Morning Drive

Are AI advancements about to trigger widespread corporate redundancies? David Mackenzie, Managing Director of Mackenzie Jones Middle East, joins Tim Elliott to analyse how technology is reshaping the future of human resources. The industry expert addresses uncomfortable boardroom questions regarding automation, career evolution, and the shifting job market.

The UAE is moving to cut its dependency on the Strait of Hormuz to zero, as concerns over regional security and supply chain resilience remain in focus. What would that mean for trade, energy exports and the wider economy? Joining Tim Elliott is Dr Lijo John, Assistant Professor in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University Dubai.

Sharjah’s property market has hit record highs, with real estate sales surging 64% to AED65.6 billion. Foreign ownership reforms, lower living costs and major infrastructure projects are fueling demand across the emirate. Joining Tim Elliott to explain the surge is Ali Siddiqui, Research Manager at Cavendish Maxwell.

Luxury travel demand from the Gulf is surging ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with private aviation company XO reporting a 145% rise in multi-city travel enquiries across the US, Canada and Mexico. Travellers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are increasingly combining football, business and family travel into longer North America itineraries. Joining Tim Elliott to explain the trend is Youssef Mouallem, Chief Business Officer at Vista.

Tim Elliott sits down with Mario Volpi, Senior Manager at Eva Real Estate, to unpack the latest developments shaping the UAE property market. From major launches and market-moving headlines to rental trends and investor sentiment, they separate fact from hype and answer listeners' questions with practical insights and expert analysis.

Dubai’s off-plan property sector continues to thrive, offering exciting new opportunities for global investors. Luxe Vista Properties CEO Ajay Menon joins Tim Elliott to explore how Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are shaping the market, revealing how these strategic deposits grant savvy buyers early access to prime developments and help top developers successfully gauge high-demand trends for upcoming luxury launches.

Tim Elliott sits down with Justin Harper, Editor of Arabian Business and CEO Middle East. Harper tackles recent sensationalised UK media headlines mischaracterising Dubai, exposing misleading imagery and sloppy, out-of-touch journalism while offering a candid defense of the region’s actual business and cultural climate.

International market volatility and rising living costs are triggering a major shift in retirement planning. Speaking on Mira Business FM, Michele Carby, Founder of The Michele Carby Practice, joins Tim Elliott to analyse critical pension blind spots. Carby challenges the dangerous misconception that home country provisions remain sufficient for modern expatriates.

As global tensions reshape traditional shipping routes, the Emirate of Fujairah has rapidly transformed from a regional port into an essential linchpin for international energy security. In this episode of Morning Drive, Tim Elliott sits down with Frank Kane, Editor-at-Large at Arabian Gulf Business Insights. Together, they analyse what this strategic realignment means for volatile oil markets, marine insurance, and the wider Gulf economy amidst ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.

Tatiana Vishnevskaya, founder of MME Media, discusses corporate growth and market dynamics with Tim Elliott on Mira Business FM. The broadcaster analysed strategic frameworks for scaling media enterprise pipelines, translating structural commercial complexities into clear metrics, and mitigating operational risks within regional international markets.