Morning Drive

AI is transforming business and daily life, but questions are growing over how the people training these systems are treated. Joining Tim Elliott to discuss the push for fair pay, transparency, and better working conditions for this vital workforce is AI trainer and Turkopticon organizer Krista Pawlowski.

As the World Cup intensity peaks in the knockout stages, music has become as crucial to a team's campaign as their tactical formation. Julie Hanse, Director of Partnerships at MassiveMusic, joins Tim Elliott to unpack the lucrative business of sports anthems, exploring why global teams and major brands are obsessively investing in sonic strategies, stadium chants, and official tracks to fuel national pride and secure massive commercial wins.

As businesses adapt to a period of economic uncertainty shaped by regional geopolitical tensions, flexibility has become the new constant. Joining Tim Elliott in the studio, Sawsan Shalabi, founder of Rafeeq Connect, discusses navigating today's challenges and explains why shifting focus locally with "Izwetna"—a tailored companionship initiative for Emirati seniors—could be her smartest operational strategy yet.

Dubai is doubling down on confidence. After the recent regional conflict, government leaders brought businesses together to protect the emirate's status as a global hub, while launching the new Dubai-it campaign to reinforce resilience and growth. So, what can every business, from startups to SMEs, learn when uncertainty becomes the new normal? Joining Tim Elliott is startup investor and serial entrepreneur Ellen Mannaert, with practical insights on leading through disruption, making smarter decisions, and finding opportunities when the future feels unpredictable.

High inflation, a surging US dollar, and expected interest rate hikes have pushed gold to a seven-month low. With stabilizing oil prices and easing geopolitical tensions further cooling the market, Monetary Metals’ Jeff Rhodes joins Tim Elliott to break down the bearish momentum and discuss whether gold is currently mispriced.

As regional developments drive Dubai fuel prices up by 30 per cent, resident motorists face escalating costs. On Mira Business FM, independent financial consultant James Thomas joins Tim Elliott to analyse the true cost of vehicle ownership, breaking down surging insurance premiums, registration fees, Salik tolls, and the financial reality of switching to electric vehicles.

The UAE's private sector workforce grew by 2.5% in the first quarter of 2026, according to MoHRE, with skilled workers also on the rise. But with regional uncertainty and changing business conditions, can the hiring momentum continue through the rest of the year?Joining Tim Elliott to share her analysis is Sonam Haider, Founder and Global Mobility Strategist at Aethra Advisory.

As economic pressure mounts, can transparent narrative marketing save struggling UAE businesses? Plug’s Brand Commander, Lucy Bradley, joins Tim Elliott to discuss her ‘Save a Soap’ masterclass. They discuss why slashing marketing budgets is a fatal mistake, how friction fuels raw creativity, and why relying on internal teams often stifles innovation.

With tensions around the Strait of Hormuz putting global trade routes under scrutiny, Gulf businesses are looking at new ways to keep goods moving. From the UAE-Oman cargo corridors and Fujairah as an important route, supply chain resilience is becoming more important than ever. Joining Tim Elliott to unpack this is Dr. Fabienne Chedid, Assistant Professor in Operations Management and Logistics at Heriot-Watt University Dubai.

Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector has visualised dramatic growth, generating over 82 billion rials in Q1 2026. Whilst international visitor numbers fell due to regional instability, a high-spending luxury threshold offset low volumes. Kevin Duffield, Director of Built Asset Consulting at Cavendish Maxwell, joins Tim Elliott to analyse how maturing infrastructure, religious tourism, and entertainment sectors are driving massive spending.