Morning Drive

When a massive AI-powered investment scam begins draining life savings across the UAE, investigative journalist Maz Farooqui dives into a dangerous underworld of digital deception. From facing legal threats to exposing sophisticated social engineering, he reveals the chilling reality of how modern fraudsters are outsmarting the system. Maz shares the story to Tim Elliott of Morning Drive.

On this Morning Drive episode, Tim Elliott speaks with David Mackenzie, Managing Director of Mackenzie Jones Middle East, about using artificial intelligence to secure roles in the UAE. From optimising CVs to mastering interviews and navigating recruitment trends, they discuss practical, ethical strategies to stand out and land your next opportunity.

Tim Elliott sits down with Independent Financial Consultant James Thomas to deconstruct the essential principles of building lasting wealth. They scrutinise why a diversified portfolio and a disciplined, long-term "marathon" approach are far superior to high-risk, "get rich quick" schemes.

Tim Elliott interviews Rosb Guzman of the IBON Foundation regarding the Philippines' unprecedented national energy emergency. They examine how doubling fuel costs, driven by Middle East tensions, intensify the existing economic crisis, impacting household inflation and Filipinos working overseas who face rising pressure on their finances.

Ken Wong, Lawyer & Partner at CMS, joins Tim Elliott to unpack Saudi Arabia’s newly adopted National Arabic Language Policy. This framework shifts Arabic from an administrative preference to a central operational pillar for all entities in the Kingdom.

Tim Elliott explores business resilience with Grace Karim (Bookends), Lottie Jones (QuizBiz) and Victoria Myers (Small Retailer Network). This episode analyses how community-led concepts and experience-driven brands are adapting to today’s climate.

Tim Elliott and Mario Volpi, Senior VP at Allegiance Real Estate, examine whether Dubai’s property prices are set to fall. They analyse current market liquidity, the shift towards fundamentals-driven investment, and how rising interest rates are influencing buyer and seller motivations across the Emirates.

Ajay Menon, CEO of Luxe Vista Properties, joins Tim Elliott to discuss the "catch-22" currently facing the Dubai property market. Menon analyses how escalating construction costs—rising by nearly 30%—and global supply chain pressures are creating significant execution risks for developers.

Tim Elliott welcomes Azad Zangana, Head of GCC Macroeconomic Analysis at Oxford Economics, to discuss how regional instability is reshaping economic forecasts. The conversation explores the role of sovereign wealth funds in diversifying exposure from oil, gas, and tourism, while considering the potential repatriation of capital to support rebuilding efforts.

Tim Elliott speaks with a leading AI expert from Canadian University Dubai on fake news, arrests, and official denials impacting trust and markets. How do rumours damage businesses, and can technology protect reputations in a digital-first economy under pressure?