This week’s podcast focuses on Adnoc’s agreement with Italian and Austrian energy companies ENI and OMV and Saudi Arabia’s new industrial programme, while HOFTEL chairman Simon Allison talks about the international hospitality sector . Abu Dhabi National Oil Company announced it is selling stakes in its refining unit to ENI and OMV, and setting up a trading joint venture with both companies as part of its drive to become an integrated energy major. Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom unveile...
Jan 31, 2019•35 min
The National’s Assistant Editor in Chief Mustafa Alrawi gives his take on this year’s World Economic Forum in Switzerland . The picture-perfect Swiss Alpine resort of Davos this week plays host to the planet’s most influential movers and shakers who come together once a year for the World Economic Forum. While some big hitters have stayed away this time to deal with problems closer to home, the forum is still a significant opportunity for the international community to focus on solving the press...
Jan 23, 2019•15 min
Sentiment among investors appears to have rebounded following a bleak end to last year, despite global issues such as the US government shutdown, Washington’s trade battle with China and disappointing data from the world’s second-largest economy. All that plus the ongoing Brexit saga do have the potential to cause ripples – or worse. Bucking the global trend, however, it seems the UAE is a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy picture. In this week’s Business Extra Podcast, Assistant Business Edito...
Jan 16, 2019•21 min
US stocks have rebounded from an end-of-year lull, but many are forecasting a recession on the horizon. Complicating the US outlook is President Donald Trump's ongoing government shutdown and frayed trade relations with China. What are all the factors driving a negative US outlook? Economic analyst Omar Al-Ubaydli gives his take to host Chris Nelson in this week's episode of the Business Extra podcast. Listen here: Also discussed in this episode: We speak with The National's Kelsey Warner about ...
Jan 10, 2019•25 min
A fast-growing Africa could change the face of the aviation industry and the continent’s rising demand for aviation could also lift Africa’s economic prospects in the future. Hassan El-Houry, Group CEO of National Aviation Services and co-author of Fly Africa, tells The National’s Mustafa Alrawi about the African aviation sector and discusses the future of tourism in and out of the continent.
Jan 03, 2019•35 min
To mark the occasion of both our 100th Business Extra podcast and the end of 2018, we are taking a look back at a few of our favourite interviews from the past year. In this episode: Saygin Yalcin is the Founder and CEO of SellAnyCar.com as well as other start-ups. He sat with our Chris Nelson in July, and talked about the challenges he faced setting up new businesses in the UAE, but how the government is doing the right thing for business by granting 10-year visas. More: Who qualifies for 10-ye...
Dec 27, 2018•30 min
Host Mustafa Alrawi, The National's Assistant Editor in Chief and Sarmad Khan, Company & Markets Editor, discuss what the outlook will be for the biggest Arab economy after it forecast spending in 2019 to reach 1.106 trillion riyals (Dh1.083tn), up 7 per cent from the finance ministry’s figure of 1.030tn riyals for 2018. Also in this episode, Assistant Business Editor Chris Nelson talks about the realities of the "gig economy" with Greg Hucker, the founder and chief executive of Maharati in ...
Dec 20, 2018•29 min
There is uncertainty in the UK, across Europe there is leadership upheaval, in India the Central Bank governor has quit and US President Donald Trump oscillates on a trade war with China. How is global political uncertainty affecting markets, and how should investors react? Ahead of a crucial vote for the British Prime Minister Theresa May on her political future, hosts Mustafa Alrawi, Assistant Editor-in-Chief and Chris Nelson, Assistant Business Editor talk to Gaurav Kashyap, market strategist...
Dec 11, 2018•23 min
Qatar breaks ranks as it says it will withdraw from the 15-member Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries on January 1. Why now, and what are the ramifications? We discuss in this episode of The Business Extra podcast. Listen here: Mustafa Alrawi, The National's Assistant Editor-in-Chief, and regular contributor Robin Mills, the CEO of Qamar Energy, discuss the different reasons behind the move including changing dynamics for gas markets and the political rift with its Gulf neighbours....
Dec 05, 2018•23 min
Emaar Hospitality is taking a new approach by selling five of its UAE hotels to Abu Dhabi National Hotels. While the value of the deal was not disclosed, Dubai-based Emaar said moving to an asset-light model will enable the business to unlock its potential. The hotels are Address Dubai Mall, Address Boulevard, Address Dubai Marina, Vida Downtown and Manzil Downtown. The National’s Mustafa Alrawi and Chris Nelson discuss the possible reasons behind the move, which will likely see Emaar focus on t...
Nov 29, 2018•36 min
Over the past decade, 85 per cent of new businesses in the United States have been started by Latinos, with the women among them being the biggest drivers of that trend. That data comes a study by Zeno Group and the We Are All Human Foundation, and we talk to their founder in this week's episode of the Business Extra podcast. Claudia Romo Edelman is an advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as co-host of the Global Goalscast focused on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Ede...
Nov 22, 2018•21 min
Optimism was high at this year's Adipec gathering in Abu Dhabi. Is the positive sentiment around the oil and gas sectors warranted? Mustafa Alrawi and Chris Nelson discuss the numerous headlines emerging from Adipic this week and what it all means for the wider energy sector in this episode of The Business Extra podcast. Also in this episode, Jennifer Gnana speaks with Ahmed Attiga, chief executive of Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (Apicorp), about the political and investment landscapes...
Nov 15, 2018•31 min
In this episode, host Chris Nelson talks to The National’s Deputy Business Editor Dania Saadi about Abu Dhabi National Oil Company using hydraulic fracturing. Adnoc’s announcement that together with US firm Baker Hughes it is using hydraulic fracturing technology onshore - for the first time in the Middle East - to assess the potential of gas reserves in the western Al Dhafra region of the emirate. We also take a look at the UAE Central Bank’s IMF-beating forecast for economic growth next year a...
Nov 08, 2018•32 min
2017 was seen as a watershed for the tech ecosystem in the UAE and wider Gulf region; Amazon bought Souq.com, more than half a billion dollars was invested into hundreds of start-ups and the entrepreneurial fire was truly stoked. November will feature a number of events and conferences drawing in regional and international VCs, other types of investors and start-ups together, to take stock of where we have arrived and what the future might hold for the sector. Host Assistant Editor in Chief, Mus...
Nov 01, 2018•17 min
Russian, French and Chinese companies have grabbed the momentum from the US for the opportunities created by the kingdom's Vision 2030. With the broader political picture unsettled for Saudi Arabia, the landmark Future Investment Initiative, being held in Riyadh, has been dominated by non-US institutions, funds and companies. Will this alter both the inbound and outbound investment priorities in the kingdom? Hosts Mustafa Alrawi, Assistant Editor in Chief and Chris Nelson, Assistant Business Edi...
Oct 25, 2018•28 min
Host Mustafa Alrawi and Assistant Business Editors Chris Nelson and Dania Saadi discuss Agility's interest in Abraaj's assets, how the UAE is the Middle East's most competitive economy and what impact rising interest rates may have on the economic outlook. Sentiment outside of the Gulf has been rocked of late but how justified is this given more positive fundamentals like higher oil prices? The team discuss this and more. We also have a discussion with Saudi entrepreneur and SME consultant Fadi ...
Oct 18, 2018•32 min
Following the news that US oil services provider Baker Hughes will pay $550 million (Dh2.02 billion) for a 5 per cent stake in Adnoc’s drilling subsidiary , Mustafa Alrawi speaks to Abdulmunim Al Kindy, head of upstream at the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to find out how the partnership can drive higher profitability and new opportunities for the sector. Mustafa and Assistant Business Editor Chris Nelson discuss what this could mean for the wider UAE economy....
Oct 11, 2018•34 min
Investors and developers flocked to this year's Cityscape Dubai compared to last year. Does that portend an uptick in the UAE's property market ahead? The National's Sarah Townsend reports on the scene from the exhibition with host Mustafa Alrawi in this week's episode of the Business Extra podcast. Also, we could not let this week's Elon Musk news come and go without comment. The Tesla mogul will cede his role as chairman of the electric carmaker and pay a $20 million (Dh73.4m) fine to settle f...
Oct 04, 2018•17 min
While the UAE's aviation giants, Etihad and Emirates, have both denied a Bloomberg report that the latter was considering a takeover of the former, it is worth speculating what the future holds. Can a deal happen, and how would that shape the future of aviation in the region? Host Mustafa Alrawi looks at the changing aviation landscape in this week's episode of the Business Extra podcast. Also in this episode: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in July awarded one of the world’s largest seismic surv...
Sep 26, 2018•14 min
Ride-sharing app Careem has been one of the Middle East's most successful tech start-ups, and competitor Uber is now reportedly interested in an acquisition to widen its own presence in ther region. While it would likely be a multibillion-dollar windfall for Careem, would selling now be a shortsighted move for a company with so much potential? Hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Chris Nelson discuss Careem's future in this week's episode of the Business Extra podcast. Also in this episode: Tesla adds a cri...
Sep 20, 2018•31 min
Despite ever-increasing prices and fierce competition, consumers flock to Apple's new products every year. Surely this year will be no different, and hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Chris Nelson assess the world's first trillion-dollar company as it unveils a new line of products in this week's Business Extra podcast. Also in this episode: Saudi petrochemicals maker Sabic has growing ambitions in China, a sign of how some of the Kingdom's largest businesses are diversifying. Siemens is pinning its hope...
Sep 13, 2018•26 min
A potential merger between Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Union National Bank and Al Hilal would create one of the region's largest lenders. The news has already had positive effects on UNB's share prices, a sign that a merger would be a welcome change to the banking sector. Host Mustafa Alrawi discuss the potential merger and more with Chris Nelson in this week's episode of the Business Extra podcast. Also in this episode: Oil prices have rallied of late. Energy correspondent Jennifer Gnana tells u...
Sep 06, 2018•29 min
In this week's episode of the Business Extra podcast: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday he wanted to prevent foreigners from buying residential units in the $100 billion Forest City project, a setback for the Chinese developer Country Garden as it tries to revive faltering demand for the site. What is the rationale for the change in direction? Tesla Chief Executive Musk said late on Friday he would heed shareholder concerns and no longer pursue a $72 billion take-private d...
Aug 30, 2018•20 min
Greece is free of of its final bailout from the European Union, allowing Athens to borrow from financial markets for the first time since 2010. But the end of financial woe in Greece is far from over, as we discuss this week on the Business Extra podcast. Also in this episode: We analyse the move by Venezuela to devalue its currency the bolivar and launch a new one. Elon Musk continues to fall under the microscope with his erratic behaviour, leaving Tesla's investors to wonder what's next for th...
Aug 23, 2018•28 min
In this week's Business Extra Chris Nelson and Andy Scott discuss Elon Musk's increasingly erratic behaviour. The maverick billlionaire and CEO of Tesla tweeted this week that he was considering taking his company private - a move that has caught the attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The mercurial genius may have been the inspiration for Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man but right now he would do well to avoid the limelight. He tweeted that he planned take Tesla private at $420 a s...
Aug 16, 2018•23 min
DP World is asserting the validity of a London arbitration court ruling in its favour against the government of Djibouti over the seizure of the Doraleh container terminal. This is a row that will have far-reaching consequences for investment in Africa and confidence in DP World's vision. Hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Chris Nelson discuss this and more in this week's Business Extra podcast. Also discussed in this episode: The first half of 2018 saw lots of activity in the downstream-energy sector. Je...
Aug 07, 2018•28 min
The fall from grace of private-equity firm Abraaj Group took a new turn this week as founder Arif Naqvi faces another criminal case surrounding a bounced cheque, this one for the sum of Dh798 million. For years, Abraaj projected a lavish and strong brand to the group's many high-profile investors. Now Naqvi and the group are under fire for being unable to pay for loans he had taken out to prop up the company. Will the Abraaj brand be able to recover? Host Mustafa Alrawi discusses this and more i...
Aug 02, 2018•30 min
First Abu Dhabi Bank's second-quarter profits soared past expectations, as did those for many of the UAE's biggest banks. Could an uptick in the financial sector be a sign that the worst of the economic downturn is behind us? Hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Chris Nelson discuss this and more in this week's Business Extra podcast. Also in this episode: They discuss how the Apple X has not performed up to the same technological standards as current-generation devices from competitors. Will that affect sa...
Jul 26, 2018•36 min
Growing demand for oil, gas and other commodities has prompted Beijing to seek more co-operation from markets abroad. The UAE offers a stable, geographically strategic hub to help meet its needs. From this springboard there are a number of economic opportunities that the UAE can seize. With Chinese President Xi Jinping making his first state visit to the UAE this week, we look at the role energy can play in the two countries' relationship in this week's Business Extra podcast. Host Mustafa Alraw...
Jul 19, 2018•17 min
SellAnyCar.com has become a go-to resource for those in the UAE looking to buy and sell automobiles while avoiding traditional classifieds and dealers. But it's far from the only successful endeavour spearheaded by the company's founder, Saygin Yalcin. In this episode, host Chris Nelson talks in studio with Yalcin, who has a unique perspective on how to succeed as an entrepreneur in the UAE. Yalcin also talks about the importance for businessmen in the country to not just provide jobs, but to cu...
Jul 12, 2018•29 min
