AB Majlis

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...

What happens when a city reimagines what premium office space can be? In this episode of AB Majlis, Savills Middle East's Head of Commercial Agency Toby Hall reveals how Dubai's commercial real estate market evolved from oversupply to becoming a global magnet for blue-chip tenants. Drawing on two decades of experience across London and Dubai markets, Hall unpacks why major firms are migrating east...

SPONSORED - In this episode of AB Majlis, host Tala Michel Issa sits down with Estonia's Minister of Health, Riina Sikkut, to explore how the Baltic nation became a global leader in digital healthcare. From implementing the world's first nationwide e-health system to leveraging blockchain technology since 2007, Minister Sikkut shares insights on Estonia's journey from paper records to AI-assisted...

SPONSORED - On this episode with Reporter Nicole Abigael and Irfan Tansel, CEO of Al Masaood, we take an in-depth look at the UAE's evolving automotive landscape. Starting as a mechanic's apprentice in Germany, Tansel's remarkable 40-year journey provides unique insights into the industry's transformation. He shares perspectives on the future of electric vehicles (EVs) in the UAE, the evolution of...

From a cathedral organist to the CEO of the world's busiest international airport, Paul Griffiths has helped transform Dubai's aviation sector into a $37 billion economic powerhouse. In this episode of AB Majlis, Griffiths reveals his revolutionary vision for Al Maktoum International Airport - not one mega-hub, but eight intimate airports connected by advanced transport systems. He discusses how D...

SPONSORED - Financial criminals in the Middle East are increasingly exploiting advanced technologies and the region’s economic disparities to orchestrate sophisticated scams, Collin Lobo, HSBC’s regional head of financial crime warned on this episode. The region’s unique combination of high-net-worth individuals, transient populations, and proximity to sanctioned nations makes it particularly vuln...

SPONSORED - In this episode of AB Majlis with Reporter Nicole Abigael and Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President of Market Development at Mastercard, we get an unfiltered look into the challenges and opportunities for women in corporate leadership. Drawing from her extensive experience in financial services and technology, Ajmal explores critical issues including gender stereotypes, career progress...

What's driving 70% of US engagement ring buyers to choose lab-grown diamonds? Host Tala Michel Issa discusses this shift with industry leaders Nathalie Morrison, co-founder of Astrea London and Arnaud Flambeau, Executive Chairman of 2DOT4 Diamonds. Learn why these sustainable gems are winning over luxury consumers, how they compare to mined diamonds in terms of quality and value, and why Dubai is...

This episode dives into the future of Ras Al Khaimah with Raki Philips, CEO of RAKTDA, as he unveils the emirate's transformation plan. From the highly anticipated Wynn Al Marjan resort to mountain-top accommodations on Jebel Jais, discover how RAK aims to triple its tourism by 2030. Philips shares exclusive insights into upcoming luxury hotel brands, innovative attractions, and the restoration of...

In this episode, Arabian Business Senior Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with Paolo Petrocelli, Head of Dubai Opera, for a discussion on the transformation of Dubai's cultural scene. A cultural manager with over 20 years of experience in performing arts, Petrocelli shares exclusive insights into Dubai Opera's record-breaking season, its unique approach to programming, and how it's becoming a m...