In March, the Business Extra podcast did a two-part report on the status of the healthcare sector in the UAE. Host Mustafa Alrawi spoke with Foundation Holdings' Abhishek Sharma about the growth of the healthcare industry in the UAE, especially when compared to other developed nations. More: Healthcare in the UAE Part 1 | Part 2

One of the biggest business stories of the year related to an ongoing trade war between the US and China. In March we spoke to trade experts about the matter, including Taina Sateri, Trade Counsellor, European Delegation in Abu Dhabi. She spoke about how the situation has a huge effect on the EU and global markets. More: Should a China-US trade war worry UAE investors?

In October, it was announced that US oil services provider Baker Hughes will pay $550 million (Dh2.02 billion) for a 5 per cent stake in Adnoc’s drilling subsidiary. We spoke to Abdulmunim Al Kindy, head of upstream at the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, to find out how the partnership can drive higher profitability and new opportunities for the sector. More: Partnership could spur boom for UAE energy industry

And we looked at the shifting demographics in the world’s biggest economy. Over the past decade, 86 per cent of new businesses in the United States have been started by Latinos, with the women among them being the biggest drivers of that trend. Claudia Romo Edelman told us in November what the business community should know about these trends. More: The advocate championing Hispanic contributions in the US