Bitesize Business Breakfast Podcast

Hosted by Dubai Eye 103.8

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

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.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 24, 202630 min

Formula 1 GP confirmed for Abu Dhabi!

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.

August 21, 202632 min

New VAT rules around supplier verification coming in next month

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.

August 20, 202633 min

Dubai inflation eases to 5.3%.

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.

August 19, 202643 min

Choithrams moves into Metro stations

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.

August 18, 202635 min

Mid-range hotels are beating the luxury end

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.

August 17, 202632 min

Will bonuses get scrutiny from the tax man?

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.

August 14, 202634 min

How EGA made more money selling less metal

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.

August 13, 202636 min

Gold is a safe haven trade, Copper a growth trade. Where is Silver?

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.

August 12, 202638 min

Is Bitcoin actually a safe haven?

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.

August 11, 202637 min

She admitted her business might fail. It worked!

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.