Dubai's flying taxis are taking off. Georgia Tolley was there for the test flights.

But down on the ground? The traffic is worse than ever. A new survey shows 9 in 10 drivers face daily congestion.

Plus, Abu Dhabi’s population has doubled in a decade. We ask the experts what’s being done to cope.
Meanwhile, a new online scam is hitting sellers in the UAE involving fake Careem links and stolen card details.

And finally—would you holiday in North Korea?

Dubai's flying taxis are taking off. Georgia Tolley was there for the test flights.
But down on the ground? The traffic is worse than ever. A new survey shows 9 in 10 drivers face daily congestion.
Plus, Abu Dhabi&rsquo;s population has doubled in a decade. We ask the experts what&rsquo;s being done to cope. Meanwhile, a new online scam is hitting sellers in the UAE involving fake Careem links and stolen card details.
And finally&mdash;would you holiday in North Korea?

The Agenda is your go-to programme for news, analysis and comment - a daily digest of local and international stories that matter to you. Broadcasting every weekday, Georgia Tolley goes beyond the headlines to speak to government ministers, decision makers, analysts and local experts to find out how the news will impact those of us living in the UAE.
From Covid-19, to climate change and community issues, The Agenda covers stories from every walk of life, so get in touch with us and tell us your news.

The Agenda is your go-to programme for news, analysis and comment - a daily digest of local and international stories that matter to you. Broadcasting every weekday, Georgia Tolley goes beyond the headlines to speak to government ministers, decision makers, analysts and local experts to find out how the news will impact those of us living in the UAE. From Covid-19, to climate change and community issues, The Agenda covers stories from every walk of life, so get in touch with us and tell us your news.

The Agenda

Flying taxis and traffic jams

Does watching employees more closely actually make them work better? It's the main question now with AI making it possible for employers to monitor their staff in detail.

If you're working here in the UAE, can your boss legally monitor your emails, track your computer activity or use AI to assess how productive you've been?

Dubai is spending another AED 3 billion on storm water drainage.  

Two years into an extraordinary life at sea, passengers of the Villa Vie Odyssey are now stranded in Cambodia after soaring fuel costs forced the company to suspend its voyage. We speak to passenger Holly, who's travelling with her cat, Captain.

And it’s that time of year again... and Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year for 2026 is maxxing!

 

 

 

 

Does watching employees more closely actually make them work better? It's the main question now with AI making it possible for employers to monitor their staff in detail.
If you're working here in the UAE, can your boss legally monitor your emails, track your computer activity or use AI to assess how productive you've been?
Dubai is spending another AED 3 billion on storm water drainage.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Two years into an extraordinary life at sea, passengers of the Villa Vie Odyssey are now stranded in Cambodia after soaring fuel costs forced the company to suspend its voyage. We speak to passenger Holly, who's travelling with her cat, Captain.
And it&rsquo;s that time of year again... and Dictionary.com&rsquo;s Word of the Year for 2026 is maxxing!
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Work under AI surveillance

Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh wants to be UN secretary General. So what would she change if she became the first woman to lead the UN?

Meanwhile as beaches across the northern emirates remain closed to residents and tourists, due to an oil spill off the coastline, we'll investigate how the slick is spreading - and the impact it could have on marine life.

And, Earth's orbit is getting clogged up with space junk - which is incredibly dangerous for satellites and spacecraft. Now there's a plan to send giant robotic claws to clean up the mess.

Emirati diplomat Lana Nusseibeh wants to be UN secretary General. So what would she change if she became the first woman to lead the UN?
Meanwhile as beaches across the northern emirates remain closed to residents and tourists, due to an oil spill off the coastline, we'll investigate how the slick is spreading - and the impact it could have on marine life.
And, Earth's orbit is getting clogged up with space junk - which is incredibly dangerous for satellites and spacecraft. Now there's a plan to send giant robotic claws to clean up the mess.

Could an Emirati diplomat lead the United Nations?

Beaches across the northern Emirates remain closed following an oil spill off the UAE coast. We’ll look at how the slick is spreading and what it could mean for marine life and the coastal environment.

Dubai’s short-term rental market is showing signs of improvement, but is this an early sign of a wider tourism recovery? We’ll look at the latest figures and want to hear from those working in the tourism sector.

If someone collapsed in front of you right now, would you know what to do? Dubai’s health authorities are offering free training to residents, and we’ll explain how you can take part.

And the Museum of the Future is hiring, but your CV and qualifications might not be what gets you through the door. So what skills are they really looking for?

Beaches across the northern Emirates remain closed following an oil spill off the UAE coast. We&rsquo;ll look at how the slick is spreading and what it could mean for marine life and the coastal environment.
Dubai&rsquo;s short-term rental market is showing signs of improvement, but is this an early sign of a wider tourism recovery? We&rsquo;ll look at the latest figures and want to hear from those working in the tourism sector.
If someone collapsed in front of you right now, would you know what to do? Dubai&rsquo;s health authorities are offering free training to residents, and we&rsquo;ll explain how you can take part.
And the Museum of the Future is hiring, but your CV and qualifications might not be what gets you through the door. So what skills are they really looking for?

Flying taxis and traffic jams

In 1 playlist(s)

The Agenda

Follow podcast

Recent clips