Business Extra

Rise of the robots: Automation and artificial intelligence in the workplace

This week host Mustafa Alrawi discusses the impact of artificial intelligence, automation and robotics with Sultan Mahmood, PwC's Global AI Lead and Ata Malik, Senior Director at PwC Middle East.

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Luxury boat industry drops anchor at Dubai International Boat Show

The Dubai International Boat Show starts on Tuesday next week, the Mena region’s premier event for the boating sector and among the top such exhibitions globally, attracting the biggest names in the world of superyachts, megayachts and all things marine. 

Pride of place goes to the UAE-based maker of such floating palaces as the Majesty range of vessels that are the epitome of luxury life on the ocean. Erwin Bamps, the firm’s ceo, talks to host Chris Nelson about what makes Gulf Craft standout.

South Africa at the crossroads

The turmoil in Africa’s most advanced country is reaching crisis point and South Africa is at a crossroads economically, politically and socially. The man primed to take the reins, Cyril Ramaphosa, faces an enormous challenge to get the country back on track. And yet, amid the chaos, the rand is powering up, reflecting what many believe could be the start of a new golden era for the nation.

How the media shapes investor perceptions

From Saudi Arabia's diversification efforts to the mania around bitcoin, investors learn much about opportunities in the media. How should they view what they are being told? Host Chris Nelson gets the lowdown from economics expert and regular columnist Omar Al Ubaydli.

Brexit: The pros and cons from a business perspective

The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union is set for March 2019 and businesses in Britain and Europe are bracing themselves. In this edition of The National Business Extra podcast host Chris Nelson is joined by The National’s London Bureau chief Damien McElroy, a pro-Brexiteer, and Noor Nanji, Business reporter at The National’s London office, who takes a different view, to weigh up the pros and cons of the biggest divorce in modern history.

A tour of Davos 2018

Host Mustafa Alrawi reports from the Swiss town where global leaders and top executives have gathered for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.

On the Promenade he finds Saudi officials working to keep the kingdom on track for its Vision 2030, takes the funicular to the top of the mountain where polar explorers are advocating action on climate change and delves into the fascinating world of cryptocurrencies during an engaging forum panel discussion.

Business Extra is The National's weekly look at the business, financial and technology sectors of the Middle East and beyond. Subscribe to and rate the show at Apple Podcasts, or listen on Audioboom, Pocket Cast or your favourite podcasting app.

Digital security: Former Google executive on how to mitigate the risk of attack

With enormous attacks on major public organisations and multinational companies across the globe costing billions of dollars, the conventional idea of a lone-wolf targeting systems more for fun than malice is rarely the case now. 

Digital security is today one of the most pressing issues for businesses, organisations and even nations as the threat of organised, ultra-high-tech criminals find new ways to break into software systems, paralysing operations. So what can be done to best mitigate the risks?

In this episode, host Chris Nelson talks to Sam Blatteis, the former Google head of government affairs, Gulf Countries and the founder and chief executive of The MENA Catalysts, a regional high-tech government affairs firm about issues surrounding cyber security. 

Business Extra is The National's weekly look at the business, financial and technology sectors of the Middle East and beyond. Subscribe to and rate the show at Apple Podcasts, or listen on Audioboom, Pocket Cast or your favourite podcasting app.

What 2018 will bring for energy

Host Mustafa Alrawi hears from Lord Adair Turner, one of the key players helping to usher in a new era for the energy sector. S&P Global Platts' Chris Midgley provides a market-wide view on trends from rising oil demand to the rise of electric vehicles.

Supercars in the UAE: What's driving the trend?

In this episode, host Chris Nelson talks to The National’s Motoring Editor Adam Workman about the rise of the handbuilt sports and supercar industry in this country, the latest in automotive tech and how the maker of James Bond’s vehicle of choice, Aston Martin, has engineered a remarkable turnaround.

The UAE has become a hotbed for bespoke high-end sportscars and supercars such as the Jannerelly Motors’ Design 1 retro-classic two-seater and the Zarooq Sandracer 500GT – dubbed the first supercar for the desert – not to mention the W Motors Lykan hypercar. So what is driving this trend and how do these manufacturers hope to cash in?

How to provide a voice for refugees in the Middle East and North Africa

Host Mustafa Alrawi hears New York hedge fund manager Khaled Beydoun’s story of what he and his family experienced when visiting a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon. Omer Elnaiem of the United Nations refugee agency describes what day 1 and year 6 are like for a refugee. Mastercard’s Paul Musser explains how it has been able to support humanitarian initiatives.