The Agenda

Dubai’s Metro Blue Line has hit a major construction milestone. The RTA says the first phase of tunnelling has been completed in just two months, using the tunnel boring machine Al Wugeisha, which can excavate up to 30 metres a day. So what does this milestone tell us about the pace of the project? Camel milk has long been part of Bedouin culture and a staple across the Gulf. But now it's fi...

Pakistani authorities have recovered wreckage from the K2 Airways cargo plane that disappeared after taking off from Sharjah on its way to Karachi. Search teams are still looking for the five crew members, who remain missing, as investigators work to determine what caused the aircraft to crash into the Arabian Sea. We speak to aviation expert and lawyer Nick Humphrey for the latest. The UAE has es...

That's a warning from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, saying that doing so can expose young people to unnecessary online risks. It comes as the UAE prepares to introduce a ban on social media for children under the age of 15. Expo City Dubai has issued the UAE's first-ever Green Licences, recognising businesses that are putting sustainability at the heart of wha...

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has stated that delivery drivers in the UAE cannot be compelled to work during the peak summer heat. That's 12:30pm to 3pm from June 15 until September 15. So how well are these protections being enforced on the ground? We are catching up with a programme that's been inviting women in the UAE to go back to work if they have taken break for years to...

Reports suggest the Dubai rental market is cooling, as supply surges, handing tenants new negotiating powers, and when it comes to buying how is the mortgage market now looking? Also, 15-18 year olds can work over the summer if they get a juvenile work permit from MOHRE. Plus, Dubai Police has issued a warning on the dangers of stopping on a highway, after 25 people were injured in a collision bet...

Could you really retire in your 30s or 40s? It's the idea behind the growing FIRE movement – Financial Independence, Retire Early. We ask whether it's actually achievable while living and working in the UAE. Plus, a new report suggests global supply chains have settled into a "new normal" of disruption. From conflict and cyber threats to inflation, we ask what that means for prices here in t...

A major new survey has found GCC workers are positive about their employers - but burnout, AI-related job fears and staff turnover are all on the rise. With September hiring season approaching, we ask whether summer is the perfect time for a CV glow-up. Plus, Dubai International is preparing for one of its busiest travel periods of the year, with around three million passengers expected in the fir...

After hearing the remarkable story of five-year-old Kian, who was pulled from the water by quick-thinking bystander Michael, we continue the conversation by asking what every parent should know about drowning prevention.  A lifesaving expert shares the simple steps that could save a child's life, while a legal expert explains the UAE's Good Samaritan law and whether helping in an emergency co...

Etihad Rail's first passenger train has made history - with the first service travelling from Fujairah and Abu Dhabi.  The train arrived 3 minutes early into Mohamed bin Zayed City station in Abu Dhabi. Our reporter Andrew Hosie is there talking to passengers - and we'll also look into the potential popularity of the service. Meanwhile a new Emiratisation deadline is imminent - and businesses...

An incredible story - of a five-year-old boy - saved from drowning in a Dubai pool thanks to the quick thinking of a stranger. We'll speak to the father of the child, and hero Michael Collings, who used his first aid skills to give CPR. And, as the UAE steps up its battle against drug smuggling, Dubai Customs is launching a new high-tech fleet for its K9 Unit.  We'll hear how it'll help boost...

If you work for the government - it's good news, because Dubai is bringing back its flexible summer strategy for the third year. That means reduced working hours, with shorter weeks and remote working options aimed at improving wellbeing during the hottest months. Plus, Abu Dhabi has unveiled Dar al Funoon, a landmark performing arts centre designed by starchitect Frank Gehry.  Opening in 203...

As the Strait of Hormuz slowly reopens, what does it mean for people relocating to the UAE this summer? We’ll hear from an international moving company, and from a teacher who’s decided not to ship her belongings at all because of the uncertainty. Then, Dubai is launching a new initiative to make renting more flexible. We’ll speak to one of the agents who has signed up. Also, ins...

We’ll take a look at whether tourism to the UAE is ready to bounce back, after the UK lifted its travel warning - reopening a key market for Dubai, which welcomes more than 1.5 million British visitors every year. Plus, with more details emerging about the UAE’s social media ban for under-15s, we’ll ask how schools are responding - and whether it could force brands, creators and...

The UAE is the first Arab country to introduce restrictions on children under 15 - and we want to hear from you on this one. The ban aims to protect young people online - as a growing body of evidence suggests social media is bad for their mental health - and opens them up to inappropriate content and contact. Meanwhile - seafarers are the unseen front-line in this crisis - thousands are still str...

With hopes of de-escalation after the US-Iran ceasefire, we ask whether passengers are ready to book again, how quickly routes can normalise, and whether jet fuel and insurance costs could keep fares higher for longer. US President Donald Trump says the Strait of Hormuz will be completely open by Friday, but what do vessels, crews and maritime authorities need before traffic can move safely again?...

US President Donald Trump says the Strait of Hormuz will be completely open by Friday, but for the shipping industry, restarting normal operations is not as simple as turning the engines back on. We find out what inspections, maintenance and safety checks vessels need after weeks of disruption. We also look at the human side of the crisis. Are seafarers still willing to work near the Strait? Are t...

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, but even if the US-Iran MOU is officially signed on Friday, the return to normal will not be instant. So what shipping companies need to see before they send vessels back through at normal levels, what happens to insurance and freight costs, and how the disruption is affecting crews.? The UK is moving ahead with plans...

When we talk about regional instability, we often focus on oil, shipping and trade. But there is another supply chain that is just as critical: the humanitarian one. Food, medicine, fuel, emergency shelter and medical supplies all have to move quickly when crises hit. We speak with Bouran Najim, Head of Logistics at Dubai Humanitarian. Today is the start of the midday outdoor work ban that will ru...

We focus on Dubai’s property market as thousands of leases come up for renewal over the summer. Dr Yousef Al Mansoori, Senior First Instance Judge at Dubai’s Rental Disputes Centre, explains the rights tenants and landlords need to know, the most common rental disputes, and whether record activity in the market is leading to more cases. We also look at the expansion of Dubai’s Fi...

That cheap flight deal you saw online may not be the price you pay by checkout. So why do advertised airfares change so quickly, and how can travellers avoid a surprise at the final booking page? Dubai’s exhibitions and events sector is moving to reassure the market ahead of the next major events season. A home sold means funding for another home. Meet the Dubai resident who's flying al...

Thousands of seafarers are stranded around the Strait of Hormuz, raising urgent questions about abandonment, responsibility and who protects crews when conflict reaches the sea. We speak to Ben Bailey from The Mission to Seafarers about what support is available for crews stuck on board, and what shipowners and governments should be doing now. Mobile phone use behind the wheel nearly killed Emirat...

According to industry leaders in the country, Spain is seeing a surge in demand as some tourists choose destinations such as the Costa Blanca instead of holidays in the Middle East and North Africa.  We get the latest from the Philippines after the deadly earthquake struck Mindanao. The World Cup starts this week, but could heat and humidity be one of the biggest risks for players and fans? A...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says around four billion people now live in areas with a risk of dengue, across regions including the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Islands. How worried should we be about mosquito-borne diseases? If you are travelling to Europe this summer, you may need extra time at the airport. Find out why. The World Cup starts this week,...

From September 2026, the new academic year, KHDA inspections will resume after a two-year pause, but with schools given no more than 24 hours’ notice before a team arrives. We are almost 14 weeks on from the start of the conflict on February 28th, but only now are we beginning to get a clearer picture of what it has actually done to buyer behavior. Are people still applying for property mort...

We often talk about the Strait of Hormuz in terms of oil, gas, shipping routes and global trade. But on board the vessels caught up in this crisis are more than 20,000 seafarers, unable to leave, and waiting for clarity on when it will be safe to move.  AI may feel invisible, but behind every prompt, image, search and video is a rapidly expanding physical system: data centres, cooling systems...