Business Extra
Business Extra is a podcast from The National News that provides expert analysis and insights on the Middle East's business landscape. The show features interviews with industry experts and coverage of markets, technology, and the energy sector. It is hosted by The National's team of business editors and reporters.
Episodes
The $2.2 trillion question: What if the Iran War never happened?
The financial cost of the Iran war is becoming clearer as according to the latest study by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the conflict is costing the global economy $2.2 trillion in annual GDP.
The US alone had spent $25 billion within two months of the war beginning, and sought a further $200 billion from Congress to continue operations. Economists estimate the long-term cost at around $1
World Cup economics: Ticket prices, tourism and visa restrictions
The 2026 Fifa World Cup was supposed to be a record-breaking economic windfall for the United States. But as the tournament gets under way, the numbers reveal a more complicated story.
Top-tier tickets for the final are going for more than $10,000, nearly seven times what the co-hosts' bid book originally promised. Hotel occupancy in some host cities, meanwhile, is tracking below normal summer lev
Why so few UAE SMEs become major companies
Small and middle-sized companies (SMEs) make up more than 95 per cent of businesses in the UAE and contribute more than 60 per cent of the country’s non-oil GDP. But despite that, the UAE still has relatively few SMEs growing up to become large private companies.
Founders have been saying that starting a business is much easier than scaling one, and in some cases, even easier than closing one.
As
Syria’s investment boom: Real opportunity or political mirage?
Syria is becoming part of the economic conversation again.
Over the past few weeks, there has been a lot of talk about investment and reconstruction, from the first Syrian-Emirati Investment Forum to upcoming business events in Damascus for the private sector in early June, and even discussions in Washington about Syria's economic future.
UAE officials and business delegations have met the Syrian
Is the UAE's exit the beginning of the end for Opec?
The UAE's decision to leave Opec is the biggest exit the organisation has faced since 1960.
As the group's third-largest producer and one of the few members with real spare capacity, the departure of the Emirates raises urgent questions about the future of global oil markets and the organisation that has shaped them for decades.
This comes at a critical moment. The Iran war is escalating, the Stra
How the UAE's Aleria is partnering with Nvidia to own its AI future
As global supply chains face sustained disruption, the UAE is pressing ahead with a plan to build sovereign AI infrastructure, technology and data that the country can control without relinquishing intellectual property to foreign providers.
In this week's Business Extra, recorded at Making it in the Emirates in Abu Dhabi, host Salim A Essaid speaks to the executives behind a deal finalised in Mar
UAE property: Experts address what is next for the market
The UAE property market has been one of the strongest stories in the sector globally over the past few years, with record transactions, rising prices and huge numbers of international buyers.
What makes the Emirates unique is not just the growth but its ability to recover quickly from downturns, attract global capital and reinvent itself through policy and positioning.
But over the past few weeks,
What the energy crisis reveals about how we power world
In a matter of weeks, energy supply shocks sent oil prices up by 30 per cent, fuel costs surged to record highs, and the ripple effects hit everything from inflation and global growth to household bills.
The International Monetary Fund has warned of one of the sharpest six-month economic downturns in the Middle East since the 2008 financial crisis.
But the larger question is not just what happened
Uncertainty is certain: Inside the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings
This year's IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington are unlike any in recent memory. The Iran war has given the annual gathering a geopolitical charge that has drawn an unusually broad crowd, not just the traditional ministers of trade, investment and finance, but foreign policy officials and venture capital executives from across the globe.
In this episode of Business Extra, host Salim A
Beyond oil: How the Iran war is already hitting wallets
The economic fallout from the Iran war extends well beyond oil markets and is beginning to be felt in consumers' daily lives.
With transport and production costs rising, food prices are beginning to climb globally and airline tickets are already more expensive. Analysts are anticipating that much of the inflationary impact has not hit consumers yet.
For Gulf economies, the question is whether stro
Inside Borouge: The UAE's petrochemical powerhouse
In this special episode of Business Extra, host Khaled Abuljebain sits down with Yan Martin Nufer, chief financial officer of Abu Dhabi-based Borouge, to explore how one of the region’s industrial giants is driving long-term value through innovation, technology and strategic expansion.
From delivering one of the largest IPOs in the UAE to returning more than $15.5 billion in dividends, Borouge has
CERAWeek in the shadow of war: How the conflict is reshaping the global energy conversation
Leading executives from the world’s most influential energy companies are gathered in Houston for CERAWeek, often described as the industry's Super Bowl, as the Iran war rattles global markets.
The conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran has disrupted supplies and raised concern over the stability of key routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
In this special live-recorded episode of Business Extr
How the Iran war is threatening water security in the Gulf
Water infrastructure, supply chains and agriculture are now increasingly exposed to geopolitical shocks.
As the US-Israeli war on Iran led to attacks on infrastructure across the region, attention is shifting to the energy-water-food nexus, a tightly interconnected system where disruption in one area quickly cascades into others.
In the Gulf, where countries rely on desalination for up to 90 per c
How UAE and Gulf residents can better manage their money amid Iran war turmoil
The effects of a distant war are rarely felt in the finances of residents in the UAE. Until now.
The US-Israel-Iran war that began at the end of last month is already affecting global markets, driving up oil prices and shipping costs.
While the long-term geopolitical effects are still unfolding, the financial consequences are directly affecting households across the Gulf.
What does this mean for h
How global energy security is being reshaped amid US-Israel and Iran attacks
Missiles are flying overhead and being intercepted in the Gulf region. Days after the US and Israel attacked Iran, it fired back, sending waves of ballistic missiles and drones towards Israeli and US targets, including assets in the Gulf.
The escalation quickly spread to regional energy infrastructure. Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery halted operations of its 550,000-barrels-per-day production,
The Ramadan economy: How UAE consumers are spending in 2026
Ramadan is a time of self-reflection, generosity, community and family, but it is also a period of intense consumer spending. Even as people fast from morning until dusk, spending rises across food and retail.
In 2026, how people spend is shifting, with more people staying home, ordering in, and buying not only products but experiences too.
Yet a recent survey suggests UAE consumers still expect t
Understanding Sovereign AI and why governments are racing to build it
A new phrase is quietly reshaping how governments, businesses and even militaries think about the future of power: Sovereign AI.
The term is appearing in policy papers, billion-dollar infrastructure deals, and national strategies from Washington to Beijing and increasingly across the Gulf.
But what does it actually mean? Is Sovereign AI about governments owning data and AI power? Is it about contr
Inside the UAE job market: What you need to know about hiring in 2026
In this live Q&A session, Business Extra host Salim Essaid explores what the UAE Salary Guide 2026 reveals about the job market.
He is joined by Viacheslav Shakhov, managing partner at Cooper Fitch, to discuss hiring trends across key sectors, how employers are responding to slower global growth, and why competition for skilled roles is intensifying.
The conversation explores the growing influ
How Adnoc Distribution is scaling profits and sustainability
This episode was produced in partnership with Adnoc Group
In this special episode of Business Extra, host Khaled Abuljebain speaks to Ali Siddiqi, chief financial officer of Adnoc Distribution.
Mr Siddiqi shares how the company is growing its national footprint while cutting costs and advancing the UAE's energy transition goals.
He outlines Adnoc Distribution’s plan to increase its fuel station ne
How Adnoc Gas is expanding its network to meet AI data centre demands
From powering AI data centres to ensuring long-term energy security, Adnoc Gas is shaping what reliable, sustainable and scalable energy looks like in the modern era.
Adnoc Gas is expanding its network of more than 3,500 kilometres of pipelines, reaching new AI data centres in Abu Dhabi and scaling liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity to meet rising global demand, all while maintaining long-term r
Behind the Bitcoin drop: Are we entering a new era for crypto?
Bitcoin lost over $18,000 in November, triggering one of the sharpest monthly declines since 2021.
With nearly $3 billion in forced liquidations, headlines declared a crash. But is that the whole story? In this episode of Business Extra, host Salim Essaid sits down with two major voices shaping the global crypto conversation.
First, Richard Teng, co-chief executive of Binance, explains what really
What you need to do to retire comfortably in the UAE
Millions of people move to the UAE for higher incomes, but after working hard for years and even decades, they face the big question: "How much do I need to retire comfortably?"
Living costs are rising and foreign residents of the UAE do not have the same pension schemes available elsewhere in the world. This leaves them having to rely on personal planning and savings, which can feel overwhelming.
Inside the UAE’s SME strategy
In this episode of Business Extra, Abdulla bin Touq, Minister of Economy and Tourism, joins host Salim Essaid to discuss how the country is positioning itself as the global capital for start-ups and small and medium enterprises.
Mr bin Touq explains how new economic reforms, ownership laws and innovation frameworks have reshaped the business landscape, doubling the number of registered companies i
How Adnoc L&S became a global logistics power
This episode was produced in partnership with the Adnoc Group
Capt Abdulkareem Al Masabi, chief executive of Adnoc Logistics & Services, joins this episode of Business Extra to explore the rise of the UAE’s largest integrated maritime logistics company.
Now ranked as the second-largest player in global energy logistics, Adnoc L&S has expanded its role on the world stage with a combination
Why more wealth is leaving the UK and landing in the UAE
A quiet transformation is reshaping the global wealth map. High net-worth individuals are moving their assets from the UK to the UAE.
The Revolut co-founder Nikolai Stronsky's recent change of tax residency from the UK to the UAE reflects a much broader trend. Higher taxes, the end of the UK’s non-dom regime, and general regulatory uncertainty are pushing wealthy people to look for stability, pred
What can Donald Trump’s Gaza economic plan offer without Palestinian sovereignty?
US President Donald Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza peace promises investment corridors and special economic zones. But without sovereign control, how can the Palestinian economy survive?
In Palestine, everything from the movement of goods to collecting taxes depends on approval from the Israeli government. The result is an economy that functions but is fundamentally constrained. It grows, but only
TikTok's new owners and what is at stake
As TikTok faces a high-stakes restructuring to divest from its Chinese ownership, a new deal is emerging.
Major US players including Oracle and Silver Lake are in the mix, along with MGX, a UAE-based company that could become one of the few overseas owners of the platform’s American operations.
This is more than a business deal. It determines who will shape the minds of users on one of the most vi
Beyond Carrefour: Why some global brands are losing ground in the Middle East
The announcement that Carrefour has shut stores in Kuwait, Bahrain and other countries made headlines across the region. But behind the immediate news lies a bigger story that international retail giants are struggling to keep Middle East consumers interested.
Consumers are increasingly turning their backs on big-name internationals and favouring local brands, home-grown experiences and practices
How Fed's interest rates decision affects economic policies and consumers in the Gulf
It’s a big week for global economies tied to the dollar with the US Federal Reserve widely expected to cut interest rates at its meeting.
Interest rates are a signal of how the Fed views the health of the economy and where it thinks things are heading. The decision heavily affects the economies of Gulf countries such as the Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, whose currencies are tied to the dollar
Middle East internet cables, the 'very vulnerable' communication corridor
People across the UAE and the region have noticed web pages loading more slowly, shows taking longer to stream and Wi-Fi going in and out.
This is because the undersea cables that support all those things have been damaged.
In this case, we’re looking at cuts to cables that lie at the bottom of the Red Sea. Around the globe, such cables run along seabeds and are the very foundation of internet con
Why some companies have suffered 'zero returns' from AI investments – and who got it right
Despite billions being spent over the past few years on artificial intelligence investments, a recent MIT Media Lab report found 95 per cent of organisations have produced zero returns so far.
But is that really the case for companies who are offering AI solutions? How are those in the Middle East performing?
In this episode of the Business Extra podcast, host Salim Essaid is joined by Mohammad Ab
What will Syria’s revalued currency mean for its economy?
Syria’s central bank has announced plans for a currency overhaul that will involve eliminating two zeros from its pound and printing new banknotes.
The Syrian pound has lost more than 99 per cent of its value since the start of the civil war in 2011, and economists are warning that a new currency means little without real policy reform.
In this week’s episode of Business Extra, host Salim Essaid l
What's behind US-UAE nuclear partnership?
Nuclear energy can be a flashpoint for tension in the Middle East.
Now, though, it's taking new light.
A handful of Gulf countries, including the UAE, have signed new agreements with the US in the past few months – each nation with its own advantages and goals in the sector.
These agreements focus heavily on civilian nuclear energy. But they are also part of a broader goal to futureproof Gulf econ
Donald Trump's new tariffs and the Middle East
New US tariffs are coming into effect this week. US President Donald Trump's newest deadline of August 1 is his latest attempt to secure trade agreements with vital global economies – and bring in more revenue for the US.
Take Monday’s deal between the US and the EU. They avoided a trade war by agreeing that the EU would pay 15 per cent tariffs on most goods – half the rate that Mr Trump had threa
What new US crypto laws mean for the future
Crypto has reached a critical moment in its history.
The US released a slew of game-changing bills for cryptocurrency last week, signalling a long-anticipated seal of approval of crypto from the world’s largest economy.
Those bills are the Clarity Act, something called the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, and – the Genius Act, which is what we are focusing on today.
It is all expected to have maj
How to own property in Saudi Arabia
A whole new property market is to open up to international buyers and it is from the Middle East’s largest economy.
Starting in January 2026, Saudi Arabia will allow foreign investors to buy property in the kingdom. It has left global investors eager to find out how they can tap into Saudi Arabia’s fast growing real estate market, which is expected to reach more than $94 billion by 2028.
But how e
What does Oman's new income tax mean for the Gulf?
The absence of income tax has helped to attract people from around the world to move to the Gulf. But one country is set to change direction.
Oman recently announced it will be the first country in the region to introduce personal income tax.
While some countries, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have other types of taxes, such as VAT, on most goods and services, Oman is making history with a l
Emiratisation and the future of work in the UAE
For decades, most Emiratis have worked in government roles. But now, thousands are joining private companies as part of a nationwide plan to balance the workforce.
Early iterations of Emiratisation began in the 1990s, with programmes formalised in the early 2000s.
About three years ago, the UAE gradually implemented quotas for hiring Emiratis and gave private-sector companies deadlines to meet the
Gulf economies and the Iran-Israel conflict: What's next?
Gulf leaders have been on alert for triggers on several fronts: for one, potential damage to nuclear sites, such as the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, just across the pond that is the Arabian Gulf.
The Gulf has also kept close watch on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway in the Gulf where about a fifth of the world's oil flows through to power the globe, and which Iran had threatened t
Oil up, stocks down: Market volatility amid Iran-Israel war
In the days since Israel started its offensive against Iran, oil prices have shot up and global markets dipped. Israel has struck nuclear sites and oil fields, and the aggression has left global markets wary of what’s to come.
Markets are holding out for the possibility of major supply chain disruptions that could have global impact.
To understand what this war means for the global economy, Busine
Middle East aviation takes off
“New” is the theme in the Middle East’s growing aviation sphere: new cities, new aircraft and new markets.
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) says carriers in the region are expected to post the highest net profit margin in the world this year, at 8.7 per cent.
These are strong numbers from the Middle East. But they are coming at a volatile time.
Host Salim Essaid hears from The Na
Dubai real estate: Are we heading into market correction?
In the UAE, where development is the name of the game, real estate is a big deal. There's a lot of growth in the UAE, and that means questions about property.
The real estate sector in Dubai has been booming since Covid, while there is also rapid development in Abu Dhabi.
A report from the credit rating agency Fitch says Dubai property prices are expected to fall by up to 15 per cent in the sec
Stargate UAE: What does it mean for the future of AI?
Last week, some of the biggest names in tech announced a partnership with Abu Dhabi’s leading AI entity, G42 – a project called Stargate UAE.
It’s part of a massive new AI campus set to come online in 2026 – a Gulf iteration of OpenAI’s US-based project of the same name, which was launched earlier this year.
Also happening at the same time will be a partnership between Nvidia and the UAE’s AI inve
The UAE's race to 'make it' here
The UAE is in a race with itself to raise its manufacturing game.
From machine parts to pasta, there is one goal: Make it in the Emirates.
That also happens to be the name of an event taking place in Abu Dhabi this week, showing what UAE manufacturing has to offer.
It’s part of a larger push by the country to be less reliant on international trade, aiming to expand and diversify the UAE economy a
What do Trump's business deals in the Gulf mean for the region and the US?
US President Donald Trump’s historic trip to the Gulf has come to an end – but the business deals announced during it will have a lasting impact.
Mr Trump’s tour was a whirlwind of mega-announcements, including $200 billion in commercial deals with the UAE, a $600 billion package with Saudi Arabia and a record aircraft order from Qatar Airways.
In this episode of Business Extra, host Sarah Forster
Why is Jordan burdened by external debt?
The Jordanian government owed 44.8 billion dinars in public debt as of February this year. That’s more than $63 billion.
It’s not $36 trillion dollars like the figure blinking on the US debt clock. But for a country like Jordan, where debt makes up more than 92 per cent of GDP, according to the International Monetary Fund, that number hits differently.
Jordan is now at a crossroads.
With US financ
Recession fears evoke deja vu. The Middle East might be safe.
It's been a time of tumult on Wall Street – at the hands of the White House.
US President Donald Trump made his plans for tariffs known on the campaign trail, but their scale has taken the world by surprise.
The sweeping tariffs sent global markets into chaos. Then, with the announcement of a 90-day pause, things calmed down. But that hasn’t done much for perhaps the greatest fear among investors
Sanctions on Syria: a look back, a way forward
For more than a decade, Syria has been under international sanctions aimed at pressuring Bashar Al Assad’s regime. But there is a longer history of sanctions on the country and the broader Middle East.
Sanctions can be used as a nudge – or shove – from government to government, usually during times of war.
But their impact continues into periods of relative peace, trickling from the highest ranks
Trump's tariffs are back. What are they and what do they mean for the Middle East?
Donald Trump has been vocal about his planned tariff war since setting foot on the campaign trail – in both his first and second times in office.
Mr Trump began his first stint in the White House with a trade war against China. Some of those tariffs were preserved by Joe Biden’s administration when he began his term in 2020.
But throughout his campaign, Mr Trump made clear he’d come back with tari
What challenges do women still face in the Middle East start-up scene?
The start-up economy is booming in the Middle East, but despite progress, women remain underrepresented, as founders and as recipients of funding.
While women-led start-ups make up 7 per cent of the region’s total, they receive about 1 per cent of available funding, Wamda statistics show.
In this episode of Business Extra, host Salim Essaid speaks with three female founders in the UAE – Yasmin Ros
Al Masaood Automobiles chief on the future of mobility
This episode is sponsored by Al Masaood Automobiles
The global automotive industry is undergoing dramatic transformation as owners seek more from their vehicles – and technology delivers.
This is evident in the UAE where major distributors such as Al Masaood Automobiles are anticipating and catering to shifting customer demands.
In this episode of The National’s Business Extra podcast, the company
AI and the Gulf: Where it's been and what's next
In the past decade, Gulf countries have prioritised innovation. It's part of a shift from their prime standing as oil economies to their new goal of using the advent of AI to enhance their economies all around.
It's getting attention from global tech hubs. A former Google chief recently said Saudi Arabia has the potential to become the next AI powerhouse. Only last month, Saudi Arabia's no
IFC's Makhtar Diop on AI, investments and emerging markets
Global leaders, policymakers and industry experts came together in Dubai this week at the World Governments Summit to discuss the most pressing challenges shaping the future. With a focus on sustainability, AI governance and global finance, this year's conversation set the stage for collaborative action in an evolving world, from economic resilience to technological innovation.
On this epi
TikTok, Meta and the Middle East: Social media shifts in the US and what they mean for the region
It’s been a busy few weeks in the world of tech, with big names such as TikTok, Meta and X making moves in terms of policy and business models.
Changes were announced as huge political shifts took place in the US – the start of President Donald's Trump's second term, being one – and some of them were moments for the history books. The timing is no coincidence.
This episode of Business Extra hears
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Tune in every other Wednesday for top stories from a global business hotspot, with vital analysis from renowned experts, diverse perspectives from key figures, and exclusive insight from The National's team of reporters.
Trump-Damac Dealing: What's behind it and what's next?
Two weeks before returning to office, US president-elect Donald Trump has his eyes on the Middle East — and business interests that are storied to him, but new to the White House.
The latest one stars one of the biggest business names in the UAE: Damac properties.
Emirati businessman Hussain Sajwani founded Damac in 2002. It’s now one of the leading real estate developers in the region.
Damac repo
Cash, not credit: the enduring power of paper
For the past few decades, slowly but surely, paper cash has increasingly been viewed as antiquated. Digital payment options are in. You can pay by card, by phone and even by smartwatch. Some people even opt to pay via cryptocurrencies.
Yet there are those who insist that physical, paper cash has role in future transactions. Some also insist that personal financial freedom and independence
How family values continue to drive the progress of Danube Group
This page was produced by The National in partnership or collaboration with Danube Group.
The Danube Group is a prime example of how 1990s opportunities in the UAE combined with business acuity to create a regional success story.
Having learnt tough retail lessons selling items from a Mumbai street cart, the brand’s founders went on to create a conglomerate that today employs thousands
How NHC is driving the Saudi real estate success story
Saudi Arabia is witnessing a housing boom that is transforming the country’s real estate sector, as home ownership rises and international investors join one of the world’s most dynamic markets.
Leading this transformation, developer NHC is meeting demand for lifestyle communities with mega-projects that anticipate future growth.
The kingdom’s real estate market is on a path to reach unprecedented
The new Hindi large language model
Just when you thought AI news and developments have reached peak saturation, it seems there’s always something new that captures our collective imagination.
Every week brings a new large language model – the backbone of many AI implementations.
This time, AI is getting a Hindi-language breakthrough. It’s part of NANDA, a project unveiled earlier this month at the UAE-India Business Forum in Mumbai
How Kamala Harris or Donald Trump might affect Middle East technology aspirations
The Middle East, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, has witnessed significant growth in sectors such as cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and FinTech, largely driven by cutting-edge technologies.
Some have speculated that the wealth and innovation created from those industries could eclipse that of the oil industries that defined the region.
However, this rapid expansion of crypto, AI,
How can EVs accelerate toward market growth?
After decades of anticipation, electric vehicles are becoming the mainstream – as more hit the roads globally, despite bumps along the way.
EVs are on the rise, driven by greater affordability, environmental concerns and a shift in consumer preferences.
But with geopolitics, infrastructure and misconceptions still in the mix, what does the future hold?
In this episode of the Bu
The future of digital banking in the UAE
Banking institutions are a common denominator for many throughout the developed world. Though often portrayed as powerful and imposing, banks, especially in recent times, have learnt to move quickly.
They have to adjust to consumer behaviour, and of course, make the most of technologies that change at a breakneck pace.
The banks of the Middle East, of course, are no different, and often, they are
How FinTech is evolving in the Middle East
In this episode of Business Extra, we explore the rapidly evolving FinTech landscape in the Middle East, where new apps and products are constantly emerging with promises of easier financial transactions and innovative money management solutions.
Among these players, Dubai-based start-up Ziina stands out for its methodical rise over the past few years.
Ziina aims to bring economic freedom and enha
What to expect after the global stock market slump
A global market sell-off kicked off the week, marking the biggest sell-off in decades.
Japan’s Nikkei started things off, dropping 12 per cent, which was the index’s worst day since the Black Monday crash of 1987. Following this, the rest of the world followed suit.
The Dow Jones dropped more than 1000 points, causing even the most casual of observers take notice. The world's 500 wealthiest people
Paris 2024: How AI is a game changer for the Olympics
The Olympics have always been a stage for showcasing human excellence in sports. But this year, technology and artificial intelligence play a pivotal role in enhancing the experience for everyone involved.
By integrating AI into various aspects of the Olympics, the event hopes to become more efficient, engaging, and inclusive.
In this episode of the Business Extra podcast, host Cody Combs is joine
What did we learn from the global tech outage?
Last week more than 8.5 million computers stopped working. The post-industrial and very much digital world in which we live, much of it anyway, came to a halt as well.
Airlines couldn’t check in travellers. Hospitals had to find new ways to help patients, and restaurants resorted to pen and paper to take reservations.
Cyber security company CrowdStrike inadvertently caused the chaos with a faulty
Co-founder on Palestine Cola's plans to expand and market reaction
Amid the war in Gaza, some communities, especially Arab ones, have decided to support the Palestinian cause by boycotting certain international brands.
To fill the void, new business endeavours have taken hold, such as local Arab brands.
Palestine Cola was born out of a desire to provide a meaningful alternative to global giants such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Three brothers from Malmo, Sweden, along
Front Office Sports founder on the business of sport
There is more to sport than wins and losses, the sports business comprises many factors, including the athletes, their training methods, their agents, franchises, media coverage and the team owners as well.
So what’s the future of sports media coverage, the business of athletics, and what does the future hold for the fans for whom sport is so important?
In this episode of Business Extra, host Cody
How LinkedIn led growth, engagement and professionalism among social platforms
Founded in California in 2002, LinkedIn’s growth has been at a methodical pace. Slowly but surely, the CV-based, aspirational job platform gained momentum and now has more than one billion members around the world.
Its journey started from simply a place to look for jobs and post CVs, to become a knowledge bank where people can learn, write articles, take classes and even play games to keep the mi
All about the UAE-based social media app that promises better monetisation
In the rapidly evolving world of social media, many new, innovative platforms are still trying to challenge the dominance of industry giants by promising better experience and – in some cases – better monetisation tools.
In this episode of Business Extra’s series looking at social media platforms, host Cody Combs is joined by Dave Catudal, founder of Lyvely, a UAE-based social media app that aims
How did Snapchat win the GCC market?
In 2011, amid the Arab uprisings, other protests around the world and the rise of social media, Snapchat emerged with a unique concept.
The app pioneered by Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy, and Reggie Brown allowed images shared to disappear after a certain time.
This innovation reshaped the social media landscape.
Snapchat quickly became a pioneer in the concept of augmented realit
Social Media Edition – Gary Vee on TikTokification and tech addiction
At a pivotal time when social media platforms are undergoing significant shifts, Business Extra host Cody Combs sat down with influential businessman Gary Vaynerchuk – known to millions as Gary Vee – who is chairman of communications company VaynerX and chief executive of its subsidiary VaynerMedia.
Starting out as a wine critic, Mr Vaynerchuk leveraged his knack for content creation and a deep un
Social Media Edition - History, hopes and hurdles
In this introductory episode of the Business Extra podcast, host Cody Combs delves into the evolution of the internet from its early days, the rise of social media and future prospects of platforms.
For younger generations, the internet before the advent of social media is almost unimaginable. In contrast, older generations reminisce about the simpler times of the World Wide Web before the emergen
Matt Dalio’s plan to improve education through gaming
As the saying goes, life isn’t all fun and games, or is it?
That’s part of the idea behind Endless Studios, a youth-focused game-making studio and learning hub, which is also on a mission to empower students all over the world by enhancing access to technology and education.
Endless also provides, devices, technology tools and even special operating systems to help children learn.
On this episode,
From World Economic Forum: Where will electric vehicles be in 2030?
More than 700 government officials, international organisations, politicians, corporate leaders and entrepreneurs have been gathering for two days in Riyadh for the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) special meeting to address the most important issues of the day and making an economy work for everyone.
One of the topics discussed during the event was transport and shipping at a time when stakeholders a
What is the role of AI in global sustainability?
How can environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility come together?
As the world commemorates the 54th Earth Day this week, host Cody Combs leads a discussion centred on the evolving role of an environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework in driving corporate strategies.
Amy Lehoczky, director of ESG at G42, Abu Dhabi's leading artificial intelligence and cloud computing compa
Driverless racing - what do we need to know about autonomous vehicles?
The Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi is no stranger to motorsport memories. At the heart of those memories are usually big names such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel. But now, a new type of race, without humans behind the wheel, is about to take place.
In this episode of the Business Extra podcast, host Cody Combs delves into the groundbreaking Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing Lea
Ramadan Edition - Gilberto Silva and Tim Chase on Striver app
Start-up Striver, which has football as its focus, is hoping to leave its mark as the world’s first abuse-free social media platform.
In this episode of Business Extra, host Cody Combs sits down with Tim Chase, co-founder of Striver, and Gilberto Silva, a former footballer also and co-founder of the app.
They look at how social media has mirrored the enthusiasm of sport, while also,
Ramadan Edition - How technology transformed observing faith for Muslims
In today's fast-paced world, technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, and religious rituals are no different. And in Ramadan, Muslims around the world increase their engagement with faith through fasting, performing prayers at mosques and reading the Quran.
From checking Iftar, Suhoor and daily prayer timings, to recitations, and remembrances, Muslims now depend on many apps to a
