Business Extra

Business Extra

Author: The National News Language: English Episodes: 100
Tune into Business Extra for a clear-eyed look at the forces shaping commerce in the Middle East and beyond. Produced by The National News, this podcast moves past the headlines to deliver substantive conversations with the analysts, executives, and innovators driving change. Each episode leans on the deep regional expertise of our editors and reporters, who translate complex developments in markets, energy, and technology into accessible insights. You’ll hear grounded discussions that connect local trends to global patterns, offering a necessary perspective on one of the planet's most dynamic economic landscapes. Whether it's a shift in oil policy, a tech startup's rise, or a new trade agreement, this series provides the context often missing from daily news cycles. For anyone with a stake in understanding how business really works in this pivotal region, Business Extra is an essential listen, blending authoritative journalism with genuine curiosity. The result is a consistently informative podcast that feels less like a briefing and more like a series of insightful conversations with people who have their finger on the pulse.
Episodes
Stargate UAE: What does it mean for the future of AI? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:28
Last week, some of the biggest names in tech announced a partnership with Abu Dhabi’s leading AI entity, G42 – a project called Stargate UAE. It’s part of a massive new AI campus set to come online in 2026 – a Gulf itera…
The UAE's race to 'make it' here [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:08
The UAE is in a race with itself to raise its manufacturing game. From machine parts to pasta, there is one goal: Make it in the Emirates. That also happens to be the name of an event taking place in Abu Dhabi this week,…
Why is Jordan burdened by external debt? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:05
The Jordanian government owed 44.8 billion dinars in public debt as of February this year. That’s more than $63 billion. It’s not $36 trillion dollars like the figure blinking on the US debt clock. But for a country like…
Recession fears evoke deja vu. The Middle East might be safe. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:21
It's been a time of tumult on Wall Street – at the hands of the White House. US President Donald Trump made his plans for tariffs known on the campaign trail, but their scale has taken the world by surprise. The sweeping…
Sanctions on Syria: a look back, a way forward [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:38
For more than a decade, Syria has been under international sanctions aimed at pressuring Bashar Al Assad’s regime. But there is a longer history of sanctions on the country and the broader Middle East. Sanctions can be u…
What challenges do women still face in the Middle East start-up scene? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:45
The start-up economy is booming in the Middle East, but despite progress, women remain underrepresented, as founders and as recipients of funding. While women-led start-ups make up 7 per cent of the region’s total, they…
Al Masaood Automobiles chief on the future of mobility [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:14
This episode is sponsored by Al Masaood Automobiles The global automotive industry is undergoing dramatic transformation as owners seek more from their vehicles – and technology delivers. This is evident in the UAE where…
AI and the Gulf: Where it's been and what's next [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:04
In the past decade, Gulf countries have prioritised innovation. It's part of a shift from their prime standing as oil economies to their new goal of using the advent of AI to enhance their economies all around. It's gett…