The Agenda

We’ll take a look at whether tourism to the UAE is ready to bounce back, after the UK lifted its travel warning - reopening a key market for Dubai, which welcomes more than 1.5 million British visitors every year. Plus, with more details emerging about the UAE’s social media ban for under-15s, we’ll ask how schools are responding - and whether it could force brands, creators and platforms to rethink the way they reach younger audiences. And, we go behind the scenes at the world’s largest camel dairy farm, as Camelicious opens its doors to the public for the first time. Then, from camel milk to cockpits - Katie Chambers speaks to Austin Meyer, founder of Laminar Research, about Google’s new AI-powered flight simulator, and why looking realistic is not the same as flying realistically.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With hopes of de-escalation after the US-Iran ceasefire, we ask whether passengers are ready to book again, how quickly routes can normalise, and whether jet fuel and insurance costs could keep fares higher for longer. US President Donald Trump says the Strait of Hormuz will be completely open by Friday, but what do vessels, crews and maritime authorities need before traffic can move safely again? Even if the Strait reopens, the crisis has raised a bigger question for the UAE: how much should the country rely on one maritime chokepoint? Do you have a will in the UAE? And why do humans seem to always turn left?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, but even if the US-Iran MOU is officially signed on Friday, the return to normal will not be instant. So what shipping companies need to see before they send vessels back through at normal levels, what happens to insurance and freight costs, and how the disruption is affecting crews.? The UK is moving ahead with plans to ban under-16s from social media by spring 2027, in one of the biggest changes yet to how children use the internet. So can the UK make this work without creating major privacy risks? Will teenagers simply find ways around it? Plus, the World Cup is underway, and AI is playing a bigger role than ever on the games.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Centre of Meteorology has issued a weather alert, with temperatures forecast to exceed 50 degrees Celsius in parts of the country during the Eid Al Adha break. Students and parents here in the UAE are raising concerns about a new CBSE re-evaluation process, after some pupils said their marks did not reflect their expected performance. We also look at the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda that has prompted emergency funding, travel screening and concern about cross-border spread.  Researchers in China have found a way to hide chat bot commands inside ordinary audio. The concern is that a malicious audio clip could quietly tell an AI system what to do, without users noticing.  And could palm oil be made without palm trees?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation is warning that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a global food price crisis within a year. With Eid and half term creating a full week off for many families across the UAE, we’re looking at how to make the most of the break - from staycation ideas and hidden gems, to family activities closer to home. Meanwhile, new research from Al Ain suggests we may need a proper holiday every two months to recover from stress and avoid burnout. And as school’s out, we’ll explore how holiday camps are moving beyond childcare - with programmes now designed to build creativity, confidence and real-world skills. plus, we’ll also hear from a US bioscience company working to bring extinct animals back to life - after it developed an artificial eggshell that can support bird embryos outside a natural egg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ll look at the next wave of mega communities - from Fujairah’s new Etihad Rail station to a 62 billion dirham development in Dubai South near the new airport. What do these projects tell us about where the country is heading next? Plus, Tabby is moving into education with Zenda, after a survey found 88% of UAE parents feel financial strain when school fees are due. So could flexible payment plans change how families manage the rising cost of education? Dubai is investing one billion dirhams into a new international space cooperation programme. His Excellency Salem Humaid Al Murri, Director General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, joins us to explain how it could boost the UAE economy. And after the success of Jackie Chan’s Vanguard and Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, Dubai is pitching itself as a global filming destination at the Cannes Film Festival. But what could that mean for local filmmakers?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shipping costs between Asia and the Gulf are now surging above pandemic highs - as companies scramble to reroute cargo around the near closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Plus with Eid Al Adha fast approaching - Dubai is preparing for a packed week with fireworks, concerts and, shopping deals across the city. Katie Chambers' will catch up with the team from Dubai Festivals. But what if you’re planning to travel? We’ll get inspiration and discuss trends for both Eid and the summer. Meanwhile, a Dubai startup is helping residents buy surplus food from major brands at discounts of up to 70 per cent in a bid to tackle waste and cut living costs. And OpenAI wants ChatGPT to help you manage your money. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the UAE lowering the age of adulthood to 18 from June 1, we ask what that means for teenagers and their parents. This year’s best country rankings are out, with Switzerland taking the top spot and Europe dominating the list. Closer to home, we look at why the UAE scores highly for digital nomads, business and governance. We also explore a new well-being survey suggesting UAE residents remain optimistic despite regional tensions - but ask whether rising financial pressures could shift that mood. The World Health Organisation is warning countries to stay alert over a possible rise in hantavirus cases, while UAE health authorities say they are ready to deal with emerging health threats.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.