Dubai Eye 103.8
Daily highlights and exclusive interviews from Dubai's most informative news and business radio show. With a round-up of the day’s most important business stories, providing local content and context on the international issues that matter.Presented by Richard Dean & Brandy Scott.
03 Sep 2026. Would you pay AED1,949 for a toothbrush with a camera, AI and its own water jet? Dyson Principal Engineer Chris Vincent explains what took 661 engineers six years to develop. We also ask Fortes Education why more Dubai families are switching schools and catch up with The Camel Soap Factory after it reached its 25,000 bar survival target. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02 Sep 2026. Events season is under way, but what insurance do organisers need and what happens when a show is cancelled or postponed? Boyd Edmondson of Seven Insurance Brokers explains. We also speak to IATA’s Kashif Khalid as global air travel grows while Middle Eastern airlines remain nearly 10% down, checkin with Ras Al Khaimah’s property market with Cavendish Maxwell’s Ali Siddiqui, and speak with Innoventures Education CEO Poonam Bhojani as the group opens two new schools in Town Square and Sharjah. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
01 Sep 2026. UAE petrol prices up around 5.5% this month, while diesel has increased 13%. We unpack the sharp rise at the pump with Kpler’s Matt Stanley, explore Dubai’s billion-dollar lab-grown diamond trade with DMCC’s Ahmed bin Sulayem, hear how House of Pops cracked the Chinese market, and it's the first day of 'Psychological September', we look at what it might hold for business with Oxford Economics See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
31 Aug 2026. Taaleem’s Alan Williamson and GEMS Education’s Dino Varkey discuss school enrolments, teacher recruitment and parents’ priorities, while Alshaya’s John Hadden takes stock of summer shopping and loyalty programs, and Bayut’s Fibha Ahmed explores what’s shaping buyers’ and renters’ choices across Dubai. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27 Aug 2026. eToro’s Josh Gilbert unpacks Nvidia’s $96.2 billion quarter; Platinumlist explains why UAE event bookings are up 31% while customers spend less; Ethara discusses the latest additions to Abu Dhabi’s F1 concert line-up; and Atlantis Dubai takes stock of its summer See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26 Aug 2026. Dubai International Airport saw 31.5 million passengers in the first half of the year, just over 30% down on the same period in 2025, with aircraft movements falling by a similar margin. CEO Paul Griffiths takes us through the numbers. Plus, Anthony Robbins is coming to Coca-Cola Arena. What else is keeping the seats full? We talk to GM Mark Jan Kar. Dubai has 20,000 international students and only 6,000 proper beds, and Craig Fernandes of Makaan is trying to fix that. And the iconic Toyota building is reportedly coming down in 2027. We hear the story behind the landmark from Katib Belkhodja as Marketing Director for Toyota and Lexus in the UAE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25 Aug 2026. We started a new interview series this morning, Summer Stocktake, looking at how business fared through the hotter months. Today, gyms, summer camps and cafes. Plus, the F1 Grand Prix isn’t the only big event coming back to the capital this December. We also have Abu Dhabi Finance Week, and we spoke to the Editor in Chief. Companies used to choose a base on licence costs alone, but now they’re asking about schools and housing. Ramy Jallad of RAKEZ on what’s changed. And the business of being funny. Zarna Garg is headlining the Dubai Comedy Festival, and she joined us this morning. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
24 Aug 2026. The CEO of F1 has confirmed that the final race of the 2026 season will take place in Abu Dhabi, in a boost for hotels and other businesses in the capital. We speak to David Powell, Chief Portfolio and Strategy Officer at Ethara, on the conversations behind it and what it means for the economy. With the race confirmed, we also look at what it means for business, from hotels to private jets. And what do higher AI chip costs mean for the UAE’s data centres? We speak to the companies building and running them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21 Aug 2026. UAE companies claiming VAT refunds will need to verify their suppliers under new rules coming into force from 1 October. The Federal Tax Authority is asking businesses to check who they’re buying from before claiming input tax back. Tax expert Thomas Vanhee, Founding Partner at Aurifer, on what it all means. Plus, it’s back to school. We speak to the boss of the newly opened Harrow School and one university head about what the new academic year holds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20 Aug 2026. Dubai inflation came in at just over 5.3% annually in July. Transport rose by nearly 12%, while food and beverage prices grew by nearly 8%, compared with the same month a year earlier. We look at what’s behind those numbers and where they’re heading with economist Dan Richards. Plus, a new school year begins with more families arriving in Dubai. We find out what parents are asking about fees and value with Graham Paris, Director of US Curriculum Schools in Dubai for Taaleem. A new research report suggests UAE companies are spending on AI but not necessarily using it to its full capacity. We find out more with Jessica Constantinidis, Innovation Officer EMEA at ServiceNow. And are people in Dubai starting to give up owning a car? We find out what half a million shared trips a year reveal, with Udrive. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19 Aug 2026. Choithrams has launched convenience stores, called Quickerr, in four Dubai Metro stations, with four more to open in the next two days, the CEO has told The Business Breakfast. There will be 28 by the end of the year. Plus, are people still setting up businesses here? We find out what the licence numbers reveal about confidence in the UAE right now with Virtuzone. And entry level jobs are disappearing just as AI takes hold. We meet the teenagers already solving real problems for DIFC companies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18 Aug 2026. Dubai’s mid-range hotels outperformed our high end hotels in the first half of this year, according to Cavendish Maxwell. We find out more with Research Manager Ali Siddiqui. Plus, air freight rates out of this region are up nearly 50% in a year, even as volumes fall. We find out what that means for the cost of getting goods here with aviation expert Nick Humphrey. An Indian coffee chain is looking to create a stir with its first UAE cafe, but have we got room for more? We speak to the CEO of Blue Tokai Coffee Roaters. And our Summer Strategy series continues, with an 18-year-old family tyre business reinventing itself in the quiet months. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
17 Aug 2026. Corporate tax filing is underway, so what questions might the FTA be asking about executive bonuses? We ask tax lawyer Nils Vanhassel, Partner and Head of Tax for the Middle East at Addleshaw Goddard. Plus, it’s almost back to school. Parents are getting ready, but what does the spend look like this year? We speak to Home Centre and Noon. And almost everything on your plate is imported. We find out how one food business kept supplies moving through months of disruption. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
14 Aug 2026. Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has posted adjusted profits up 34%, even as sales volumes fell by a third. CFO Pål Kildemo joins us on how that happened. Plus, a quarter of a million square feet of indoor sport is opening in Dubai. Terry Kidd of AllSports on one of the emirate’s biggest fitness investments. And the global beauty industry lands in Dubai for the 30th time this month. Show Director Ravi Ramchandani on who’s coming and what it’s worth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13 Aug 2026. US prices rose 3.4% in the year to July, slightly lower than the 3.5% recorded in June, according to new figures. We get the analysis and reaction from economist Nick Stadtmiller of Emirates NBD on what it means here, given the dirham’s dollar peg. Plus, Razan Hilal of FOREX.com on how the dollar has responded. Gold is a safe haven trade, Copper a growth trade. Where is Silver? We asked Madhur Kakkar of Elevate Financial Services. And our Summer Strategy series continues. A fine dining group that expected a quiet summer got a surge in demand instead. Samyukta Nair of LSL Capital explains why. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12 Aug 2026. Is Bitcoin becoming a safe haven when tensions rise? We ask Saqr Ereiqat of the Dubai Digital Asset Association, who says yes and no. Plus, earnings season rolls on. Abu Dhabi’s sovereign AI company Presight has posted another quarter of strong growth, with CEO Thomas Pramotedham. And the region’s oilfield services giant NESR reports a record quarter: revenue is up 59% and profits nearly tripled. We speak to Chairman and CEO Sherif Foda. Our Summer Strategy series also continues, with the Dubai restaurant that spent more on marketing, not less, when spending slowed. Sylvana Sari of Bobi Bowl explains why. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
11 Aug 2026. Stevi Lowmass publicly admitted The Camel Soap Factory might not survive, then launched a campaign to sell 25,000 bars. Three months on, she’s almost there. We hear how it went. Plus, earnings season continues. Spinneys reveals its first half numbers with CEO Sunil Kumar, and e7 Group posts a bumper six months on the back of its secure identity business. We speak to Group CEO Esteban Gómez Nadal. And it’s a big week for inflation data, with UAE demand holding up better than expected. Nick Stadtmiller of Emirates NBD unpacks it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10 Aug 2026. ADNOC Gas has beaten its own guidance with a $665 million second quarter, despite the Strait disruption, and greenlit $8.2 billion of new contracts. We speak to CFO Peter van Driel. Plus, a container of classic Ferraris is stuck off Khor Fakkan for another week. Ryan Hughes of RMA Motors on how shipping delays are reaching Dubai’s luxury car market. We also get an exclusive look at July’s Dubai property numbers with Haider Tuaima of ValuStrat, as the market edges towards stability. And oil is caught between diplomacy and disruption. Robin Mills of Qamar Energy on where the market goes next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
08 Aug 2026: Luxury watches, fine art, rare collectibles and classic cars are increasingly being considered alternative stores of wealth as investors look beyond traditional safe havens. But protecting these assets is not always straightforward. Kapil Sharma, Senior Vice President of Sales at Continental Group, joins us to discuss how high-value collectibles are insured, the challenges surrounding valuations and the coverage gaps owners may not realise exist. Meanwhile, Wynn Resorts is pressing ahead with plans to hire 2,500 employees for its $5.7 billion UAE resort, despite its opening being pushed back to September 2027. Nathan Kearney, Managing Director of Executive Search, joins us to discuss what the recruitment drive says about confidence in the UAE hospitality sector and the growing divide in the wider jobs market. Plus, we look at some of the weird and wonderful ways businesses are trying to beat the summer slowdown, including a rooftop sauna, ice baths and unlimited ice cream. Emilie Hill from Context Studio takes us through some of the offers and considers whether these summer deals are here to stay or are simply a way for businesses to get customers through the door. And finally, DIFC is opening up its special purpose vehicle regime, removing previous eligibility restrictions and making the structures available to a much wider pool of applicants. Jacques Visser, Chief Legal Officer at DIFC Authority, tells us what the regulatory changes involve. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
06 August 2026. The Japanese yen has strengthened sharply following the first coordinated US-Japan currency intervention since 1998. It has recovered from a 40-year low of almost 164 yen to the dollar in July to around 156 to 157 this week. Josh Gilbert of eToro explains what the intervention involved, why the US stepped in, and whether the yen’s recovery can last. Also, tourist arrivals to the UAE are projected to fall by more than 30% in 2026 following the regional conflict earlier this year, while visitor spending dropped by more than 40% during the height of the disruption. Akshay Jayaprakasan of RedSeer Strategy Consultants discusses when arrivals could recover to 2025 levels and what the coming years could hold for the tourism sector. Plus, the RTA has completed a series of improvements on Latifa bint Hamdan Street, including a one-kilometre service-road expansion and two new U-turns. Hamad Al Shehhi of the RTA discusses the immediate impact on motorists and the longer-term plans for one of Dubai’s key transport corridors. And finally, a career-pivot success story. From Google executive to award-winning restaurateur, Lynn Hazim discusses the story behind Middle Child and the realities of building three food concepts under one roof. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.