Shows / Morning Drive
Morning Drive
Morning Drive is Mira Business FM’s flagship weekday programme airing Monday–Friday, 8 AM–12 PM. Presented by Tim Elliott, it delivers a dynamic mix of business news, expert analysis, and in-depth interviews with thought leaders and market specialists.
From financial markets and economic trends to entrepreneurship, technology, property, and leadership, the show explores the stories shaping today’s business landscape, equipping listeners across the UAE and beyond with practical insights that…
Episodes
Morning DriveYour Salary Arrived. Now What?
UAE workers are getting paid more reliably under the latest Wage Protection System changes, but for millions of frontline workers, getting paid is only the…
Morning DriveThe Dubai Restaurant That Closed Before It Even Opened
A restaurant launch put on hold, but a dream far from over. Aljon Fernandez, a Dubai-based Filipino chef, has been graining traction online after sharing the…
Morning DriveHow Technology Is Changing the Way Dubai Pays Rent
Dubai’s rental market is evolving as tenants face affordability pressures and landlords look for greater certainty. Takeem is using rental guarantees, property…
Morning DriveGCC’s Coastlines Get a Real-Time Monitoring Upgrade
The Gulf’s coastlines are facing growing pressure from development, industry and environmental risks. A new partnership between Ecocoast and Xylem is bringing…
Morning DriveWhen Success Becomes a Trap: Why Leaders Need to Get Uncomfortable
Success can be the goal, but what happens when it becomes the comfort zone? For some business leaders, past achievements can make taking risks harder and…
Morning DriveAI in Architecture: Faster Projects or Better Design?
AI is entering the architecture and construction industries, changing how buildings are designed, planned and built. From automating routine work to helping…
Morning DriveGold Defies Soaring US Treasury Yields to Hold at $4,200
Gold has demonstrated remarkable resilience despite US Treasury yields climbing to 5.25%. Monetary Metals' Jeff Rhodes analyses the volatile market dynamics…
Morning DriveUnderstanding UAE Gratuity: How End-of-Service Pay Works & Recent Changes
Many private sector employees in the UAE are unaware of how their end-of-service gratuity is calculated or how recent legislative updates affect their payout…
Morning DriveDubai’s Event Calendar Is Crowded. Which Events Are Worth It?
Dubai’s event calendar is packed with conferences, exhibitions and networking events, leaving businesses with more choices but also a bigger question: where is…
Morning DriveCan Longevity Become the New ROI in Dubai Real Estate?
October 1 marks Longevity Day, and Dubai is putting healthy ageing and quality of life firmly on the agenda. The emirate’s new longevity strategy is expected…
Morning DriveWhy Supply Chains Matter in the $2.6T Halal Economy
The global halal economy is now a $2.6 trillion market, spanning food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fashion, travel and media. But behind that growth is a…
Morning DriveNike Sales Fell 17% in China. Can the Company Make a Comeback?
Nike reports earnings this Thursday, with investors looking for signs that its turnaround is gaining traction. Sales in China fell 17% in the latest quarter…
Morning DriveDubai Real Estate: Buyers Push for Better Deals Ahead of Q4
As Dubai prepares to enter the final quarter of the year, the real estate market is experiencing a structural shift. Returning buyers are negotiating harder…
Morning DriveThe UAE Is Attracting Founders. But Can They Become CEOs?
The UAE has become a major hub for founders looking to launch and scale businesses. But starting a company and leading it as it grows are two very different…
Morning DriveDubai Real Estate: Elevated Bubble Risk or Global Bargain?
Tim Elliott talks with Luxe Vista Properties CEO Ajay Menon to unpack UBS's latest Global Real Estate Bubble Index. Exploring key affordability metrics, rental…
Morning DriveGCC Hotel Supply Set to Hit 616,000 Rooms by 2030
The GCC is set for a major expansion in hotel supply, with nearly 126,000 new rooms expected by 2030. But occupancy has fallen across the region in 2026 as…
Morning DriveYour CV Isn’t Enough: Abu Dhabi Launches Digital Skills Card
Abu Dhabi has launched the Gulf region’s first Digital Skills Card, allowing employers to verify professional skills and qualifications through a QR code and…
Morning DriveDubai’s Property Market Is Getting a Tech Upgrade
Dubai’s property sector is increasingly turning to AI, automation and connected platforms to improve how buildings are managed and how real estate value is…
Morning DriveDigital Salaries, Real Financial Freedom?
As the UAE moves rapidly toward digital payments, lower-income workers are changing how they receive, spend and send their salaries. Edenred UAE data shows ATM…
Morning DriveOman Hotels Add 700 Rooms amid Reduced Tourism Activity
Oman’s hospitality sector is adding 700 hotel rooms by the end of the year, even as tourism activity softened in the first half. Hotel guests were down 13%…
Morning DriveKey Market Insights & Investment Trends Post-Forex Expo
Forex Expo Dubai has wrapped up, bringing together global traders, brokers, and fintech innovators to unpack the future of trading and financial technology. In…
Morning DriveGCC Banks face AI gap: core systems need overhaul
GCC banks are investing heavily in artificial intelligence, but can their existing technology infrastructure keep up? Today, we look at what banks need to…
Morning DriveHow UAE Interest Rate Increases Affect Mortgages, Loans and Savings
In this segment of The Morning Drive on Mira Business FM, James Thomas breaks down the recent interest rate rise and its direct financial impact on UAE…
Morning DriveThe Hiring Crisis: What’s Broken in Modern Recruitment?
In this episode, David Mackenzie and Tim Elliott take a deep dive into the current state of hiring. From the rise of AI-driven resume screening and ghosting to…
Morning Drive64% of UAE SMEs Still Run on Excel. Is Your POS Being Wasted?
A new Fortis survey of more than 130 UAE merchants reveals a surprising digital gap: 64% of SMEs still run core operations on Excel, even as businesses invest…
Morning DriveDubai Landlord Renewal Charges: Are Extra Admin Fees Legal?
Tim Elliott speaks with EVA Real Estate Senior Manager Mario Volpi to discuss a major friction point for Dubai tenants: unexpected lease renewal charges. Volpi…
Morning DriveUS-Iran Escalation: What It Means for Gulf Energy Investment
Billions of dollars are being committed to Gulf energy projects, but renewed US-Iran tensions are raising fresh questions about the region’s investment…
Morning DriveAbu Dhabi Property Market Targets Wealthy Investors, Not Speculators
Abu Dhabi is reshaping its property market to target multi-generational family wealth, high-net-worth end users, and family offices rather than yield-seeking…
Morning DriveAI Is Changing How We Sell Food
AI is rapidly changing food marketing, giving restaurants and brands new ways to create images, menus and promotional campaigns without traditional production…
Morning DriveIslamic Banks Stay Strong as Regional Tensions Rise
Regional tensions are putting financial systems across the region under pressure, but Islamic banks are showing resilience. Strong capital and liquidity…
Morning DriveHow Geopolitics Is Changing Middle East Aviation
Geopolitical tensions since February have disrupted travel, air routes and aviation across the Middle East. Now, the region’s airports are adapting to a new…
Morning DriveWhy Schools Are Investing Big in Specialist Sports
Schools are moving beyond football, basketball and athletics, with specialist sports like golf and motorsport entering the classroom. As schools invest in…
Morning DriveCan AI Help Businesses Beat Cyber Threats?
As cyber threats become more sophisticated, security teams are facing a growing flood of alerts. At GISEC Global 2026 in Dubai, UAE-based cybersecurity company…
Morning DriveWhy Luxury Dining Is Moving to Memberships
Luxury dining is becoming more focused on value, access and exclusivity, creating new opportunities for businesses that can connect consumers with premium…
Morning DriveUS Fed Hikes Rates: Gold Yield Parity and Oil Shocks Shake Markets
Tim Elliott sits down with Monetary Metals' Jeff Rhodes to dissect the US Federal Reserve's first interest rate hike in three years. They analyse the impact on…
Morning DriveCouples, Cash, and Conflict: The Emotional Cost of Joint Finances
Financial stress remains a top contributor to household friction, yet practical money management is rarely discussed openly. In this episode, Tim Elliott…
Morning DriveMaldives Luxury: What’s Next for Middle East Travellers?
The Maldives remains one of the world’s leading luxury travel destinations, but traveller expectations are changing fast. As the industry looks towards Travel…
Morning DriveDegrees vs Skills: Middle East Hiring Shifts Focus to Hands-On Experience
In an exclusive interview with Tim Elliott, David Mackenzie, Managing Director of Mackenzie Jones Middle East, discusses why regional employers are…
Morning DriveSri Lanka Wants 3 million Tourists. Can the Gulf Help?
Sri Lanka is targeting 3 million international tourist arrivals over the next 12 months, with the UAE and wider GCC playing a key role in that growth strategy…
Morning DriveIs AI Changing the Cybersecurity Game?
Cyber threats are evolving fast, and traditional security monitoring may no longer be enough. At GISEC Global 2026, Obrela is showcasing how Agentic AI…
Morning Drive60% of Dubai Homes Keep Value as Market Stabilises
Tim Elliott interviews Mario Volpi, Senior Manager at EVA Real Estate, examining August’s property figures. Despite the market experiencing its first slight…
Morning DriveDIFC Za’abeel vs Expo City: Where Should You Invest AED 5M?
Tim Elliott sits down with Luxe Vista Properties CEO Ajay Menon to weigh two high-stakes Dubai real estate strategies. They analyze whether investors deploying…
Morning DriveWhy Did the Maldives’ Tourism Advisor Step Down?
The Maldives is under the spotlight at Arabian Travel Market, from Gulf travel demand and aviation connectivity to investment and new tourism policies. Mohamed…
Morning DriveUAE Tax Deadline: Is Your Business Really Ready?
UAE businesses are facing another important tax deadline, with September 30 approaching for Corporate Tax filings. But experts say filing on time is only part…
Morning DriveMiddle East Hotels Shift Towards Franchising
The Middle East’s hotel sector could be entering a major shift. Franchising is gaining ground as hotel owners look for more control and lower costs, while…
Morning DriveWhy Aren’t Gulf Tourists Going to Jamaica?
Today marks the first day of the Arabian Travel Market 2026, and Jamaica is making a major push to attract travelers from the GCC. Despite the region's immense…
Morning DriveHow Expensive Is Pet Care in the UAE?
From routine check-ups and vaccinations to unexpected emergencies, pet care can quickly become expensive in the UAE. And as more people treat their pets like…
Morning DriveAbu Dhabi’s Off-Plan Mortgage: Game Changer or Just More Financing?
Abu Dhabi’s property market is getting a new financing option for off-plan buyers, with a first-of-its-kind mortgage framework allowing buyers to secure…
Morning DriveResume Hacking? Yes, Applicants Do It.
Tim Elliott sits down with David Mackenzie, Managing Director of Mackenzie Jones Middle East, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming talent…
Morning DriveOil Surges Past $100 as CPI Data and Middle East Tensions Pressure the Fed
Tim Elliott speaks with Monetary Metals Managing Director Jeff Rhodes as oil prices cross $100 amidst US-Iran friction. With crucial CPI data arriving, they…
Morning DriveWhy Liability Insurance Matters More Than Ever for UAE Businesses
UAE-licensed independent financial consultant James Thomas joins Tim Elliott to explore why liability insurance is no longer just a corporate compliance…
Morning DriveDubai Business: Is the Worst of Summer Behind Us?
As summer winds down, are businesses in Dubai finally seeing brighter days ahead? The US-Iran conflict continues to create uncertainty across the region, but…
Morning DriveSecuring the UAE's Water Future
Rising population growth, rapid urbanisation, and depleting natural aquifers pose severe challenges to the UAE's water supply. Tim Elliott speaks with Dr Abir…
Morning DriveBillions Pour Into the Gulf’s AI Infrastructure
The Gulf is investing heavily in the infrastructure needed to power the next wave of AI, with more than 170 active and planned data centres across the region…
Morning DriveDubai Property Prices Drop for First Time in Five Years
Dubai home prices have registered a 1.7% monthly dip—the first price decline since February 2021. Tim Elliott speaks with Mario Volpi, Senior Manager at EVA…
Morning DriveGCC Set for 6.8% Rebound: Can Diversification Deliver?
The GCC economy is facing a sharp downturn in 2026, but Oxford Economics is forecasting a major rebound next year. Its latest research projects 6.8% GCC growth…
Morning DriveUAE Building Safety Rules: What Developers Need to Know Now
The UAE is tightening the rules around building safety and long-term compliance under Law No. (3) of 2026. But what do the new requirements actually mean for…
Morning DriveReality vs Fantasy: Is Dubai’s Real Estate Price Appreciation Out of Reach?
Tim Elliott interviews Ajay Menon, CEO of Luxe Vista Properties, to analyse the reality behind Dubai's soaring property appreciation. The discussion analyses…
Morning DriveUAE Coffee Company Diversifies
F&B growth in the UAE is no longer just about opening more outlets. Established brands are increasingly looking at adjacent categories, new products and new…
Morning DriveHow to Break Into UAE Real Estate: Moving from Australia to Abu Dhabi
In this episode, Tim Elliott sits down with Off-Plan Investment Advisor Patrick Mullally to discuss his personal career pivot from Australia to Abu Dhabi…