AB Majlis

Hosted by Arabian Business

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101

Latest episode

Sep 2026

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About the show

AB Majlis is an Arabian Business podcast and the ultimate gateway to the latest trends in the GCC

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60 recent

September 30, 202621 min

Smart city tech could add $6.9 billion to Dubai's economy | A chat with JLL's Dr. Matthew Marson

Smart cities are no longer just about impressive technology. They are becoming serious investments capable of generating measurable economic returns. Dr Matthew Marson, Managing Director Technology Advisory EMA & APAC at JLL, joins AB Majlis to explain why smart city technology could add $6.9 billion to Dubai’s economy and almost $16bn to Riyadh’s. He also explains why AI-powered energy systems, connected transport and smarter construction could become a new infrastructure asset class.

September 17, 202625 min

Why the Middle East is moving faster on infrastructure | In conversation with Siemens’ Hakan Ozdemir

SPONSORED - The Middle East is investing heavily in smarter cities, power grids, data centres and AI-enabled infrastructure. According to Siemens’ latest Infrastructure Transition Monitor, the region is also showing greater urgency than global peers when it comes to transforming the systems that power its economies. Hakan Ozdemir, CEO of Siemens Smart Infrastructure in the Middle East and Siemens Qatar, joins Tala Michel Issa on AB Majlis to discuss what that transformation looks like in practice. They explore the rise of industrial AI, the growing strain on electricity grids, the extraordinary energy requirements of AI and data centres, and how digital technology could make buildings and critical infrastructure more autonomous, efficient and resilient. Ozdemir also explains why the next stage of the Middle East’s infrastructure boom will depend not only on investment, but on cybersecurity, skills, public-private partnerships and transferring technological know-how to local teams. The Siemens Infrastructure Transition Monitor: Middle East 2026 found that 66% of regional executives want the global energy transition to accelerate significantly, while 62% expect AI to reshape infrastructure operations within the next three years. Download the full Siemens report: https://www.siemens.com/itm2026-me This episode of AB Majlis was produced in partnership with Siemens.

September 14, 202654 min

Planes, power and the new Gulf economy | In conversation with Boeing's Fahad Al Mheiri

The Gulf has built some of the world’s biggest airlines, airports and aviation hubs. Now it wants to build more of the industry behind them. Managing Editor Tala Michel Issa sits down with Fahad Al Mheiri, Boeing’s Vice President for the Middle East, Gulf and North Africa, to discuss why the region could need another 3,000 aircraft over the next 20 years, why delivery slots are “like gold” and how parts built in Al Ain are ending up on Boeing 787s. They also explore what recent conflict revealed about the Gulf’s aviation and defence systems, why military spending is a form of “expensive insurance” and how autonomous aircraft could change the future of warfare.

September 9, 202623 min

Visa’s Walter Lironi on rebuilding banking for the AI age

SPONSORED - AI, mobile-first consumers and rising fraud risks are transforming the payments industry. Walter Lironi, Visa’s Senior Vice President and Head of Value Added Services for Central Europe, the Middle East and Africa, joins AB Majlis to discuss how banks can modernise ageing systems, embrace AI and deliver faster, safer and more personalised digital experiences. This episode is sponsored by Visa.

August 31, 202624 min

InvestGate founder Kunal Varma targets GCC’s emerging-affluent investment market

SPONSORED - Kunal Varma, founder and CEO of InvestGate, joins the Arabian Business podcast to explain why he left banking to build his own company, the opportunity he sees among the GCC’s emerging affluent and what it takes to create a regulated regional investment platform. We also discuss why he believes the Gulf’s financial-services market is ready for change—and what comes next for InvestGate.

August 25, 202635 min

Yolk Brands' Steve Flawith on Pickl, Iraq and the road to 1,000 stores

Yolk Brands founder Steve Flawith never planned to own a restaurant. Seven years after launching Pickl from a single outlet in JLT, his Dubai-born business is operating across multiple markets, preparing to enter Iraq and pursuing an ambition of 1,000 stores globally. In this episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business reporter Nicole Abigael sits down with Flawith to discuss why Gulf-born restaurant brands are increasingly becoming exporters rather than importers, the $10 million Yolk Brands has invested in building its international operation and what it takes to make a homegrown concept travel. They also discuss Saudi Arabia, delivery economics, social media, choosing franchise partners, why Yolk has rejected more than 1,000 prospective partners and whether an IPO could eventually be on the table.

July 8, 202633 min

Banking at the speed of business: Why SMEs cannot afford to wait - In conversation with Mashreq's Rajeev Chalisgaonkar

SPONSORED - For SMEs, growth can stall before the business has even properly begun. A delayed bank account, slow payments or limited access to working capital can affect hiring, supplier relationships and the ability to enter the market quickly. In this episode of AB Majlis, Reporter Nicole Abigael speaks with Rajeev Chalisgaonkar, Head of Business Banking and NEO BIZ at Mashreq, about the changing demands of SME banking in the UAE. The conversation looks at why speed-to-market has become critical for founders, how digital onboarding and eKYC are changing business account opening and why cashflow, resilience and operational efficiency are now central to SME survival. They also discuss Mashreq NEO BIZ’s One-Day Service Promise for eligible business customers, the role of banks beyond lending and payments, and what entrepreneurs should expect from their financial partners as they build and scale.

June 29, 202629 min

Inside the modern risk playbook - In conversation with Mashreq's Anuratna Chadha

SPONSORED- For years, risk management in banking was often seen as a defensive function: compliance, controls, audits and regulation. But in a world of cyber threats, fraud risks, geopolitical volatility, supply chain shocks and rapid technological disruption, that view is starting to change. In this episode, Reporter Nicole Abigael sits down with Anuratna Chadha, Group Chief Risk Officer at Mashreq to explore how banks can move beyond checkbox compliance and turn risk intelligence into a strategic advantage. The conversation looks at what operational resilience really means for banks today, why cyber security and fraud prevention have become boardroom issues, how technology is reshaping risk management, and why the institutions that recover fastest from disruption may also be the ones best placed to compete. At its core, this is a conversation about the new business of resilience: how banks prepare for the unexpected, protect trust, and build systems that can keep moving even when the world around them becomes more volatile.

June 11, 202618 min

The business logic of Spartan races | A chat with Layova Group's Najib Yaacoub

What does an obstacle-course race have to do with juice, coffee and hospitality? In this special episode, in partnership with Spartan Middle East, Justin Harper, Senior Contributor at Arabian Business and Editor of CEO Middle East, speaks to Najib Yaacoub, Chief Operating Officer of Lavoya Restaurants Group, about why Joe & The Juice has teamed up with Spartan in the UAE. The episode comes ahead of Spartan City at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, June 13, 2026, featuring a 3K Open Race and a 1-3K Kids Race. The conversation looks at the rise of the UAE’s fitness and wellness economy, the power of community-led brands, and why businesses are increasingly expected to do more than simply sell a product. From active lifestyles and healthier choices to resilience, discipline and scaling a fast-growing hospitality business, this episode explores how Spartan’s obstacle-course mindset is finding its way into boardrooms, brands and everyday life. For anyone who has ever wondered whether fitness is becoming a business strategy, this one is for you.

May 25, 202619 min

What’s next for Dubai real estate? In conversation with Yousuf Fakhruddin

In this episode of AB Majlis, Reporter Nicole Abigael sits down with Yousuf Fakhruddin, CEO and Managing Partner of Fakhruddin Properties, for a conversation on Dubai’s evolving real estate market, investor confidence and the shift toward sustainability and wellness-led development. Yousuf discusses how Dubai’s property sector continues to show resilience amid regional uncertainty, supported by the UAE’s infrastructure, safety, regulation and long-term planning. He also examines how buyer behaviour is changing as investors and residents become more selective in a maturing market. The conversation explores the rise of wellness as a real estate driver, moving beyond traditional amenities such as gyms and pools toward homes and communities built around healthier everyday living, energy efficiency, smart systems, green spaces, air quality and long-term wellbeing. Yousuf also discusses why sustainability must become measurable for developers, how technology is changing buyer expectations and whether Dubai’s next real estate cycle will be led by scale, quality or a deeper focus on liveability.