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
Tech Edition - Will Vero change social networking? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:48
Does the world need another social network? Ayman Hariri, co-founder of Vero and son of former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri, thinks so. Host Cody Combs talked to the co-founder of the ad-free, algorithm-free alte…
Tech Edition- AI & the complexities expected in 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:21
AI isn't going away, the metaverse is still showing signs of life, and cybersecurity concerns remain abundant. Just when you thought it was safe to enter 2024 on a clean technology slate, similar themes and a cast of tec…
What trends will shape 2024? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:16
A new year is around the corner, and that particular time is always a great opportunity to look back and reflect. However, it's also essential to look ahead as well and understand the forces that will shape the coming ye…
Climate Edition – Building sustainable cities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:11
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy will be moving into one of Masdar City’s net-zero buildings by the end of 2024, which shows the commitment to energy transition and a net-zero economy by 2050. Masdar City’s director of…
Climate Edition – Generating water without electricity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:26
Manhat, an Emirati-founded start-up launched in 2019, wants to be among the first to introduce a new technology to generate fresh water from the ocean without using electricity. Emirati founder Saeed Alhassan told Busine…
Climate Edition - Is finance the solution? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:48
Participants at Cop28 in Dubai are more adamant about cutting emissions this time, chief executive of Dynamic Planet Kristin Rechberger told Business Extra host Cody Combs in an interview on the sidelines of the climate…
Climate Edition - Why is Google at Cop28? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:02
Climate talks often conjure up images of smokestacks, car exhaust, and even aviation contrails. There’s also the mental image of endless climate meetings hosted by prominent politicians and policymakers. But what about B…
Climate Edition - Sustaining agriculture in Gaza and ocean health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:00
The lives of 384 million people have been improved by more than 100 winners of the UAE’s Zayed Sustainability Awards over 15 years. This year’s award winners were announced at the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai. Business…
Climate Edition - Young advocates in the Middle East (part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:45
In this episode of the Business Extra podcast, host Cody Combs interviews three young climate advocates from the UAE, Morocco and Mauritania. Recording from the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai, the climate advocates spoke…
Climate Edition - Young advocates in the Middle East [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:47
In this episode of the Business Extra podcast, host Cody Combs interviews two young environmental game-changers from Lebanon and Jordan, exploring the pivotal moments that ignited their commitment to advocating for the e…