A major oil spill has reached Oman’s coastline, contaminating up to 40 kilometres of shore. 

We look at the threat to marine life and ask how you actually clean up an oil spill.

Plus, the UAE cracks down on nuisance cold callers, a tiny heart implant could keep patients out of hospital, and new research suggests dogs really can read our emotions.

And on World Rollercoaster Day, we head to Yas Island to find out why we love being scared.

A major oil spill has reached Oman&rsquo;s coastline, contaminating up to 40 kilometres of shore.&nbsp;
We look at the threat to marine life and ask how you actually clean up an oil spill.
Plus, the UAE cracks down on nuisance cold callers, a tiny heart implant could keep patients out of hospital, and new research suggests dogs really can read our emotions.
And on World Rollercoaster Day, we head to Yas Island to find out why we love being scared.

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

The oil spill threatening Oman’s coast

Residents from Dubai Marina and JLT to The Springs, Al Barsha, Al Furjan and Discovery Gardens are reporting a persistent unpleasant smell. The Agenda team has reached out to Dubai Municipality for an interview/ statement and we're awaiting response. Meanwhile, the Municipality’s Call Centre confirmed to Gulf News it has received complaints and is aware of the problem. But when a smell is being reported across such a wide area, how do you actually work out what it is and where it’s coming from?

We also ask: Can a bad smell itself be harmful, and what symptoms should we be looking out for? 

Lots of focus on tourism as the Arabian Travel Market continues. We start with the smallest emirate of the UAE - Ajman. What does it have to offer people who perhaps haven’t explored it before?

We also discuss how artificial intelligence change how we book and plan our holidays

Plus, are we getting real Christmas trees this year?

Residents from Dubai Marina and JLT to The Springs, Al Barsha, Al Furjan and Discovery Gardens are reporting a persistent unpleasant smell. The Agenda team has reached out to Dubai Municipality for an interview/ statement and we're awaiting response. Meanwhile, the Municipality&rsquo;s Call Centre confirmed to Gulf News it has received complaints and is aware of the problem. But when a smell is being reported across such a wide area, how do you actually work out what it is and where it&rsquo;s coming from?
We also ask: Can a bad smell itself be harmful, and what symptoms should we be looking out for?&nbsp;
Lots of focus on tourism as the Arabian Travel Market continues. We start with the smallest emirate of the UAE - Ajman. What does it have to offer people who perhaps haven&rsquo;t explored it before?
We also discuss how artificial intelligence change how we book and plan our holidays
Plus, are we getting real Christmas trees this year?

How does an unpleasant smell affect you?

Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, which is the company behind Claude, says AI capabilities are advancing dramatically, and argues that slowing development could buy researchers crucial time to make the technology safer. So how worried should we be about the speed at which AI is developing? 

The Boring Company is set to build more than 150 kilometres of tunnels across the UAE, as part of a new agreement with several investment companies based in the Emirates. The idea is to move passengers underground in electric vehicles, bypassing the traffic above. But does putting cars underground actually solve congestion?

Dubai welcomed around nearly 900,000 international visitors in August, its highest monthly figure since February, while hotel occupancy climbed from just 36% in March to 66% in August. So how long will it take Dubai tourism to fully recover, and what will drive the next stage of that recovery? 

The tourism industry is gathering in Dubai for Arabian Travel Market, at the start of what would traditionally be one of the UAE's busiest tourism seasons. But beyond getting visitors back, there's a longer-term challenge: finding and training the people needed to support the UAE's growing hospitality, tourism, sports and events industries. We speak to one academy that is on a mission to meet that demand.

Sisters Arva and Farida of Frying Pan Adventures join The Agenda to talk about their 13 years of showing Dubai to tourists,

And if you’re planning to buy the new iPhone 18, or even one of the foldables, watch where you click.

Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, which is the company behind Claude, says AI capabilities are advancing dramatically, and argues that slowing development could buy researchers crucial time to make the technology safer. So how worried should we be about the speed at which AI is developing?&nbsp;
The Boring Company is set to build more than 150 kilometres of tunnels across the UAE, as part of a new agreement with several investment companies based in the Emirates. The idea is to move passengers underground in electric vehicles, bypassing the traffic above. But does putting cars underground actually solve congestion?
Dubai welcomed around nearly 900,000 international visitors in August, its highest monthly figure since February, while hotel occupancy climbed from just 36% in March to 66% in August. So how long will it take Dubai tourism to fully recover, and what will drive the next stage of that recovery?&nbsp;
The tourism industry is gathering in Dubai for Arabian Travel Market, at the start of what would traditionally be one of the UAE's busiest tourism seasons. But beyond getting visitors back, there's a longer-term challenge: finding and training the people needed to support the UAE's growing hospitality, tourism, sports and events industries. We speak to one academy that is on a mission to meet that demand.
Sisters Arva and Farida of Frying Pan Adventures join The Agenda to talk about their 13 years of showing Dubai to tourists,
And if you&rsquo;re planning to buy the new iPhone 18, or even one of the foldables, watch where you click.

Should we slow AI down?

Dubai Airports says the recovery is already underway, with passenger numbers climbing sharply after months of disruption. 

As delayed major events including Arabian Travel Market and GISEC finally get underway, we hear from Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths on who is flying, when international tourists will return, and the latest timeline for the move to Al Maktoum International.

Meanwhile, Palm Jebel Ali has unveiled its first retail and lifestyle hub, set to open as soon as next year. But how do you actually build a brand-new neighbourhood from scratch?

Also, would you go back to work in your seventies? Sharjah is creating 1,000 part-time jobs for senior citizens, in a scheme designed to keep older people active and connected. 

We meet two septuagenarians with no intention of slowing down, and speak to the manager of Elder Square, a UAE daycare centre dedicated entirely to older people.

Plus, more than 24,000 Dubai Government employees have just completed a summer experiment in flexible working. So did working fewer hours actually work?

Dubai Airports says the recovery is already underway, with passenger numbers climbing sharply after months of disruption.&nbsp;
As delayed major events including Arabian Travel Market and GISEC finally get underway, we hear from Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths on who is flying, when international tourists will return, and the latest timeline for the move to Al Maktoum International.
Meanwhile, Palm Jebel Ali has unveiled its first retail and lifestyle hub, set to open as soon as next year. But how do you actually build a brand-new neighbourhood from scratch?
Also, would you go back to work in your seventies? Sharjah is creating 1,000 part-time jobs for senior citizens, in a scheme designed to keep older people active and connected.&nbsp;
We meet two septuagenarians with no intention of slowing down, and speak to the manager of Elder Square, a UAE daycare centre dedicated entirely to older people.
Plus, more than 24,000 Dubai Government employees have just completed a summer experiment in flexible working. So did working fewer hours actually work?

The oil spill threatening Oman’s coast

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