Bitesize Business Breakfast Podcast

Should employees brag about working during their time off or do they need to be encouraged to switch off completely? One HR expert says there’s a worrying trend of ‘laptops on the beach’. We speak to HR Director of Bayut and dubizzle, Suzanne Gandy. Plus, the Norwegian oil fund, the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, has posted its biggest loss ever in the first half of 2022, we speak to financial wellness speaker, journalist and author Andrew Hallam. And, focus on how Germany and other European countries are planning to stay warm this summer and catch up with the UAE based Agtech start up Produze who just raised $2.6 million.

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We ask Mark Kar, General Manager at Coca Cola Arena as they prepare for a busy season ahead. Plus, the number of employees in the UAE’s private sector grew by 9 percent in the second quarter of 2022, amid the country’s bid to be a global hub for talent. Economist Daniel Richards put that in context for us. And, its our bi-weekly real estate segment with John Lyons of Espace.

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Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports crunch those numbers for us. Plus, we discuss the latest data from Magnitt which ranks UAE top in terms of venture capital financing in the MENA region with Emma Rosso. And, values of residential properties in Dubai continued to rise in Q2 2022, up 10.1% from last summer, to average at AED 1,100 per square foot, consultancy firm Knight Frank said in a new report.

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Apple tells employees to work at the office three times per week starting in September, Richard and Tom share their views. Plus, less than one hundred days to go until the World Cup and air travel demand to Doha is booming, we speak to Trupt Shah of musafir.com. And, China reported data for July that came in well below expectations as the real estate slump and Covid controls dragged down growth, we speak to economist live from China, Trupt Shah.

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We cross live to Islamabad and Mumbai for the economic story. Plus, Saudi oil giant Aramco has broken its own record with a $48.4bn profit for Q2 2022. Sean Evers of Gulf Intelligence put those numbers in context for us. And we focus on the future of start ups and SMEs in the region after a report from STV paints a very positive picture.

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More than three quarters of employers are worried they don't have the skills they need among their staff. We speak to the people behind that report, Hays. Plus, it's earning season, we get the details behind the numbers from DEWA, Shu'aa Capital and  speak to Network International. And, Starzplay is set to disrupt live sports streaming in the region with the creation of a new division. CCO Danny Bates tells us more.

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Eight months after Sharjah adopted a four-day work week, officials say there has also been a significant boost in government employee productivity. We discuss the pros and cons of a 4-day working week with Oliver Baxter of Herman Miller. Plus,  Air Arabia seeing net profit come in 16 times higher for Q2, compared to a year ago. We speak to aviation expert Nick Humphrey of Kennedys. And US inflation is coming off its four decade high, we get the details with our investment expert Keith Fitz-Gerald.

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New real estate reporting regulations require real estate brokers to lodge those paying in crypto or large amounts of cash. Are people really buying villas with suitcases full of folding? We speak to Paul Kelly of Allsopp and Allsopp. Plus, Salik is looking to raise around a billion dollars in an IPO that could happen as soon as next month, according to Bloomberg. We speak to markets expert Mohammed Ali Yasin. And, smartphone sales are at a 2 year low across the MENA region but does it translate to the UAE? We ask Ashish Panjabi of Jackys. 

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That's according to new PMI data from S&P - which also shows inflationary pressure from input prices easing. We get the details with ENBD chief economist Khatija Haque. Plus, ADNOC Distribution has seen Q2 net profit rise more than 70 per cent. We talk petrolonomics with energy expert Matt Stanley. And Savills joins us to go through their latest findings on the prime residential market.

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Unemployment in the US has fallen to 3 and a half per cent - a more than 50 year low. Agthia - the food and water people - have seen Q2 profit nearly double. We'll find out why with CEO Alan Smith. Plus, as Dubai's hotel market continues to thrive we speak to the head of the Radisson Hotel Group. And the UAE is investing a billion dollars in Pakistani companies. We speak to Dr. Nadeem ul Haque of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics. 

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