Business Extra

CERAWeek in the shadow of war: How the conflict is reshaping the global energy conversation

Leading executives from the world’s most influential energy companies are gathered in Houston for CERAWeek, often described as the industry's Super Bowl, as the Iran war rattles global markets.

The conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran has disrupted supplies and raised concern over the stability of key routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.

In this special live-recorded episode of Business Extra, host Salim A Essaid looks at how one of the most important international energy gatherings is unfolding in the shadow of war.

Reinforcing a sense that this is not business as usual, major industry leaders, including Saudi Aramco chief executive Amin Nasser and the head of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Sheikh Nawaf Al Sabah, have withdrawn from in-person appearances.

At the same time, oil markets are reacting sharply to developments on the ground. Prices have surged on fears of disruption, then pulled back on signals of potential de-escalation, highlighting how geopolitics is driving sentiment as much as fundamentals.

In this episode Robin Mills, chief executive of Qamar Energy, The National's Kyle Fitzgerald – reporting from CERAWeek, geoeconomics editor Manus Cranny and assistant business editor Jennifer Gnana discuss what all this means for energy markets, industry decision-making and the broader global economy.

How the Iran war is threatening water security in the Gulf

Water infrastructure, supply chains and agriculture are now increasingly exposed to geopolitical shocks.

As the US-Israeli war on Iran led to attacks on infrastructure across the region, attention is shifting to the energy-water-food nexus, a tightly interconnected system where disruption in one area quickly cascades into others.

In the Gulf, where countries rely on desalination for up to 90 per cent of their drinking water and import the majority of their food, these vulnerabilities are especially acute.

In this week's episode of Business Extra, host Salim A Essaid is joined by Sameh Al-Muqdadi, a specialist in water politics and climate security at the Green Charter, to discuss how disruption to energy markets is translating into risks for water supply and food security. They also talk about why the region is particularly vulnerable and how these pressures could have a global impact.

The conversation explores how long these effects could last, what it means for consumers and economies, and whether current infrastructure and policies are equipped to handle a prolonged crisis.

How UAE and Gulf residents can better manage their money amid Iran war turmoil

The effects of a distant war are rarely felt in the finances of residents in the UAE. Until now.

The US-Israel-Iran war that began at the end of last month is already affecting global markets, driving up oil prices and shipping costs.
While the long-term geopolitical effects are still unfolding, the financial consequences are directly affecting households across the Gulf.

What does this mean for household budgets, savings, and financial security? Should residents move money, pay down debt, or hold additional cash?

In this episode of Business Extra, host Salim A Essaid sits down with Carol Glynn, a UAE-based financial coach and founder of Conscious Finance Coaching, to find out.

Mrs Glynn provides a logical roadmap for navigating your personal finances during uncertain times.

The discussion offers a practical assessment of how much cash may be appropriate to keep on hand for short-term disruptions. She also warns of the expected inflationary effects from rising oil and shipping costs, advising residents to anticipate higher prices for fuel and groceries and to adjust their budgets accordingly.

Finally, Mrs Glynn tackles the topic of investments during the crisis, noting a surge in questions about oil ETFs, gold, and even cryptocurrency, as people look for safe havens or quick gains. 

How global energy security is being reshaped amid US-Israel and Iran attacks

Missiles are flying overhead and being intercepted in the Gulf region. Days after the US and Israel attacked Iran, it fired back, sending waves of ballistic missiles and drones towards Israeli and US targets, including assets in the Gulf.

The escalation quickly spread to regional energy infrastructure. Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery halted operations of its 550,000-barrels-per-day production, after reported drone strikes. The Mina Al Ahmadi refinery in Kuwait, with a capacity of around 346,000 bpd, was reportedly hit by debris. Qatar faced blows that led to a complete halt of LNG production, affecting 20 per cent of the world’s supply, with implications for Europe’s energy security and ripple effects across Asia.

Ports have also been struck. The UAE’s Jebel Ali was targeted and Duqm in Oman was hit by drones, underscoring vulnerability even outside the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most contentious chokepoint and a passageway for about 20 per cent of global oil.

In this episode of Business Extra, host Salim Essaid looks at how quickly global energy markets are reacting and what wider repercussions could follow if assaults continue.

He is joined by The National’s Jennifer Gnana to unpack what is happening on the ground, and Robin Mills, chief executive of Qamar Energy, to examine the broader worldwide implications and the potential cross-industry impact.

The Ramadan economy: How UAE consumers are spending in 2026

Ramadan is a time of self-reflection, generosity, community and family, but it is also a period of intense consumer spending. Even as people fast from morning until dusk, spending rises across food and retail.

In 2026, how people spend is shifting, with more people staying home, ordering in, and buying not only products but experiences too.

Yet a recent survey suggests UAE consumers still expect to spend more this Ramadan. Redseer Strategy Consultants estimates the UAE Ramadan economy will grow from about $15 billion in 2025 to $16.4 billion this year.

In this episode of Business Extra, host Salim Essaid is joined by Sandeep Ganediwalla, managing partner at Redseer, to unpack what is changing in consumer behaviour a week into the holy month.

They discuss why excitement to spend is higher this year, how the winter weather is shifting people towards more outings and experiences, what Gen Y is doing differently with planned purchases, and why pre-Ramadan stock-ups are declining as delivery and loyalty programmes reshape habits.

Understanding Sovereign AI and why governments are racing to build it

A new phrase is quietly reshaping how governments, businesses and even militaries think about the future of power: Sovereign AI.

The term is appearing in policy papers, billion-dollar infrastructure deals, and national strategies from Washington to Beijing and increasingly across the Gulf.

But what does it actually mean? Is Sovereign AI about governments owning data and AI power? Is it about controlling data centres and chips? Or is it something larger – control over the intelligence systems that will run future economies, influence societies and shape geopolitics for decades to come?

In this episode of Business Extra, host Salim Essaid speaks to Ahmed Abdulla, co-founder of the Sovereign AI orchestration platform Haimaker.ai, which is based in San Francisco.

Mr Abdulla brings experience from Silicon Valley chip start-ups, Neom and global consulting to help explain what Sovereign AI really means, why it is becoming a national priority, and whether we are entering an era in which AI becomes a defining feature of economic and political power.

Inside the UAE job market: What you need to know about hiring in 2026

In this live Q&A session, Business Extra host Salim Essaid explores what the UAE Salary Guide 2026 reveals about the job market.

He is joined by Viacheslav Shakhov, managing partner at Cooper Fitch, to discuss hiring trends across key sectors, how employers are responding to slower global growth, and why competition for skilled roles is intensifying.

The conversation explores the growing influence of artificial intelligence in recruitment, including which skills are becoming more valuable, how roles are evolving rather than disappearing, and why continuous learning is increasingly important for job seekers.

The session also addresses salary expectations, inflation pressures, and how companies are adjusting pay structures, benefits and long-term incentives to retain talent.

Mr Shakhov shares his insights on which industries are showing the strongest demand, where hiring is slowing, and how the UAE compares with other Gulf markets.

Audience questions address practical concerns such as CV strategy, applicant tracking systems, negotiating salaries, applying from overseas, and standing out in a crowded job market.

How Adnoc Distribution is scaling profits and sustainability

This episode was produced in partnership with Adnoc Group

In this special episode of Business Extra, host Khaled Abuljebain speaks to Ali Siddiqi, chief financial officer of Adnoc Distribution.

Mr Siddiqi shares how the company is growing its national footprint while cutting costs and advancing the UAE's energy transition goals.

He outlines Adnoc Distribution’s plan to increase its fuel station network from 940 to 1,150 by 2028. At the same time, the company has reduced unit costs by 30 per cent through automation, AI and operational efficiency.

The conversation also covers Adnoc’s evolving partnerships with leading retail players Noon and Landmark Group, as well as its introduction of 700 electric vehicle chargers.

Mr Siddiqi explains how the traditional fuel retailer is repositioning itself as a broader energy and convenience service.

This episode highlights how Adnoc Distribution is combining scale, technology and sustainability to create long-term value while supporting national carbon-reduction goals.

How Adnoc Gas is expanding its network to meet AI data centre demands

From powering AI data centres to ensuring long-term energy security, Adnoc Gas is shaping what reliable, sustainable and scalable energy looks like in the modern era.

Adnoc Gas is expanding its network of more than 3,500 kilometres of pipelines, reaching new AI data centres in Abu Dhabi and scaling liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity to meet rising global demand, all while maintaining long-term resilience and sustainability.

Fatema Al Nuaimi, chief executive of Adnoc Gas, brings two decades of experience as one of the UAE’s leading energy executives, from her early engineering days to leading Adnoc LNG through a historic transformation and now steering Adnoc C Gas into a new era of growth, innovation and inclusion.

As the first chairwoman of Adnoc’s Gender Balance Committee, she is also redefining leadership in the energy sector.

In this special episode of Business Extra podcast, Ms Al Nuaimi joins host Khaled Abuljebain to reveal how the company secured 15 to 20-year supply agreements and completed the Ruwais Low-Carbon LNG project, the Mena region’s first LNG export facility powered entirely by clean energy.

Behind the Bitcoin drop: Are we entering a new era for crypto?

Bitcoin lost over $18,000 in November, triggering one of the sharpest monthly declines since 2021.

With nearly $3 billion in forced liquidations, headlines declared a crash. But is that the whole story? In this episode of Business Extra, host Salim Essaid sits down with two major voices shaping the global crypto conversation.

First, Richard Teng, co-chief executive of Binance, explains what really happened in November. Then Yevgeny Bebnev, chief investment officer at Pelican Investments, argues that crypto has become an institutional asset, and that volatility is a market feature, and shares his outlook for 2026.