News
SRMG Ventures Invests $5 Million To Boost Anghami’s Growth
As part of the agreement, the Riyadh venture capital firm will also have the option to increase its investment in the future.
With 120 million registered listeners and a catalog of over 100 million songs, streaming platform Anghami has become the go-to destination for Arabic and international music, podcasts, and entertainment in the MENA region.
Now, the venture capital arm of the Saudi Research and Media Group, SRMG Ventures, has invested $5 million in the Arab world’s Spotify equivalent, giving a further boost to the company’s growth.
SRMG Ventures announced that it will offer its “extensive media reach, content library, and portfolio of leading assets in audio/podcasts,” enabling Anghami to grab a larger share of a fast-growing music streaming sector predicted to “reach $700 million in the Middle East and North Africa in 2026”.
Last year, the market size for audio in the MENA region increased by 35%, primarily due to the popularity of cloud-based music streaming services.
“This demand coupled with the commercial opportunity […] makes digital audio and media one of the investment priorities for SRMG Ventures. These opportunities are also demonstrative of our strategy and commitment to support and develop the media ecosystem,” explained Jomana Al-Rashid, chief executive of SRMG.
Also Read: Dubai Community Launches AI-Powered Pedestrian Crossings
According to Grand View Research, global music streaming is projected to hit a value of $103 billion by 2030, growing at a yearly rate of 15%. Anghami is a key player in that growth, becoming the first technology company from the Arab world to be listed on New York’s Nasdaq stock exchange in February 2023.
SRMG Ventures explained that its investment in Anghami aligns with its strategy of backing businesses showing strong commercial growth. The venture capital company is also focused on media creators and immersive, interactive entertainment, with initial investments including Telfaz11, a Saudi media studio, and Vuz, a VR social media application.
News
Samsung Smart Glasses Leak Hints At Android XR Push
Images show a lower-cost wearable tied to Android XR, as Samsung lines up for a broader move into AI-driven eyewear.
Leaked images of Samsung’s first smart glasses point to a sub-$500 wearable, marking the company’s clearest step yet into extended reality hardware.
The device, codenamed Jinju, is expected to run Android XR with tight integration of Google Gemini. It reportedly skips a display altogether. That puts it closer to audio-led devices like Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses than full mixed-reality gear.
Specs are still fluid, but leaks point to a 12MP camera, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon AR1 chip, and bone-conduction audio. Pricing is tipped between $380 and $500.
A second model, Haean, is already in development for 2027. That version is expected to add a micro-LED display and land at a higher price bracket.
Also Read: Deezer Says AI Tracks Now Make Up 44% Of Uploads
A July Unpacked reveal is possible, though a full launch alongside devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 or Galaxy Watch 9 looks unlikely.
Samsung is moving in step with rivals chasing lighter, AI-first wearables. The form factor is still unsettled, though the company’s direction is clear.
Samsung Smart Glasses Leak Hints At Android XR Push
Creative Zone Launches UAE Startup Setup Program
Emirates Airbus A380 Returns To Service With Starlink Wi-Fi
NVIDIA Puts GPT-5.5 Codex In Hands Of 10,000 Staff
Deezer Says AI Tracks Now Make Up 44% Of Uploads
Yango Ride Introduces In-Chat Trip Planning In ChatGPT
Deezer Says AI Tracks Now Make Up 44% Of Uploads
NVIDIA Puts GPT-5.5 Codex In Hands Of 10,000 Staff
Emirates Airbus A380 Returns To Service With Starlink Wi-Fi
