The Agenda

From new corporate tax rules and VAT updates, to tighter refund deadlines and stricter compliance measures - this is a major shake-up of the country’s tax landscape. We have John Casey, Managing Director of Tax Ready dot AE, a Virtuzone company and one of our go-to tax experts here on the show to make sense of what it all means for us. Plus in our build-up to New Year’s Eve, we’ll find out how thousands of drones are being used in firework displays across the emirates. And how many of you are planning to celebrate on the water? The authorities will unveil their marine safety plan ahead of the 2026 celebrations on this show! And for those of you who live in fear of losing your luggage - global air transport IT provider SITA has good news! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The RTA shares its NYE plan to enable passengers to have a smooth journey. Plus, ride hailing app Zed reveals numbers on passenger habits. And scientist Rachel Stratton joins Georgia in studio to talk about her latest adventure - traveling hundreds of kilometres... on a camel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The worst of the weather hit last night, with torrential downpours and thunderstorms sweeping across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. Videos circulating online show flooded roads, poor visibility, and that rare UAE phenomenon— hailstones clattering off car windscreens. So what more can we expect as the day unfolds? ARN News Centre's Surina Kelly joins us for more updates on travel, flights and government advisories. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has just announced the second phase of the nationwide ban on single-use plastic products and bags, a move that's set to come  into full effect on January 1st, 2026. Her Excellency Engineer Alya Abdelrahim Alharmoodi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector at the Ministry of  Climate Change and Environment gives us more details. We also look at what this means for business, consumers and the future of sustainable alternatives to plastic. And we meet an Emirati marine engineer who joined a landmark exhibition to the Union Glacier in Antarctica.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As more rain is expected throughout the UAE, we speak with forecaster Alya Almazroui from the National Center of Meteorology, for the latest weather updates. We're also joined by Sebastien Bedu, General Manager for the Middle East at International SOS, to talk about how companies here have responded and adapted since the 2024 floods. Now with the rain already affecting parts of the UAE, and more disruption expected over the next 24 to 48 hours, here’s a question that’s on many employees’ minds: If I get stuck in traffic or delayed by floodwater on the way to work... does that count as working time? Employment lawyer Ali Al Assaad is here to answer that. Just as many of us are looking forward to a well-earned winter break, doctors are warning about a new, aggressive flu variant that’s spreading fast across parts of the world. We go behind the scenes to know the logistics of your turkey takeaways this holiday season. Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Let's hear the take of Dr David Tully, Associate Professor in Film, Head of Media at Middlesex University Dubai. And meet... DabubuSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That’s the view emerging from PwC, one of the Big Four consultancy firms, which has just announced that it’s rolling out mandatory resilience training for its new graduate hires. Why? Because while these fresh recruits are passing all the cognitive and technical tests, PwC says they’re often arriving without the human skills needed to thrive in a high-pressure corporate environment, things like confidence, communication, and handling feedback. Check the discussion with Hudson RPO's Toby Simpson and two brilliant Gen Z's Jose and Sam. A brand-new survey has gone out to schools across Dubai, aiming to explore how financial literacy is being taught and how it could be improved. Fatma Al Janahi, Director of Foundation and Growth Policies and Programmes at the KHDA tells us more. We also look at tools to help young people build real-world money skills in a way that’s engaging, interactive and actually fun. Find out why tens of thousands of Filipinos are gathering days before Christmas. And where do real Christmas trees, sold here in the UAE, come from?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fraud isn’t just the work of lone hackers, it’s an organised, professionalised industry. But what’s changing is the scale and sophistication of the threats. We're seeing a sharp rise in first-party fraud, synthetic identities. To explore the key fraud trends we’re likely to see in 2026, Katie speaks with Rob Woods, Senior Director of Fraud and Identity at LexisNexis Risk Solutions. There’s been a surge in reports of unauthorised QR codes being found on parking meters across the city. It might sound like a minor inconvenience, but according to a joint statement from RTA and Parkin, this is actually part of a growing phishing scam where innocent drivers are being tricked into scanning fake codes that lead to fraudulent websites. Kaspersky's Maher Yamout helps us unpack this. Is it appropriate to buy a second-hand present? Or is it acceptable to gift second-hand items? Thrift For Good's Jennifer Sault and etiquette coach Orchids Roy give their take. What if you didn’t have to worry about shopping at all this Christmas because 'someone's' going to do it for you? And where do Dubai's turkeys come from?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A persistent low‑pressure system has been parked over the UAE since the weekend, bringing scattered rainfall, gusty winds and unstable conditions that forecasters say could last through December 19. Yellow and orange alerts have been activated, motorists in several emirates have been urged to drive with caution, and authorities have even advised people to stay off beaches and avoid marine activities as rougher seas develop. Aya Alrashidi, forecaster from the National Center of Meteorology, joins us to unpack what's driving this conditions and what we should really be prepared for. RoadHeroAcademy.com's Dr Mustafa Aldah guides us on what to make sure we're doing behind the wheel when roads are wet. How much of your working day is spent on things that actually matter? Katie is joined by two brilliant minds as she explores how AI is changing the way people rethink their workday. Yas Island has a new star in its lineup, and this time, it’s supernatural. And as we start planning our Christmas lunches, whether it’s roast turkey, honey-glazed carrots or a lavish brunch with all the trimmings, there’s something we probably aren’t thinking about: the carbon footprint on the plate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new survey finds commute ease and traffic congestion are now the top quality-of-life concerns for UAE residents. The UAE National Orchestra makes its debut at the Zayed National Museum. In her first-ever radio interview, the orchestra’s Managing Director shares what’s next. How is a new programm are helping women return to the workforce after taking time out for family or study going?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the weekend, there was a serious safety scare just off the coast near the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club. A high-speed jet ski collided with a sailing boat — and the impact was so powerful, it reportedly chopped the front off the catamaran’s hull. We speak to the Dubai Maritime Authority about what happened and what’s being done to protect sailors and swimmers on our coastlines.Dubai is rolling out biometric hotel check-in, where facial recognition and Emirates ID integration could soon allow guests to bypass the reception desk entirely. We speak with hotel managers on where they are now when it comes to implementation.Now, if you live in the UAE, there’s a good chance you’ve spotted them already—those little yellow robots rolling around neighbourhoods, quietly delivering groceries and takeaway orders. Well, get ready to see a lot more of them.Moving to technology, we’re looking at the most downloaded app of the year with tech journalist Kevin Sebastian.You may have seen the viral post — Australia’s red-tipped bananas making headlines and sparking curiosity in supermarkets and across social media. But this isn’t just about clever marketing, the red wax tip is actually a sign of something far more serious: sustainability and chemical-free farming.And with Christmas just around the corner, many families across the UAE are asking the same question: What kind of Christmas tree should we get this year?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As of today, Australia has made it law – becoming the first country in the world to force platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram to verify users’ ages… or be blocked. We speak with Professor Toby Walsh, one of the experts behind the policy. One of the key issues surfacing again and again this week at the Abu Dhabi Finance Week is cybersecurity. Despite companies spending more than ever on digital defences, cybercrime is still on the rise. And many experts here at ADFW are warning that the real vulnerability isn't technical… it’s human. There are still millions of people — particularly low-income expats and underbanked communities — who aren’t fully part of the formal financial system. We speak to one company pushing innovation in digital finance. You may think you know the story of the Black Death — that devastating plague which tore through Europe in the 1340s, but new research is revealing that a volcanic eruption may have paved the way for the pandemic years before the first signs of illness appeared. And industry insiders are watching closely to see if Avatar can revive the golden era of event cinema — the kind of release that gets people back into seats, and away from their sofas. So is this the blockbuster comeback Hollywood needs? Or is the era of the big screen already behind us?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most powerful commitments made here in Abu Dhabi this week wasn’t financial in the traditional sense — it was humanitarian.  At the "Investing in Humanity" session at Abu Dhabi Finance Week, world leaders, philanthropists, and global health institutions pledged a total of $1.9 billion to help eradicate polio. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has just launched a new Digital Resilience Policy aiming to make neighbourhoods smarter, greener, and more adaptable. So how are these big ideas translated into the public spaces we all use? One of the big stories coming out of the Abu Dhabi Finance Week is the capital’s rise as a serious global hub for startups and innovation. At the centre of that story is Hub71, the capital’s tech ecosystem that’s helped launch hundreds of high-growth startups across fintech, healthtech, AI, and climate tech.  And how do we design public spaces that people actually want to use, even during summer?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IndiGo Airlines has cancelled more than 1,000 flights, with major delays and rising fares, especially between India and the UAE. Have your travel plans been hit? Should regulators ease safety rules to help airlines — or hold them accountable for poor planning? We speak to the man on the ground, Ajay Awtaney, founder of Live From A Lounge.We’re also digging a little deeper into how this kind of crisis unfolds from an operational point of view and what it reveals about the wider pressures in the aviation industry, with Guy Gratton, Professor of Aircraft Test and Evaluation at Cranfield University.We turn our attention to global connectivity as Friday’s Cloudflare outage showed just how fragile our digital infrastructure really is. Food delivery apps, payment systems, even UAE websites were knocked offline — so what went wrong?Heading to the wilds of South Australia too for a rather joyful conservation success story. The burrowing bettong — also known as the boodie — was once wiped out on mainland Australia by invasive predators like cats and foxes. But now, after more than a century, it’s bouncing back.And do cats meow louder at men?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest INRIX Global Traffic Scorecard shows that drivers in Dubai lost an average of 45 hours to congestion over the past year.  That’s a 30% jump from 2024, and a 36% increase compared to two years ago. In other words, we’re now spending a third more time on the road than we used to.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scammers have been at it again, offering tickets for a fake Taylor Swift concert in Dubai, as cloned sites and OTP traps offering massive discounts continue to rise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dubai billionaire Khalaf Al Habtoor is urging schools and universities to prioritise practical experience alongside academic study. In the UAE, it's been two and a half years since teenagers aged 15 to 18 can legally apply for part-time jobs under what is known as a juvenile work permit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We take a look round one of the UAE’s most anticipated cultural landmarks - the Zayed National Museum, now open on Saadiyat Island.  Just down the road, the Natural History Museum is already making waves - we chat with the Director about dinosaurs, meteorites, and more. The Oxford Word of the Year is here. Ever heard of rage bait? Looking ahead to FIFA World Cup 2026, we’ve got expert tips on navigating the US visa process. Plus, we unpack the solar storm that grounded over 100 planes in the UAE and ask: could there be more delays ahead? Aviation analyst Anita Mendiratta joins us. Then, science takes a spooky turn: could black mould that thrives on radiation help protect astronauts in space? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rents in Dubai have risen by over 23% on average in the last 12 months, with some areas seeing increases of up to 35%, according to property consultancy CBRE. So what are your rights if your landlord asks for a big jump in rent? Dr. Yousef Al Mansoori, Senior First Instance Judge at the Rental Dispute Center walk us through some of the most common legal battles — including evictions for personal use, rent increases, and contract handovers. White Friday is here but it’s no longer just about the deepest discount. We hear from brand experts tracking how shoppers are rewarding seamless experiences over price tags.  We unpack how big logistics companies cope when the world starts gift-wrapping. A new study from the University of Cambridge in the UK has found that our brains go through four major rewiring moments — not just in childhood, but also around the ages of 32, 66, and even 83. So what does that mean for how we grow, learn, and age? And when does a brand refresh become a branding disaster? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fake advert offering “half-price tickets” to Wicked at Dubai Opera has been circulating on Instagram and Facebook and it leads to a replica website that looks almost identical to the real thing. One listener clicked the link, made the purchase… and only realised something was wrong when AED 24,000 dirhams vanished from her credit card.  We also speak with Dubai Opera’s Paolo Petrocelli about how audiences can protect themselves. As of yesterday, Abu Dhabi became the first city outside the US to launch fully driverless robotaxis on the Uber platform; public commercial operations have begun in Yas Island. So the question now is: are we really ready to ride without a driver?  A new transport system will be launched in Dubai in a few year’s time and will feature vehicles measuring 11.5 meters in length and 2.65 meters in width, with each unit carrying 40 passengers at speeds of up to 100 kph. It will run on tracks equipped with solar panels. A new study coming out of the US has found that people with greater muscle mass and lower visceral fat — the hidden fat around the organs — have younger-looking brains on MRI scans.  And we’re heading into the Hajar Mountains because a brand-new species of ant has just been discovered in Wadi Shees, and it’s been officially named Carebara sharjahensis in honour of the emirate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts has shown that the average focused screen-time for any one activity has dropped from about two and a half minutes twenty years ago to just 47 seconds today. That's having a huge impact on the type of tech that's being developed that we could use and it's one of the several features at the ongoing Doers Summit at Dubai Digital Park in Dubai Silicon Oasis. It’s two days of innovation, investment and big ideas with speakers from around the world sharing their stories and helping shape the future of finance, technology, and entrepreneurship. We speak with Niklas Jansen, co-founder of Blinkist, an app that takes non-fiction books and turns them into short, digestible insights you can read or listen to in 15 minutes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That’s what Malaysia is planning from 2026 and it’s part of a global trend. Australia brings in its ban next month with France, Spain, all tightening restrictions. We explore whether bans actually work and who should be responsible for keeping kids safe online, with consultant in digital wellbeing, Dr Alison Burrows. Next we head to the mountains — to the beautiful Hatta, where one of the UAE’s biggest development projects is rapidly taking shape. A new school and amphitheatre have just opened, and we ask how this AED 36 billion masterplan is transforming the area for business, tourism and the people who live there, with Dubai Holding's Roudi Soubra. We also speak to the founder of the Hatta Strawberry Farm that is using hydroponics and smart farming to boost food security to grow something sweet in the desert. And we have two very interesting animal stories: How parakeets are thriving in cities around the world, including right here in Dubai and the discovery that lions don’t just have one roar — they have two, and each one serves a completely different purpose.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.