birthplace of the Ottoman Empire. Plus, great food and even better views.
📊 This week in stats: 70.8% of UAE investors trust AI to manage investments. Question is: Do you?
📰 Good news corner: Check out the Goodable app. It has a daily dose of positive news and good mental health tips.
🚨 ICMYI: Hub71 has partnered with the UAE-India CEPA Council to help high-potential Indian startups enter Abu Dhabi. The aim is to accelerate trade and innovation.
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FROM MUSLETTER
RECOMMENDATIONS
🎧 Listen: Rep. Ilhan Omar talks to Hasan Minhaj. They discuss politics, democracy, and SRK movies.
📚 Read: ‘Waiting to be Arrested at Night’ by Tahir Hamut Izgil. Beautiful, tense, sad writing from the Uyghur Muslim poet.
👀 Watch: Aamer Rahman returns to the stage. Briefly. And says more in 20 seconds than most comedians do in an hour.
🛴 Visit: The Muhammad Ali Center, Louisville, KY. Recently upgraded exhibits on the great boxer’s faith, philanthropy, and much more.
🛍️ Shop: Got a dhikr ring yet? It’s a smart ring that connects to your phone – track your tasbih counts with ease.
The only thing that matters is submitting to the will of God. – Muhammad Ali
HALAL HA-HA
MULLA NASRUDDIN CORE
Nasruddin returned from the forest with a bundle of wood, which he balanced on his own head while riding his donkey. A friend asked why he didn’t let the donkey carry the load. “I wanted to help share the load,” Nasruddin said. “I don’t understand,” his friend replied, looking puzzled. “The donkey is carrying me,” explained Nasruddin, “but I’m carrying the wood.”🃏
How did you like today’s story?
TODAY’S EDITION
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