Business Extra

Tech Edition - What is the future of entrepreneurship in Sharjah?

What do you do with a critical mass of talent yearning to make an entrepreneurial mark in the Middle East? That is the task faced by the UAE’s northern emirate of Sharjah.

In particular, that is the task of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre, or Sheraa, a government-backed organisation launched with a mandate to build the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the emirate.

On this episode, host Cody Combs spoke with Sheraa’s chief executive Najla Al Midfa about the accomplishments, goals and evolving road map for Sharjah entrepreneurs.

Tech Edition - Will Vero change social networking?

Does the world need another social network?

Ayman Hariri, co-founder of Vero and son of former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri, thinks so.

Host Cody Combs talked to the co-founder of the ad-free, algorithm-free alternative to Facebook, TikTok and Twitter at Abu Dhabi Finance Week.

They discussed the big plans for the platform this year and the tech start-up culture in the Mena region.

Tech Edition- AI & the complexities expected in 2024

AI isn't going away, the metaverse is still showing signs of life, and cybersecurity concerns remain abundant.

Just when you thought it was safe to enter 2024 on a clean technology slate, similar themes and a cast of technology characters are re-emerging from the previous year. Yet, not everything is the same. There are some early hints of what to expect, and some clues from tech products that offer a glimpse at how our lives and businesses will change in the weeks and months ahead.

Will deepfake videos cause a cacophony of problems? Will Apple's vision of spatial computing have us all wearing headsets? Will AI concerns finally become reality?

Host Cody Combs looks at where things stand on all these topics and more.

Interviews include analysis from Renee McGowan, Marsh McLennan’s chief executive for India, Middle East & Africa, and Robert Wahl, associate professor of computer science Concordia University in Wisconsin.

What trends will shape 2024?

A new year is around the corner, and that particular time is always a great opportunity to look back and reflect.

However, it's also essential to look ahead as well and understand the forces that will shape the coming year. 2024 promises to be a pivotal year, with major shifts in technology, political economy, and evolving factors.

Host Cody Combs sits down with Sam Blatteis, co-founder and chief executive of The MENA Catalysts, to talk about what breakthroughs we can expect in 2024, and how will businesses leverage AI to stay ahead of the curve.

Climate Edition – Building sustainable cities

The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy will be moving into one of Masdar City’s net-zero buildings by the end of 2024, which shows the commitment to energy transition and a net-zero economy by 2050.

Masdar City’s director of growth Steve Severance told Business Extra host Cody Combs on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate summit that city aims to be the world’s largest collection of net-zero buildings.

Mr Severance also talked about how Masdar City has become a model for urban development, as well as the vital role of sustainable growth in the broader context of Cop28.

During the interview, he also pointed how Abu Dhabi has become a real player in artificial intelligence projects in terms of research and implementation.

Climate Edition – Generating water without electricity

Manhat, an Emirati-founded start-up launched in 2019, wants to be among the first to introduce a new technology to generate fresh water from the ocean without using electricity.

Emirati founder Saeed Alhassan told Business Extra host Cody Combs on the sidelines of the Cop28 climate summit that the start-up is using proprietary natural water distillation technology to speed up and capture the evaporation of ocean water on the surface.

Mr Alhassan added that wants to harness his invention to build floating farms, using the fresh water collected to irrigate and grow crops right at the source.

The technology is solving a major hurdle as the Arabian Gulf seeks ways to ensure water and food security, which has historically been problematic given the climate in the region.

Climate Edition - Is finance the solution?

Participants at Cop28 in Dubai are more adamant about cutting emissions this time, chief executive of Dynamic Planet Kristin Rechberger told Business Extra host Cody Combs in an interview on the sidelines of the climate summit.

Ms Rechberger said there was a greater presence of nature-preserving pavilions at this Cop than at any previous climate summit. She also talked about green finance, blue finance and the importance of climate funds.

She said her transition from being an executive at National Geographic to founding Dynamic Planet was about finding a way to restore nature and make money at the same time, and to encourage businesses to enter that realm.

Dynamic Planet was founded in 2012 to “help advance markets to restore nature” through adopting new business models. It also focuses on developing responsible business with high-impact partners that regenerate landscapes, seascapes and communities.

Climate Edition - Why is Google at Cop28?

Climate talks often conjure up images of smokestacks, car exhaust, and even aviation contrails.

There’s also the mental image of endless climate meetings hosted by prominent politicians and policymakers.

But what about Big Tech? What about the companies that paved the way for post-industrial prosperity around the world? What about the companies that many consider the new power brokers.

On this climate edition of the Business Extra podcast, host Cody Combs talks to Kate Brandt, chief sustainability officer at Google, to discuss the company’s vision for the climate, AI, and the tech road ahead.

Climate Edition - Sustaining agriculture in Gaza and ocean health

The lives of 384 million people have been improved by more than 100 winners of the UAE’s Zayed Sustainability Awards over 15 years.

This year’s award winners were announced at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai.

Business Extra podcast host Cody Combs sat down with two remarkable winners who are making a big impact as they promote sustainable and humanitarian development.

Ahmed Sourani, winner of the food category, shares the story behind the Gaza Urban & Peri-urban Agricultural Platform and its mission to bolster the agricultural sector in Gaza. We learn how this initiative positively impacts the lives of over 7,000 people, as well as the challenges and the community's resilience in the pursuit of sustainable farming.

Caroline Slootweg, winner of the climate action category, takes us deep into the world of Namibian SME Kelp Blue to explore its ambitious efforts to cultivate kelp forests in deep waters, helping to restore ocean biodiversity. Caroline also explains the innovative approaches and the transformative power of sustainable ocean solutions.

Climate Edition - Young advocates in the Middle East (part 2)

In this episode of the Business Extra podcast, host Cody Combs interviews three young climate advocates from the UAE, Morocco and Mauritania.

Recording from the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai, the climate advocates spoke about the different challenges in their communities, in addition to the work they do in reimagining the future of energy, examining the interplay between climate change and conflict, and enlisting corporate participation in reforestation efforts.

They also shared how the Cop28 International Youth Climate Delegates programme has helped them to develop their ideas and projects.