Bitesize Business Breakfast Podcast

23 Apr 2026. Commercial Bank of Dubai is out with its Q1 numbers and the CFO joins us to break them down. The IEA is warning of jet fuel shortages in Europe - IATA's regional boss on what that means for routes and travel from here. And schools are back in Dubai, we speak to Espace on whether that's translating into activity in the property market on both the residential and commercial side.

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22 Apr 2026. Dubai is shifting toward a renters market with rents down 12.5% year on year, but office space tells a completely different story, with rents up 14% and occupancy at 95%. Rupert Simmonds from Betterhomes and Matthew Green from CBRE join us with the full picture. Plus, 55 events crammed into H2 and the events and PR industry is bracing for one of the busiest periods it has ever seen. Natalie Crampton from TEC Event Management and Pete Jacob from Current Global discuss how they’re planning for it. And work from park is coming to Dubai! we speak to the people building and operating the outdoor workspace pods.

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21 Apr 2026. Several Dubai hotels have closed for renovation. STR, a hospitality data company, joins us to explain what that means for the city’s room stock and what the sector will look like upon reopening. Plus, JW Marriott Marquis is undergoing its first refurbishment in 13 years while staying fully open - we find out how you pull that off. Ras Al Khaimah has doubled its domestic visitor numbers year on year through the RAK Moments campaign. And Dubai property valuations fell for the first time since 2020, ValuStrat’s head of research joins us with the data.

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20 Apr 2026. The Strait of Hormuz opened on Friday and closed again on Saturday and the impact on oil prices and shipping insurance costs was immediate. We look at what that volatility means on the ground. Plus, the UAE is easing tax penalties and encouraging companies to come forward and fix mistakes, we speak to the FTA directly on how to use this window. And could UAE residents who worked from home abroad during the conflict find themselves liable for tax in another country? We get some legal advice.

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17 Apr 2026. The world's first commercial vertiport is ready next to DXB, with air taxis potentially flying before the end of 2026. We speak to Skyports CEO Duncan Walker. The RTA joins us on 13 kilometres of new road connections reducing journey times by up to 40% across 18 residential areas. Miral Destinations on Yas Island's push to win over UAE residents with all-inclusive offers. And Taj Hotels on resilience, staff welfare and holding the line on service standards during one of the toughest periods the hospitality sector has faced.

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16 Apr 2026. UAE children are returning to classrooms but has the move come fast enough to ease financial pressure on schools? Education consultant Shaun Robison, CEO of BBD Education and GSM Middle East, tells us. Art Dubai is revealing more details of its 20th edition, one of the few major events still going ahead in May amid the conflict. Executive Director Benedetta Ghione on what will feel different this year and how the conflict is shaping it. And Stellantis on a new initiative giving UAE small businesses free access to Jeep, RAM, Peugeot and Citroën vehicles to help them stay operational right now.

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15 Apr 2026. The ceasefire is holding but the legal questions aren't going away. Chris Bailey-Gibbs from Hadef and Partners breaks down what UAE Labour Law actually says about workplace safety and your right to work from home. Plus, the IMF has cut its UAE growth forecast from 5% to 3.1% this year - economist Ed Bell tells us what that actually means. Sobha Realty launches a Dh40 billion waterfront city in Abu Dhabi, and SITA on why record aviation technology investment isn't delivering the results it should.

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14 Apr 2026. Bit of a theme today on trade! Oil prices are swinging as hopes for peace talks jostle with realities on the ground in the Strait of Hormuz. Gulf Intelligence gives us the latest. The ceasefire raised hopes of the Strait reopening but supply chain leaders are still navigating a very uncertain environment and Sam Achampong, Regional Director of CIPS, tells us what that looks like on the ground. As the world waits to see how Iran responds to the new US blockade, we have an exclusive interview with the UN’s International Maritime Organization. And Fadi Ghandour of Wamda Capital on what the crisis is teaching Gulf businesses about resilience.

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13 Apr 2026. Q1 job numbers are up. Economic zone fees are coming down. Dubai property is holding steady. And one UAE company is posting 19 percent revenue growth by staying local. Today on The Business Breakfast we look at what’s keeping the UAE economy moving with Cooper Fitch, DIEZ, Fairmont The Palm, Bayut and more.

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10 Apr 2026. David Cook, CEO of Contractors Direct, discussed a four-way business collaboration making home renovation easier for UAE residents. Harrison Moore, CEO of Vacationer, discussed rising holiday home occupancies and who’s actually staying. Amit Malhotra, Global Head of Retail Banking at ADIB on what the banking sector is doing to support SME cash flow six weeks into the regional uncertainty, And NESR, one of the region’s biggest oilfield services companies, discussed why the MENA energy sector could be on the verge of a major investment surge.

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