Khaby Lame
Residence: U.A.E. & Italy
Followers: 161.8 million
Senegalese-Italian Khabane "Khaby" Lame is the most-followed TikTok influencer in the world, accumulating 161.8 million followers and 2.4 billion likes since he started out in 2020. Before becoming a full-time influencer, he worked as a CNC machine operator in a factory near Turin. Today, he is a resident of the U.A.E. and spends considerable time there, according to TikTok. While he danced and watched video games in his early content, he rose to fame by posting silent reactions while simplifying complicated "life hacks." In January 2022, Lame published a comic titled "Super Easy." In June 2022, Hugo Boss announced a collaboration with him, featuring all-black styles. Lame was added to Fortnite's Chapter 4 Season 4 in August 2023.
Abir El Saghir
Residence: Lebanon
Followers: 24.4 million
Lebanese self-taught celebrity chef and lifestyle blogger El Saghir has garnered 24.4 million followers and 352.7 million likes since 2021, teaching Middle Eastern cuisine recipes. She won TikTok's Creator of the Year and Food Creator of the Year awards in 2022 and hosted her own cooking show, "Abir's Kitchen," during Ramadan 2023. The program ran for 10 episodes on stc tv and Jawwy TV. El Saghir also has a YouTube channel with over 3.76 million subscribers.
Mohammed Shamsi
Residence: Saudi Arabia
Followers: 17.5 million
Bu hikaye Forbes Middle East - English dergisinin Jan 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Forbes Middle East - English dergisinin Jan 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
CONSCIOUS INVESTING
VentureSouq's cofounders and general partners, Suneel Gokhale, Sonia Gokhale, Tammer Qaddumi, and Sonia Weymuller, are actively reshaping the investment landscape. With $250 million in assets under management, the thematic fund manager is forging a distinct path, with a focus on fintech and climate tech.
VENTURING BEYOND CAPITAL
In just seven years, Shane Shin and Mahmoud Adi, Founding Partners of Shoroog Partners, have turned their startup into one of the Middle East’s biggest startup investors, with 500 million in assets under management. With ambitions far beyond venture capital, they’re now expanding further into credit markets and looking at where they can be pioneers.
ROCK STAR
WHAT IF THE REVOLUTIONARY TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED TO FRACK ROCKS FOR OIL COULD BE MODIFIED TO UNLOCK LIMITLESS CLEAN ENERGY FROM THE HEAT OF THE EARTH’S CRUST?
Breaking New Territory
Moroccan-Canadian singer and 30 Under 30 alumna Faouzia is having her biggest year yet and enjoying newfound fame in China. As her stardom rises, she’s now exploring new projects and possibilities.
5 Biggest MENA IPOs of 2024
This year has been pivotal for MENA, marked by a series of high-profile IPOs that drew interest from local and international investors. Here’s a look at the five biggest IPOs that defined 2024.
TOP VENTURE CAPITALISTS
MENA has emerged as a vibrant hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, fostering a dynamic landscape for startups.
Top Funding Rounds in MENA 2024
This year has seen some of MENA’s largest-ever funding rounds. Here’s a look at five standout deals. Only startups that were founded less than 10 years ago and had disclosed their funding rounds as of November 27, 2024, were considered.
Key Insights From MENA's Funding Landscape
MENA saw a mixed performance in the first nine months of 2024.
A Look Ahead: Travel Trends Shaping 2025
What will drive wanderlust in 2025? Here’s a look at the key travel trends set to dominate the year.
Codebreakers
Backed by 200 million in funding, 28-year-old SCOTT WU and his team of competitive coders at Cognition are building an Al tool that can program entirely on its own, potentially disintegrating the whole industry. Is its 2 billion valuation the result of a true breakthrough, or just more Al hype?
