Latest Audio

Gitex 2012 has opened at the Dubai World Trade Centre with more than 3,500 companies participating in one of the world's largest technology events. Phil Blizzard reports from this year's show, talking to experts - looking at trends and concerns for the IT & Telecoms sectors, as well as previewing the ITU Telecom World 2012, the SME Zone and 'Africa in Focus'.

Audio: In part two of Executive Views David Thompson, COO, JA Resorts talks to Phil Blizzard about their post branding developments which will include the opening of their first overseas resort, in the Seychelles, as well as a four storey hotel in JBR, Dubai.

Audio: A joint survey on 'mobile workstyles' from Citrix and YouGov, released ahead of this year's Gitex Technology Week, highlights that companies are missing the opportunity to attract and motivate staff by offering a flexible working environment. Currently 46% of employees surveyed reported their companies are equipping staff with the technology to access data remotely and almost one in ten (9%) actively offer a policy known as BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) in the workplace - though 54% of employees in full or part time employment are free to have their own devices at work, in half of these cases IT support is limited only to company-issue equipment. Steven Bond spoke Noman Qadir, Citrix's Regional Director for Middle East and Africa, on day one of Gitex about BYOD and desktop virtualisation trends in the region.

Audio: In a rare visit to Dubai the Chairman, British Airways, Sir Martin Broughton talks to Phil Blizzard about their heritage in the region and the newly formed Oneworld alliance with Qatar Airways, who they are sponsoring. He states that losing Qantas from the alliance "is not dramatic, since they were losing money" and talks about welcoming the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner into the British Airways fleet, especially with new routes coming on stream - including Beirut. Finally, he expresses concerns about the challenges the industry is facing - including the quadrupling of the BA annual fuel bill.

Audio: The Jebel Ali International Hotels have undergone a rebranding process which will see a new image for the locally owned, Dubai based, company which has a 30 year heritage in hospitality. Talking to Phil Blizzard, David Thompson, COO of the new JA Resorts & Hotels explains, in part 1, the strategy behind the new brand, it's image and what it will mean to their guests.

Audio: Property Talk looks at the residential developments from Abu Dhabi's Tourism Development & Investment Company and what they have delivered on Saadiyat Island. Phil Blizzard talks to Ahmed Al Fahim, Executive Director of Marketing, TDIC about the properties they have handed over, the investment opportunities, including their lease to own, and where investors are coming from.

Audio: The performance of the region's tourism sector is the focus of this interview with Dr Costas Verginis, Director, ME Travel Hospitality & Leisure Industry Leader, Deloitte. Talking to Phil Blizzard he reveals which countries have seen most growth in the first eight months of 2012, those which have faced challenges through regional and global issues and how Dubai has rebounded well - and whether it can be sustained. He also provides a forecast for the region's tourism industry for the rest of the year and 2013.

Audio: Trade between the UAE and the Dallas Fort Worth region of the USA has grown significantly since the introduction of direct flights by Emirates Airline in February 2012. Phil Blizzard talks to The Honorable Betsy Price, Mayor of Fort Worth about the trade and business ties between the two centres, the key industry sectors and future opportunities. She also provides a brief travelogue of her city and region - where you can see a long horn cattle drive and an original Rembrandt masterpiece, amongst many attractions.

Audio: Dubai is hosting the first World Energy Forum to be held outside of the United Nations Headquarters, New York. The forum is to be attended by more than 20 heads of state, 40 ministers and over 2500 delegates. Phil Blizzard reports on the forum which will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from October 22nd to 24th, acting also as a platform for two other energy summits.

Audio: "This is the Cityscape we have been waiting for" Niall McLouglin, Senior VP, Damac Holdings Co. LLC tells Phil Blizzard as the 11th edition of the region's premiere real estate event enters it final day. He talks about the seriousness of investors, in what he describes as a 'safer market' and Damac's change in strategy - serviced luxury apartments, of which they have 4,000 coming on stream.

The announcements of new developments by the Meydan Group opened the 11th Edition of Cityscape Global at the Dubai World Trade Centre, which is said to be 50% bigger than last year. Reporting from real estate exhibition Phil Blizzard talks to analysts and developers about the state of the UAE real estate market.

Audio: Economic trends as seen by Chief Financial Officers (CFO) across the MENA region are spoken about by James Babb, Clients and Markets Director, CFO, Program Leader, Deloitte Middle East. Talking to Phil Blizzard he focusses on the main concerns for CFOs, including fallout from the global economy, political tensions in the region and the requirement for CFOs to increase cash flow, plus M&A activity in the region.

Audio: Emirates Airline flies to six cities in the USA and the addition of Dallas Fort Worth in February 2012 has created significant traffic, and trade, between to the two regions. Phil Blizzard talks to Jeffrey Fegan, CEO, Dallas Fort Worth Airport about the connectivity, trade and traffic generated by the new service. He also talks about the signing of the MOU between the airport and the Dubai Airport Free Trade Zone.

Audio: A northern gateway to the UAE is the positioning of Ras al Khaimah International Airport and for airlines to see it as a second hub to the exceedingly busy Dubai International Airport. At World Routes, Abu Dhabi Phil Blizzard talks to Andrew Gower, CEO, Ras al Khaimah International Airport about their development, which will see passenger growth of 250,000 in 2012 to almost 1 million by the end of 2013, and the interest by major flag carriers in using Ras al Khaimah as a second hub in the UAE.

Audio: The construction at Abu Dhabi International Airport of the Midfield Terminal Complex will increase the capacity at the airport, allowing it to handle more than 30 million passengers, annually. At the World Routes event Phil Blizzard talks to Ahmed al Haddabi, COO, Abu Dhabi Airports Company about the key features of the airports development programme and what hosting World Routes means to Abu Dhabi.