The 85%

Careem, the fast-growing, car-hailing app, is the Middle East's only 'unicorn' – a private tech company worth more than $1bn. Abdulla Elyas, co-founder of Careem, talks to host Afshin Molavi about the company, its future, and his own entrepreneurial highs and lows. He also offers tips for aspiring entrepreneurs in the region.

In the second segment, emerge85 collaborator Kerning Cultures offers a reported segment on the social mobility and rise of the Filipino middle class in Dubai.

Careem, the fast-growing, car-hailing app, is the Middle East's only 'unicorn' – a private tech company worth more than $1bn. Abdulla Elyas, co-founder of Careem, talks to host Afshin Molavi about the company, its future, and his own entrepreneurial highs and lows. He also offers tips for aspiring entrepreneurs in the region.

In the second segment, emerge85 collaborator Kerning Cultures offers a reported segment on the social mobility and rise of the Filipino middle class in Dubai.

Mexico City experienced a major earthquake on September 19, 2017 – exactly 32 years to the day that a similar quake struck the North American city. Journalist and scholar Andres Martinez explains why these two earthquakes can serve as bookends for Mexico 'then and now', pointing out the dramatic gains that have been made over the past three decades in society, politics, and the economy. He also discusses the "two Mexicos" that exist side-by-side in a country that is experiencing dramatic transformation amid challenges ranging from US President Donald Trump to local corruption and drug wars. In the second segment of the show, we offer an excerpt from host Afshin Molavi's visit to Dubai Eye Radio's Business Breakfast show, where he outlined the ideas behind the emerge85 Lab.

Mexico City experienced a major earthquake on September 19, 2017 – exactly 32 years to the day that a similar quake struck the North American city. Journalist and scholar Andres Martinez explains why these two earthquakes can serve as bookends for Mexico 'then and now', pointing out the dramatic gains that have been made over the past three decades in society, politics, and the economy. He also discusses the "two Mexicos" that exist side-by-side in a country that is experiencing dramatic transformation amid challenges ranging from US President Donald Trump to local corruption and drug wars. In the second segment of the show, we offer an excerpt from host Afshin Molavi's visit to Dubai Eye Radio's Business Breakfast show, where he outlined the ideas behind the emerge85 Lab.

This week Afshin Molavi looks at the air travel revolution reshaping Asia, and also explores why Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan is claiming Dubai as his own city. Molavi speaks with Max Hirsh, a professor at the University of Hong Kong and author of the book Airport Urbanism: Infrastructure and Mobility in Asia. Hirsh argues that the unprecedented airport buildup across East Asia has helped spur an air travel revolution that is reshaping economies and societies across the region. A globally renowned airports expert, Hirsh also tells us about his favorite airports. Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood megastar, considers Dubai International Airport among his favorite airports. In a viral ad seen on YouTube nearly 10m times, Khan invites people to “be my guest” in “my Dubai.” Molavi unpacks the meaning of that ad, notes Dubai’s role as the Hong Kong of South Asia, and explores an oft-told joke: What is the best city in India? The answer: Dubai.

This week Afshin Molavi looks at the air travel revolution reshaping Asia, and also explores why Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan is claiming Dubai as his own city. Molavi speaks with Max Hirsh, a professor at the University of Hong Kong and author of the book Airport Urbanism: Infrastructure and Mobility in Asia. Hirsh argues that the unprecedented airport buildup across East Asia has helped spur an air travel revolution that is reshaping economies and societies across the region. A globally renowned airports expert, Hirsh also tells us about his favorite airports. Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood megastar, considers Dubai International Airport among his favorite airports. In a viral ad seen on YouTube nearly 10m times, Khan invites people to “be my guest” in “my Dubai.” Molavi unpacks the meaning of that ad, notes Dubai’s role as the Hong Kong of South Asia, and explores an oft-told joke: What is the best city in India? The answer: Dubai.

The fourth episode of the 85% takes us to London, where host Afshin Molavi speaks with Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times and author of the book Easternization: Asia's Rise and America's Decline From Obama to Trump and Beyond. For some 500 years, the West dominated the world. That is no longer true, Rachman argues, suggesting the rise of China, India, and other Asian powers are rewriting our global script.

The extraordinary rise of Chinese travellers are part of that script rewrite, argues lab co-director Afshin Molavi as he sat down with the BBC World News on his London visit to discuss this transformative trend. In the second part of the podcast, we include an excerpt of that interview.

The fourth episode of the 85% takes us to London, where host Afshin Molavi speaks with Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times and author of the book Easternization: Asia's Rise and America's Decline From Obama to Trump and Beyond. For some 500 years, the West dominated the world. That is no longer true, Rachman argues, suggesting the rise of China, India, and other Asian powers are rewriting our global script.

The extraordinary rise of Chinese travellers are part of that script rewrite, argues lab co-director Afshin Molavi as he sat down with the BBC World News on his London visit to discuss this transformative trend. In the second part of the podcast, we include an excerpt of that interview.

In the third episode of The 85%, host Afshin Molavi sits down with Africa markets specialist Aubrey Hruby to discuss the promise and challenges of African markets in the 21st century. Hruby argues that Africa could become "the great turnaround story of the 21st century," while also noting that the continent's more immediate jobs challenge should be "keeping us all awake at night." Hruby is co-author of The Next Africa: An Emerging Continent Becomes a Global Powerhouse, and a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Africa Center.

In the third episode of The 85%, host Afshin Molavi sits down with Africa markets specialist Aubrey Hruby to discuss the promise and challenges of African markets in the 21st century. Hruby argues that Africa could become "the great turnaround story of the 21st century," while also noting that the continent's more immediate jobs challenge should be "keeping us all awake at night." Hruby is co-author of The Next Africa: An Emerging Continent Becomes a Global Powerhouse, and a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Africa Center.