The Agenda

Dozens of vessels have reportedly made the crossing in the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks despite threats ranging from sea mines to missile attacks. How exposed is global shipping, and what risks remain? The UN is warning the world to prepare for what could become one of the strongest El Niño events in decades. So can artificial intelligence help us forecast dangerous heatwaves before the...

If you work in the private sector, you should have received your salary latest by today, 1st of June. That's under the updated wage protection rules from Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. It's removed a 15-day grace period, a buffer you might say for employers. For employees, that offers clarity and certainty, but for some SMEs, the issue is timing. The UAE is advising citizens not to...

The deadline for the UAE climate law is fast-approaching. By the end of the month, businesses will be required to measure, report and work to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. But are they ready? As we face record-breaking temperatures here in the UAE, and Europe also sees summer highs striking before spring is even over, is it time to start naming heatwaves like we do hurricanes?  A maj...

The National Centre of Meteorology has issued a weather alert, with temperatures forecast to exceed 50 degrees Celsius in parts of the country during the Eid Al Adha break. Students and parents here in the UAE are raising concerns about a new CBSE re-evaluation process, after some pupils said their marks did not reflect their expected performance. We also look at the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Ug...

Hundreds of ships stranded in the Gulf due to the conflict are now battling barnacles, algae and rising maintenance problems as crews remain stuck at sea for weeks in warm waters. So when they finally can get moving - will they be able to? We'll find out. And former Paypal CEO Peter Thiel is investing $140 million into a US company developing floating AI data centres - powered by wave energy in th...

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation is warning that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a global food price crisis within a year. With Eid and half term creating a full week off for many families across the UAE, we’re looking at how to make the most of the break - from staycation ideas and hidden gems, to family activities closer to home. Meanwhile, new res...

With Eid and summer holidays coming up, plenty of residents will be looking for a quick getaway, a hotel stay, or a last-minute travel deal online. Dubai Police have warned that fake travel and tourism offers are circulating online, often promoted through slick-looking websites, social media pages, messaging apps and phone calls. So how do you know whether that bargain break is genuine, or a scam...

We’ll look at the next wave of mega communities - from Fujairah’s new Etihad Rail station to a 62 billion dirham development in Dubai South near the new airport. What do these projects tell us about where the country is heading next? Plus, Tabby is moving into education with Zenda, after a survey found 88% of UAE parents feel financial strain when school fees are due. So could flexible...

From June 1st, 2026, private sector salaries in the UAE will need to be paid by the first day of every month, and the big change is this: the 15-day grace period for late salary payments is being removed. We look at both the employees and employers sides. KHDA and Parkin have announced a new partnership to digitise access to parking permits for Dubai’s education sector. So what will actually...

Shipping costs between Asia and the Gulf are now surging above pandemic highs - as companies scramble to reroute cargo around the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Plus with Eid Al Adha fast approaching - Dubai is preparing for a packed week with fireworks, concerts and, shopping deals across the city. Katie Chambers' will catch up with the team from Dubai Festivals. But what if you’re p...

As some parents face salary cuts or job losses linked to the conflict, certain Dubai schools are offering flexible payment plans to help families manage fees. Plus, Abu Dhabi is preparing to host the world’s second Sphere venue on Yas Island. And Dubai is rolling out AI-powered parking cameras - as we ask whether modern connected cars are effectively spying on drivers. And Art Dubai opens fo...

With the UAE lowering the age of adulthood to 18 from June 1, we ask what that means for teenagers and their parents. This year’s best country rankings are out, with Switzerland taking the top spot and Europe dominating the list. Closer to home, we look at why the UAE scores highly for digital nomads, business and governance. We also explore a new well-being survey suggesting UAE residents r...

The Ministry is reminding private sector companies in the UAE to meet a key Emiratisation deadline, with penalties for those who fail to meet their targets. HE Farida Al Ali from Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation will talk us through their carrot and stick policy. UAE residents planning last-minute European holidays are facing a severe Schengen visa appointment crunch, with high demand...

We'll be discussing the wider impact of the war on workers - from sailors trapped in the Strait of Hormuz on stranded ships - to blue collar workers here who might be concerned about job security and getting paid. Meanwhile - the UAE is investing over one billion dirhams in a new desalination plant in Fujairah - we'll discuss the significance of the plan in the context of the country's long-term w...

A suspected oil spill has been spotted near Iran’s key export hub - raising fresh concerns about the environmental and economic impact of the conflict. The ripple effects are also being felt far beyond the region. We’ll cross to Sri Lanka, where electricity prices are rising by 18 percent today as the energy crisis deepens and Asia is facing a plastic shortage as the conflict disrupts...

We take a look at how rising regional tensions here are starting to impact everyday life in Pakistan. Plus, it’s emerging that nearly one in three UAE parents are still not using child car seats despite the law. And, in separate data - dozens of road crashes in the UAE are linked to illegal drivers. Meanwhile, how would you like to glide to work in an autonomous pod that flows past traffic j...

As rumours spread about whether the US is using dolphins to clear mines in the Gulf, we'll find out more about the US Navy's marine mammal programme. Meanwhile - Fujairah’s Etihad Rail station is officially ready - but what impact is the new passenger service likely to have on property prices in the Emirate? Meta is planning to use AI to spot underage users to analyse things like height and...

A special focus tonight is the Strait of Hormuz. Despite signs of progress in US-Iran talks, shipping through the Strait remains severely disrupted, with global supply chains under pressure and only limited vessel movements in recent days. We’ll ask whether pipelines could reduce reliance on the Strait, and how shipping companies are making real-time decisions in one of the world’s mos...

With missile and drone alerts resume in the UAE due to Iran's attacks, we look at the situation with schools as students are back to distance learning this week. A suspected virus outbreak on a cruise ship leaves a number of people dead. We ask how concerned travellers should be and what we need to know about hantavirus. We look at Dubai Metro's Blue and Gold lines today on the show - with Blue li...

UAE airspace has fully opened after months of disruption - we'll ask what it means for travel, tourism and the wider economy. We'll hear from the General Civil Aviation Authority of UAE, the CEO of Dubai Airports and aviation expert John Strickland. Meanwhile, AI is making headlines once again, Hollywood is coming out fighting - saying only human performances and scripts will be Oscar-worthy. And...

Oil prices are surging amid tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, and with UAE petrol costs already rising, what could this mean for your wallet next? Meanwhile, heavy smartphone use is now being linked to shorter attention spans, so how do you protect your children without cutting them off completely? Plus, tourists can now open instant bank accounts in the UAE, but will it really change how visi...

Communication via WhatsApp is no longer allowed for financial services in the UAE, effective from today. That means no sharing customer data, no processing transactions, and not even sending one-time passwords through this platform as part of a wider push to tackle fraud and better protect customer information. So what does this mean for customers, banks and insurance companies and brokers? There...

The UAE has announced that it's leaving OPEC and OPEC+ from the 1st of May. We break it down on what it means for the markets and, importantly, what it could mean for you at the petrol pump, with energy expert Robin Mills. We look at safety in schools, as Abu Dhabi carries out more than 480 inspections across education facilities.  We also turn our attention at a major new report showing Euro...

  A new police unit will monitor e-scooters and e-bikes and regular bicycles, from May 1, as concerns grow around safety and misuse. Good news for families as children head back outdoors at schools and activities returning after weeks of disruption. We also look at the huge demand for a new weight loss pill which is now available in Abu Dhabi, with thousands on waiting list at one clinic here...

Flights in the region climb back above 1,000 a day, with Tim Clark predicting a strong rebound for aviation. Etihad Rail has completed its first freight delivery of vehicles, with a shipment of cars transported by rail for the first time in the country. Abu Dhabi has approved the use of a new daily weight-loss pill as part of a wider programme to tackle obesity. We also look at the UAE’s new...