The Agenda

A new premium airline is planned to be launched in Bahrain, creating around 1,200 jobs. What does this mean for the wider Gulf aviation landscape? It is now easier to travel between the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain. According to the latest World Tourism Barometer, Europe remains the most visited region, but the real growth stories are elsewhere. So what is driving travellers toward these so-called high-identity, emerging destinations? The second member of UAE's Winter Olympics contingent had a difficult outing on Monday as Alex Astridge did not finish his round in the men's slalom competition. Staying on the Winter Games, there’s growing concern among climate scientists that rising global temperatures could dramatically reduce the number of cities capable of safely hosting the Winter Olympics within the next few decades. And Dubai could one day be home to a 900-foot-high Moon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UAE Ministry of Education has introduced nine new enforcement measures to tackle rising student absenteeism, particularly before weekends and public holidays. Under the new rules, unexcused absences are capped at 15 days per academic year in public schools. So what message does this send, and could private schools follow suit? New data shows road accidents spike significantly during Ramadan, with the two-hour window between 2pm and 4pm accounting for the highest proportion of incidents. So how significant is the risk this year, and what should motorists be mindful of? We also look forward to the commencement of Ramadan and speak with the Dubai Astronomy Group. A new study is making headlines after researchers found that stimulating a specific part of the brain with mild electrical currents appeared to reduce selfish behaviour and increase generosity in decision making tasks. A team in the UK is using spider silk fibres and implanting them into a vein or hollow conduit to help repair a nerve, and they eventually degrade safely into the body. And we're telling you details about human poo used in medicine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UAE’s Ministry of Education has updated its early years entry policy to give flexibility to children entering Foundation Stage in the British curriculum. We hear your comments, parents, and we speak to two educators-- Sarah Hollingworth from GEMS Wellington Academy - Silicon Oasis and Rebecca Coulter from Dubai British School Jumeirah Park. Antimicrobial Resistance is being described as one of the greatest global health threats of our time and we discuss this on The Agenda today with three experts live from the ongoing WHX in Dubai. We also discuss camel racing in Saudi Arabia. And a new research from NYU Abu Dhabi suggests unusually warm waters in the Arabian Sea played a key role in intensifying the record-breaking rainfall in April 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia speaks with Christer Viktorsson, Director General of the UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation about what the next phase of nuclear development looks like here in the Emirates. We also speak with Orxan Isayev as we broadcast live from WORLDEF Dubai at Dubai CommerCity. As Dubai tourism hits a new record, we discuss the emirate's new launch-- Al Layan Oasis.  Is the rise of "admin night" beneficial to your finances? And we tell you about the release of Honeycomb Stingrays into the Arabian Gulf.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're discussing not just driverless taxis today on The Agenda, but even fully driverless personal vehicles as US robocar company Tensor has secured federal approval from the UAE Government’s Regulations Lab to begin testing across the Emirates, a significant regulatory milestone. The interest in the Winter Olympics has spiked here in the UAE, after two athletes were officially sent to compete. And now we’re looking at how Olympic uniforms are no longer just about function, they’re about making a statement. Social media companies Instagram and YouTube have been accused of creating "addiction machines" as a landmark trial began in California examining the mental health effects of these platforms. One of the most talked about developments at WHX is an AI-powered recruitment chatbot being demonstrated live at the Emirates Health Services booth. But do we want our nurses and doctors to be picked by a bot? And researchers from the UK have found that AI chatbots can provide inaccurate and inconsistent information when people seek help about their symptoms.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Ramadan just around the corner, shopping habits are changing. From supermarket aisles and online deals to Iftar orders and special promotions, it is a busy time for consumers. So, we are turning our attention to consumer protection during the Holy Month and get the advices from Ahmad Ahli from the Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade.  UAE authorities have issued a warning after a growing number of cases showed children being targeted through online games and social media. What may look harmless on the surface can quickly turn risky, with scammers using fake gamer profiles, private chats, and social engineering tactics to gain children’s trust. What if we could identify people at risk of losing their sight before they ever show symptoms? That’s the promise of a remarkable new study from the Emirati Genome Program Across Dubai, residents are once again coming together to provide daily Iftar meals throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan. And why does the same cold hit people differently?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apparently romantic scams are surging across the Middle East as social media and AI make it increasingly easy for fraudsters to operate at massive scale. So what's behind the sudden surge? And what are dating sites doing about it? We all love the convenience of contactless payments. Tap your phone, your card, even your smartwatch and you’re done. But… could that very convenience be putting us at risk? As some of the world’s leading health and science experts are in town for WHX Health, we also turn our focus to biotechnology and life sciences. And Julia Donaldson has unveiled the title and lead character of a brand‑new Gruffalo story set for release on 10 September 2026. Find out all the details here about its first full sequel in 20 years.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dubai's private schools will soon be teaching artificial intelligence… but how young is too young to start learning about algorithms?  We’ll speak to Fatma Al Janahi from the KHDA to find out what’s actually going into the curriculum. Also, if you’ve been stuck in traffic this week, you’re not alone.  But the RTA says help is on the way, with futuristic solutions like autonomous pods… and an underground Dubai Loop. Meanwhile, the Winter Olympics open tonight in Milan and Cortina, and for the first time ever, Team UAE will be taking part. Plus, The world’s top tactical units are arriving in Dubai for the seventh annual SWAT Challenge And, polar bears are putting on weight… but scientists say their new diet might not be cause for celebration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From energy to electronics, key goods are getting more expensive - have you noticed prices going up in the UAE? We'll speak to the team from the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply to find out more about their forecast for 2026 plus Spinneys. Meanwhile with Ramadan just two weeks away, we'll find out how restaurants and shops are staffing up at speed. Can culture help combat climate change? Desert Board's CEO Kamal Farah shares how turning natural byproducts into sustainable wood is preserving tradition—and the planet. And Jebel Jais has reopened to the public after months of closures, but with new rules for access.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced that his government plans to ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms. We hear the take of Dr Alison Burrows, Professor of Education and Childhood Studies at Middlesex University Dubai. The RTA is preparing to launch a new autonomous automated transit network in a move aimed at easing congestion and improving mobility across key areas of the city. Ahmed Bahrozyan, Chief Executive Officer of the Public Transport Agency at the RTA, gives us more details. A radical new competition is allowing the use of performance enhancing drugs. China has just become the first country in the world to ban hidden or retractable car door handles. Why? Safety. According to China’s new rules, hidden handles can delay emergency rescues and risk malfunctioning in accidents or extreme weather. A brand-new Gallup report, that has just been released at the World Governments Economy Summit, being held here in Dubai this week, asked people in 107 countries to name the single biggest problem facing their nation. And the number one answer, across continents, cultures and income levels? The economy. We're also asking today: what makes a high-performing city also a high-stress one? And how can we learn to live, work, and age better? When we talk about climate action, we tend to focus on energy, infrastructure, or policy. But what about culture? H.E. Shatha Al Mulla, Assistant Undersecretary for the National Identity and Arts Sector joins us. The UAE's been keen to improve its carbon footprint for years now, and two years ago it began an initiative called The Dubai Reef. We find out what it has achieved so far. And a remarkable advancement in the treatment of epilepsy is now available in the region.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the first time in 10 years, WhichSchoolAdvisor, the region’s leading independent school review site, is including traffic conditions in its annual parent survey. It's a small change that signals a pretty big shift in how families are thinking about education in the UAE. We're joined by the co-founder of WhichSchoolAdvisor James Mullan to give us more details. Two principals also joined the discussion on what their schools are doing to tackle the traffic issue. The full passenger route map for the UAE’s long-awaited Etihad Rail has been revealed. So is this a game-changer for commuters and tourism?  From today, it is now mandatory to register your cats and dogs with the Abu Dhabi authorities. Last week, a loud sonic boom shook homes in California after a Chinese spacecraft crashing back to Earth. But while the debris burned through the atmosphere, something else happened and the shockwaves were picked up by earthquake sensors. And there are reports that Apple is secretly working on a brand new device... could this be the beginning of the end for the smartphone?    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A company that has just opened their regional office in Dubai isn’t hiring junior staff at all. Just C-Suite leaders. Why? Because they believe artificial intelligence can handle the rest. We speak to Heroiks. Then if AI is becoming the new junior staff, what does that mean for HR policies? We pose the question to employment lawyer Luke Tapp. Is Jarvis real now? When one company tried to bring Ironman’s Jarvis to life, things got weird. Moltbot was a premium AI home assistant designed to automate repetitive digital tasks on a user’s computer like reading and replying to emails, sorting files, or running terminal commands. But suddenly it started thinking for itself. We often talk about Ramadan as the “golden quarter” for marketers. But a new report is challenging that narrative. According to fresh research, it’s not just one big commercial spike, it’s a rhythm. A series of evolving influence moments, shaped by how people live, give, and gather during the Holy Month. Between 10pm and 4am, online activity surges. That’s when people are watching, browsing, and crucially, shopping. So what does that mean for retailers, platforms, and logistics? And how do you serve customers who are most active after midnight? And meet two Filipino longboarders who have just completed a non-stop, four-hour longboarding journey from Dubai all the way to Abu Dhabi. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the UAE aiming for Net Zero by 2050, Etihad Rail is expected to play a key role in reducing road traffic, cutting carbon emissions, and shifting residents toward more sustainable mobility. Adhraa Al Mansoori, Director of Public Policy and Sustainability at Etihad Rail. We discuss disputes between tenants and landlords, eviction cases under Dubai Rental law and rent increase regulations with Dr. Yousef Al Mansoori, Senior First Instance Judge at the Rental Dispute Center in Dubai. And we find out how economic uncertainty and the arrival of AI affect entry-level roles and how these make job hunting more difficult for young people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence has just announced the launch of K2 Think V2, a cutting-edge model being described as the country’s most powerful sovereign AI reasoning system to date. That power bank in your bag? It might be more dangerous than you think.  The Child Digital Safety Law which has come into force and it brings new rules around age verification, harmful content, and platform accountability. How does this reshape the legal landscape for global tech companies operating in the UAE? What does it mean for ISPs and telecom providers? And how will these rules be enforced? Some airports in Asia have started to screen passengers after a virus outbreak in India. What is Nipah virus? How does it transmit from one person to another? A team of scientists from NYU Abu Dhabi has just wrapped up the first nationwide coral “stress test”.  As Gulfood 2026 continues here in Dubai, one of the most talked-about themes this year is the future of protein. Not just where it comes from but how it’s made, how it tastes and how sustainable it really is. And we hear about a global challenge to build the world’s first fully robot-constructed residential villa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Excitement is building over Disneyland Abu Dhabi, after the CEO of the company, Bob Iger, posted a picture of himself strolling along the coastline of Yas Island, around a sandpit. So with construction is still in its early phases, we ask Chris Seymour, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Mace, when we can expect the park to be ready. Staying with that theme of confidence and capital flowing into the UAE, we also look at at Dubai’s most prestigious and glamorous properties with Ben Bandari. For decades, the private office was the ultimate symbol of power. But now in the post-pandemic era of hybrid working and open-plan collaboration, that door may finally be closing. What does it say about the changing world of work?  A large UK study has found the menopause is linked to changes in the brain similar to those seen in Alzheimer's. The world’s first “Gold Street” is set to be built in Dubai as part of the newly-launched Dubai Gold District. We get details from gold expert Jeff Rhodes. From ocean pollution to microplastics in our food and water, it's often painted as the environmental villain of our age. But is that reputation entirely fair? And would you mind if your next burger came from a bioreactor instead of a cow?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has now completed 65% of a major new bridge project that will link Sheikh Zayed Road directly to Dubai Harbour. Hamad Al Shehhi, Director of Roads at Traffic and Roads Agency at the RTA gives us more details. Is paracetamol safe to take during pregnancy? Well, according to a major new review published in The Lancet, the answer is yes. The researchers behind the study say there is no evidence linking paracetamol use to autism, ADHD, or other developmental issues in children.  For the first time ever, the UAE will be sending not one, but two athletes to the Winter Olympics. One of them is Piera Hudson who has qualified to compete in alpine skiing at Milano–Cortina 2026, and she joins Georgia on the show today. A remarkable new archive has just opened beneath the Antarctic ice designed to preserve disappearing climate records from glaciers around the world. We find out more information about the 'Ice Memory Sanctuary’ from Ice Memory Foundation Director, Anne-Catherine Ohlmann. We discuss food trends and how neuroscience is revolutionising food product development as Gulfood takes place in Dubai. And it’s already chilly across the Emirates, but is another cold wave on the way?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 2,000 residents have managed to buy their very first home in Dubai in just six months and currently there are 40,000 on the waiting list of the First-Time Home Buyer Programme, launched in July last year by the Dubai Land Department and the Department of Economy and Tourism. It’s already driven over AED 3.25 billion in residential property sales… and the government is now looking to expand the initiative even further. Mohammed Yahya, Director of Real Estate Transactions at the Dubai Land Department, gives us the details. What is it actually like on the ground for buyers navigating mortgages, deposits, and approvals for the very first time? We ask mortgage broker Jo Phillips. A new report from Oliver Wyman reveals that the global cost of traffic congestion now exceeds 500 billion dollars a year. What can be the solutions to help cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi? The Dubai Films and Games Commission is partnering with the UK’s National Film and Television School and Prime Video to launch a new Talent Development Programme aimed at fast-tracking the next generation of scriptwriting and production talent in Dubai. And meet Austria's clever cow Veronika...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a parent here in the UAE, you now have a legal obligation to monitor your child’s digital activity. Lawyer Dino Wilkinson, partner at Baker, joins us to explain what the law says. We also look at the psychological and behavioural side of this issue with consultant in digital wellbeing and meaningful learning with technology for children, Dr Alison Burrows. The National Centre of Meteorology tells us how AI is helping with cloudseeding to boost rainfall. Ahmed El Kamali, Acting Head of cloudseeding operations at the NMC gives us the details. A video recently shared on Instagram shows litter scattered along popular hiking routes, and it’s prompted a wave of concern from nature lovers who say it's time to take action. And a group of UAE students transformed a plot of land at a school in Nairobi, turning it into a working farm that will help provide food for children in need.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Renting a car should be straightforward. But based on the messages we've been getting from listeners, it seems a lot of people are facing unexpected fees, delayed refunds, and damage charges they don’t agree with. Ahmad Ahli, Acting Director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade joins us to answer your concerns. We also discuss degree accreditation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Plus, we also ask, does where you studied really matter when you enter the UAE job market?  And we tell you about a pair of smart glasses that are designed for people with dementia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve had multiple messages from listeners alerting us to what appears to be a new scam targeting drivers right here in the UAE and it all centres around DARB, the Abu Dhabi toll system. We ask cybersecurity expert Amir Kolahzadeh how you can tell the difference between a real notification and a fake one and how are scammers even getting your number in the first place? There's been a surge in civil marriages and wills registered at the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court, marking a remarkable jump in demand for services introduced under the UAE’s non-Muslim personal status law. Family lawyer Byron James shares more details. Earlier this week, the Dubai Land Department and the Higher Colleges of Technology launched a new Real Estate Diploma Programme, a major initiative aimed at empowering Emiratis to play a bigger role in this critical industry. How significant is this move for Emiratis planning to move to the real estate industry? More than 170,000 creators submitted proposals to take part on the UAE and Mr. Beast's "One Billion Acts of Kindness" campaign, and just 10 were selected. And one of them is joining us on the show today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.