The Agenda

The RTA has just completed a major phase of its Hessa Street Development Project. This latest upgrade is designed to help ease congestion for the more than 630,000 vehicles that use that stretch of road every day. So what exactly has been delivered? How long is the upgraded section? And which junctions are now fully operational? We get the details straight from Hamad Al Shehhi, Director of Roads at RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency. 

We also ask transport expert Martin Tillman if it's enough to solve the long-term congestion problems in that part of the city.

We turn our attention too to kids bank accounts and financial literacy for children after receiving a flurry of messages from our listeners wanting to know how they can teach their kids financial independence.

We look at how local genetic data are being used to develop treatments and diagnostics that are tailored to this region’s population. 

A new eye injection in the UK uses a simple gel injected into the eye to restore pressure and improve vision in patients with dangerously low eye pressure.

We also speak with the Dubai Civil Defence about their Billion Readiness initiative that has already helped reduce fire incidents worldwide by 18%.

And check the details about Dubai's attempt to host the world’s largest virtual sign language class this month.

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The Roads and Transport Authority is beginning a school bus pooling pilot programme next week and they’re doing it in partnership with a private transport company and a bus provider. We get the details from Adel Shakri, Director of Planning and Business Development at RTA's Public Transport Agency, Yango and Urban Express.

If you’re thinking of buying property in Dubai or even just keeping an eye on where the city is expanding next, there's a growing number of tools now available to help buyers make smarter, more strategic decisions. We found one through property consultant Divya Wadhwa.

But who decides what gets built and where? What makes a plot of land become a residential community, a park, a business hub, or even a cultural district? We get the take of 

Fatma Al Khayat from Arkat Urban Planning + Design

Tech journalist Kevin Sebastian updates us with all the changes Google is doing to Gmail.

A group of chemists and environmental scientists say many of the most alarming microplastics studies may be based on flawed detection methods. Some particles believed to be plastic could actually be natural fat, and key safety claims may not stand up to scrutiny. 

And is ube the new matcha?

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Just today, a major new report was released by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts  and the headline is hard to ignore: 2025 was officially the third warmest year on record. So what does this mean for governments, for businesses, and for all of us as individuals?

A powerful new documentary, titled simply Ocean, and presented by Sir David Attenborough, is being screened right here at WFES, and it’s designed to hit home with the people who have the power to act: climate policymakers and global investors.

Coral reefs are dying but one company is working to reverse that trend.
We also look at how AI is making a difference on the global energy system not just to decarbonise, but to become smarter, faster, and more resilient.

We speak to a company unveiling the world’s highest-capacity hard drive.
As the UAE continues to push its sustainability agenda forward, new partnerships are forming right here at WFES to tackle waste management and circular economy goals. BEEAH has signed a new joint venture with KEZAD Group, aimed at boosting waste management and circular economy services across Abu Dhabi’s industrial zones.

And we meet the man behind Jade, that uses AI-powered educational games to detect and support children with autism and other neurodiverse conditions.

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Etihad Airways has been named the world’s safest airline for 2026, and we ask AirlineRatings what set it apart.

As the UK moves to clamp down on AI deepfakes, British TV personality Narinder Kaur speaks out after being targeted using Elon Musk’s AI tool Grok.

OpenAI is rolling out AI-powered health advice, but critics warn handing chatbots your medical data could be a privacy minefield.

With 96% of UAE residents eating too much salt, the Ministry of Health and Prevention explains what new regulations could mean for your food.

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How easy is it to find fame and fortune on social media - and do influencers have a responsibility to do good once they reach the top? We are Inside the 1 Billion Followers Summit, hearing from from Logan Moffitt, the Cucumber Guy, and Filipino food star Abi Marquez, aka the Lumpia Queen.
How a sore throat turned into a life-threatening battle with necrotising fasciitis for British expat Mark Brooks.
Meanwhile, Dubai’s new Cycling Pass - a push for active lifestyles and tourism linking nine cycling routes across the emirate.
Plus, Leonardo da Vinci’s DNA, could new scientific discoveries change how we authenticate historic artworks?
And Katie Chambers breaks down the biggest winners from the Golden Globes update and what they mean for awards season.

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Etihad Rail has finally unveiled seven new passenger stations bringing the total so far to 11. But how transformative could this really be both for residents and the wider economy? How will this impact the property market?

New AI-powered surveillance cameras are being tested to detect and report littering in public spaces in Dubai. So how does the technology actually work, and what are the limits?  

Students in Dubai are back in schools after a long winter break. Now, some school leaders are warning about “learning regression”, the academic dip that happens when students lose key skills during extended breaks, especially in reading, writing and maths. So how serious is it, and what can be done?

And Emirates Airline has issued a fresh travel advisory reminding UAE residents that they’ll now need to apply for a new kind of e-visa before they fly. So what exactly is an ETA, who needs it, and how do you apply? 

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Tomorrow marks the first Friday under Dubai’s new early finish rule for schools. The change was announced in December, after prayer times were officially moved earlier by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs. We speak with school heads and parents have inundated our text line with comments.

The UAE is rolling out a national salt reduction policy, targeting processed foods, restaurant meals, and improving nutrition labelling, all with the goal of reducing average salt intake across the population. We explore the serious health implications of high salt consumption with Dr Samira Hassan and we also look at how businesses are responding with the changes.

We speak with one drone training company as this week, authorities approved five national drone training hubs, with the goal of creating a world-leading ecosystem for advanced air mobility.

We analyse a new study suggesting that that airline emissions could be cut by up to 50%, simply by running flights more efficiently— choosing better routes, flying at optimal altitudes, and avoiding unnecessary detours.

And we're talking you skydiving with Cornelia Mihai.

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That's what exactly happened to one Dubai community not once, but twice, and the recent one is on New Year's Eve. We hear the story from resident Ruth Dance.

We also speak with Ateis Middle East's Phil Witts to learn about alarm units connections and obligations.

From this week, the country's ban on single-use plastics has expanded dramatically. We ask, are businesses ready for this ban? What alternatives are available?

We also discuss big news out of CES 2026 in Las Vegas: humanoid robots and Nvidia's Alpamayo

And do you miss the old Blackberry phone? There's something similar to it... 

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UAE banks start phasing out OTPs - what’s replacing them, and is it safer?

Meanwhile, insurance claims jump 20% after December rains - are companies paying out?

How to get more from your health insurance in 2026

Plus a Q&A on your consumer rights with Ahmad Ahli from Dubai Consumer Protection

You travel rights explained - refunds, delays, and cancellations made clear

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Smart glasses under scrutiny - Are they cool tech or a privacy threat? We speak to a legal expert warning of their misuse for harassment and stalking.

What does UAE law say? - Tech lawyer Dino Wilkinson, a smart glasses owner himself, explains the local legal landscape.

20 years of leadership - We mark two decades of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as Ruler of Dubai.

Adulthood at 18 - A new law sets 18 as the legal age of adulthood in the UAE. What does it mean for civil rights?

Big year for UAE brands - How long-term residents are reshaping local brand culture in 2026.
Why the world’s going beige - Inside Pantone’s Colour of the Year and the rise of neutral aesthetics

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