Bitesize Business Breakfast Podcast

A new report from Visa has found that nearly all consumers see the benefits of a cashless society, while a majority of SMBs in the UAE already are, or plan to be cashless by 2024. We get the thoughts of Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager, GCC region at Visa. Plus, inflation in the US has hit a near 40 year high. With the dollar linked to the dirham, we ask economist Daniel Richards what that means for us here in the UAE. And the UAE is the only Arab country to make the top 20 in the world's most powerful passport listing. We speak to the company behind the index, Henley and Partners.

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We speak to the company behind a new survey that suggests just 20% of firms will let employees work from home on Friday. Plus, building up to the upcoming World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2022 tackling critical industries that are shaping sustainability and driving investments globally with Rob Jones. And continuing our Novak-watch, this time with a leaked footage of presenters having their thoughts about the world number one tennis player. When a private conversation not a private conversation? We discuss.

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Dubai Airport Freezone (DAFZ) has launched a new talent pass for people with special skills. We speak to their SVP of Business Growth Abdulaziz Al Hammadi to find out more. Plus, more than two and a half billion dirhams worth of real estate deals were signed in Dubai's first official working Friday. We ask Paul Kelly of Allsopp and Allsopp if that's just the old Thursday's deals - or if there's more money to be made in our new working week. And as Bitcoin trades close to a three-month low after a brutal festive sell-off, we ask crypto expert Matt Blom to find out what’s next.

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H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has issued a new law in Dubai, aimed at ensuring the integration of people of determination into society and enabling them to fully participate in all shares of life. Nadia Swan from the ARN News Centre has all the details. We talk cloud kitchens with US company REEF, who are cooking up a storm in the Middle East with plans to expand across the region with local partner Americana. We hear from REEF boss Ramez Shehadi. Plus, oil is sitting strong above 80 a barrel despite - well, everything. Oil broker Matt Stanley tells us why, and what it means for the UAE. And we are still on Djoko-watch – tennis player Novak Djokovic has won the courtroom battle to stay in Australia, but will he win the war to appear on Centre Court next week? 

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We speak to the head of human capital for AON about when to make the call if you've got staff testing positive for covid, and at what point do you temporarily close the office. Plus, today marks the first ever Friday workday in the UAE, but what does it mean for business leaders and productivity? We get the thoughts of the behavioral scientist and Professor of Leadership at Hult International Business School in Dubai, Dr. Amanda Nimon-Peters. And world food prices jumped 28 per cent in 2021 to their highest level in a decade, according to the UN food agency. We find out the outlook for inflation in 2022 – a temporary blip or something more permanent with Shady Shaher Elborno of Emirates NBD.

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A new UAE healthcare giant is being created with the merger of SEHA, or Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, Daman, the National Health Insurance Company, and Pure Health Medical Supplies. We find out more with Arnab Chatterjee of RJ Fleming & Co. Plus, Mubadala has been declared the world’s best Sovereign Wealth Fund. Why? We find out by speaking to the guys who handed out the award: Diego López of Global SWF. And we've got fresh UAE PMI numbers, official property stats for the year, and a central bank forecast! We crunch the numbers with Shady Shahar Al Borno of Emirates NBD.

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Anyone who's had to do a drop off or a pick up at the airport this week will know that DXB international is busy, but how busy? We've got an exclusive interview with Paul Griffiths of Dubai Airports on that last minute surge in traffic over New Year. Plus, residential values in the world’s tallest building, The Burj Khalifa, have climbed 23%. Andrew Cummings of Knight Frank Middle East tells us more. And finally, Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has been convicted of defrauding investors. We speak to PK Gulati, a Dubai-based Tech investor and find out the implications for the tech industry and when does a bullish and confident pitch become a fraud.

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We speak to the folks from We Will Fix it about how well our homes are holding up in the rain. Plus, a big focus on Covid testing. Dr Howard Podalsky of Cambridge Medical Centre tells us about whether we're imaging the increased wait for PCR results - and where have all the antigen tests gone? Plus, we find out what's happening at the hospital with Lubna Naeem, Head of operations and Business at Gargash Hospital. 

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Some private schools in Dubai have switched to distance learning for the first few days of the new term to tackle rising covid cases. Nadia Swan from the ARN News Centre has all the details. We speak to the principal of North London Collegiate  about the staffing challenges that the new variant poses to schools. Plus, we speak to one team leader about how she's coping with staff who are juggling quarantine, child care or are just stuck in other countries. We also talk to one business owner who is putting a two week WFH Omicron firebreak in place.

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We look ahead at upcoming New Year's eve reminders, including safety protocols and Dubai Metro timings with Dane Swindells of ARN News Centre. Hyde Hotel Dubai is 90% full. We ask MD Luke James where Dubai's New Years Eve revelers are coming from. Plus, Nando's is charging a AED 4,000 per head for its Dubai Mall restaurant. We ask their MD just how much Peri Peri chicken that will get you. And Robbie Williams is playing Atlantis The Palm, but how will he entertain you in the midst of an omicron spike? We speak to GM Tom Roelens.

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