Morning Drive

As schools close for summer, demand for holiday camps is rising, transforming childcare into a fast-growing business. Charlotte D’Souza, Co-Founder of Blah Blah Blah, joins Tim Elliott to explore what is driving this demand, whether parents will spend more, and just how profitable the market has become.

AI is transforming business and daily life, but questions are growing over how the people training these systems are treated. Joining Tim Elliott to discuss the push for fair pay, transparency, and better working conditions for this vital workforce is AI trainer and Turkopticon organizer Krista Pawlowski.

As the World Cup intensity peaks in the knockout stages, music has become as crucial to a team's campaign as their tactical formation. Julie Hanse, Director of Partnerships at MassiveMusic, joins Tim Elliott to unpack the lucrative business of sports anthems, exploring why global teams and major brands are obsessively investing in sonic strategies, stadium chants, and official tracks to fuel natio...

As businesses adapt to a period of economic uncertainty shaped by regional geopolitical tensions, flexibility has become the new constant. Joining Tim Elliott in the studio, Sawsan Shalabi, founder of Rafeeq Connect, discusses navigating today's challenges and explains why shifting focus locally with "Izwetna"—a tailored companionship initiative for Emirati seniors—could be her smartest operationa...

Dubai is doubling down on confidence. After the recent regional conflict, government leaders brought businesses together to protect the emirate's status as a global hub, while launching the new Dubai-it campaign to reinforce resilience and growth. So, what can every business, from startups to SMEs, learn when uncertainty becomes the new normal? Joining Tim Elliott is startup investor and serial en...

High inflation, a surging US dollar, and expected interest rate hikes have pushed gold to a seven-month low. With stabilizing oil prices and easing geopolitical tensions further cooling the market, Monetary Metals’ Jeff Rhodes joins Tim Elliott to break down the bearish momentum and discuss whether gold is currently mispriced.

As regional developments drive Dubai fuel prices up by 30 per cent, resident motorists face escalating costs. On Mira Business FM, independent financial consultant James Thomas joins Tim Elliott to analyse the true cost of vehicle ownership, breaking down surging insurance premiums, registration fees, Salik tolls, and the financial reality of switching to electric vehicles.

The UAE's private sector workforce grew by 2.5% in the first quarter of 2026, according to MoHRE, with skilled workers also on the rise. But with regional uncertainty and changing business conditions, can the hiring momentum continue through the rest of the year? Joining Tim Elliott to share her analysis is Sonam Haider, Founder and Global Mobility Strategist at Aethra Advisory.

As economic pressure mounts, can transparent narrative marketing save struggling UAE businesses? Plug’s Brand Commander, Lucy Bradley, joins Tim Elliott to discuss her ‘Save a Soap’ masterclass. They discuss why slashing marketing budgets is a fatal mistake, how friction fuels raw creativity, and why relying on internal teams often stifles innovation.

With tensions around the Strait of Hormuz putting global trade routes under scrutiny, Gulf businesses are looking at new ways to keep goods moving. From the UAE-Oman cargo corridors and Fujairah as an important route, supply chain resilience is becoming more important than ever. Joining Tim Elliott to unpack this is Dr. Fabienne Chedid, Assistant Professor in Operations Management and Logistics at...

Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector has visualised dramatic growth, generating over 82 billion rials in Q1 2026. Whilst international visitor numbers fell due to regional instability, a high-spending luxury threshold offset low volumes. Kevin Duffield, Director of Built Asset Consulting at Cavendish Maxwell, joins Tim Elliott to analyse how maturing infrastructure, religious tourism, and entertainment s...

Tim Elliott sits down with EVA Real Estate’s Senior Manager Mario Volpi to break down the Dubai Land Department’s groundbreaking Flexi Rent initiative. Designed to ease tenant financial burdens, this new programme introduces flexible monthly or quarterly rental options, challenging the region's traditional upfront cheque system and reshaping future landlord-tenant dynamics across Dubai.

It’s the ultimate Dubai dilemma: is it better to buy property or keep renting? While calculators and spreadsheets can crunch the upfront costs, the true decision goes far deeper than just financial metrics. In this segment, Ajay Menon, CEO of Luxe Vista, joins the show to look beyond the Excel sheet. We explore the lifestyle factors, long-term stability, and market psychological shifts driving res...

Abhishek Jalan, CEO of Grovy Developers, joins the show to break down the post-ceasefire market dynamics. We dive into why the sub-AED 3 million segment is positioned to lead the rebound, how buyer behavior is shifting between end-users and investors, and what current demand reveals about changing priorities in affordability. From shifting luxury sentiment to a comparison of Dubai and Abu Dhabi's...

The UAE has announced a ban on social media access for children under 15, a move that could reshape the way brands market, advertise and connect with young consumers. Could it change consumer behaviour, influence family spending habits, and force marketers to rethink their strategies? Joining Tim Elliott are Sourjo Mukherjee, Assistant Professor of Marketing at the University of Wollongong Dubai,...

As the 30 June Emiratisation deadline fast approaches, businesses across the UAE are scrambling to meet strict targets. Dawlati founder Zakaria Doleh joins Tim Elliott to discuss how their AI-powered platform moves local hiring beyond mere box-ticking compliance, transforming regional recruitment strategies into a major competitive advantage for private sector growth.

As luxury timepieces increasingly transition from status symbols to genuine financial assets in the UAE, a pioneering buyback model is transforming the regional market. George Flo, Founder of The Heritage Club, joins Tim Elliott to discuss unlocking immediate liquidity from high-end timepieces while preserving the option for sentimental repossession.

UAE food and beverage operators are looking ahead with renewed confidence following months of regional uncertainty. Speaking to Tim Elliott, Roster co-founder Paul Clifford and Cafe Isan owner Lisa Knight analyse the transition from local resident footfall to an expected autumn tourist boom, whilst addressing critical operational challenges and industry longevity.

As Middle East peace developments and oil prices reshape the region, gold markets face a fresh wave of volatility. Monetary Metals' Jeff Rhodes joins Tim Elliott to analyse how a surprise hawkish stance from the US Federal Open Market Committee is rattling investor sentiment globally.

Following the historic US–Iran peace memorandum, the vital Strait of Hormuz has reopened, easing global energy supply anxieties. However, whilst buoyant financial markets are cheering the breakthrough, Oxford Economics' Azad Zangana warns that the full operational recovery of regional shipping and trade will still take months.

New analysis reveals a comfortable retirement now demands a staggering £1.2 million pension pot. Independent Financial Consultant James Thomas joins Tim Elliott on Mirabisis FM to unpack this sobering figure. They explore soaring property markets, shifting global demographics, and crucial strategies to help you secure your financial future.

Are AI advancements about to trigger widespread corporate redundancies? David Mackenzie, Managing Director of Mackenzie Jones Middle East, joins Tim Elliott to analyse how technology is reshaping the future of human resources. The industry expert addresses uncomfortable boardroom questions regarding automation, career evolution, and the shifting job market.

The UAE is moving to cut its dependency on the Strait of Hormuz to zero, as concerns over regional security and supply chain resilience remain in focus. What would that mean for trade, energy exports and the wider economy? Joining Tim Elliott is Dr Lijo John, Assistant Professor in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University Dubai.

Sharjah’s property market has hit record highs, with real estate sales surging 64% to AED65.6 billion. Foreign ownership reforms, lower living costs and major infrastructure projects are fueling demand across the emirate. Joining Tim Elliott to explain the surge is Ali Siddiqui, Research Manager at Cavendish Maxwell.

Luxury travel demand from the Gulf is surging ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with private aviation company XO reporting a 145% rise in multi-city travel enquiries across the US, Canada and Mexico. Travellers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are increasingly combining football, business and family travel into longer North America itineraries. Joining Tim Elliott to explain the trend is Youss...