The worst of the weather hit last night, with torrential downpours and thunderstorms sweeping across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. Videos circulating online show flooded roads, poor visibility, and that rare UAE phenomenon— hailstones clattering off car windscreens. So what more can we expect as the day unfolds?

ARN News Centre's Surina Kelly joins us for more updates on travel, flights and government advisories.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has just announced the second phase of the nationwide ban on single-use plastic products and bags, a move that's set to come 

into full effect on January 1st, 2026. Her Excellency Engineer Alya Abdelrahim Alharmoodi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at the Ministry of 

Climate Change and Environment gives us more details.

We also look at what this means for business, consumers and the future of sustainable alternatives to plastic.

And we meet an Emirati marine engineer who joined a landmark exhibition to the Union Glacier in Antarctica.

 

 

The worst of the weather hit last night, with torrential downpours and thunderstorms sweeping across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. Videos circulating online show flooded roads, poor visibility, and that rare UAE phenomenon&mdash; hailstones clattering off car windscreens. So what more can we expect as the day unfolds?
ARN News Centre's Surina Kelly joins us for more updates on travel, flights and government advisories.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has just announced the second phase of the nationwide ban on single-use plastic products and bags, a move that's set to come&nbsp;
into full effect on January 1st, 2026. Her Excellency Engineer Alya Abdelrahim Alharmoodi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at the Ministry of&nbsp;
Climate Change and Environment gives us more details.
We also look at what this means for business, consumers and the future of sustainable alternatives to plastic.
And we meet an Emirati marine engineer who joined a landmark exhibition to the Union Glacier in Antarctica.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

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

Updates on UAE weather and travel

As more rain is expected throughout the UAE, we speak with forecaster Alya Almazroui from the National Center of Meteorology, for the latest weather updates.

We're also joined by Sebastien Bedu, General Manager for the Middle East at International SOS, to talk about how companies here have responded and adapted since the 2024 floods.

Now with the rain already affecting parts of the UAE, and more disruption expected over the next 24 to 48 hours, here’s a question that’s on many employees’ minds:

If I get stuck in traffic or delayed by floodwater on the way to work... does that count as working time? Employment lawyer Ali Al Assaad is here to answer that.

Just as many of us are looking forward to a well-earned winter break, doctors are warning about a new, aggressive flu variant that’s spreading fast across parts of the world.

We go behind the scenes to know the logistics of your turkey takeaways this holiday season.

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Let's hear the take of Dr David Tully, Associate Professor in Film, Head of Media at Middlesex University Dubai.


And meet... Dabubu

As more rain is expected throughout the UAE, we speak with forecaster Alya Almazroui from the National Center of Meteorology, for the latest weather updates.
We're also joined by Sebastien Bedu, General Manager for the Middle East at International SOS, to talk about how companies here have responded and adapted since the 2024 floods.
Now with the rain already affecting parts of the UAE, and more disruption expected over the next 24 to 48 hours, here&rsquo;s a question that&rsquo;s on many employees&rsquo; minds:
If I get stuck in traffic or delayed by floodwater on the way to work... does that count as working time? Employment lawyer Ali Al Assaad is here to answer that.
Just as many of us are looking forward to a well-earned winter break, doctors are warning about a new, aggressive flu variant that&rsquo;s spreading fast across parts of the world.
We go behind the scenes to know the logistics of your turkey takeaways this holiday season.
Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Let's hear the take of Dr David Tully, Associate Professor in Film, Head of Media at Middlesex University Dubai.
 And meet... Dabubu

Your guide to the latest UAE weather 

That’s the view emerging from PwC, one of the Big Four consultancy firms, which has just announced that it’s rolling out mandatory resilience training for its new graduate hires.

Why? Because while these fresh recruits are passing all the cognitive and technical tests, PwC says they’re often arriving without the human skills needed to thrive in a high-pressure corporate environment, things like confidence, communication, and handling feedback. Check the discussion with Hudson RPO's Toby Simpson and two brilliant Gen Z's Jose and Sam.

A brand-new survey has gone out to schools across Dubai, aiming to explore how financial literacy is being taught and how it could be improved. Fatma Al Janahi, Director of Foundation and Growth Policies and Programmes at the KHDA tells us more.

We also look at tools to help young people build real-world money skills in a way that’s engaging, interactive and actually fun.

Find out why tens of thousands of Filipinos are gathering days before Christmas.

And where do real Christmas trees, sold here in the UAE, come from?

That&rsquo;s the view emerging from PwC, one of the Big Four consultancy firms, which has just announced that it&rsquo;s rolling out mandatory resilience training for its new graduate hires.
Why? Because while these fresh recruits are passing all the cognitive and technical tests, PwC says they&rsquo;re often arriving without the human skills needed to thrive in a high-pressure corporate environment, things like confidence, communication, and handling feedback. Check the discussion with Hudson RPO's Toby Simpson and two brilliant Gen Z's Jose and Sam.
A brand-new survey has gone out to schools across Dubai, aiming to explore how financial literacy is being taught and how it could be improved. Fatma Al Janahi, Director of Foundation and Growth Policies and Programmes at the KHDA tells us more.
We also look at tools to help young people build real-world money skills in a way that&rsquo;s engaging, interactive and actually fun.
Find out why tens of thousands of Filipinos are gathering days before Christmas.
And where do real Christmas trees, sold here in the UAE, come from?

Are Gen Z's too soft for the real world of work?

Fraud isn’t just the work of lone hackers, it’s an organised, professionalised industry. But what’s changing is the scale and sophistication of the threats. We're seeing a sharp rise in first-party fraud, synthetic identities. To explore the key fraud trends we’re likely to see in 2026, Katie speaks with Rob Woods, Senior Director of Fraud and Identity at LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

There’s been a surge in reports of unauthorised QR codes being found on parking meters across the city. It might sound like a minor inconvenience, but according to a joint statement from RTA and Parkin, this is actually part of a growing phishing scam where innocent drivers are being tricked into scanning fake codes that lead to fraudulent websites. Kaspersky's Maher Yamout helps us unpack this.

Is it appropriate to buy a second-hand present? Or is it acceptable to gift second-hand items? Thrift For Good's Jennifer Sault and etiquette coach Orchids Roy give their take.

What if you didn’t have to worry about shopping at all this Christmas because 'someone's' going to do it for you?

And where do Dubai's turkeys come from?

 

Fraud isn&rsquo;t just the work of lone hackers, it&rsquo;s an organised, professionalised industry. But what&rsquo;s changing is the scale and sophistication of the threats. We're seeing a sharp rise in first-party fraud, synthetic identities. To explore the key fraud trends we&rsquo;re likely to see in 2026, Katie speaks with Rob Woods, Senior Director of Fraud and Identity at LexisNexis Risk Solutions.
There&rsquo;s been a surge in reports of unauthorised QR codes being found on parking meters across the city. It might sound like a minor inconvenience, but according to a joint statement from RTA and Parkin, this is actually part of a growing phishing scam where innocent drivers are being tricked into scanning fake codes that lead to fraudulent websites. Kaspersky's Maher Yamout helps us unpack this.
Is it appropriate to buy a second-hand present? Or is it acceptable to gift second-hand items? Thrift For Good's Jennifer Sault and etiquette coach Orchids Roy give their take.
What if you didn&rsquo;t have to worry about shopping at all this Christmas because 'someone's' going to do it for you?
And where do Dubai's turkeys come from?
&nbsp;

Updates on UAE weather and travel

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