Business Extra

DP World's row with Djibouti will have far-reaching consequences

DP World is asserting the validity of a London arbitration court ruling in its favour against the government of Djibouti over the seizure of the Doraleh container terminal. This is a row that will have far-reaching consequences for investment in Africa and confidence in DP World's vision.

• Hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Chris Nelson discuss this and more in this week's Business Extra podcast. Also discussed in this episode:

• The first half of 2018 saw lots of activity in the downstream-energy sector. Jennifer Gnana helps us analyse these developments and how changing consumer habits could affect segments the energy industry.

• Enormous profits by Japanese company SoftBank seem to vindicate moves made by founder Masayoshi Son. His Vision Fund, set up last year, has grown SoftBank from a telecoms conglomerate to a holdings group with investments in the world’s most influential technology companies. What was Son's best deal?

• A recent survey finds many job-seekers fresh out of university have not received proper help with career advice before joining the job market. Our hosts have some pointers of our own.

The unravelling of Abraaj, plus summer spending tips and more

The fall from grace of private-equity firm Abraaj Group took a new turn this week as founder Arif Naqvi faces another criminal case surrounding a bounced cheque, this one for the sum of Dh798 million.  

For years, Abraaj projected a lavish and strong brand to the group's many high-profile investors. Now Naqvi and the group are under fire for being unable to pay for loans he had taken out to prop up the company. Will the Abraaj brand be able to recover?

Host Mustafa Alrawi discusses this and more in this week's Business Extra podcast.

Also discussed in this episode:

• The National's personal-finance writer Alice Haine gives tips to the many on holiday this summer who might be wondering how best to get the most out of their funds while abroad.

• Tourism numbers for Abu Dhabi showed growth over last year while Dubai's stayed flat, a sign of resilience for the UAE's tourism industry while at the same time global tourism numbers are mostly down.

• Apple's strong third-quarter numbers have the company on pace to become the world's first trillion-dollar company.

Earnings season: What do the region's Q2 profits tell us?

First Abu Dhabi Bank's second-quarter profits soared past expectations, as did those for many of the UAE's biggest banks. Could an uptick in the financial sector be a sign that the worst of the economic downturn is behind us?

Hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Chris Nelson discuss this and more in this week's Business Extra podcast. 

Also in this episode:

They discuss how the Apple X has not performed up to the same technological standards as current-generation devices from competitors. Will that affect sales?

How will this week's monumental peace talks between Ethiopia and Eritrea in Abu Dhabi affect trade and other economic sectors in the region?

And we have a conversation with Janardan Dalmia, the CEO of Trukkin, a commercial logistics start-up based in Dubai about. How has his company gained a foothold in the transport industry?

How energy security drives UAE-China relations

Growing demand for oil, gas and other commodities has prompted Beijing to seek more co-operation from markets abroad. The UAE offers a stable, geographically strategic hub to help meet its needs. From this springboard there are a number of economic opportunities that the UAE can seize. 

With Chinese President Xi Jinping making his first state visit to the UAE this week, we look at the role energy can play in the two countries' relationship in this week's Business Extra podcast.

Host Mustafa Alrawi and The National's energy correspondent Jennifer Gnana take a look at the factors that make the two nations ideal partners.

SellAnyCar.com's Saygin Yalcin on being a leading entrepreneur

SellAnyCar.com has become a go-to resource for those in the UAE looking to buy and sell automobiles while avoiding traditional classifieds and dealers. But it's far from the only successful endeavour spearheaded by the company's founder, Saygin Yalcin.

In this episode, host Chris Nelson talks in studio with Yalcin, who has a unique perspective on how to succeed as an entrepreneur in the UAE.

Yalcin also talks about the importance for businessmen in the country to not just provide jobs, but to cultivate other business creators who can in turn create even more jobs.

"You never build businesses alone", Yalcin says. "Over time, the CEO and the founder becomes less and less relevant in the success of a business. You need talent.

"Every entrepreneur is building teams. I believe this is the best charity you can do."

How can we assess risk in a world growing more complex?

Host Mustafa Alrawi talks to the CEO and co-founder of Sigma Ratings, Stuart Jones, about his new firm's findings on the region and its top financial institutions. He says there are reasons to be optimistic.

Also, The National's Paul Peachey is in Scotland talking to the head of clean energy business at Masdar about the testing of a new technology that could have far reaching consequences for renewables.

The commercial power of the World Cup

From a branding perspective, there are few more visible outlets than the stage created by the Fifa World Cup.

Success on the pitch can relate to significant gains in brand value for players, the nations and clubs they represent, and for the sponsors shilling out huge sums of money to have their names advertised across the globe. For instance, It's safe to say few in the West had heard of Etihad or Emirates before they became ensconced in football branding.

In this episode of the Business Extra podcast, Chris Nelson is joined by Andrew Campbell, managing director of Brand Finance Middle East, to assess just how Fifa has, despite years of controversy and poor management, used the power of the world's most popular game to become a commercial behemoth.

Can Fifa become too big, or does the star power of players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi — among the world's most famous celebrities — portend even further growth? And how will growing sectors such as e-sports affect the popularity of football among the youth?

Single mother clears debt with help from The National's Debt Panel

The National's Mustafa Alrawi and personal finance editor Alice Haine mark two years of the weekly column, The Debt Panel, and speak with reader Sumera Hasan about her ultimately successful five-year ordeal with personal debt.

We also focus on new rules from the Central Bank capping how much lenders can charge customers for their services and products and explain the importance of developing money-management skills no matter how much you earn. 

More about Sumera's story here:

The Debt Panel: Single mother of four is being hounded by debt collectors over Dh43,000

Ramadan spirit: Generous readers clear single mother's debts after The National plea

Bonus episode: World Cup quiz from the Extra Time podcast

This week, Business Extra and Mustafa Alrawi bring you our World Cup quiz from our friends on The National's sports desk and the Extra Time podcast. 

For the latest business news, visit www.thenational.ae/business.

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The eyes of the football world will be fixated on Russia this summer as 32 nations compete to be crowned the 2018 World Cup champions.

Ahead of kick-off on Thursday, when hosts Russia take on Saudi Arabia in the opening match in Moscow, The National's Extra Time podcast staged a special World Cup quiz episode. 

Four players, two teams battled it out in the ultimate test of World Cup trivia -- John McAuley and Jon Turner took on Adam Workman and Steve Luckings with a trophy on offer for the winners and a trip to Emirates Park Zoo planned for the losing team. 

Join host and quizmaster Mustafa Alrawi to find out who emerged victorious and who is on their way to feed baby goats at the zoo! 

Follow our World Cup coverage: www.thenational.ae/sport/world-cup-2018

Music: "Navajo Night" by Audionautix

Russia, Saudi Arabia and the state of oil markets with Robin Mills

With top oil producers Russia and Saudi Arabia indicating co-ordinated increases in supply we analyse what it might mean for prices .

Host Mustafa Alrawi is joined by Robin Mills, CEO of Qamar Energy, and author of The Myth of the Oil Crisis to discuss all aspects of oil markets from Opec and non-Opec joint action to the impact of sanctions on Iran and the recent focus on the downstream sector. 

Read more at www.thenational.ae/business.