Paid parking has been introduced in the residential community of Discovery Gardens in Dubai. We speak to some residents who are happy with the changes and to some too who feel it’s an extra financial burden.

What were the main factors that led Dubai to expand paid parking systems in residential communities? Is it a necessary solution? We get the take of Elev8's Pedram Rad.

It’s been twelve months since US President Donald Trump was sworn back into the White House. So how is this second term shaping up? And is it unfolding the way his supporters had hoped? Katie is joined by Stephen Collinson, senior reporter for CNN Politics. He covers the White House, and politics across the United States and around the world.

We also focus on Trump's statement that the United States would talk about acquiring Greenland at this week's Davos World Economic Forum because Denmark cannot protect the country. We speak with Dr. Timo Koivurova, Research Professor, Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland in Finland.

And the UAE has claimed the top position globally in a 2026 government trust index.

Paid parking has been introduced in the residential community of Discovery Gardens in Dubai. We speak to some residents who are happy with the changes and to some too who feel it&rsquo;s an extra financial burden.
What were the main factors that led Dubai to expand paid parking systems in residential communities? Is it a necessary solution? We get the take of Elev8's Pedram Rad.
It&rsquo;s been twelve months since US President Donald Trump was sworn back into the White House. So how is this second term shaping up? And is it unfolding the way his supporters had hoped? Katie is joined by Stephen Collinson, senior reporter for CNN Politics. He covers the White House, and politics across the United States and around the world.
We also focus on Trump's statement that the United States would talk about acquiring Greenland at this week's Davos World Economic Forum because Denmark cannot protect the country. We speak with Dr. Timo Koivurova, Research Professor, Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland in Finland.
And the UAE has claimed the top position globally in a 2026 government trust index.

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

Paid parking system introduced in Dubai's Discovery Gardens

If you're an influencer or a content creator in the UAE, the clock is ticking. Social media content creators have until January 31 to obtain advertiser permits if they want to continue promoting products and services legally online. Lawyer Munir Suboh tells us all the details.

We speak with Robert Walters about their latest Hiring Trends e-guide that shows 62% of employees say they’d prefer not to come to the office on Mondays. Many want a slower start to the week, or simply to avoid the Monday commute. But on the flip side, over half of respondents believe that Mondays are the most valuable workday, and a third say they’re more productive when they begin the week in the office. How about you? How do you see Mondays?

Women are significantly more likely to be injured in car crashes. So now a new more anatomically accurate female crash-test dummy has just been unveiled by Humanetics, the world’s leading dummy manufacturer.

And for the very first time, the United Arab Emirates is set to compete in the Winter Olympics.

If you're an influencer or a content creator in the UAE, the clock is ticking. Social media content creators have until January 31 to obtain advertiser permits if they want to continue promoting products and services legally online. Lawyer Munir Suboh tells us all the details.
We speak with Robert Walters about their latest Hiring Trends e-guide that shows 62% of employees say they&rsquo;d prefer not to come to the office on Mondays. Many want a slower start to the week, or simply to avoid the Monday commute. But on the flip side, over half of respondents believe that Mondays are the most valuable workday, and a third say they&rsquo;re more productive when they begin the week in the office. How about you? How do you see Mondays?
Women are significantly more likely to be injured in car crashes. So now a new more anatomically accurate female crash-test dummy has just been unveiled by Humanetics, the world&rsquo;s leading dummy manufacturer.
And for the very first time, the United Arab Emirates is set to compete in the Winter Olympics.

Two weeks to get your advertiser permit

The RTA has just completed a major phase of its Hessa Street Development Project. This latest upgrade is designed to help ease congestion for the more than 630,000 vehicles that use that stretch of road every day. So what exactly has been delivered? How long is the upgraded section? And which junctions are now fully operational? We get the details straight from Hamad Al Shehhi, Director of Roads at RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency. 

We also ask transport expert Martin Tillman if it's enough to solve the long-term congestion problems in that part of the city.

We turn our attention too to kids bank accounts and financial literacy for children after receiving a flurry of messages from our listeners wanting to know how they can teach their kids financial independence.

We look at how local genetic data are being used to develop treatments and diagnostics that are tailored to this region’s population. 

A new eye injection in the UK uses a simple gel injected into the eye to restore pressure and improve vision in patients with dangerously low eye pressure.

We also speak with the Dubai Civil Defence about their Billion Readiness initiative that has already helped reduce fire incidents worldwide by 18%.

And check the details about Dubai's attempt to host the world’s largest virtual sign language class this month.

 

The RTA has just completed a major phase of its Hessa Street Development Project. This latest upgrade is designed to help ease congestion for the more than 630,000 vehicles that use that stretch of road every day. So what exactly has been delivered? How long is the upgraded section? And which junctions are now fully operational? We get the details straight from Hamad Al Shehhi, Director of Roads at RTA&rsquo;s Traffic and Roads Agency.&nbsp;
We also ask transport expert Martin Tillman if it's enough to solve the long-term congestion problems in that part of the city.
We turn our attention too to kids bank accounts and financial literacy for children after receiving a flurry of messages from our listeners wanting to know how they can teach their kids financial independence.
We look at how local genetic data are being used to develop treatments and diagnostics that are tailored to this region&rsquo;s population.&nbsp;
A new eye injection in the UK uses a simple gel injected into the eye to restore pressure and improve vision in patients with dangerously low eye pressure.
We also speak with the Dubai Civil Defence about their Billion Readiness initiative that has already helped reduce fire incidents worldwide by 18%.
And check the details about Dubai's attempt to host the world&rsquo;s largest virtual sign language class this month.
&nbsp;

How does Hessa Street expansion impact our community?

The Roads and Transport Authority is beginning a school bus pooling pilot programme next week and they’re doing it in partnership with a private transport company and a bus provider. We get the details from Adel Shakri, Director of Planning and Business Development at RTA's Public Transport Agency, Yango and Urban Express.

If you’re thinking of buying property in Dubai or even just keeping an eye on where the city is expanding next, there's a growing number of tools now available to help buyers make smarter, more strategic decisions. We found one through property consultant Divya Wadhwa.

But who decides what gets built and where? What makes a plot of land become a residential community, a park, a business hub, or even a cultural district? We get the take of 

Fatma Al Khayat from Arkat Urban Planning + Design

Tech journalist Kevin Sebastian updates us with all the changes Google is doing to Gmail.

A group of chemists and environmental scientists say many of the most alarming microplastics studies may be based on flawed detection methods. Some particles believed to be plastic could actually be natural fat, and key safety claims may not stand up to scrutiny. 

And is ube the new matcha?

 

The Roads and Transport Authority is beginning a school bus pooling pilot programme next week and they&rsquo;re doing it in partnership with a private transport company and a bus provider. We get the details from Adel Shakri, Director of Planning and Business Development at RTA's Public Transport Agency, Yango and Urban Express.
If you&rsquo;re thinking of buying property in Dubai or even just keeping an eye on where the city is expanding next, there's a growing number of tools now available to help buyers make smarter, more strategic decisions. We found one through property consultant Divya Wadhwa.
But who decides what gets built and where? What makes a plot of land become a residential community, a park, a business hub, or even a cultural district? We get the take of&nbsp;
Fatma Al Khayat from Arkat Urban Planning + Design
Tech journalist Kevin Sebastian updates us with all the changes Google is doing to Gmail.
A group of chemists and environmental scientists say many of the most alarming microplastics studies may be based on flawed detection methods. Some particles believed to be plastic could actually be natural fat, and key safety claims may not stand up to scrutiny.&nbsp;
And is ube the new matcha?
&nbsp;

Paid parking system introduced in Dubai's Discovery Gardens

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