Morning Drive

Tim Elliott analyses the current regional travel disruption with Raheesh Babu, COO of musafir.com. They discuss the ground reality of flight cancellations, the impact of rerouting on passenger demand, and how airlines are stabilising schedules. Discover how the industry is adapting to ensure traveller safety and manage visa processing.

Tim Elliott interviews Azad Zangana, Head of GCC Macroeconomic Analysis at Oxford Economics, to examine how escalating regional conflicts are reshaping Gulf economies. They discuss the dual impact of oil price volatility and shipping blockages, alongside shifting forecasts for the travel, tourism, and real estate sectors.

Strategic Advisor Jeff Rhodes joins The Morning Drive to discuss how Monetary Metals is modernising the jewellery sector with a disruptive "gold against gold" leasing model. By decoupling inventory from US dollar fluctuations, this transformative ecosystem allows jewellers to eliminate margin calls and maintain liquidity in volatile markets.

Global Leadership Strategist Ayman Gomaa joins Tim Elliott to analyse how the UAE maintains unrivalled stability despite escalating regional tensions. Drawing on his extensive military background, Gomaa explores the nation’s unique approach to crisis management, risk mitigation, and fostering societal unity between nationals, residents, and visitors.

Independent Financial Consultant James Thomas joins Tim Elliott on Mira Business FM to discuss navigating market volatility. They explore why maintaining a long-term strategy is essential during periods of uncertainty, analysing how global trends impact local portfolios. Gain expert insights into staying disciplined and avoiding emotional decisions in today's climate.

The UAE Cybersecurity Council has issued an official warning regarding the rapid spread of highly realistic, AI-generated deepfakes. Expert Vasudha Khandeparkar joins Tim Elliott to analyse how sophisticated algorithms now allow anyone to create misleading content, threatening reputations and influencing public perception during sensitive global periods.

Tim Elliott interviews Robin Mills, CEO of Qamar Energy, regarding the serious uncertainty facing global energy markets. They discuss escalating tensions involving Iran and the critical disruptions occurring around the Strait of Hormuz, analysed through the lens of supply security and regional stability.

Tourism and hospitality remain central to the UAE economy. So, on Morning Drive at Mira Business FM, we’re taking a closer look at how hotels are managing supply, occupancy levels, guest confidence, and employee wellbeing during this period.

Joining Tim Elliott is Eti Bhasin, Executive Director of Majestic Hotels, to share insights from the ground and what the sector is seeing in real time.

Jeff Rhodes, gold expert, joins Tim Elliott on Morning Drive at Mira Business FM to discuss whether escalating Middle East tensions could push gold to new highs. As investors seek safe-haven assets amid geopolitical uncertainty, they examine market reactions, price outlooks and what rising gold demand could mean for global markets.

As tensions linked to the Israel-Iran conflict create wider regional uncertainty, businesses across the UAE are watching consumer sentiment and market stability closely. The food and beverage sector, in particular, is balancing sales performance, staffing, and team wellbeing while maintaining day-to-day operations.

Joining Tim Elliott on Morning Drive are Bart Misztal, Co-founder of Naughty Pizza, and Ivan Musoni, Founder of Musoni Food Consulting, who has just launched Cioccolat Italiani at Dubai Festival City Mall.