Tyra Banks, an American entrepreneur and supermodel, speaks at the Forbes 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi in March 2022. Ruel Pableo for The National
Tyra Banks, an American entrepreneur and supermodel, speaks at the Forbes 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi in March 2022. Ruel Pableo for The National
Ms Banks plans to launch her latest venture, premium ice cream brand Smize Cream, in the UAE. AP
Ms Banks plans to launch her latest venture, premium ice cream brand Smize Cream, in the UAE. AP
Ms Banks made history in 1991, booking 25 shows at Paris Fashion Week — more than any other model had walked in a season at the time. EPA
Ms Banks made history in 1991, booking 25 shows at Paris Fashion Week — more than any other model had walked in a season at the time. EPA
As well as her talk show, 'The Tyra Banks Show', for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2008, Ms Banks also hosted 'America’s Next Top Model', one of the most successful reality television shows. Getty
As well as her talk show, 'The Tyra Banks Show', for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2008, Ms Banks also hosted 'America’s Next Top Model', one of the most successful reality television shows. Getty
After attending Harvard Business School 10 years ago, Ms Banks now guest lectures business students at Stanford University on personal brand. Getty
After attending Harvard Business School 10 years ago, Ms Banks now guest lectures business students at Stanford University on personal brand. Getty
Ms Banks will headline the inaugural session of the Access Granted talk series on May 26 in Abu Dhabi. EPA
Ms Banks will headline the inaugural session of the Access Granted talk series on May 26 in Abu Dhabi. EPA
Ms Banks is now a media and business pioneer, whose portfolio includes the production company, Bankable Productions. EPA
Ms Banks is now a media and business pioneer, whose portfolio includes the production company, Bankable Productions. EPA
Ms Banks will discuss the opportunities and challenges that exist for women in business and technology at an event in Abu Dhabi. Reuters
Ms Banks will discuss the opportunities and challenges that exist for women in business and technology at an event in Abu Dhabi. Reuters
Ms Banks is part of a delegation of female US technology entrepreneurs who will explore Abu Dhabi as a gateway for global expansion of their companies. Reuters
Ms Banks is part of a delegation of female US technology entrepreneurs who will explore Abu Dhabi as a gateway for global expansion of their companies. Reuters

Business

Start-Ups

Supermodel Tyra Banks picks Abu Dhabi as first market to expand her ice cream brand

The UAE’s evolution over the past 50 years and progress on female empowerment inspired the businesswoman to choose the capital for her brand's global expansion

Deepthi Nair
Deepthi Nair

May 26, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Supermodel-turned-businesswoman Tyra Banks picked Abu Dhabi as the first international market for her premium ice cream brand, Smize Cream.

“I picked Abu Dhabi for my brand’s global expansion because I am inspired by what the UAE has achieved in the past 50 years,” the businesswoman told the Access Abu Dhabi event in the capital on Thursday.

“It has evolved from the sand to the Moon. The country’s beauty and warmth touch me. Also, its progress on female empowerment.”

Ms Banks headlined the inaugural session of the Access Granted talk series, an initiative powered by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio) and Maven Global that aims to help US companies led by women and minority entrepreneurs to expand in Abu Dhabi and serve as a gateway for the wider Middle East market.

The programme is part of the emirate's strategy to attract global companies to set up their regional bases in Abu Dhabi.

Ms Banks, a former fashion model, is now a media and business pioneer whose portfolio includes the production company, Bankable Productions, which has made shows such as The Tyra Banks Show and America’s Next Top Model.

She is part of the Women of Web3 delegation, a team of female US technology entrepreneurs who shared their insights and are exploring Abu Dhabi as a gateway for global expansion of their companies.

“We will have ice cream scoop shops in Abu Dhabi, while B2B will contribute the bulk of our revenue. We will sell in bulk to the transportation sector, airlines, cruises, stadiums and arenas. We just closed a big deal,” Ms Banks said.

Smize Cream will also be launched in the metaverse in Los Angeles within a month, she said.

“It will be a luxurious, decadent digital experience. You can sign up now and get on the waiting list to get a non-fungible token. I want to make NFTs and the metaverse accessible,” she said.

"You can penetrate the market if you can be innovative. It’s all about working hard to attain your dreams," Ms Banks told the audience of entrepreneurs and businesswomen.

“I’m attracted to taking risk and bringing in revenue. I want to break down the doors now so people at a later date don’t get any bumps or bruises. Young people come up to me and tell me they don’t feel the pain because I’ve made it easier for them. This makes me wake up every day.

“Don’t be ashamed, do your cold calls and cold emails. The four most important words are ‘Who do you know?’ to connect me with to take me to the next level,” she advised entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi wants to celebrate entrepreneurs, build support structures for them and create a navigable path free of any hurdles, according to Abdulla Al Shamsi, acting director general of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.

“There has been a significant drive within the UAE government to support opportunities for women. About 66 per cent of our public sector employees are women,” he said.

As part of the Access Abu Dhabi initiative, the Adio will help expose businesses to the emirate’s enabling ecosystem, find them a location and source funding equity, Abdulla Al Shamsi, acting director general of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office said. Khushnum Bhandari/The National
As part of the Access Abu Dhabi initiative, the Adio will help expose businesses to the emirate’s enabling ecosystem, find them a location and source funding equity, Abdulla Al Shamsi, acting director general of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office said. Khushnum Bhandari/The National

“Opportunities shall be driven through innovation, creativity and challenging the status quo. We are here to remove hurdles, change regulations when necessary and learn from the business community. We are heading towards a knowledge-based economy.”

As part of the Access Abu Dhabi initiative, the Adio will help expose businesses to the emirate’s enabling ecosystem, find them a location and source funding equity, he said.

“We are creating a platform for people to thrive. People are the backbone of our knowledge-based economy,” Mr Al Shamsi said.

As part of the Access Abu Dhabi programme, delegations of notable Americans will gain an insider's experience of Abu Dhabi’s advanced infrastructure, hyper connectivity, competitive talent pool, lifestyle and business opportunities.

These groups will help to spread the word of the emirate’s advantages among their respective communities back home, Adio said.

The UAE and US have enjoyed strong ties for decades. The Emirates has been the top export market for US goods in the entire Mena region since 2009, with a value of $14.75 billion, the UAE embassy in Washington has said.

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Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199

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Directed by:Tom Beard

Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough

Stars: 4

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The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20six-cylinder%20turbo%20(BMW%20B58)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20340hp%20at%206%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20500Nm%20from%201%2C600-4%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20ZF%208-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100kph%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.2sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20267kph%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh462%2C189%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWarranty%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030-month%2F48%2C000k%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

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MATCH INFO

UAE Division 1

Abu Dhabi Harlequins 12-24 Abu Dhabi Saracens

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KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EJuly%205%2C%201994%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jeff%20Bezos%20founds%20Cadabra%20Inc%2C%20which%20would%20later%20be%20renamed%20to%20Amazon.com%2C%20because%20his%20lawyer%20misheard%20the%20name%20as%20'cadaver'.%20In%20its%20earliest%20days%2C%20the%20bookstore%20operated%20out%20of%20a%20rented%20garage%20in%20Bellevue%2C%20Washington%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EJuly%2016%2C%201995%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amazon%20formally%20opens%20as%20an%20online%20bookseller.%20%3Cem%3EFluid%20Concepts%20and%20Creative%20Analogies%3A%20Computer%20Models%20of%20the%20Fundamental%20Mechanisms%20of%20Thought%3C%2Fem%3E%20becomes%20the%20first%20item%20sold%20on%20Amazon%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E1997%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amazon%20goes%20public%20at%20%2418%20a%20share%2C%20which%20has%20grown%20about%201%2C000%20per%20cent%20at%20present.%20Its%20highest%20closing%20price%20was%20%24197.85%20on%20June%2027%2C%202024%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E1998%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amazon%20acquires%20IMDb%2C%20its%20first%20major%20acquisition.%20It%20also%20starts%20selling%20CDs%20and%20DVDs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E2000%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amazon%20Marketplace%20opens%2C%20allowing%20people%20to%20sell%20items%20on%20the%20website%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E2002%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amazon%20forms%20what%20would%20become%20Amazon%20Web%20Services%2C%20opening%20the%20Amazon.com%20platform%20to%20all%20developers.%20The%20cloud%20unit%20would%20follow%20in%202006%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E2003%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amazon%20turns%20in%20an%20annual%20profit%20of%20%2475%20million%2C%20the%20first%20time%20it%20ended%20a%20year%20in%20the%20black%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E2005%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amazon%20Prime%20is%20introduced%2C%20its%20first-ever%20subscription%20service%20that%20offered%20US%20customers%20free%20two-day%20shipping%20for%20%2479%20a%20year%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E2006%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amazon%20Unbox%20is%20unveiled%2C%20the%20company's%20video%20service%20that%20would%20later%20morph%20into%20Amazon%20Instant%20Video%20and%2C%20ultimately%2C%20Amazon%20Video%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E2007%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amazon's%20first%20hardware%20product%2C%20the%20Kindle%20e-reader%2C%20is%20introduced%3B%20the%20Fire%20TV%20and%20Fire%20Phone%20would%20come%20in%202014.%20Grocery%20service%20Amazon%20Fresh%20is%20also%20started%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E2009%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amazon%20introduces%20Amazon%20Basics%2C%20its%20in-house%20label%20for%20a%20variety%20of%20products%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E2010%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20The%20foundations%20for%20Amazon%20Studios%20were%20laid.%20Its%20first%20original%20streaming%20content%20debuted%20in%202013%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E2011%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20The%20Amazon%20Appstore%20for%20Google's%20Android%20is%20launched.%20It%20is%20still%20unavailable%20on%20Apple's%20iOS%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E2014%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20The%20Amazon%20Echo%20is%20launched%2C%20a%20speaker%20that%20acts%20as%20a%20personal%20digital%20assistant%20powered%20by%20Alexa%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E2017%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amazon%20acquires%20Whole%20Foods%20for%20%2413.7%20billion%2C%20its%20biggest%20acquisition%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E2018%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amazon's%20market%20cap%20briefly%20crosses%20the%20%241%20trillion%20mark%2C%20making%20it%2C%20at%20the%20time%2C%20only%20the%20third%20company%20to%20achieve%20that%20milestone%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Northern Warriors 92-1 (10 ovs)

Russell 37 no, Billings 35 no

Team Abu Dhabi 93-4 (8.3 ovs)

Wright 48, Moeen 30, Green 2-22

Team Abu Dhabi win by six wickets

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Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy

Director: Shahad Ameen

Rating: 3/5

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5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai

Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:

• Dubai Marina

The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739 
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960 
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104

• Downtown

Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure.  “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154

• City Walk

The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena.  “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809 
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052 
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210 

• Jumeirah Lake Towers

Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629 
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818 
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941

• Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770 
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002 
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152 

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Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.

Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.

The%20specs
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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11% – the number of Americans who said they trusted the news they read on Snapchat as of June 2017, according to Statista. Over a quarter stated that they ‘rarely trusted’ the news they read on social media in general

31% - the number of young people in the US aged between 10 and 18 who said they had shared a news story online in the last six months that they later found out was wrong or inaccurate

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More on this story
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Transgender report
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

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Updated: May 26, 2022, 2:02 PM`
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