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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 Aug 28, 2019
Wednesday Aug 28, 2019
A survey of thousands of professionals and employers in the region shows that almost all are optimistic about their careers amid shifts in technology and types of jobs
Nine out of ten 10 professionals in the UAE feel upbeat about the future of work but how optimistic should you be about your own career prospects in a fast changing world?
Mustafa Alrawi, Assistant Editor in Chief, and Kelsey Warner and Chris Nelson, Assistant Business Editors discuss the state of the workplace and how technological trends are changing the nature of jobs and employers' attitudes for the better.
Also we discuss the tie-up between DP World and Zhejiang China Commodity City Group Company to build a smart free zone marketplace at Jebel Ali, as well as the broader implications of the volatility caused to global markets by the US-China trade war.
In this episode:
In this episode:
- Headlines (0m 38s)
- DP World (1m 21s)
- US-China trade (4m 37s)
- Future of work (11m 56s)
Read more on our website:
•Majority of UAE professionals optimistic about the 'future of work'
•DP World and China to develop 'smart' marketplace in Jebel Ali
Read more on our website:
•Majority of UAE professionals optimistic about the 'future of work'
•DP World and China to develop 'smart' marketplace in Jebel Ali
Wednesday Aug 21, 2019
Wednesday Aug 21, 2019
In the episode, host Chris Nelson is joined by fellow Assistant Business Editor Michael Fahy and The National's personal finance correspondent Nada El Sawy to talk about the company, what its plans are and the growth of the sector both here and abroad.
Also, we take a look at the strange goings-on at last week's major classic car auction in Monteray, California. Auction goers consisting of aficiandos and collectors at the much-anticipated sale of rare vehicles were left open-mouthed after an apparent blunder by the RM Sotheby's auction MC saw bidding for a rare 1939 'Porsche' - list price $20 million (Dh73.4m) - reach an eye-watering "$70m", only for it to emerge that the auctioneer had in fact said, or meant to say, $17m.
Comments from those among the crowd right after the error included: “It worked for Banksy; it didn’t work for RM,” a reference to the 2018 Sotheby’s sale which saw a piece of artwork by Banksy shredded in a surprise stunt just after it sold.
In this episode:
- Headlines (0m 36s)
- FlexxPay (5m 21s)
- 'Porsche' (16m 15s)
Read more on our website:
• FlexxPay allows employees to access salary in between pay cheques
In this episode:
- Headlines (0m 36s)
- FlexxPay (5m 21s)
- 'Porsche' (16m 15s)
Read more on our website:
• FlexxPay allows employees to access salary in between pay cheques
Wednesday Aug 14, 2019
Wednesday Aug 14, 2019
$46.9 billion – the headline profit figure from Saudi Aramco’s first half results is staggering. The company also says it is ready for a planned IPO, possibly next year, and lines up a stake buy in Reliance Industry’s oil to chemicals business.
Mustafa Alrawi, assistant editor in chief, Kelsey Warner and Chris Nelson, assistant business editors, discuss Aramco with Jennifer Gnana, The National's energy correspondent, who has been reporting on a story that is proving to be a game changing time for global markets and the energy sector.
We also talk about the Danish city of Aarhus which has become a renewable energy hub and a case study for any other cities looking to lead the sector. And Kelsey describes how her Generation Start-up subject, the US firm Entrupy helps Dubai spot fakes using AI.
In this episode:
- Headlines (0m 43s)
- Aramco (1m 21s)
- Aarhus (18m 41s)
- Entrupy (22m 04s)
Read more on our website:
• Saudi Aramco posts $46.9bn H1 profit as company set to buy 20% of Reliance
Read more on our website:
• Saudi Aramco posts $46.9bn H1 profit as company set to buy 20% of Reliance
Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
Wednesday Aug 07, 2019
Fad or the future of city transport? That is the debate around electric scooters (or e –scooters) as they get set to come to a street near you. Careem is in talks to run one of Abu Dhabi's first e-scooter rental services after the capital legalised the leasing of the vehicles.
The ride-share company - which was bought by Uber for more than $3 billion this year - said it sees two-wheel devices as the future of "micro-mobility". Globally, in dense urban areas scooters are increasingly being seen as the answer for efficient personal transportation. Over the last two years electric scooters have become far more widespread. Urban planners, investors and authorities are taking the trend very seriously. But what does that mean for us here? Host Mustafa Alrawi, Assistant Editor in Chief, Chris Nelson, Assistant Business Editor and London Bureau Chief Damien McElroy discuss the impact of this new development in mobility both here and around the world.
We also focus on how the China-US row has kicked up a gear this week after Washington accused Beijing of manipulating its currency “to gain unfair competitive advantage in international trade”.
In this episode:
- Headlines (1 minute 21 seconds)
- China-US trade tensions (2 minutes 10 seconds)
- E-scooters (10 minutes 2 seconds)
- Damien McElroy (14 minutes 41 seconds)
•US designates China ‘a currency manipulator’ as trade war flares
•What the pundits think about the latest escalation between the US and China
•What the pundits think about the latest escalation between the US and China
Wednesday Jul 31, 2019
Wednesday Jul 31, 2019
The UAE government has made it easier for husbands, fathers and sons to secure employment without full company sponsorship. Previously, only women were eligible for work permits under family sponsorship.
This week we speak to Rory Reynolds, The National's News Editor, about the new work permit and what it means for workers and their families in the country.
In this episode:
This week we speak to Rory Reynolds, The National's News Editor, about the new work permit and what it means for workers and their families in the country.
In this episode:
- Headlines (0 minutes 53 seconds)
- The new labour card (6m 50s)
Read more on our website:
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Wednesday Jul 24, 2019
Wednesday Jul 24, 2019
Assistant Business Editors Chris Nelson and Kelsey Warner talk to Energy reporter Jennifer Gnana about why tanker operators choose to run ships under flags of convenience, following recent attacks and incidents involving such vessels in the Arabian Gulf.
Also discussed is how such incidents and wider trade tensions affect oil prices - or not - and they take a look at Saudi Arabia's blooming wind power sector, which alongside solar in the kingdom and elsewhere is set to transform the face of power generation in the Middle East.
In this episode:
In this episode:
- Headlines (0 minutes 29 seconds)
- Oil tankers flying flags (5m 37s)
- Saudi renewable energy (13m 59s)
Read more on our website:
• Oil prices rise following Iran's seizure of British-flagged tanker
• Oil prices rise following Iran's seizure of British-flagged tanker
Wednesday Jul 17, 2019
Wednesday Jul 17, 2019
Mustafa Alrawi, Assistant Editor in Chief and Assistant Business Editors, Chris Nelson and Kelsey Warner, explore what the consequences could be for the global technology sector after US regulators endorsed a $5 billion (Dh18.3bn) privacy settlement with Facebook to resolve the Cambridge Analytica data scandal.
Also, they discuss the latest economic data out of China which indicates growth has slowed to the weakest pace since 1992 amid the ongoing trade standoff with America.
And what of investor confidence for frontier markets after the World Bank hit Pakistan, South Asia’s second largest economy, with $6 billion in damages for refusing to honour a mining lease to an international conglomerate.
In this episode:
- Headlines (0 minutes 40 seconds)
- Facebook (1m 30s)
- China's economy (17m 58s)
- Investors confidence in Pakistan (21m 48s)
Read more on our website:
• Facebook's record $5bn privacy settlement a 'tap' on the wrist as politicians cry foul
Read more on our website:
• Facebook's record $5bn privacy settlement a 'tap' on the wrist as politicians cry foul
Subscribe to Business Extra to receive new episodes every week:
Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Audioboom | RSS
Wednesday Jul 10, 2019
Wednesday Jul 10, 2019
Host Mustafa Alrawi, Assistant Editor in Chief and Chris Nelson, Assistant Business Editor, discuss Deutsche Bank's sweeping revamp.
This week the German bank announced it will shrink its trading activities by 40 per cent through an unprecedented withdrawal from equities. About 18,000 jobs, almost 20 per cent of the workforce, will go around the world, including in London. The overhaul is forecast to cost €7.4 billion (Dh30.45bn).
We break down India's budget and despite a lack of 'big bang' explain how it still puts the country on the path towards meeting its 2025 objective of doubling the size of its economy. Plus Sir Richard Branson's space tourism ambitions kick up a gear with IPO plans for Virgin Galactic.
We also speak to Alice Haine our personal finance editor about how to best manage your money during the summer holidays. We settle that age old debate about cash versus cards and which currency should you make credit card payments in - local or dirhams.
In this episode:
- Headlines (0 minutes 53 seconds)
- Deutsche Bank discussion (1m 45s)
- India's budget (8m 0s)
- Virgin Galactic (12m 19s)
- Summer money tips with Alice Haine (14m 15s)
Wednesday Jul 03, 2019
Wednesday Jul 03, 2019
Mustafa Alrawi, Assistant Editor in Chief talks exclusively to BR Shetty
the founder of NMC Healthcare, Finablr and Neopharma, as well as the Founder and Chairman of BRS Ventures.
In the second part of the interview, Mr Shetty recounts how he managed to buy the global foreign exchange business Travelex thanks to his belief in keeping good personal relationships. He is also backing Assam tea to become a worldwide brand now that he owns the oldest producer in India. He explains what he learnt at Harvard University, how sustainable philanthropy makes solid commercial sense and why he wants to make a film of the Mahabharat. Mr Shetty says that being given permanent residency in the UAE was one of the best moments of his life and that the Golden Card visa programme will give lots of other Indian expats lots of confidence in what success can mean here.
Read more on our website:
• Exclusive: NMC Health eyes profit increase in 2018, fuelled by $2bn warchest
• Exclusive: NMC Health eyes profit increase in 2018, fuelled by $2bn warchest
Wednesday Jul 03, 2019
Wednesday Jul 03, 2019
Mustafa Alrawi, Assistant Editor in Chief talks exclusively to BR Shetty
the founder of NMC Healthcare, Finablr and Neopharma, as well as the Founder and Chairman of BRS Ventures.
In the first part of the interview, Mr Shetty shares some anecdotes about building up a fledgling business in Abu Dhabi in the 1970s and 1980s including how one morning he had to get behind the wheel of an ambulance himself to get to the scene of a medical emergency. He recounts his memories of the Founding Father Sheikh Zayed. And he also explains how everyone told him not to build a pharmaceutical factory in Abu Dhabi but he proved them wrong. Mr Shetty says he is sure that joining the Bill and Melinda Gates Giving Pledge was a good thing for him and his family. He also says Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is great for business but that he doesn’t miss his first career in local politics back home.
Read more on our website:
• Exclusive: NMC Health eyes profit increase in 2018, fuelled by $2bn warchest
Read more on our website:
• Exclusive: NMC Health eyes profit increase in 2018, fuelled by $2bn warchest