Business Extra

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.

Cost of living in the UAE compared to the rest of the world

Host Mustafa Alrawi is joined by personal finance editor Alice Haine to discuss recent trends in the cost of living in the region and globally and how Dubai is one of the most expensive places to live. But your money goes further than you might think thanks to the low-tax environment.

We also give you our top tips for managing your finances at home and how to best avoid extra charges when travelling abroad.

New UAE visa laws could spark massive growth

The news on Sunday from the Cabinet that there is to be sweeping changes to visa and residency rules as well as that 100 per cent foreign ownership of businesses will no longer be confined just to free zones, is expected to have a far reaching impact on the country and the economy as a whole.

Co-hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Chris Nelson dissect the ins and outs of this seismic development. Subscribe to the Business Extra podcast for free on Apple Podcasts here.

Shaping tomorrow's aviation leaders

Captain Tilmann Gabriel is the executive chairman of the International Pilot Training Association. An industry stalwart, he has held senior executive positions across the global sector.

Now the head of City, University of London’s MSc Aviation Management Programmes, Capt Gabriel spoke with The National’s Chris Nelson in Abu Dhabi for this Business Extra podcast about his role at the university and how airport managers of the future are developed.n addition to a fast-changing industry, Capt Gabriel talks about the need for a greater inclusion of women in aviation, how airport growth has accelerated in this region and what hubs need to be aware of as the sector moves forward.