RTA awards Dhs20 billion contract for new metro Blue Line
20 Dec 2024. Dubai’s RTA has awarded a Dhs20 billion contract to build the metro Blue Line. It will open on September 9th 2029 – 20 years to the day since the first metro opened. We get reaction to that new metro contract with Roger Cruikshank of AtkinsRealis. Plus, we celebrate Dubai Duty Free 41 …
A new basic health insurance scheme for private sector employees
18 Dec 2024. We talk the economics of health insurance as the UAE launches a policy for just Dhs320 with insurance broker Stephen McLaren of Seven Insurance Brokers. Plus, winter travel trends and record growth with the boss of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. And, cocoa prices are skyrocketing, we check if you…
Federal Reserve cuts interest rates
19 Dec. 2024. The Fed has cut interest rates overnight by 0.25%, and the UAE Central Bank followed suit, bringing the UAE base lending rate to 4.4%. What does this mean for the UAE economy and consumers? We asked Daniel Richards, MENA Economist at Emirates NBD. Plus, Honda & Nissan are in talks ab…
Shares of Emaar Properties jumped 15%
17 Dec 2024. We get reaction to that spectacular Dubai stock market rally with Amer Halawi of Al Ramz Capital. Plus, Dubai adds 740 new EV chargers, what’s next for sustainable transport? We ask Chintan Sareen, CEO of PlusX Electric. And, we speak to Stephan Livera, host of Stephan Livera Podcast a…
Are hotel star ratings outdated?
16 Dec 2024. A new report from Dubai-based Cavendish Maxwell says hotel ratings are no longer fit for purpose and need a complete overhaul. Zacky Sajjad, Director of Business Development at Cavendish Maxwell, told us why. Plus, Emirates is gearing up for its busiest winter break yet, Nick Moore, Se…
Dubai Airports busy winter season starts today.
13 Dec 2024. It's the busy season for Dubai Airports and we're joined by a man who quite frankly has a lot to do today, as schools break up - Airports CEO Paul Griffiths. We also speak to one recruitment boss about why less employees in the UAE want fully remote working. And, we're looking at why d…
UAE fintech company Astra Tech has secured $500 million in debt finance from Citigroup
As the price of coffee hits a record high, Matt Toogood of Raw Coffee shares his outlook for 2025. Plus, we speak to HE Tariq Bin Hendi, managing director of Astra Tech, on its $500 million deal with Citigroup. And, with Talabat the latest to see subdued first day trading post-IPO, we'll speak to o…
Talabat Shares fall 7% on DFM debut
Talabat shares closed 7% below their IPO price after their first day of trading on the DFM as a listed company, closing at 1 dirham 49. We get analysis on that with Sameer Lakhani, Managing Director, Global Capital Partners. We also look at how AI and climate change are changing the dispute landsca…
Why are salaries higher in Abu Dhabi than Dubai?
We look at just who is moving the ADGM with headhunter Oscar Orellana-Hyder. Plus, we hear from HSBC economist Stephen King – he first visited Abu Dhabi in the early 90s, and explains how the UAE dodged the so-called ‘curse of oil’. And, we talk Bitcoin with crypto royalty – literally! Prince Phili…
Finance week gets underway in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Finance Week starts today, with finance leaders who manage a collective $27 trillion, with speakers including Ray Dalio of Bridgewater. We’re joined by one of the biggest names in finance: Blackrock, the $10 trillion US investment giant. Ben Powell reveals what’s long and what’s short at …