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 DriveGold Soars as Macro Risk Escalates and Central Banks Relocate Reserves
Tim Elliott speaks with Monetary Metals’ Jeff Rhodes as bullion holds near historic highs. Rhodes breaks down shifting US interest rate expectations…
Morning DriveIs Now the Time to Become a Dubai Broker?
Dubai’s real estate market continues to attract investors and new players. But is it still a good time to enter the industry, and what does it take to…
Morning DriveGCC Job Vacancies Down 30% as Hiring Hits Post-Pandemic Low
The Gulf's recruitment sector is facing its toughest period since the pandemic, with live job vacancies plunging by nearly a third year-on-year. Tim Elliott…
Morning DriveWhat Shein’s Hong Kong Debut Means for GCC Markets
Shein’s Hong Kong debut has given investors a reality check. Shares fell sharply despite a limited float, raising fresh questions about valuations, consumer…
Morning DriveSouth African Honey Is Coming to the UAE
South African honey is making its way into the UAE, with premium producers looking to tap into a market where consumers are increasingly interested in quality…
Morning DriveCan Chinese Cars Build Trust in the UAE?
Chinese car brands are no longer competing in the UAE on price alone. Technology, design, performance and quality are reshaping the market, but as competition…
Morning DriveIs the Cheapest Supplier Still the Best Choice?
The UAE and Egypt have activated a five-year, US$500 million wheat supply agreement, highlighting a growing concern for businesses: in an increasingly volatile…
Morning DriveDubai Real Estate Hits a 'Goldilocks' Lull as Buyers Hold Back
As residents return from summer holidays, the Dubai real estate market is facing a temporary pause. EVA Real Estate Senior Manager Mario Volpi joins Tim…
Morning DriveThe Real Estate Metric Investors Ignore
Why do real estate investors focus heavily on residential pipeline data while completely ignoring commercial growth? On Mira Business FM, Tim Elliott speaks…
Morning DriveGen Z Is Changing the UAE Workplace
Gen Z is entering the GCC workforce, and employers may need to rethink how they recruit, retain and develop young talent. From financial wellbeing and…
Morning DrivePokémon Just Turned 30. Just How Big Is the Business?
Pokémon has just turned 30, but this is no longer just a story about a video game or a cartoon. It has grown into one of the biggest entertainment and…
Morning DriveWhat Happens to British Expats' UAE Assets?
British expats may not own property in the UAE, but that does not mean they do not have an estate here. From bank accounts and cars to investments and…
Morning Drive20,000 Emiratis on One Platform. What It Means for UAE Jobs
The latest Emiratisation deadline has passed, but the push for UAE businesses to build and retain Emirati talent continues. With Dawlati now reporting more…
Morning DriveDubai's $2M Kids Sports Club Goes Global
From professional athlete to entrepreneur, Andrej Kuprejev has built GMNSM into a fast-growing UAE-born combat sports and child development business. Now…
Morning DriveRethinking Wealth: How Changing Family Dynamics Are Disrupting Estate Planning
With falling birth rates and non-traditional family structures on the rise, standard generational wealth transfer models are breaking down. Presenter Tim…
Morning DriveGlobal Sports Brands Target UAE’s Next Generation of Talent
The UAE's sports industry is becoming an increasingly important business opportunity for global brands. New Balance's new three-year partnership with Al Jazira…
Morning DriveThe Projects Putting Ras Al Khaimah on the UAE Property Map
Ras Al Khaimah is becoming an increasingly important part of the UAE's booming real estate story, as investors and developers look beyond Dubai and Abu Dhabi…
Morning DriveAgentic AI Is Coming for Finance Jobs. What Happens Next?
The finance world is entering a new phase of AI transformation, and this time, the technology is not just answering questions. Agentic AI can take on tasks…
Morning DriveGold Soars as Macro Risk Escalates
Gold expert Jeff Rhodes joins Tim Elliott on Mira Business FM to examine bullion's persistent rally. With prices holding near historical highs, Rhodes analyses…
Morning DriveMira Coral Bay Unveiled: Affordable Luxury & Multi-Branded Living in Ras Al Khaimah
Morning Drive property news segment with Mario Volpi and Tim Elliott covers Mira Coral Bay by Mira Developments in downtown Ras Al Khaimah. Featuring…
Morning DriveMiddle East Energy: Can Renewables Keep Up with Rising Demand?
As rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, and AI-driven data centers drive energy demand across the region, can renewable energy keep up? Ahead of the…
Morning DriveDubai’s New Off-Plan Rules Explained
Tim Elliott speaks with Ajay Menon, CEO of Luxe Vista Properties, about a major shift in Dubai real estate. With banks now financing off-plan properties…
Morning DriveBack to School, Back to Cyber Risk?
As UAE schools and universities prepare for the new academic year, the return to class is also putting their digital systems to the test. From enrolment…
Morning DriveUS-Iran Escalation: Where Should Investors Put Their Money Now?
The latest escalation between the US and Iran is once again rattling global markets, pushing geopolitical risk, oil prices and inflation back into focus. So…
Morning DriveGold Hits New Highs Amid Regional Conflict
Gold expert Jeff Rhodes returns to Mira Business FM alongside Tim Elliott to analyse the metal's latest surge. After months of range-bound trading, gold has…
Morning DriveCan You Still Find a Job in the UAE Right Now?
Dubai's job market was one of the strongest in the post-pandemic period, with employers continuing to hire despite months of regional uncertainty. But after…
Morning DrivePost-Summer Financial Reset: Pay Off Debt & Fix Your Savings
Following summer holidays and looming expenses, Tim Elliott chats with UAE-licensed independent financial consultant James Thomas to discuss recovering from…
Morning DriveUAE Restaurant Expands Despite Supply Chain Pressures
Naughty Pizza founder Bart Misztal joins Tim Elliott to discuss managing supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and shifting consumer habits across the UAE…
Morning DriveDubai Hotels Feel the Conflict, But Mid-Market Properties Hold Up
Dubai’s hotel market is feeling the impact of regional disruption, but mid-market properties are holding up better than luxury hotels. With occupancy down 30%…
Morning DriveIs Ras Al Khaimah Outpacing Dubai’s Property Market?
Tim Elliott is joined by Mario Volpi, Senior Manager at EVA Real Estate, to analyse shifting dynamics across the Emirates. As buyers weigh geopolitical caution…
Morning DriveUS - Iran Conflict Escalates: What It Means for UAE Prices and Supply Chains
Oil has climbed above $90 a barrel as hopes of a US-Iran deal fade, raising fresh concerns over energy supplies, shipping and the cost of goods. For the UAE…
Morning DriveNo US-Iran Deal: What Happens to the Gulf Economy?
The US-Iran interim deal has expired without a new agreement, while the Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint. Oil prices are rising again, shipping is…
Morning DriveUAE Freelancers: Is Work Finally Coming Back?
Months into the regional conflict, UAE freelancers are still navigating a tougher market. Projects have been delayed, budgets have tightened and businesses…
Morning DriveThe TRUTH About Dubai Property Payment Plans (Don't Buy Until You Hear This!)
Tim Elliott speaks with Ajay Menon, CEO of Luxe Vista Properties, to break down the sheer volume of property payment plans dominating Dubai's current market…
Morning DriveDubai-It, Dubai Invite, Save Our Soap: How Campaigns Help Businesses Survive
Months into the region’s geopolitical tensions, businesses are still adapting to uncertainty and changing consumer behaviour. From Dubai’s citywide initiatives…
Morning DriveShe Almost Closed Her Restaurant. What Changed?
Indonesia celebrates its Independence Day today, and we are spotlighting one of the Indonesians championing Indonesian cuisine in Dubai. Months ago, Bobi Bowl…
Morning DrivePax Silica: High Costs, Low Rewards for the Philippines?
The Philippines is caught in the crosshairs of the global AI race as the US pushes Pax Silica. But is this tech deal securing the nation's future or exploiting…
Morning DriveWhat's Driving High-end Consumer Spending Today?
From our Morning Drive archive, we're bringing together two conversations on the business of luxury and investment. From the growing demand for Italian…
Morning DriveEmirati Ingredients in the Global Food Scene
Can the UAE's homegrown ingredients become the next global food success story? From camel milk and dates to a growing demand for locally made products, the…
Morning DriveMiddle East Recruiters Turn to AI: Is It Effective?
AI is transforming recruitment in the Middle East by cutting through mountain-loads of CVs and streamlining administrative tasks. Tim Elliott is joined by…
Morning DriveRetirement Planning: Are You Financially Ready?
From our Morning Drive archive, we're bringing together two conversations on one of the biggest financial challenges facing workers today: retirement planning…
Morning DriveHow Smart Branding Can Help Businesses Navigate Challenging Times
We're bringing together two conversations on how smart branding can help businesses navigate challenging times. We speak with Stevi Lowmass, Founder and CEO of…
Morning DriveDo You Trust AI for Financial Advice?
As artificial intelligence evolves from recommending financial strategies to executing transactions, could algorithms soon manage, invest, and spend your…
Morning DriveUAE Education: Summer Internships and Scholarships
We're bringing back one of our previous conversations on the future of higher education and preparing students for the world of work. As universities place…
Morning DriveFujairah's Importance to Global Shipping, Energy & Property
We're bringing together two conversations on why Fujairah is becoming one of the UAE's most strategically important hubs. As global trade routes evolve and…
Morning DriveUAE Top Editors on Modern Journalism’s Greatest Challenge
We're revisiting one of our previous conversations on the changing media landscape and the growing challenge of reporting the news in an age of misinformation…
Morning DriveIs AI Pushing Senior Professionals Out of the Workforce?
Are experienced workers being squeezed out of the job market? As data reveals higher unemployment rates among over-55s in AI-exposed roles, Mira Business FM’s…
Morning DriveDress to Impress or Dress to Survive?
Tightening job markets and return-to-office policies are shifting corporate dress codes. Dubai's Image Scientist Raluca Marcu joins Tim Elliott to explain why…
Morning DriveWhat's Shaping Travel Decisions This Summer?
We're bringing together two conversations on how travel trends are changing for UAE residents. From the growing importance of travel insurance to the rising…
Morning DriveUAE Job Market 2026: Myths, Summer Shifts, and Where the Hiring Is
Tim Elliott sits down with David Mackenzie (Managing Director, Mackenzie Jones Middle East) and Zachary Beckett (Talent Partner, Professional Pyramid) to break…
Morning DriveHow UAE Landlords Are Adapting to a Changing Rental Market
As Dubai and Abu Dhabi move towards flexible leasing and rent freezes, EVA Real Estate Senior Manager Mario Volpi joins Tim Elliott on Mira Business FM. They…
Morning DriveCan the UAE Build the World's Biggest Bioplastics Hub?
The UAE is pushing ahead with its clean manufacturing ambitions as Abu Dhabi prepares to host what could become the world's largest bioplastics facility. But…
Morning DriveOman's Banking Outlook Remains Favourable
Regional tensions continue to dominate headlines, but a new Fitch Ratings report says operating conditions for Omani banks remain favourable despite the…
Morning DriveUAE Remains Capital of the Bullion World, Expert Says
Monetary Metals MD Jeff Rhodes joins Tim Elliott to discuss global precious metals. Rhodes explains why the UAE remains the capital of the bullion world…
Morning DriveAre Real Estate Developers Missing Out on Fujairah?
Luxe Vista Properties CEO Ajay Menon joins Tim Elliott on Mira Business FM to break down DP World's announcement of a major new multi-purpose port in Fujairah…
Morning DriveVolvo Opens Largest Regional Showroom in the UAE
Live from Volvo’s new 4,000-square-metre flagship showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road, Tim Elliott speaks with Carlos Montenegro,Managing Director, Al FuttaimTrading…
Morning DriveModon Sweeps AED 1.25B in 24 Hours
Abu Dhabi real estate records extraordinary growth as Modon fully books AED 1.25 billion in waterfront homes in 24 hours. EVA Real Estate Senior Manager Mario…
Morning DriveUAE SME Tax Alert: Urgent 2026 Deadlines & E-Invoicing Rules
As UAE SMEs prepare for key 2026 tax milestones and incoming e-invoicing updates, smart compliance offers exciting opportunities for growth. Tim Elliott speaks…
Morning DriveThe Business Opportunity in Camel Milk
Camel milk is moving from niche to mainstream, with demand growing across international markets as consumers look for new health focused and sustainable food…
Morning DriveYour Phone Battery Could Be Costing Restaurants Money
New data from Dubai power bank sharing platform Ray reveals low phone battery levels slash restaurant revenues during evening dining peaks. Speaking to Tim…