Shows / AB Majlis
AB Majlis
AB Majlis is an Arabian Business podcast and the ultimate gateway to the latest trends in the GCC
Episodes
AB MajlisCan AI, Robots and Palm Trees Reinvent Construction? | In conversation with Engineering Contracting Company's Karim Farah
Dubai's skyline keeps growing, but can the construction industry keep up? And could rising building costs make homes even more expensive? In this episode of AB…
AB MajlisESG, sustainable finance and the UAE’s future | In conversation with Mashreq's Faisal Al Shimmari
What will it take to turn sustainability commitments into investment that improves people’s lives? Faisal Al Shimmari, Head of ESG, Mashreq, joins Arabian…
AB MajlisSmart city tech could add $6.9 billion to Dubai's economy | A chat with JLL's Dr. Matthew Marson
Smart cities are no longer just about impressive technology. They are becoming serious investments capable of generating measurable economic returns. Dr…
AB MajlisWhy the Middle East is moving faster on infrastructure | In conversation with Siemens’ Hakan Ozdemir
SPONSORED - The Middle East is investing heavily in smarter cities, power grids, data centres and AI-enabled infrastructure. According to Siemens’ latest…
AB MajlisPlanes, power and the new Gulf economy | In conversation with Boeing's Fahad Al Mheiri
The Gulf has built some of the world’s biggest airlines, airports and aviation hubs. Now it wants to build more of the industry behind them. Managing Editor…
AB MajlisVisa’s Walter Lironi on rebuilding banking for the AI age
SPONSORED - AI, mobile-first consumers and rising fraud risks are transforming the payments industry. Walter Lironi, Visa’s Senior Vice President and Head of…
AB MajlisInvestGate founder Kunal Varma targets GCC’s emerging-affluent investment market
SPONSORED - Kunal Varma, founder and CEO of InvestGate, joins the Arabian Business podcast to explain why he left banking to build his own company, the…
AB MajlisYolk Brands' Steve Flawith on Pickl, Iraq and the road to 1,000 stores
Yolk Brands founder Steve Flawith never planned to own a restaurant. Seven years after launching Pickl from a single outlet in JLT, his Dubai-born business is…
AB MajlisBanking at the speed of business: Why SMEs cannot afford to wait - In conversation with Mashreq's Rajeev Chalisgaonkar
SPONSORED - For SMEs, growth can stall before the business has even properly begun. A delayed bank account, slow payments or limited access to working capital…
AB MajlisInside the modern risk playbook - In conversation with Mashreq's Anuratna Chadha
SPONSORED- For years, risk management in banking was often seen as a defensive function: compliance, controls, audits and regulation. But in a world of cyber…
AB MajlisThe business logic of Spartan races | A chat with Layova Group's Najib Yaacoub
What does an obstacle-course race have to do with juice, coffee and hospitality? In this special episode, in partnership with Spartan Middle East, Justin…
AB MajlisWhat’s next for Dubai real estate? In conversation with Yousuf Fakhruddin
In this episode of AB Majlis, Reporter Nicole Abigael sits down with Yousuf Fakhruddin, CEO and Managing Partner of Fakhruddin Properties, for a conversation…
AB MajlisGrip strength, circadian lighting and the antifragile employee - A chat with FAB's Chief Wellness Officer Diego Carrete
In this episode, Managing Editor Tala Michel Issa sits down with Diego Carrete, First Abu Dhabi Bank’s Chief Wellness Officer, for a deep dive into the future…
AB MajlisInside Million Dollar Listing UAE’s new season - What you didn’t see on TV, according to Ben Bandari and Rami Wahood
Season two of Million Dollar Listing UAE comes with higher stakes and far more pressure. On this episode of AB Majlis, host Tala Michel Issa sits down with…
AB MajlisCan crypto be trusted? | In conversation with Binance's Jessica Walker
SPONSORED - Crypto still faces trust challenges in many markets but how is that changing in the Middle East? In this episode of AB Majlis, Reporter Nicole…
AB MajlisInside the $36bn Biohacking boom | Dave Asprey on Ozempic, 'peaseant food' and why sleep beats every supplement
In this episode of AB Majlis, host Tala Michel Issa, Chief Reporter at Arabian Business, sits down with Dave Asprey – bestselling author, entrepreneur, and…
AB MajlisTrust, technology and the future of audit - A chat with Mashreq's Hasan Ali
SPONSORED As banking becomes increasingly digital, the way institutions manage trust and accountability must evolve. AB Majlis host Tala Michel Issa sits down…
AB MajlisCrypto's biggest week is almost here! Kim Murphy on what to expect at Dubai's Binance Blockchain Week 2025
Dubai is days away from hosting one of the most influential events in global crypto. Binance Blockchain Week returns to the Coca-Cola Arena on December 3 and…
AB MajlisWhat makes a song go viral? CKay talks music, money & the business of Afrobeats
Nigerian hitmaker CKay joins Reporter Nicole Abigael on the latest episode of AB Majlis in Dubai to unpack the storm inside his head and the sound that turned…
AB MajlisInside the burnout epidemic: Addiction, success and recovery with Abdullah Boulad
In this episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business reporter Nicole Abigael sits down with Abdullah Boulad, founder of The Balance Luxury Rehab Clinic, to discuss…
AB MajlisInnovation and brand legacy - In conversation with Hasan Fardan Al Fardan
SPONSORED In this week’s episode of AB Majlis, Tala Michel Issa sits down Hasan Fardan Al Fardan is the CEO of Al Fardan Exchange. From humble beginnings in…
AB MajlisFrom Fujairah to the world - Inside the UAE's most unlikely festival empire | A chat with Snoopy Beats' Tarek Aboudib
In this episode of AB Majlis, host Tala Michel Issa, Chief Reporter at Arabian Business, sits down with Tarek Aboudib, the creative force behind Snoopy Beats…
AB MajlisFollow the money? Steve Bertamini and Mukund Bhatnagar on mortgages, models, & banks without baggage
Gulf banks say they can leapfrog legacy rivals in the AI era — but only if they move faster. In this AB Majlis episode, host Tala Michel Issa (Chief Reporter…
AB MajlisTHE LIST IS LIVE! Inside the Arab world’s most influential people of 2025
Arabian Business has just unveiled its most ambitious ranking yet: the 150 Most Influential Arabs 2025. In this special AB Majlis episode, hosts Nicole Abigael…
AB MajlisCisco's David Meads on how the Gulf outruns the world – and why AI-ready infrastructure decides the future
SPONSORED Why can the UAE and Saudi Arabia adopt cutting-edge tech faster than almost anywhere else? Cisco’s regional chief David Meads joins host Tala Michel…
AB MajlisAlex Zagrebleny wants your building to heal you – and make you rich
SPONSORED What if the next property boom isn’t about sustainability at all, but regeneration — buildings that give back more than they take? In this episode of…
AB MajlisInside Mashreq’s vision to build a digital bank for the future - In conversation with Fernando Morillo
SPONSORED In this episode, Reporter Nicole Abigael sits down with Fernando Morillo, Group Head of Retail Banking at Mashreq, to unpack the bank’s bold digital…
AB MajlisProtecting two lives with one shot - In conversation with Dr. Nawal Al Kaabi
SPONSORED Vaccine hesitancy continues to pose a serious public health challenge, particularly when it comes to maternal immunisation. In the latest episode of…
AB MajlisA Saudi freehold boom is coming and so is the 'return on ego' - A chat with real estate veteran Ziad El Chaar
What happens when the world’s last untapped property giant opens its doors to foreign buyers? In this episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business chief reporter…
AB MajlisNo pain, no gain? Ice baths, new-age therapies and why we pay to suffer in the name of health
What if we told you there's a $5.6 trillion industry built on making people deliberately uncomfortable — and it's projected to hit $8 trillion by 2027? Arabian…
AB MajlisShe went viral on Netflix. Now she's running the deal table: Dubai Bling's Zeina Khoury unfiltered
In this exclusive episode of the AB Majlis podcast, host Tala Michel Issa, Chief Reporter at Arabian Business, sits down with Zeina Khoury, Founder of Zed…
AB MajlisSaygin Yalcin on marketplace economics, viral tools, and going public - Inside SellAnyCar.com's path to IPO
What do license plates, biochemistry, and rocket ships have in common? According to tech entrepreneur Saygin Yalcin, they're all pieces of the puzzle in…
AB MajlisInside UAE's Real Estate Revolution | A Chat with Bayut & dubizzle’s CEO
Host Nicole Abigael, Reporter at Arabian Business, sits down with Haider Ali Khan, CEO of Bayut and dubizzle, and CEO of Dubizzle Group MENA, to explore how…
AB MajlisHow will you get around Dubai when the population hits 4 million? Hala CEO explains their plan
Host Tala Misha Issa, Chief Reporter at Arabian Business, sits down with Khaled Nuseibeh, CEO of Hala, the joint venture between Dubai's Road and Transport…
AB MajlisThe brand that dared to compete with Netflix - Inside Yango Play
In this exclusive episode of AB Majlis, Roman Shimansky, Chief Executive at Yango Play, sits down with host and Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel…
AB MajlisWould you trust AI with your 25-year mortgage? Mashreq's Mohamed Abdel Razek on building trust in tech
SPONSORED Can your bank's AI agent talk to your personal AI agent to handle your finances? Mashreq's technology chief Mohamed Abdel Razek reveals how the UAE's…
AB MajlisIs the UAE winning the global AI race? A conversation with TII"s Dr. Chaouki Kasmi
SPONSORED In this episode of AB Majlis, host Tala Michel Issa, Chief Reporter at Arabian Business, sits down with Dr. Chaouki Kasmi, Chief Innovation Officer…
AB MajlisInside Ras Al Khaimah's economic revolution | A chat with the CEO shaping UAE's next business hub, Ramy Jallad
SPONSORED - In this exclusive episode, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with Ramy Jallad, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone…
AB MajlisDubai real estate's 'Blockbuster' moment? Ainsley Duncombe on why 90% of brokers could vanish in 2 years
In this eye-opening episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa speaks with Ainsley Duncombe, founder of Off Market Listing Dubai…
AB MajlisBehind the rankings - Inside Arabian Business' Dubai 100 power list
Join Arabian Business reporters Tala Michel Issa and Nicole Abigael as they take you behind the scenes of the highly anticipated Dubai 100 power list. Discover…
AB MajlisThe Arabic language barrier keeping AI engineers up at night - A chat with Google's Anthony Nakache
SPONSORED - In this episode, host Tala Misha la Issa sits down with Anthony Nakache, Managing Director of Google MENA, to explore the monumental challenge of…
AB MajlisThe hidden psychology of AI attachment with Marisa Peer
In this episode of AB Majlis, host Nicole Abigael sits down with acclaimed therapist Marissa Peer to explore the emerging phenomenon of human-AI relationships…
AB MajlisWGS Special with e& | Disrupt or become irrelevant - e& capital's Kushal Shah on what VCs really look for
In this World Government Summit special episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa delves into the mindset of modern venture…
AB MajlisA collector's tale: Victor Gastou on the art of collecting men's rings
SPONSORED - In this episode of AB Majlis, Reporter Nicole Abigael sits down with Victor Gastou who takes us on a journey through his late father Yves Gastou’s…
AB MajlisWGS Special with e& | Khalifa Al Shamsi on building the region's next super app empire
In this episode of AB Majlis, e& Life and e& International CEO Khalifa Al Shamsi discusses the technology giant's ambitious plans to create four unicorns by…
AB MajlisWGS Special with e& | Khalid Murshed charts the Middle East's path to $320bn AI economy
In this special edition from the World Government Summit, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with Khaled Murshed, who took the helm as…
AB MajlisWGS Special with e& | Inside the UAE's plan to cut government red tape - In conversation with e& enterprise's Ragy Magdy
In this special edition from the World Government Summit, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with Ragy Magdy, Chief Commercial Officer…
AB MajlisWGS Special with e& | Digital transformation isn't optional, it's existential - A chat with Masood M. Sharif Mahmood
In this World Government Summit special episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with e& UAE CEO Masood M. Sharif…
AB MajlisWGS Special with e& | Inside e&'s 900 AI projects: A conversation with Group CEO Hatem Dowidar
In this special World Government Summit episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business Chief Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with e& Group CEO Hatem Dowidar to…
AB MajlisDubai built premium office spaces, now London's top firms can't resist | A chat with Savills' Toby Hall
What happens when a city reimagines what premium office space can be? In this episode of AB Majlis, Savills Middle East's Head of Commercial Agency Toby Hall…
AB MajlisThe digital health revolution is here - Estonia's health minister Riina Sikuut shows the world how it's done
SPONSORED - In this episode of AB Majlis, host Tala Michel Issa sits down with Estonia's Minister of Health, Riina Sikkut, to explore how the Baltic nation…
AB MajlisFour decades of UAE automotive evolution with Al Masaood's Irfan Tansel
SPONSORED - On this episode with Reporter Nicole Abigael and Irfan Tansel, CEO of Al Masaood, we take an in-depth look at the UAE's evolving automotive…
AB MajlisMeet Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths - The man with a radical plan to kill queues and make airports pleasant again
From a cathedral organist to the CEO of the world's busiest international airport, Paul Griffiths has helped transform Dubai's aviation sector into a $37…
AB MajlisThe cost of financial fraud - In conversation with HSBC's Collin Lobo
SPONSORED - Financial criminals in the Middle East are increasingly exploiting advanced technologies and the region’s economic disparities to orchestrate…
AB MajlisShattering sterotypes: Women leadership, breaking barriers and navigating corporate challenges with Amnah Ajmal
SPONSORED - In this episode of AB Majlis with Reporter Nicole Abigael and Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President of Market Development at Mastercard, we get an…
AB MajlisLab-grown diamonds are winning over luxury consumers - Here's why
What's driving 70% of US engagement ring buyers to choose lab-grown diamonds? Host Tala Michel Issa discusses this shift with industry leaders Nathalie…
AB MajlisRas Al Khaimah's tourism vision: From Jebal Jais accommodations to historic villages with Raki Philips
This episode dives into the future of Ras Al Khaimah with Raki Philips, CEO of RAKTDA, as he unveils the emirate's transformation plan. From the highly…
AB MajlisThe hidden economic engine of investing in culture, according to Dubai Opera’s Paolo Petrocelli
In this episode, Arabian Business Senior Reporter Tala Michel Issa sits down with Paolo Petrocelli, Head of Dubai Opera, for a discussion on the transformation…
AB MajlisTetra Pak's vision for a sustainable F&B future in the Gulf - In conversation with Sonya Kayani
SPONSORED - This episode dives into the evolving landscape of food packaging and sustainability in the Gulf with Tetra Pak, Join us as we explore how one of…
AB MajlisAre you delusional enough? Mindvalley's Vishen Lakhiani on why being unrealistic changes the world
Join Arabian Business Senior Reporter Tala Michel Issa and Mindvalley founder Vishen Lakhiani for a provocative conversation about why being "delusional" might…