Morning Drive

AI use is surging across the GCC, but the legal framework around it is still developing. IBM’s 2026 data show the average Middle East data breach costs around $8 million, while 26% of malicious breaches are now AI-enabled. So when AI goes wrong, who is legally responsible? We discuss the accountability gap with Jouslin Khairallah, Senior Emirati Lawyer and Founder and Managing Director of KH Legal.

Tim Elliott sits down with Mario Volpi, Senior Manager at EVA Real Estate, to break down the pivotal developments shaping the UAE property sector. From major infrastructure projects and off-plan launches to shifting rental dynamics, they analyse key market trends driving long-term investment across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Tim Elliott interviews Luxe Vista Properties CEO Ajay Menon to examine Dubai’s demographic shift. As population numbers surpass 4.8 million, they analyse why short-term speculative flipping is giving way to long-term residency, multi-generational family wealth, and demand for sustainable community living.

UAE workers are getting paid more reliably under the latest Wage Protection System changes, but for millions of frontline workers, getting paid is only the first step. Many are sending money home, supporting families and managing savings, transfers and financial risks with limited guidance. Today, we look at what practical financial support for workers should look like, and why employers have a bigger role to play. Joining us is Syed Ali, Founder CEO of MyZoi, who works on financial solutions designed to support frontline workers and help them better manage their money.

A restaurant launch put on hold, but a dream far from over. Aljon Fernandez, a Dubai-based Filipino chef, has been graining traction online after sharing the reality behind a restaurant he was supposed to open, as the current situation forced those plans to change.But instead of giving up, he says the setback is only part of the journey. After 12 years in Dubai, he is still focused on one goal: putting Filipino cuisine on the global culinary map.

Dubai’s rental market is evolving as tenants face affordability pressures and landlords look for greater certainty. Takeem is using rental guarantees, property data and technology to address some of those risks. Today, Rakesh Mavath, Co-Founder & CEO of Takeem, joins us to discuss the forces reshaping the rental market, what the data is telling us, and how technology could change the way landlords and tenants transact.

The Gulf’s coastlines are facing growing pressure from development, industry and environmental risks. A new partnership between Ecocoast and Xylem is bringing real-time environmental monitoring technology to projects across the GCC, including ports, desalination and power plants. Joining us is Joachim de Jenlis, CEO of Ecocoast, to discuss what this means for protecting the region’s marine environment.

Success can be the goal, but what happens when it becomes the comfort zone? For some business leaders, past achievements can make taking risks harder and create a sense of stagnation. Today, we look at why pushing beyond what feels comfortable could be key to staying ambitious, focused and effective.Joining us is Ollie Ollerton, a former UK Special Forces operative, entrepreneur, bestselling author and television personality. Based in Dubai, he is the founder of BreakPoint and was one of the founding stars of SAS: Who Dares Wins.

AI is entering the architecture and construction industries, changing how buildings are designed, planned and built. From automating routine work to helping architects explore new ideas and create more sustainable spaces, the technology is also raising a bigger question: where does human creativity fit in?Joining us is Massimo Imparato, Dean of the School of Architecture and Interior Design at Canadian University Dubai and founder and curator of UAE Modern, a platform connecting academia, industry and the wider public through design research and exhibitions.

Gold has demonstrated remarkable resilience despite US Treasury yields climbing to 5.25%. Monetary Metals' Jeff Rhodes analyses the volatile market dynamics with Tim Elliott. Safe-haven demand and persistent geopolitical instability continue to support bullion prices at an equilibrium level of $4,200 per ounce.