Morning Drive

Dubai real estate transactions have surged to a staggering fifteen billion dirhams in just one week. Is this extraordinary growth sustainable, or does the data mask on-the-ground market challenges? Industry expert Mario Volpi joins Tim Elliott to analyse the figures, regional masterplans, and what lies ahead for developers.

Global financial and precious metals markets remain locked in a tense holding pattern as investors await a definitive resolution to geopolitical conflict. Speaking from Singapore, Monetary Metals expert Jeff Rhodes joins Tim Elliott to analyse mixed political signals surrounding a potential US-Iran peace deal and the latest trading volumes.

Following a dramatic mountain rescue in Ras Al Khaimah, adventure guide Faisi Shalmani, founder of AFT Adventures, joins Tim Elliott on Mira Business FM. Shalmani details the harrowing moments carrying an exhausted hiker across treacherous terrain, whilst tackling the shifting trends and critical safety standards in the UAE’s rapidly growing ecotourism sector.

A profound shift is under way as Gen Z trades casual side hustles for scalable startups. In this exclusive interview, Heriot-Watt University Dubai’s Anna Schebsdat joins Tim Elliott to discuss how higher education institutions are revolutionising their programmes, transforming campuses into high-tech incubators to fuel the next generation of global entrepreneurs.

Saudi Arabia is experiencing a permanent shift in corporate migration, generating over 1.8 billion riyals in fresh capital in March 2026 alone. Tim Elliott sits down with James Elliot-Square from Sovereign PPG Corporate Services to analyse how Vision 2030, simplified market entry, and aggressive non-oil diversification are driving an unprecedented baseline of business activity.

A major cybersecurity report reveals that 92% of UAE organisations suffered identity-related breaches last year. Palo Alto Networks' Cybersecurity Expert Laurence Elbana joins Tim Elliott to explain how non-human machine identities and autonomous AI agents now outnumber human staff 116 to one, becoming the ultimate digital threat to modern businesses.

Luxe Vista Properties CEO Ajay Menon joins Tim Elliott to analyse developer payment schemes. The panel scrutinises the financial divides between end-users and investors, offering crucial guidance on navigating risks, managing post-handover options, and tailoring property strategies for maximum investment security.

As the UAE launches the world's first Shariah-compliant spot gold market, physical asset trading is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Paradigm Holdings Chairman and CEO Steven Hawkins joins Tim Elliott with a brief history of how Dubai is cementing its position as the global hub for halal bullion.

#HalalGold #IslamicFinance #ShariahCompliant #DubaiBusiness #goldtrading

As a rare Andes hantavirus outbreak on a luxury cruise ship triggers international alerts, questions mount over global biosecurity. Aspen Medical’s Sean Costello joins Tim Elliott to analyze the operational realities of containing this uniquely contagious threat, evaluating the UAE’s pandemic readiness, travel-hub surveillance, and critical private-public coordination.

#MiraBusinessFM #GlobalHealth #AndesHantavirus #OutbreakResponse #AspenMedical

Tim Elliott and corporate lawyer Sima Osseiran of BSA Law discuss the evolving financial landscape of the GCC. While liquidity remains robust at the government level, Osseiran explains how tightening global conditions are creating unique opportunities for strategic restructuring and acquisitions. Rather than a crisis, she views this shift as a "revitalisation" phase, where the UAE’s resilient market and immediate government support measures provide businesses with the essential breathing space to retool, attract fresh investment, and emerge stronger on the global stage.