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Business Extra

The National News
UAE
Saudi Arabia
Middle East
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media
Sustainability
Jordan
Tiktok
Syria
Electric Vehicles
Climate Change
Donald Trump
Lyvely
Foreign Investment
Danube Group
Business Economy
Energy Security
Oil Prices
Syrian Pound
Dubai

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes439Founded10 years ago
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BusinessEntrepreneurshipInvesting

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Latest Episodes

The financial cost of the Iran war is becoming clearer as according to the latest study by the Institute for Economics and Peace, the conflict is costing the global economy $2.2 trillion in annual GDP.

The US alone had spent $25 billion within two m... more

The 2026 Fifa World Cup was supposed to be a record-breaking economic windfall for the United States. But as the tournament gets under way, the numbers reveal a more complicated story.

Top-tier tickets for the final are going for more than $10,000, ... more

Small and middle-sized companies (SMEs) make up more than 95 per cent of businesses in the UAE and contribute more than 60 per cent of the country’s non-oil GDP. But despite that, the UAE still has relatively few SMEs growing up to become large priva... more

Syria is becoming part of the economic conversation again.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a lot of talk about investment and reconstruction, from the first Syrian-Emirati Investment Forum to upcoming business events in Damascus for the priv... more

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Recent Guests

Steve Killelea
Founder and Executive Chairman, Institute for Economics and Peace
Institute for Economics and Peace
Episode: The $2.2 trillion question: What if the Iran War never happened?
Victor Matheson
Professor of sports economics at the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
Episode: World Cup economics: Ticket prices, tourism and visa restrictions
Karolos Travassaros
Chief Portfolio Officer at the Emirates Growth Fund
Emirates Growth Fund
Episode: Why so few UAE SMEs become major companies
Jen Blandos
CEO and founder of Female Fusion, UAE-based community of women entrepreneurs
Female Fusion
Episode: Why so few UAE SMEs become major companies
Jamal Almahamid
CEO of Palmira Software House
Palmira Software House
Episode: Syria’s investment boom: Real opportunity or political mirage?
Amena Bakr
Head of Middle East and Opec Plus Insights at Kepler
Kepler
Episode: Is the UAE's exit the beginning of the end for Opec?
Marc Domenech
VP of Enterprise at Nvidia, Middle East, North Africa and South Europe
Nvidia
Episode: How the UAE's Aleria is partnering with Nvidia to own its AI future
Paul Bloch
Co-founder of data intelligence platform DDN
DDN
Episode: How the UAE's Aleria is partnering with Nvidia to own its AI future
Eric Leandri
CEO of Aleria
Aleria
Episode: How the UAE's Aleria is partnering with Nvidia to own its AI future

Host

Salim A. Essaid
Host and producer; long-standing lead voice on energy, policy, and macro topics.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 36 ratings
  • How to get in touch?

    Hey guys, big fan here. How do I get in touch with the podcast team for a chance to get featured?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Raha.mhjr
    United Arab Emirates6 years ago
  • Keep it up 👍

    Great topics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MajidTarish
    United States9 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some episodes balance on-the-ground reporting with macroanalysis.
Guests are typically leading voices in energy, policy, and tech.
Listeners appreciate the practical market context and expert guest lineup.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The $2.2 trillion question: What if the Iran War never happened?
Q: What does investing in peace look like in practical terms, like where do you put the money?
Investing in peace means funding diplomatic efforts, international coalitions, developmental aid in fragile regions, and peacekeeping where needed—aimed at preventing violent competition and creating conditions for peaceful resolution.
World Cup economics: Ticket prices, tourism and visa restrictions
Q: What are the downstream effects on local economies when regular tourism is crowded out?
Local restaurants, sports bars near hotels, and certain retail sectors may see mixed outcomes; while some niches benefit from influx of visitors, overall hotel occupancy and non-sports tourism can suffer if mega-event-focused demand crowds out regular activity.
World Cup economics: Ticket prices, tourism and visa restrictions
Q: How do ticket prices compare to past World Cups and other mega-events?
Prices for premier games have risen dramatically due to dynamic pricing and market demand, with final tickets and group-stage tickets far above inflation-adjusted historical levels; this contrasts with some past mega-events where more fans could participate affordably.
World Cup economics: Ticket prices, tourism and visa restrictions
Q: Why is affordability such a major concern heading into this World Cup?
Ticket prices have surged and are not aligned with average tourism budgets, while the event's costs and travel logistics make it difficult for many fans to attend, challenging the traditional tourism boom associated with mega-events.
Why so few UAE SMEs become major companies
Q: What happens to GDP if we don't support these mid-sized firms and what does success look like five years from now?
Mid-sized firms act as the backbone of the economy with high multiplier effects; success would be a portfolio of UAE companies that are national champions or on that path, deeply embedded in the ecosystem, exporting and integrating with government buyers, and significantly expanding in size and impact.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Business Extra

What is Business Extra about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A business-focused dialogue hub that features energy markets, macroeconomics, technology adoption, and regional Gulf dynamics. Episodes frequently dissect OPEC, sovereign AI initiatives, UAE property and job markets, energy security, and global policy shocks, often with guests from energy firms, think tanks, and major media outlets. Notable strengths include a steady stream of high-profile regional voices, practical use-case discussions of AI and energy transition, and real-time market context from on-the-ground reporters. The format tends to balance macro analysis with actionable insights for professionals in investment, corporate strategy, and policy, making it a compelling listen for executives and analysts tracking the Middle East's inf... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Business Extra?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Business Extra:

1. Unhedged
2. World Business Report
3. FT News Briefing
4. Business Daily
5. Reuters World News

How many episodes of Business Extra are there?

Business Extra launched 10 years ago and published 439 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Business Extra?

Recent guests on Business Extra include:

1. Steve Killelea
2. Victor Matheson
3. Karolos Travassaros
4. Jen Blandos
5. Jamal Almahamid
6. Amena Bakr
7. Marc Domenech
8. Paul Bloch

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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