Bitesize Business Breakfast Podcast

Salik, parking and petrol cost more from Jun 1 01.06.2026 25min

01 Jun 2026. Huge changes in Dubai from today, including petrol prices rising around 8% while diesel drops by over 7%. Global oil prices are falling, so why are UAE fuel prices going up again in June? We find out with Kpler. Plus, air passenger demand in the Middle East almost halved in April due to the conflict. We discuss the global impact and the search for green shoots of recovery with Kashif Khalid from IATA. And hoteliers across the UAE are celebrating a surge in staycations over Eid. But will local demand be enough to see them through the summer? Kym Barter, MD of Atlantis the Royal and Atlantis the Palm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gifting, jets and human connection. The Eid brunch. 28.05.2026 33min

28 May 2026. We find out what Eid has meant so far for those selling popular gifts like flowers and chocolates, that’s with the team from Udora. Plus, forget flight prices, what does the private jet market look like over Eid? We speak to VistaJet. And in a region obsessed with tech, one UAE startup is selling something very different. Human presence. We find out how loneliness has become a business opportunity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A growing rental network, a coffee pivot, and a US green card shake up 26.05.2026 32min

26 May 2026. The Business Brunch: We speak to the head of a short term accommodation network that opened just one month before the conflict but is growing regardless. Raw Coffee has taken on a new partner as it heads into a new stage of growth. What stage is that? We find out. And foreign nationals in the US now have to go home to apply for a green card. We find out what that could mean for UAE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trump says the Strait could reopen. Here’s what it means for us. 25.05.2026 34min

25 May 2026. President Trump says he’s close to a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Economist Nick Stadtmiller of Emirates NBD joins us to break down what that could actually mean for the UAE economy. Plus, the closure of the Strait means moving companies haven’t been moving as much. We find out what they’ve been doing instead with the CEO of Easytruck. And the UK just closed a £3.7 billion trade deal with the GCC, the first G7 country to do so. Deyana Cherneva, Regional Head of Global Trade Solutions at HSBC Bank Middle East, on what the agreement actually unlocks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dubai announces 1.5 billion dirhams of economic support 22.05.2026 41min

22 May 2026. The Executive Council of Dubai has put together a second package of economic incentives, this one worth 1.5 billion dirhams. The support measures include the delay or exemption of various fees and fines, as well as different types of rent relief, across sectors including tourism and education. Economist Dan Richards of Emirates NBD joins us to dig into the detail. Plus, strategy consultancy Kearney on how the Gulf can emerge from the conflict stronger. Mashreq has a bold new SME promise. Open a business account in one day or get 1,000 dirhams back. The UAE rolls out one health insurance system across all seven emirates for Emiratis. And Imagine Dragons, Lewis Capaldi and Zara Larsson are heading to Yas Marina Circuit this December for the Abu Dhabi GP, more details with Ethara.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New UAE pipeline bypassing Hormuz 50% complete, says ADNOC CEO 21.05.2026 37min

21 May 2026. The UAE’s new crude oil pipeline bypassing the Strait of Hormuz is now 50% complete, as the country accelerates delivery towards 2027. That’s according to Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology. Plus, Primark opens its third set of doors in the UAE today and we speak to Alshaya boss John Hadden. We find out what the Dubai real estate hiring situation actually looks like, who’s getting hired and for how much, with one of the largest real estate recruitment agencies in the region. Dubai’s property market is still moving but buyers and tenants are behaving very differently right now. Espace tells us what’s actually transacting and how the leasing market is shifting. And how are advertisers actually behaving in this market right now? The ARN Business Club event is coming up and we find out why radio still works when budgets get tight.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Etihad Rail's Fujairah station ready to receive passengers 20.05.2026 33min

20 May 2026. The focus now turns to how the trains will fast-track tourism and transform the surrounding area. Georgia Tolley has been talking to Etihad Rail’s Executive Director of Commercial about how it’ll be a catalyst for growth. Plus, AED 62 billion. 22 million square feet. Right next to what will become the world’s largest airport. We find out what’s being built with the CEO of Dubai South. ADNOC Distribution is tying up with Americana to bring 200 quick-service restaurants to its service stations - we find out more with Jacqueline El Boghdadi, CMO at ADNOC Distribution. And finally, still thinking of a staycation for Eid? We find out what’s left, where to go and what it’ll cost you up north with Phillipa Harrison, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you creditworthy? 19.05.2026 37min

19 May 2026. Etihad Credit Bureau has launched a new service to help landlords make sure their tenants are creditworthy. Brandy speaks to Director General H.E. Marwan Lutfi. Plus, Dubai-founded GymMation has secured a 100 million dollar private credit facility from HPS Investment Partners - which is part of asset management giant Blackrock, the founder and CEO tells us more. Bond markets are flashing warning signs with Treasury yields at 15-month highs and a Fed rate hike now on the table. Emirates NBD’s Chief Economist Nick Stadtmiller joins us on what it means for the region. And the Indian rupee just hit a fresh all-time low against the dollar. The Continental Group on what that means for the expats living here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What will the West-East pipeline mean for the UAE's energy industry? 18.05.2026 27min

18 May 2026. ADNOC has announced it is accelerating construction of its West-East pipeline. The project, now expected online in 2027, will run from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah and double export capacity, allowing the UAE to bypass the Strait of Hormuz entirely. But with the UAE now out of OPEC, what does it also mean for expanding production capacity? Economist Daniel Richards with his view. Plus, three years of free fuel and cars moving by rail - two big moves from Al Masaood Automobiles. Why buy a car when you can subscribe to one? Swapp on the $20 million bet behind car subscriptions in the UAE. And after the Trump-Xi summit and with the Strait still under pressure, CSC Commodities on where oil markets actually go from here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yas Island as the location for Sphere Abu Dhabi 15.05.2026 43min

15 May 2026. Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism and Sphere Entertainment Co. have announced Yas Island as the location for Sphere Abu Dhabi. Plus, we look at what happened to Dubai real estate values in April after March’s decline, with the head of research at ValuStrat. UAE insurers are filling the gap for war risk insurance to keep cargo moving and Orient Insurance joins us. We speak to the telecom boss who just wrote a book about UAE tenacity during the conflict: VEON founder and chairman Augie Fabela. Eight global financial firms managing $4.4 trillion in assets have committed to Abu Dhabi in a single month and ADGM tells us what’s making the capital so attractive. And half of UAE shoppers are ready to let AI buy things for them, but do they actually trust it? New research from Checkout.com joins us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dubai Taxi is acquiring National Taxi 14.05.2026 34min

14 May 2026. Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) has agreed to acquire National Taxi, adding 2,500 licence plates, a 12% jump in Dubai market share and a first foothold in Abu Dhabi. The deal is expected to complete in Q3 pending regulatory approvals. Group CEO Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi joins us on why they’re doing this and what comes next. Plus, Trump is in Beijing meeting Xi for the first time since 2017, the EIU joins us on what to realistically expect. The IEA’s latest oil report is out and Gulf Intelligence breaks down what it means for prices. And Eid is coming, is it staycation or vacation for UAE residents this year? Travel expert Emily Jenkins of DW Travel has the answer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Q1 earnings: Presight, ADNOC Distribution and Emsteel 13.05.2026 37min

13 May 2026. Earning season: ADNOC Distribution on how the petrol station business is holding up, strong results across the board. Presight on being an AI company that’s actually making money. EmSteel on a profitable start to 2026. Plus we meet the new CEO of Emirates Investment Bank, Michel Longhini, in his first studio interview since taking the role.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Q1 earnings: Spinneys, ADNOC Drilling, ADNOC Gas and e7 Group 12.05.2026 33min

12 May 2026. Spinneys, ADNOC Drilling, ADNOC Gas and e7 Group all release their Q1 2026 numbers on The Business Breakfast. We speak to the C-suite of each company on what's driving performance, how the regional situation has affected operations and what the outlook looks like for the rest of the year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aramco net profits rise more than a quarter in Q1 11.05.2026 35min

11 May 2026. Saudi Aramco saw net profit rise 26% in Q1 despite the conflict. Robin Mills of Qamar Energy joins us to explain how the East-West pipeline is keeping oil flowing despite the Strait closure. Plus, two landmark court decisions have just made dispute resolution in Dubai faster and cheaper. Jonathon Davidson, Managing Partner at Davidson and Co Law Firm, breaks down what changed and what it means for businesses right now. The Dubai World Trade Centre road project got a new road this weekend. Ahmed Al Khzaimy, Director of Traffic at the RTA, tells us how it fits into the bigger plan for the city. And Dubai’s homegrown camel collectible sold out instantly, now it’s become chocolate. We find out how Dabubu went from plushy to confectionery brand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emirates reports record profits 08.05.2026 44min

08 May 2026. Emirates Group and Emirates Airline have both reported record profits and revenues for the financial year ending March 2026, despite the disruption of the conflict. Aviation expert Nick Humphrey joins us to break down the numbers. Plus, DP World is offering war risk insurance, filling a gap for companies unable to get coverage. Insurance expert Sanjay Babur from Cosmos Insurance Brokers joins us on what the market needs right now. Parsons is taking a key role in getting the Dubai Loop started and we speak to their regional infrastructure president Pierre Santoni. Abu Dhabi's $57 billion infrastructure pipeline stays on track despite regional uncertainty. H.E. Mohamed Husain Khalifa Alsuwaidi from ADPIC joins us on which major projects are still moving. And Etihad WE has just signed an AED 1 billion deal to build a new desalination plant in Fujairah. Eng. Mohammed Al Shehhi, CEO of the development and investment arm of EtihadWE, tells us what that means for the Northern Emirates.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil drops sharply on reports of a peace deal 07.05.2026 33min

07 May 2026. Reports of a potential US-Iran agreement sent oil prices tumbling and stock markets surging. Matt Stanley from Kpler joins us on what the latest means for energy markets and how businesses are dealing with the volatility. Plus, the Dubai property market is moving fast with viewings up 160%, buyer registrations up 119% and deals up 31% in April versus March. Espace Real Estate's broker of the week tells us what he's seeing on the ground. And Wyndham is launching branded residences at Dubai Islands - mid-scale, affordable and 68 units only. We find out why the affordable end of the market and how affordable! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EGF is looking for UAE manufacturers. Are you one of them? 06.05.2026 35min

06 May 2026. The Emirates Growth Fund (EGF) has launched the National Champions Programme to identify, prepare and lend to UAE manufacturers with the potential to become local and international leaders. CEO Khalifa Al Hajeri joins us on what he’s looking for. Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) on a new car assembly facility and Emirati talent programmes at Make it in the Emirates. G42 company Inception has launched InceptionClaw - an agentic AI super assistant built for enterprises and governments, and we speak to the CEO. And Mercer on when to activate remote work, when to restrict travel and how UAE employers should be making those calls right now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two years to embed agentic AI in Dubai’s private sector 05.05.2026 40min

05 May 2026. Dubai has announced a two year action plan to bring agentic AI into the private sector through the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. Jessica Constantinidis, Innovation Officer EMEA at ServiceNow, joins us on what that means for businesses on the ground. Plus, Alpha Dhabi reports an 81% surge in net profit with revenue hitting AED 18.8 billion, Derek Nicholson breaks down the numbers. And the Dubai popsicle maker that shipped a million homemade treats to Walmart China tells us how they pulled it off.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exclusive: Dubai Airports Q1 numbers. And airspace is back! 04.05.2026 40min

04 May 2026. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, releases the Q1 earnings exclusively on The Business Breakfast. 18.6 million guests, 32,000 aircraft movements and 213,000 tonnes of cargo kept moving through the most constrained period DXB has ever faced. IATA’s Kashif Khalid on what the full resumption of UAE airspace actually means on the ground. Plus JA Resorts on hotels gearing up for summer, GEMS Founders School on the new academic year and Paradigm Holdings on gold as a strategic asset right now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The State of Dubai Dining 01.05.2026 45min

01 May 2026. Two restaurant stories: EatX founder Tom Arnel joins Georgia Tolley at The Guild in ICD Brookfield Place on adjusting their model for more resident repeat visits and what expansion looks like from here. Nando’s is aggressively opening new locations across the UAE in 2026 and the MD tells us why. Plus, luxury retail took a hit during the conflict. We find out what recovery actually looks like and how long it takes. And end of service gratuity is ever changing. More UAE employers are moving toward structured savings solutions and we find out what that means for employees.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.