AB Majlis

by Arabian Business

Season 8

Visa’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 Value Added Services for Central Europe, the Middle East and Africa, joins AB Majlis to discuss how banks can modernise ageing systems, embrace AI and deliver faster, safer and more personalised digital experiences. This episode is sponsored by Visa.

S8 · E8

Sep 9, 2026

23:59

InvestGate 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 opportunity he sees among the GCC’s emerging affluent and what it takes to create a regulated regional investment platform. We also discuss why he believes the Gulf’s financial-services market is ready for change—and what comes next for InvestGate.

S8 · E7

Aug 31, 2026

24:37

Yolk 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 operating across multiple markets, preparing to enter Iraq and pursuing an ambition of 1,000 stores globally. In this episode of AB Majlis, Arabian Business reporter Nicole Abigael sits down with Flawith to discuss why Gulf-born restaurant brands are increasingly becoming exporters rather than importers, the $10 million Yolk Brands has invested in building its international operation and what it takes to make a homegrown concept travel. They also discuss Saudi Arabia, delivery economics, social media, choosing franchise partners, why Yolk has rejected more than 1,000 prospective partners and whether an IPO could eventually be on the table.

S8 · E6

Aug 25, 2026

35:35

Banking 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 can affect hiring, supplier relationships and the ability to enter the market quickly. In this episode of AB Majlis, Reporter Nicole Abigael speaks with Rajeev Chalisgaonkar, Head of Business Banking and NEO BIZ at Mashreq, about the changing demands of SME banking in the UAE. The conversation looks at why speed-to-market has become critical for founders, how digital onboarding and eKYC are changing business account opening and why cashflow, resilience and operational efficiency are now central to SME survival. They also discuss Mashreq NEO BIZ’s One-Day Service Promise for eligible business customers, the role of banks beyond lending and payments, and what entrepreneurs should expect from their financial partners as they build and scale.

S8 · E5

Jul 8, 2026

33:18

Inside 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 threats, fraud risks, geopolitical volatility, supply chain shocks and rapid technological disruption, that view is starting to change. In this episode, Reporter Nicole Abigael sits down with Anuratna Chadha, Group Chief Risk Officer at Mashreq to explore how banks can move beyond checkbox compliance and turn risk intelligence into a strategic advantage. The conversation looks at what operational resilience really means for banks today, why cyber security and fraud prevention have become boardroom issues, how technology is reshaping risk management, and why the institutions that recover fastest from disruption may also be the ones best placed to compete. At its core, this is a conversation about the new business of resilience: how banks prepare for the unexpected, protect trust, and build systems that can keep moving even when the world around them becomes more volatile.

S8 · E4

Jun 29, 2026

29:44

The 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 Harper, Senior Contributor at Arabian Business and Editor of CEO Middle East, speaks to Najib Yaacoub, Chief Operating Officer of Lavoya Restaurants Group, about why Joe & The Juice has teamed up with Spartan in the UAE. The episode comes ahead of Spartan City at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, June 13, 2026, featuring a 3K Open Race and a 1-3K Kids Race. The conversation looks at the rise of the UAE’s fitness and wellness economy, the power of community-led brands, and why businesses are increasingly expected to do more than simply sell a product. From active lifestyles and healthier choices to resilience, discipline and scaling a fast-growing hospitality business, this episode explores how Spartan’s obstacle-course mindset is finding its way into boardrooms, brands and everyday life. For anyone who has ever wondered whether fitness is becoming a business strategy, this one is for you.

S8 · E3

Jun 11, 2026

18:05

What’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 on Dubai’s evolving real estate market, investor confidence and the shift toward sustainability and wellness-led development. Yousuf discusses how Dubai’s property sector continues to show resilience amid regional uncertainty, supported by the UAE’s infrastructure, safety, regulation and long-term planning. He also examines how buyer behaviour is changing as investors and residents become more selective in a maturing market. The conversation explores the rise of wellness as a real estate driver, moving beyond traditional amenities such as gyms and pools toward homes and communities built around healthier everyday living, energy efficiency, smart systems, green spaces, air quality and long-term wellbeing. Yousuf also discusses why sustainability must become measurable for developers, how technology is changing buyer expectations and whether Dubai’s next real estate cycle will be led by scale, quality or a deeper focus on liveability.

S8 · E2

May 25, 2026

19:44

Grip 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 of workplace wellness. Diego unpacks what biological resilience and antifragility really mean in a high-pressure corporate world, why modern offices often work against our biology, and how small environmental and behavioral changes — from circadian lighting and posture to setting boundaries — can dramatically improve performance and longevity. They discuss the hidden costs of hustle culture and 90,000 work hours, the power of grip strength and VO2 max as longevity predictors, the pitfalls of over-relying on wearables, and why companies that truly invest in human capital will gain a massive competitive edge. A thought-provoking conversation packed with practical insights for anyone feeling the strain of modern work life. Whether you’re an employee, leader, or simply interested in optimizing health and performance, this episode will shift how you think about wellness at work.

S8 · E1

May 21, 2026

39:09

Season 7

Inside 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 real estate veterans and reality TV stars Ben Bandari and Rami Wahood to talk candidly about what really changed this season - on screen and off. From bigger properties and larger deals to heightened drama and personal risk, the pair reveal how the pressure intensified, why season two felt different, and what it’s actually like watching yourself on TV. Rami opens up about showing a more vulnerable side this time around, while Ben reflects on the personal stakes behind the scenes. With Dubai’s identity deeply tied to real estate, the conversation goes beyond reality TV to explore ambition, nerves, reputation, personal branding, and what it takes to survive in one of the world’s fastest-growing and most competitive property markets. The new season of Million Dollar Listing UAE can be watched on STARZPLAY.

S7 · E12

Dec 29, 2025

29:46

Can crypto be trusted? | In conversation with Binance's Jessica Walker

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 Abigael sits down with Jessical Walker from Binance in a dive deep into the evolving crypto landscape with a focus on education, regulation and community building. The episode explores how Binance approaches communication without overwhelming newcomers, what crypto stories resonate most in the region and how public perception has shifted over the past few years. From engaging with regulators in the UAE to correcting common misconceptions, we discuss the strategies shaping long-term trust between platforms and users. We also look ahead to 2026, exploring the trends and conversations that excite the crypto community.

S7 · E11

Dec 22, 2025

14:35

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