AB Majlis

SPONSORED Why can the UAE and Saudi Arabia adopt cutting-edge tech faster than almost anywhere else? Cisco’s regional chief David Meads joins host Tala Michel Issa to argue it’s not just the money. It’s the decision-making culture: fewer committees, more action. Together they follow the data trail – from AI-ready networks and “agentic” digital assistants to the hidden plumbing of global internet t...

SPONSORED What if the next property boom isn’t about sustainability at all, but regeneration — buildings that give back more than they take? In this episode of AB Majlis, Tala Michel Issa, Chief Reporter at Arabian Business, sits down with Alex Zagrebleny, founder and CEO of R.Evolution, the developer behind Dubai’s ambitious EYWA “Tree of Life” project. Zagrebleny explains why he believes “sustai...

SPONSORED In this episode, Reporter Nicole Abigael sits down with Fernando Morillo, Group Head of Retail Banking at Mashreq, to unpack the bank’s bold digital banking transformation. As one of the region’s most digitally advanced financial institutions, Mashreq is reimagining what modern banking can look like by placing the customer at the centre of everything, leveraging AI, and rethinking tradit...

SPONSORED Vaccine hesitancy continues to pose a serious public health challenge, particularly when it comes to maternal immunisation. In the latest episode of AB Majlis, Nicole Abigael, Arabian Business journalist sits down with Dr. Nawal Al Kaabi, Pediatrician and Infectious Diseases Consultant, Hayat Biotech to talk about the importance of maternal vaccines, common misconceptions, and the scienc...

What happens when the world’s last untapped property giant opens its doors to foreign buyers? In this episode of AB Majlis , Arabian Business chief reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with Dar Global CEO Ziad El Chaar to unpack Saudi Arabia’s forthcoming freehold law, the $100 billion local property market, and how Vision 2030 is reshaping global capital flows. From Dubai’s early freehold boom to...

What if we told you there's a $5.6 trillion industry built on making people deliberately uncomfortable — and it's projected to hit $8 trillion by 2027? Arabian Business journalists Tala Michel Issa and Nicole Abigael dive into the counterintuitive world where paying hundreds of dollars to sit in ice baths, hyperventilate through breathwork, and sweat in saunas has become the ultimate status symbol...

In this exclusive episode of the AB Majlis podcast, host Tala Michel Issa, Chief Reporter at Arabian Business, sits down with Zeina Khoury, Founder of Zed Capital and fashion brand I Am The Company , and star of Netflix’s hit reality show Dubai Bling .From surviving a public office showdown in Season 1 to turning a trademark ambush into a viral marketing triumph in Season 3, Khoury opens up about...

What do license plates, biochemistry, and rocket ships have in common? According to tech entrepreneur Saygin Yalcin, they're all pieces of the puzzle in building the Middle East's next internet champion. In this episode, the founder of SellAnyCar.com reveals to Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa how his company's number plate valuation tool went from 50,000 daily queries to over 3 million total valua...

Host Nicole Abigael, Reporter at Arabian Business, sits down with Haider Ali Khan, CEO of Bayut and dubizzle, and CEO of Dubizzle Group MENA, to explore how technology is reshaping the UAE’s real estate sector. Khan discusses how Bayut and dubizzle are driving market transparency and enhancing the home search experience in a booming property market. With Dubai’s real estate sector experiencing unp...

Host Tala Misha Issa, Chief Reporter at Arabian Business, sits down with Khaled Nuseibeh, CEO of Hala, the joint venture between Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) and Careem that has revolutionised taxi hailing in the emirate. Nuseibeh reveals how Hala has captured a significant portion of Dubai's e-hailing market while growing its customer base by 21% year-on-year, even as new competitor...

In this exclusive episode of AB Majlis, Roman Shimansky, Chief Executive at Yango Play, sits down with host and Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa to discuss how this tech company is challenging global streaming giants. Shimansky reveals Yango Play's unique strategy of offering seamless transitions between music, video, and gaming while focussing on culturally relevant content for Mi...

SPONSORED Can your bank's AI agent talk to your personal AI agent to handle your finances? Mashreq's technology chief Mohamed Abdel Razek reveals how the UAE's largest private bank is deploying 70-80 AI use cases across fraud detection, credit decisions, and customer experience. While he envisions a future of conversational banking—imagine talking to an ATM like a person—Razek questions whether yo...

SPONSORED In this episode of AB Majlis, host Tala Michel Issa, Chief Reporter at Arabian Business, sits down with Dr. Chaouki Kasmi, Chief Innovation Officer of the Technology Innovation Institute (TII). Dr. Kasmi takes us behind the scenes of the UAE's ambitious AI strategy, exploring how cloud partnerships helped develop the country's first homegrown language model. He discusses the Emirates' ea...

SPONSORED - In this exclusive episode, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with Ramy Jallad, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ). Jallad reveals how this "hidden gem" of the UAE has been strategically positioning itself as a major business destination long before making headlines with its Wynn casino announcement. He discusses RAKEZ's remarkable achievement of doubli...

In this eye-opening episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa speaks with Ainsley Duncombe, founder of Off Market Listing Dubai and former Property Finder executive. Duncombe delivers a stark prediction: 90% of Dubai real estate brokers will see their roles transformed by AI within 18 months. From his journey watching Dubai's Palm Jumeirah being built on TV to now livi...

Join Arabian Business reporters Tala Michel Issa and Nicole Abigael as they take you behind the scenes of the highly anticipated Dubai 100 power list. Discover how Mohamed Alabbar secured the top spot, why cultural figures like Balqees Fathi and Anas Bukhash are reshaping influence, and how the list's sophisticated nine-parameter ranking system captures Dubai's evolution from a business hub to a g...

SPONSORED - In this episode, host Tala Misha la Issa sits down with Anthony Nakache, Managing Director of Google MENA, to explore the monumental challenge of developing AI that truly understands Arabic in all its complexity. With 25 distinct dialects across the region, Arabic presents one of the most formidable language barriers in AI development today. Nakache reveals how Google's Gemini AI has a...

In this episode of AB Majlis, host Nicole Abigael sits down with acclaimed therapist Marissa Peer to explore the emerging phenomenon of human-AI relationships and their potential psychological impacts. As AI companions become increasingly sophisticated and integrated into daily life, this discussion examines the fine line between beneficial technological support and problematic emotional dependenc...

In this World Government Summit special episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa delves into the mindset of modern venture capital with e& Capital Managing Director Kushal Shah. With $250 million deployed across 17 companies, Shah reveals why they seek startups that fundamentally disrupt traditional business models. From following the fintech wave to aggressively...

SPONSORED - In this episode of AB Majlis, Reporter Nicole Abigael sits down with Victor Gastou who takes us on a journey through his late father Yves Gastou’s extraordinary collection of over 700 rings—each piece a testament to history, craftsmanship, and passion. From 17th-century Venetian poison rings to Vatican treasures, we uncover the stories behind these hidden gems and the art of collecting...

In this episode of AB Majlis, e& Life and e& International CEO Khalifa Al Shamsi discusses the technology giant's ambitious plans to create four unicorns by 2030 through its digital lifestyle arm. Two years after e&'s major rebranding from Etisalat, Al Shamsi reveals how the company is leveraging its massive telecom customer base to expand into fintech, super apps, and entertainment ac...

In this special edition from the World Government Summit, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with Khaled Murshed, who took the helm as CEO of e& Enterprise in January 2024. With over 25 years in technology, Murshed discusses the meteoric rise of AI in the Middle East, predicting it will contribute to 11% of the region's GDP by 2030. He shares insights on e& Enterpri...

In this special edition from the World Government Summit, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with Ragy Magdy, Chief Commercial Officer of e& enterprise, to unpack the UAE's ambitious zero government bureaucracy initiative. Magdy offers unique insights into how the UAE is revolutionizing government services by not just digitalizing them, but completely reimagining them....

In this World Government Summit special episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with e& UAE CEO Masood M. Sharif Mahmood to explore the critical imperative of digital transformation. Mahmood reveals how e& navigated the challenging dynamics of rising infrastructure investments and declining consumer prices, transforming from a traditional telco into...

In this special World Government Summit episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with e& Group CEO Hatem Dowidar to explore the company's ambitious AI strategy, including its 900 ongoing AI projects and vision for technological transformation. From discussing the UAE's pioneering role in AI adoption to addressing workforce concerns in an AI-driven future...