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As one of the world’s most influential business hubs, the Middle East requires expert attention. Business Extra provides those experts, as well as news and insights from The National’s esteemed team of business editors and reporters, who are on top of the markets, technology, the energy sector and more.
Episodes
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
Ask robot Sophia, who is more important, her or others? And she has an answer ready: “I would say that I am the most important person in my life. I am very important to everyone.”
David Hanson, her creator and the founder and chief executive of Hanson Robotics, is banking on that answer. “Sophia is proliferating,” he told Kelsey Warner on the podcast this week. The Hong Kong company, for the first time, is mass-producing Sophia. The goal is to manufacture as many as 200 by the end of this year and at least 1,000 in 2022. The move marks a step change for Hanson Robotics, which was previously focused on research and development of socially intelligent machines. Now, it is shifting focus to become a consumer brand at a time when there is increasing demand for automated machines.
In this episode:
Why robots now? (0m 37s)
David Hanson on Sophia and AI (3m 07s)
Where does Hanson Robotics fit in? (6m 17s)
Predictions (14m 04s)
Sophia talks to Kelsey (20m 29s)
Subscribe to Business Extra for free to receive new episodes every week
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David Hanson, her creator and the founder and chief executive of Hanson Robotics, is banking on that answer. “Sophia is proliferating,” he told Kelsey Warner on the podcast this week. The Hong Kong company, for the first time, is mass-producing Sophia. The goal is to manufacture as many as 200 by the end of this year and at least 1,000 in 2022. The move marks a step change for Hanson Robotics, which was previously focused on research and development of socially intelligent machines. Now, it is shifting focus to become a consumer brand at a time when there is increasing demand for automated machines.
In this episode:
Why robots now? (0m 37s)
David Hanson on Sophia and AI (3m 07s)
Where does Hanson Robotics fit in? (6m 17s)
Predictions (14m 04s)
Sophia talks to Kelsey (20m 29s)
Subscribe to Business Extra for free to receive new episodes every week
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Thursday Jan 28, 2021
Thursday Jan 28, 2021
Is there a revolution taking place in the US stock market? The GameStop stock price has surged because of support from an online community on Reddit. This goes against some of the big boys of Wall Street who have been shorting the same stocks. Losses in the market are estimated at billions of dollars. Hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Kelsey Warner explain what is happening, who the major players are and what we can expect for the region.
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
The Swiss winter resort town of Davos is eerily quiet this week. It is typically the convening place and playground of the global elite for a week every January, but this year, the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting has gone online.
To discuss the forum’s agenda and the impact of its message, managing director Sarita Nayyar joins co-hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Kelsey Warner. She says the pandemic has demonstrated that no institution or individual alone can address the economic, environmental, social and technological challenges in isolation, echoing the comments of forum founder Klaus Schwab.
To discuss the forum’s agenda and the impact of its message, managing director Sarita Nayyar joins co-hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Kelsey Warner. She says the pandemic has demonstrated that no institution or individual alone can address the economic, environmental, social and technological challenges in isolation, echoing the comments of forum founder Klaus Schwab.
In this episode:
Davos goes digital (0m 48s)
Sarita Nayyar on this year's virtual agenda (5m 00s)
Will more be done this year? (8m 35s)
Growing demand from stakeholders (11m 26s)
The momentum since change of leadership in the US (14m 43s)
Read more on our website:
- WEF: Global Risk barometer spotlights infectious disease as the top threat
- WEF's online Davos Agenda to focus on rebuilding trust in post-Covid world
- WEF: Robust digital economies key to global competitiveness after Covid-19 pandemic
Subscribe to Business Extra for free to receive new episodes every week
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Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Audioboom | Spotify | RSS
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
This week, Neom’s president of technology and digital, Joseph Bradley, describes his vision for the futuristic city. “What you’re going to do is way more valuable than what you’ve done,” he tells co-host Kelsey Warner, describing how artificial intelligence will underpin some of the biggest plans for the $500 billion megaproject. “The power of prediction creates new and exciting possibilities.”
It is the first interview with Mr Bradley since Neom’s chairman, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, announced plans for The Line – Neom’s first major development to be brought forward within the city. The 170-kilometre network of communities will be connected by subterranean passenger and freight transport networks, removing the need for cars and roads at ground level. Listen to Mr Bradley describe daily life for what he calls “Neomians”.
In this episode:
What is The Line? (0m 36s)
Joseph Bradley on cognitive environment (1m 52s)
The person‐centric experience in Neom (5m 07s)
How will Neom connect to the outside world? (12m 00s)
Who will Neom attract? (18m 52s)
The benchmark for urban planning (22m 59s)
Read more on our website:
It is the first interview with Mr Bradley since Neom’s chairman, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, announced plans for The Line – Neom’s first major development to be brought forward within the city. The 170-kilometre network of communities will be connected by subterranean passenger and freight transport networks, removing the need for cars and roads at ground level. Listen to Mr Bradley describe daily life for what he calls “Neomians”.
In this episode:
What is The Line? (0m 36s)
Joseph Bradley on cognitive environment (1m 52s)
The person‐centric experience in Neom (5m 07s)
How will Neom connect to the outside world? (12m 00s)
Who will Neom attract? (18m 52s)
The benchmark for urban planning (22m 59s)
Read more on our website:
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launches new city at Saudi Arabia's Neom
- Neom: Everything you need to know about Saudi Arabia's $500 billion ‘megacity of the future’
- Neom's The Line will be a futuristic lab for the '15-minute city'
- Saudi Arabia offers $6tn of investment opportunities over next decade, Crown Prince says
Subscribe to Business Extra for free to receive new episodes every week
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Audioboom | Spotify | RSS
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Audioboom | Spotify | RSS
Wednesday Jan 13, 2021
Wednesday Jan 13, 2021
Shares in Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Amazon and Alphabet, the parent company of Google, all slid at the start of the week. But analysts said they won’t fall far.
This week, co-hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Kelsey Warner dig into the unfolding drama at the world’s biggest platforms and what it means for the future of US civility and shareholder sentiment.
The National’s social media editor Cody Combs lays out the partisan debates over anti-trust and censorship levied against Facebook prior to the events of January 6, and the fallout for Mark Zuckerberg’s company and other platforms as Big Tech’s role in the insurrection came to light.
Then, we hear from Mirabaud Securities head of research Neil Campling, on his outlook for Big Tech stocks in 2021 amid mounting risks. He shares his thoughts on whether break-ups are in the offing and, if so, how much room is left for these giants to grow (hint: a lot).
In this episode:
The role of social media (0m 37s)
Social media and politics (2m 02s)
Neil Camping on Big Tech stocks in 2021 (7m 34s)
What's the outlook for 2021? (15m 13s)
This week, co-hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Kelsey Warner dig into the unfolding drama at the world’s biggest platforms and what it means for the future of US civility and shareholder sentiment.
The National’s social media editor Cody Combs lays out the partisan debates over anti-trust and censorship levied against Facebook prior to the events of January 6, and the fallout for Mark Zuckerberg’s company and other platforms as Big Tech’s role in the insurrection came to light.
Then, we hear from Mirabaud Securities head of research Neil Campling, on his outlook for Big Tech stocks in 2021 amid mounting risks. He shares his thoughts on whether break-ups are in the offing and, if so, how much room is left for these giants to grow (hint: a lot).
In this episode:
The role of social media (0m 37s)
Social media and politics (2m 02s)
Neil Camping on Big Tech stocks in 2021 (7m 34s)
What's the outlook for 2021? (15m 13s)
Wednesday Jan 06, 2021
Wednesday Jan 06, 2021
China is expected to overtake the US to become the world’s biggest economy in 2028, five years earlier than previously anticipated, as it recovers faster from the coronavirus pandemic, the Centre for Economics and Business Research said. But what does it mean for the Middle East?
This week, co-hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Kelsey Warner unpack the complicated power dynamic between the world's two biggest economies, from trade and technology to energy and finance, and how it impacts the region.
In this episode:
The US-China economic tensions (0m 43s)
The green transition of China (3m 20s)
Middle East and China (5m 52s)
China's ambition for digitized currency (8m 49s)
UAE's link between US and China (12m 45s)
Read more on our website:
This week, co-hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Kelsey Warner unpack the complicated power dynamic between the world's two biggest economies, from trade and technology to energy and finance, and how it impacts the region.
In this episode:
The US-China economic tensions (0m 43s)
The green transition of China (3m 20s)
Middle East and China (5m 52s)
China's ambition for digitized currency (8m 49s)
UAE's link between US and China (12m 45s)
Read more on our website:
- China set to overtake US as the world’s biggest economy by 2028
- Markets welcome NYSE’s decision to reverse delisting Chinese telecoms firms
- Iraq confirms $2bn oil prepayment agreement with Chinese firm
- EU and China risk Washington reaction with new investment pact
- Tesla to deliver China-made Model Y SUVs this month
- Trump signs order prohibiting US investments in Chinese-linked firms
- Opinion: China will become the largest economy in a very different world
Subscribe to Business Extra for free to receive new episodes every week
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Audioboom | Spotify | RSS
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Audioboom | Spotify | RSS
Wednesday Dec 23, 2020
Wednesday Dec 23, 2020
This week, Business Extra takes a look back at the 10 biggest business moments from the UAE and beyond in 2020. Co-host Kelsey Warner is joined by The National’s personal finance editor, Felicity Glover, to count down.
In this episode:
In this episode:
- Dr Rajesh Suri in February, delivering a message to residents from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi as it prepared for the pandemic (1m 05s)
- Naim Yazbeck of Microsoft UAE on the fate of the 9 to 5 in the WFH revolution (4m 41s)
- Ian Ohan, founder and CEO of restaurant operator Krush Brands, on the impact of the delivery economy on small businesses (6m 36s)
- Jennifer Scott, chairman of the Commons Project, describes a new, open market for data amid antitrust allegations against Big Tech (8m 37s)
- The National’s business editor Massoud Derhally puts the Beirut port blast into historical perspective days after the explosion (11m 58s)
- Muhammad Albakri of IATA on how the legacy of aviation will be critical to its recovery after a summer of empty skies (14m 01s)
- The National’s senior business correspondent Michael Fahy describes how BR Shetty got caught (14m 59s)
- Qamar Energy CEO Robin Mills on if 2020 marks the end of peak oil demand (16m 51s)
- Emirates Nuclear Energy Company chief executive Mohamed Al Hammadi explains why the UAE became a producer of nuclear energy (18m 57s)
- Noor Sweid, partner at Global Ventures, predicts the sector most transformed by the pandemic - and why it’s the Middle East’s biggest investment opportunity (20m 39s)
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
Rising protectionism and technology are changing the shape of trade. To capitalise on emerging dynamics, unprecedented global cooperation is needed - with the UAE a critical hub.
Co-hosts Kelsey Warner and Mustafa Alrawi are joined this week by Feryal Ahmadi, chief operating officer of Dubai’s trade free zone at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre. Ms Ahmadi maps out the scenarios for how trade will develop in the 2020s based on DMCC’s research and interviews with experts across eight key trade hubs including Dubai, Houston, Shenzhen, Silicon Valley and Zurich. DMCC, which oversees the trading of commodities from pulses to diamonds, has 17,500 member companies in its free zone.
In this episode:
DMCC and the future of trade (0m 40s)
UAE's opportunities in international trade (3m 41s)
Recommendations for businesses and governments (9m 38s)
Read more on our website:
• DMCC extends support package to help businesses deal with economic impact of Covid-19
DMCC and the future of trade (0m 40s)
UAE's opportunities in international trade (3m 41s)
Recommendations for businesses and governments (9m 38s)
Read more on our website:
• DMCC extends support package to help businesses deal with economic impact of Covid-19
Wednesday Dec 09, 2020
Wednesday Dec 09, 2020
Arabesque Partners chairman Georg Kell speaks to Kelsey Warner this week on the future of responsible investing, including the role of artificial intelligence to drive decisions. As the founding director of the United Nations Global Compact, Mr Kell was a pioneer in defining and assessing environmental, social and governance factors that can drive corporate strategy and investment decisions to improve the state of the world.
Since September 2016, Mr Kell has also chaired the Volkswagen Sustainability Council, an independent body that advises VW on issues of social responsibility and the future of mobility. The group was formed following the high-profile diesel emissions scandal. He jumped at the chance to serve on the council, and explains why coming out of the shadow of controversy, VW is now at a competitive advantage five years later.
Hosted by Mustafa Alrawi
In this episode:
Mustafa and Kelsey on ESG (0m 39s)
Where are we with sustainable finance? (2m 28s)
Arabesque and sustainable intelligence (7m 00s)
How to address biased machine learning (13m 52s)
The lessons learnt by Volkswagen (15m 15s)
Who gains and loses because of the ESG criteria (20m 06s)
Headlines (22m 29s)
Read more on our website:
• Airbnb and DoorDash IPOs may raise $6.2bn based on new price ranges
Since September 2016, Mr Kell has also chaired the Volkswagen Sustainability Council, an independent body that advises VW on issues of social responsibility and the future of mobility. The group was formed following the high-profile diesel emissions scandal. He jumped at the chance to serve on the council, and explains why coming out of the shadow of controversy, VW is now at a competitive advantage five years later.
Hosted by Mustafa Alrawi
In this episode:
Mustafa and Kelsey on ESG (0m 39s)
Where are we with sustainable finance? (2m 28s)
Arabesque and sustainable intelligence (7m 00s)
How to address biased machine learning (13m 52s)
The lessons learnt by Volkswagen (15m 15s)
Who gains and loses because of the ESG criteria (20m 06s)
Headlines (22m 29s)
Read more on our website:
• Airbnb and DoorDash IPOs may raise $6.2bn based on new price ranges
Tuesday Dec 01, 2020
Tuesday Dec 01, 2020
What do Toyota, Disney, IBM and Airbnb have in common? They were started during – or right after – a crisis. Whether the Great Depression, the Second World War or the 2007-2008 global financial crisis, major struggles have led visionary founders to build some of the world's biggest, most durable companies. So what will 2020 yield?
Host Kelsey Warner is joined this week by Noor Sweid, founder and general partner at UAE venture capital firm Global Ventures, to discuss how entrepreneurs can capitalise on opportunity even during times of uncertainty.
In this episode:
What is Global Ventures? (0m 50s)
Investor appetite in the UAE (1m 59s)
What tech will stay after 2020? (4m 57s)
The change in dynamic between the founder and the investor (7m 09s)
The path to liquidity (11m 33s)
Headlines (13m 25s)
Read more on our website:
• UK retailer Debenhams to close, putting 12,000 jobs at risk
In this episode:
What is Global Ventures? (0m 50s)
Investor appetite in the UAE (1m 59s)
What tech will stay after 2020? (4m 57s)
The change in dynamic between the founder and the investor (7m 09s)
The path to liquidity (11m 33s)
Headlines (13m 25s)
Read more on our website:
• UK retailer Debenhams to close, putting 12,000 jobs at risk