This week on Business Extra, Kelsey Warner talks to Sudhir Syal, chief executive of BookMyShow Middle East, and Naji Al Haddad, managing director of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry for Middle East and Africa about how Covid-19 changed the events and exhibitions industry for the foreseeable future. In this episode: How important is the events and exhibitions industry for the UAE economy? (1m 20s) The impacts of Covid-19 on in-person events (3m 44s) Role of technology in events and exhibitions (8m 20s) Will mobile tech in events last even after the pandemic? (11m 07s) The recovery of the events and exhibition industry (13m 16s) Read more on our website: • Abu Dhabi's flagship sustainability event to be held online in 2021 (https://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/abu-dhabi-s-flagship-sustainability-event-to-be-held-online-in-2021-1.1075227) • Abu Dhabi's flagship energy event Adipec to be held virtually in 2020 (https://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/abu-dhabi-s-flagship-energy-event-adipec-to-be-held-virtually-in-2020-1.1053563) • Physical catwalk shows to return for London Fashion Week (https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/fashion/physical-catwalk-shows-to-return-for-london-fashion-week-1.1073166)

Business Extra

How in-person events can stage a comeback

Kelsey Warner and Mustafa Alwari talk to Pure Harvest’s Sky Kurtz and Dibba Bay Oysters’ Ramie Murray about opportunities for homegrown start-ups, food security and agricultural innovation in the UAE. In this episode: Dibba Bay and Pure Harvest (0m 39s) Oyster Farming in UAE (1m 31s) Expansion during the pandemic (4m 04s) Food security in the Gulf and the farm to table dream (8m 17s) Keeping food fresh sustainably (14m 42s) Headlines (19m 27s) Read more on our website: • Investcorp and China Resources take majority stake in Hong Kong food retailer (https://www.thenational.ae/business/banking/investcorp-and-china-resources-take-majority-stake-in-hong-kong-food-retailer-1.1074460) • Riyadh and Moscow reaffirm Opec+ role in oil market stability (https://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/riyadh-and-moscow-reaffirm-opec-role-in-oil-market-stability-1.1074205) • Kaspersky lowers growth outlook due to Covid-19 (https://www.thenational.ae/business/technology/kaspersky-lowers-growth-outlook-due-to-covid-19-1.1073866)

Farming UAE vegetables and shellfish during the pandemic

Leon Black on $5.5 billion Adnoc deal

After 15 years of working with Fortune 500 companies, governments and start-ups, Scott Smith says anyone can make sense of this age of uncertainty and act.  Host Kelsey Warner speaks to the futurist, founder of Changeist and author of How to Future: Leading and Sense-making in an Age of Hyperchange about how he maps the future. To future is a verb, not a noun. And in a year like 2020, futuring has never been more important. If futuring is something we can all do, all the time, what does that look like and how can it help us in an epochal year?   In this episode: What does a futurist do? (1m 20s) Where does future obsession come from? (2m 36s) Tools to mapping a future? (3m 40s) How does Scott Smith filter information? (19m 19s) "Bring a post it to a database fight". AI and big data (11m 40s) The best ways to communicate the results (14m 40s) Read more on our website: • Zoom’s Q2 net profit eclipses 2019 earnings as revenue surges (https://www.thenational.ae/business/technology/zoom-s-q2-net-profit-eclipses-2019-earnings-as-revenue-surges-1.1071171) • Global air cargo demand in July stable but below 2019 levels, Iata says (https://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/global-air-cargo-demand-in-july-stable-but-below-2019-levels-iata-says-1.1071127) • Rising odds of a Donald Trump win: investors should prepare, says JPMorgan (https://www.thenational.ae/business/markets/rising-odds-of-a-donald-trump-win-investors-should-prepare-says-jpmorgan-1.1071129) • Facebook threatens to block people and publishers in Australia from sharing news (https://www.thenational.ae/business/technology/facebook-threatens-to-block-people-and-publishers-in-australia-from-sharing-news-1.1071066)

How to future in a world of hyperchange

This week, Mustafa Alrawi and Kelsey Warner talk to Fadi Adra, a partner with Strategy&, on the impact assessment his team did to help route aid to those most in need in Beirut. In this episode: The Strategy& impact assessment (0m 51s) What are the urgent needs in Beirut? (5m 05s) What do the numbers tell us about progress? (8m 40s) How did Covid affect Lebanon after the blast? (11m 21s) How are surveys helping? (13m 00s) NGO's and crisis consultation (15m 13s) Private sectors and Lebanon's rise (16m 58s) Commercial competition in space (20m 30s) Headlines (22m 20s) Read more on our website: • Two planes loaded with 30 tonnes of aid leave Dubai for Beirut (https://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/two-planes-loaded-with-30-tonnes-of-aid-leave-dubai-for-beirut-1.1066982) • After Beirut blast, Tripoli hopes for a long-awaited economic boost (https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/after-beirut-blast-tripoli-hopes-for-a-long-awaited-economic-boost-1.1067445) • Kuwait ready to rebuild Beirut port's shattered wheat silos (https://www.thenational.ae/world/gcc/kuwait-ready-to-rebuild-beirut-port-s-shattered-wheat-silos-1.1067138) • US and China make progress on phase one trade deal (https://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/us-and-china-make-progress-on-phase-one-trade-deal-1.1068097) • Qantas plans to shed another 2,500 jobs with outsourcing of ground handling in Australia (https://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/qantas-plans-to-shed-another-2-500-jobs-with-outsourcing-of-ground-handling-in-australia-1.1067999) • Aldar targets 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across assets by 2025 (https://www.thenational.ae/business/aldar-targets-20-reduction-in-greenhouse-gas-emissions-across-assets-by-2025-1.1067354)

What it will take to rebuild a shattered Beirut

The chief financial and sustainability officer is optimistic for signs of recovery by year-end. Greg Fewer, Aldar’s chief financial and sustainability officer, joins host Kelsey Warner to talk about financial results from an unprecedented second quarter. They discuss what Abu Dhabi’s biggest developer and asset manager did to manage losses at the peak of shutdown measures, and how it plans to sustain and grow in the months to come. Also in this episode, Mr Fewer shares his outlook for real estate, what sustainability means to a publicly listed company in 2020 and why Aldar is now accepting credit cards for rental payments. In this episode: How Aldar got through Q2 (0m 38s) Flexibility for tenants (6m 32s) How is Aldar moving with the times? (13m 39s) Aldar and sustainability (19m 19s) Headlines (22m 48s) Read more on our website: • Aldar Properties Q2 net profit jumps 2% on higher revenue (https://www.thenational.ae/business/property/aldar-properties-q2-net-profit-jumps-2-on-higher-revenue-1.1062990) • Aldar to allow customers to pay rent by credit card (https://www.thenational.ae/business/property/aldar-to-allow-customers-to-pay-rent-by-credit-card-1.1064770) • ADQ joins forces with Adio to grow Abu Dhabi’s start-up ecosystem (https://www.thenational.ae/business/adq-joins-forces-with-adio-to-grow-abu-dhabi-s-start-up-ecosystem-1.1065082) • Oracle enters race to purchase TikTok’s US business (https://www.thenational.ae/business/technology/oracle-enters-race-to-purchase-tiktok-s-us-business-1.1065133) • BR Shetty resigns as director and co-chairman of Finablr (https://www.thenational.ae/business/br-shetty-resigns-as-director-and-co-chairman-of-finablr-1.1064693)

Aldar’s Greg Fewer is optimistic for signs of recovery by year-end

This week, Nassib Ghobril, head of economic research at Lebanon’s Byblos Bank, and Massoud Derhally, The National's business editor, join host Kelsey Warner to discuss Lebanon's precarious economic future. In this episode: Hassan Diab's resignation (0m 5s) Nassib Ghobril on Lebanon's economic status (1m 13s) Lebanon since the civil war (4m 17s) IMF bailout for Lebanon (6m 39s) The new government and the financial system (12m 31s) What can we expect this year for Lebanon? (16m 09s) Read more on our website: • Beirut explosion to deepen Lebanon's economic contraction to 24%, IIF says (https://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/beirut-explosion-to-deepen-lebanon-s-economic-contraction-to-24-iif-says-1.1061929) • Lebanon's Solidere stocks fluctuate as Beirut bourse resumes trading after explosion (https://www.thenational.ae/business/markets/lebanon-s-solidere-stocks-fluctuate-as-beirut-bourse-resumes-trading-after-explosion-1.1061818) • UN food chief: Beirut could run out of bread in under three weeks (https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/un-food-chief-beirut-could-run-out-of-bread-in-under-three-weeks-1.1062053)

How Lebanon's economy went 'beyond the brink'

On this special edition of Business Extra, Kelsey Warner talks to Mohamed Al Hammadi, chief executive of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, about the Barakah nuclear power station and UAE’s nuclear energy ambitions. In this episode: On the moment Unit 1 powered on (0m 47s) How nuclear energy fits into the UAE's Energy Strategy 2050 (3m 41s) When Units 2, 3 and 4 will be ready (6m 23s) Building a local team and community in Al Dhafra (8m 47s) Lessons in leadership during Covid-19 (13m 39s) Future of nuclear energy (16m 55s) Read more on our website: • Barakah Nuclear Power Station: Energy today for UAE's tomorrows (https://www.thenational.ae/uae/barakah-nuclear-power-station-energy-today-for-uae-s-tomorrows-1.1057611) • UAE becomes first Arab nation to produce nuclear energy (https://www.thenational.ae/uae/uae-becomes-first-arab-nation-to-produce-nuclear-energy-1.1057355) • Barakah: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed visits Arab world's first nuclear plant (https://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/barakah-sheikh-mohamed-bin-zayed-visits-arab-world-s-first-nuclear-plant-1.1032316)

Business Extra Special: ENEC’s Mohamed Al Hammadi on UAE’s nuclear energy ambitions

New research from Microsoft found that the expectation of the 9 to 5 is starting to slip away amid the global shift to remote work. The US tech company, which owns email service Outlook and event manager Calendar, as well as LinkedIn and search engine Bing, has one of the biggest data sets on who we are and what we do at work. It mined its trillions of data points based on emails, meetings, searches and posts to come up with its Work Trends Index. To discuss the company's findings, host Kelsey Warner is joined by Naim Yazbeck, a director for Microsoft UAE. They talk about who is being most affected by the WFH experiment, a surprising uptick in a specific emotion - empathy - and how to avoid burnout. In this episode: What have we learned from working from home? (0m 34s) Which generation finds WFH the most challenging? (8m 52s) Headlines (16m 34s) Read more on our website: • Eight in 10 people expect flexible work from home policies post Covid-19, Microsoft survey finds (https://www.thenational.ae/business/technology/eight-in-10-people-expect-flexible-work-from-home-policies-post-covid-19-microsoft-survey-finds-1.1047213) • How the pandemic is reshaping work-life balance (https://www.thenational.ae/business/how-the-pandemic-is-reshaping-work-life-balance-1.1057406) • Eight in 10 people in UAE will work remotely after Covid-19, says report (https://www.thenational.ae/business/technology/eight-in-10-people-in-uae-will-work-remotely-after-covid-19-says-report-1.1038520) • Adnoc's logistics subsidiary eyes smart growth opportunities following shipping JV, CEO says (https://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/adnoc-s-logistics-subsidiary-eyes-smart-growth-opportunities-following-shipping-jv-ceo-says-1.1058662) • Virgin Galactic delays Richard Branson flight to space and plans new share sale (https://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/virgin-galactic-delays-richard-branson-flight-to-space-and-plans-new-share-sale-1.1058660) • HSBC profit plunges as loan loss provisions soar on Covid-19 (https://www.thenational.ae/business/banking/hsbc-profit-plunges-as-loan-loss-provisions-soar-on-covid-19-1.1058134)

Microsoft finds the 9 to 5 work day is fading away

This week, The National's Editor-in-Chief, Mina Al-Oraibi, talks to Mustafa Alrawi about her interview with the International Energy Agency's executive director Dr Fatih Birol regarding efforts to diversify and reform Iraq's economy. In this episode: Mina on Iraq's future (0m 30s) Dr Fatih Birol about the investment environment in Iraq (4m 20s) Gas flaring and Iraq's government (5m 35s) Headlines (14m 25s) Read more on our website: • Energy and legal framework reforms will usher stability into Iraq, IEA chief says (https://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/energy-and-legal-framework-reforms-will-usher-stability-into-iraq-iea-chief-says-1.1055231) • Gold hits record high as haven demand rises and dollar slips (https://www.thenational.ae/business/markets/gold-hits-record-high-as-haven-demand-rises-and-dollar-slips-1.1055030) • DP World expands with 60% stake in South Korea's Unico amid pandemic-induced volume drop (https://www.thenational.ae/business/dp-world-expands-with-60-stake-in-south-korea-s-unico-amid-pandemic-induced-volume-drop-1.1055132) • 'Groundswell of interest' among ESG investors in disability rights (https://www.thenational.ae/business/groundswell-of-interest-among-esg-investors-in-disability-rights-1.1054785)

IEA’s Fatih Birol on the opportunities for Iraq's economy

It seems that despite the market volatility caused by the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic that many sovereign wealth funds had learned the lesson of the last financial crisis and were nimble enough and cash-heavy enough to seize the opportunities out there. On this week's episode, Mustafa Alrawi and Kelsey Warner talk to Zainab Kufaishi, head of Middle East and Africa at Invesco. In this episode: Intro (0m 08s) Zainab Kufaishi on Invesco's annual global sovereign asset management study (1m 11s) How are sovereign funds investing now? (3m 42s) What is a good investment opportunity? (11m 04s) Headlines (19m 54s) Read more on our website: • Middle East sovereign funds go bargain hunting as pandemic hits asset values (https://www.thenational.ae/business/markets/middle-east-sovereign-funds-go-bargain-hunting-as-pandemic-hits-asset-values-1.1051977) • Siemens Energy to invest more in renewables, CEO says (https://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/siemens-energy-to-invest-more-in-renewables-ceo-says-1.1052073) • Mubadala's aerospace unit seeks opportunities in health technology (https://www.thenational.ae/business/mubadala-s-aerospace-unit-seeks-opportunities-in-health-technology-1.1051460) • Global giants Microsoft, Nike and Unilever announce carbon-neutral group (https://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/global-giants-microsoft-nike-and-unilever-announce-carbon-neutral-group-1.1052220)

Sovereign wealth funds hunt for opportunity amid Covid-19 crisis

This week, hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Kelsey Warner discuss a third wave of economic stimulus for Dubai as signs of a rebound in commercial activity emerge and the emirate pushes to return business to normal as soon as possible.   In a new book, the World Economic Forum's founder Klaus Schwab asks if there can even be a return to normal as the pandemic reveals a collective desire for change. Haider Ali Khan, chief executive of property portal Bayut, joins to talk about the company's future plans. In this episode: Dubai's new economic stimulus (0m 40s) Covid-19: The great reset (7m 01s) Bayut x Dubizzle merger (12m 13s) Read more on our website: • Dubai government boosts economic stimulus to Dh6.3bn (https://www.thenational.ae/business/dubai-government-boosts-economic-stimulus-to-dh6-3bn-1.1047520) • Coronavirus: world 'must reset or risk violent shocks', says Davos founder (https://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/coronavirus-world-must-reset-or-risk-violent-shocks-says-davos-founder-1.1048215) • Tie-up of Bayut parent company and OLX testament to Dubai’s resilience (https://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/tie-up-of-bayut-parent-company-and-olx-testament-to-dubai-s-resilience-1.1027998) • Google to invest $10bn in India to accelerate digital economy (https://www.thenational.ae/business/technology/google-to-invest-10bn-in-india-to-accelerate-digital-economy-1.1048640) • Emirates to slash up to 9,000 jobs due to Covid-19 but airline better off than others (https://www.thenational.ae/business/aviation/emirates-to-slash-up-to-9-000-jobs-due-to-covid-19-but-airline-better-off-than-others-president-says-1.1048025) • Neom moves forward with second batch of payments to property owners (https://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/neom-moves-forward-with-second-batch-of-payments-to-property-owners-1.1048601)

Economic stimulus in Dubai to get business back to normal

For Google, it’s what you search for, what you watch on YouTube, the directions you prompt in Google Maps, that make it one of the biggest advertising juggernauts on Earth. Selling advertising spots across these channels made up 82% of Google parent company Alphabet’s first quarter revenue this year, $33.8 billion.  While advertisers are expected to have spent less in Q2 amid the Covid-19 pandemic, analysts say the world jumped five years ahead in tech adoption in just 8 weeks as we moved to remote working and learning. That’s good news for Google. In the words of Lino Cattaruzzi, Google’s regional director in the Middle East and Africa, “online became a lifeline”. On this week's edition of Business Extra, Kelsey Warner and Mustafa Alrawi talk to Lino about everything Google. In this episode: Intro (0m 06s) Google's role in a recovery (1m 08s) The relationship between business and user data insights (9m 21s) What is it like working remotely at Google? (17m 43s)

Google’s Lino Cattaruzzi on how ‘online became a lifeline’

How will we fly again? That is the question as the UAE and other countries in the Middle East grapple with loosening Covid-19 related travel restrictions. Airlines have been in survival mode these past few months. Now they must take to the skies again… This week, Mustafa Alrawi and Kelsey Warner talk to Muhammad Albakri, VP Africa & Middle East at the International Air Transport Association, about the future of flying. In this episode: Muhammad Albakri on the future of air travel (0m 43s) Will air travel be affordable again? (12m 26s) Headlines (23m 23s) Read more on our website: • Global airlines body outlines alternatives to quarantine (https://www.thenational.ae/business/travel-and-tourism/global-airlines-body-outlines-alternatives-to-quarantine-1.1039016) • Global long-haul air travel unlikely to recover to pre-crisis levels before 2023 (https://www.thenational.ae/business/global-long-haul-air-travel-unlikely-to-recover-to-pre-crisis-levels-before-2023-1.1034574) • Iata's interactive travel map shows which countries are open and where flights are operating (https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/travel/iata-s-interactive-travel-map-shows-which-countries-are-open-and-where-flights-are-operating-1.1033217) • Chesapeake files for bankruptcy as collapse in energy prices bites (https://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/chesapeake-files-for-bankruptcy-as-collapse-in-energy-prices-bites-1.1040939) • A merged NCB-Samba bank would be Saudi Arabia's biggest lender 'by some way', says EFG Hermes (https://www.thenational.ae/business/a-merged-ncb-samba-bank-would-be-saudi-arabia-s-biggest-lender-by-some-way-says-efg-hermes-1.1040393) • Mark Zuckerberg's wealth plunges by $7bn as companies boycott Facebook ads (https://www.thenational.ae/business/technology/mark-zuckerberg-s-wealth-plunges-by-7bn-as-companies-boycott-facebook-ads-1.1039900) • Here is the growing list of companies boycotting Facebook (https://www.thenational.ae/business/technology/here-is-the-growing-list-of-companies-boycotting-facebook-1.1041475)

Iata’s Muhammad Albakri on Middle East airlines and how we will risk losing them

Can there be winners in a global pandemic? For people, certainly not. But businesses can tell a different story - and Amazon is certainly one. With more customers at home and shopping online, Amazon’s e-commerce sales are booming. Remote work has also boosted demand for its cloud computing services - which accounted for three-quarters of its operating profit in the first quarter, with AWS holding about a third of global market share, trouncing its nearest competitor, Microsoft. Host Kelsey Warner is joined this week by Ronaldo Mouchawar, VP of Amazon Mena, to talk about navigating the Covid-19 pandemic amid record demand. In this episode: Will Coronavirus make Jeff Bezos a trillionaire? (0m 07s) Ronaldo Mouchawar on demand during Covid-19 (1m 12s) Headlines (17m 52s) Read more on our website: • Amazon Mena increases workforce by 30% to meet demand (https://www.thenational.ae/business/technology/amazon-mena-increases-workforce-by-30-to-meet-demand-1.1022723) • Adnoc CFO says previous pipelines deal served as springboard for record $20bn valuation (https://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/adnoc-cfo-says-previous-pipelines-deal-served-as-springboard-for-record-20bn-valuation-1.1037777) • Record $20.7bn investment deal for Adnoc's gas pipelines (https://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/record-20-7bn-investment-deal-for-adnoc-s-gas-pipelines-1.1037773) • Adnoc's $10 billion windfall shows 'UAE attractive as top FDI destination amid pandemic' (https://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/adnoc-s-10-billion-windfall-shows-uae-attractive-as-top-fdi-destination-amid-pandemic-1.1037780) • Former Abraaj executive Vettivetpillai consents to US extradition (https://www.thenational.ae/business/banking/former-abraaj-executive-vettivetpillai-consents-to-us-extradition-1.1037560)

Amazon’s Ronaldo Mouchawar on charting growth in a crisis

As one of the world's most influential business hubs, the Middle East requires expert attention. Business Extra provides those experts, as well as news and insights from The National's esteemed team of business editors and reporters, who are on top of the markets, technology, the energy sector and more.

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