This Week In Business

by Arabian Business

Season 1

This Week in Business: Lebanon's bid to win back Gulf capital, Selling Sunset comes to Dubai and LIV Golf goes bankrupt

Can Lebanon win back Gulf investment? Managing Editor Tala Michel Issa and Head of News Tom Evans examine what the country must do to rebuild trust and attract long-term capital. They also discuss how Saudi-backed LIV Golf ended up in Chapter 11 despite billions in funding, why Selling Sunset’s Oppenheim Group is making a multimillion-dollar bet on Dubai and ITP Media Group’s expansion into Asia. Plus, the week’s biggest developments in the Strait of Hormuz. Nominations are now open for the Arabian Business Industry Awards 2026, with 28 categories spanning technology, real estate, finance and enterprise. Entry is free. Submit your nomination at ArabianBusiness.com before September 25.

S1 · E8

Sep 11, 2026

20:22

This Week in Business: LEAP 2026, US-Iran latest and how Gulf money changed European football

In this episode, Tala Michel Issa and Tom Evans unpack a tense week across the Gulf, beginning with the renewed Iran-US exchanges and the risks around the Strait of Hormuz. Tala reports from LEAP 2026 in Riyadh, where sovereign AI, data centres, start-ups and Saudi-built intellectual property dominated the conversation. They also examine Saudi Arabia’s $4bn Adobe partnership, giving more than 27 million people access to premium AI tools. Tala and Tom then discuss The Away Game, Arabian Business’ September cover story on how Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have turned football investments into global businesses and city-building projects. They also round up the UAE’s corporate tax deadline, Qatar’s surge in foreign-owned companies, Thailand’s visa changes, Careem’s rival-order cashback and Dubai’s growing billionaire population. New episodes every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.

S1 · E7

Sep 4, 2026

19:01

This Week in Business: Missiles, millionaires who refuse to retire and the $5,000-a-night train

In this week’s episode, Tala Michel Issa is joined by Justin Harper to discuss the UAE’s brief missile alert, the official response and the commercial fallout from disruption around the Strait of Hormuz. They examine how rerouted shipping, delayed payments and force majeure claims are testing contracts agreed before the conflict, alongside record activity at the DIFC Courts. They also look at Saudi Arabia’s latest business reforms and plans for a UAE luxury train that could launch in 2028. Later in the episode, they discuss BlackBerry’s return to profitability as a software company, why wealthy investors are reconsidering traditional retirement, the risks attached to Dubai’s $100 million trophy homes and the future of LIV Golf following the end of PIF funding. This Week in Business is Arabian Business’ weekly Gulf business debrief, explaining what happened, why it mattered and what to watch next.

S1 · E6

Aug 21, 2026

27:48

This Week in Business: Cold War 2.0, Assad's death sentence and the psychics profiting from war

Is the Strait of Hormuz becoming the frontline of Cold War 2.0? This week, Arabian Business Managing Editor Tala Michel Issa and Head of News Tom Evans examine the proxy battles, new alliances and economic risks emerging around one of the world’s most important trade routes. They also unpack Bashar al-Assad’s death sentence in absentia and what the landmark verdict means for Syria as Gulf investors help finance its reconstruction. Tom explains what the UAE’s corporate tax relief extension means for small businesses and how Abu Dhabi’s investment transformed Manchester, while Tala asks whether Fujairah could be approaching its own economic turning point. Tala also discusses her investigation into online psychics predicting developments in the Iran war, including a widely circulated warning about August 9. She and Tom examine the economy of fear surrounding the conflict and how uncertainty is being monetised through views, followers and paid readings. The episode closes with the homegrown UAE soap company that asked customers to help save its business, one bar at a time.

S1 · E5

Aug 14, 2026

26:20

This Week in Business: Hormuz breakthrough, FIFA's crisis and an inside look at Etihad Rail

In this episode, Head of News Tom Evans and Senior Contributor Justin Harper sit down to discuss the biggest developments from August 3 to August 7, 2026. They break down: Iran and Oman's preliminary agreement on a designated shipping channel in the Strait of Hormuz, and the major structural sticking points that remain. FIFA's humiliating U-turn on its secretive $21 billion commercial spin-off proposal after facing fierce backlash, conflict-of-interest allegations, and boycott threats. The success of the Gulf's oil giants in generating record revenues during recent crude spikes by leveraging strategic bypass pipelines. An inside look at Etihad Rail as it eyes another major milestone with Dubai passenger services coming soon. How the cinema industry has enjoyed a resurgent summer with the success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey. This Week in Business is Arabian Business’ weekly news podcast explaining what happened across the Gulf, why it matters and what to watch next.

S1 · E4

Aug 7, 2026

19:11

This Week in Business: Hormuz, Dubai’s wealth boom and Syria’s next chapter

In this episode, Managing Editor Tala Michel Issa and Head of News Tom Evans sit down to discuss the biggest developments from July 27 to July 31, 2026. They break down: Oman’s Gulf-backed proposal for managing the Strait of Hormuz, the debate over voluntary shipping fees and Trump’s warning of fresh strikes Why Dubai is now home to more than 80,000 millionaires, what DIFC’s growth reveals about the movement of global wealth and what CEO Arif Amiri told Arabian Business The squeeze facing UAE short-term rental owners as bookings fall, competition rises and guests leave decisions until the last minute, with insight from First Class Property Management Syria’s Great Reopening, Arabian Business’ upcoming August cover story, and the Gulf-backed investment reshaping the country’s hotels, ports and tourism sector What Saudi Arabia can learn from recent World Cups, Bahrain’s extraordinary Formula One move to Malaysia and Liverpool’s reported $6 billion valuation How one Dubai property company is using its listings to help rescued cats and dogs find permanent homes, with reporter Justin Harper This Week in Business is Arabian Business’ weekly news podcast explaining what happened across the Gulf, why it matters and what to watch next.

S1 · E3

Jul 31, 2026

24:20

This Week in Business: Bab al-Mandab, Hormuz danger pay and what Burnham’s premiership means for the Gulf

In this episode, Head of News Tom Evans and Managing Editor Tala Michel Issa sit down to discuss the biggest business developments of the week ending July 24, 2026. They break down: - How the Iran conflict expanded across the Gulf, with attacks on civilian infrastructure and a new Houthi threat to Saudi shipping in the Red Sea - Why sailors are being offered as much as 500% more to cross the Strait of Hormuz, and who is making money from the disruption - Dubai’s AED3,000 visitor rewards campaign, Sharjah’s tourism support measures and the business of keeping summer demand moving - The UAE’s latest infrastructure and energy investments, from Etihad Rail and Fujairah’s port expansion to ADNOC’s $6.2 billion gas project - Why Andy Burnham’s first moves in Downing Street have put Gulf investors on alert over wealth, property and capital taxes This Week in Business is Arabian Business’ weekly podcast explaining what happened across the Gulf, why it matters and what to watch next.

S1 · E2

Jul 24, 2026

25:06

This Week in Business: Hormuz, Trump and the deals defying the Gulf crisis

In this episode, Head of News Tom Evans and Managing Editor Tala Michel Issa sit down to discuss the biggest business developments from July 13 to July 17, 2026. They unpack: * Trump’s Hormuz U-turn, Gulf airspace warnings and the wider cost of regional uncertainty * Why Gulf job openings fell 3%, Qatar was hit hardest and Saudi Arabia continued to grow * The UAE’s global energy and trade ambitions, from ADNOC’s South Africa deal to its $1tn non-oil target * What an Andy Burnham premiership could mean for Gulf investment, tax, defence and wealth migration * Saudi infrastructure investment, Burjeel’s $500m London sukuk, Revolut’s UAE crypto plans and Dubai’s record AED17m palace lease This Week in Business is Arabian Business’ weekly podcast explaining what happened across the Gulf, why it matters and what to watch next.

S1 · E1

Jul 17, 2026

19:09

This Week in Business: US-Saudi nuclear deal, Lebanon-Gulf relations and the latest on Hormuz

In this episode, Arabian Business Managing Editor Tala Michel Issa and Senior Contributor Justin Harper break down the biggest stories from across the region this week. This week, Tala and Justin break down: Strait of Hormuz talks as Iran and Oman work on a shipping corridor deal US officially removes Syria from terrorism list Saudi Arabia-US nuclear deal sent to Congress UAE schools reopen with AI training, digital learning changes and no homework for younger pupils Gulf support returns to Lebanon, but security and IMF reforms remain key Saudi HUMAIN unveils plans for an AI laptop built around user intent Saudi Arabia backs €6bn Dragon Ball theme park project near Paris Abu Dhabi’s Lulu Island moves closer to major redevelopment This Week in Business is Arabian Business’ weekly roundup of the key developments shaping business, politics and investment across the region. New episodes every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.

Aug 28, 2026

23:28