AB Majlis

AB Majlis is an Arabian Business podcast and the ultimate gateway to the latest trends in the GCC

AB Majlis is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts AB Majlis, a business show with 0 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #6

  Yolk Brands' Steve Flawith on Pickl, Iraq and the road to 1,000 stores

  Aug 25, 202636 minS8

  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.

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  Episode #5

  Banking at the speed of business: Why SMEs cannot afford to wait - In conversation with Mashreq's Rajeev Chalisgaonkar

  Jul 8, 202633 minS8

  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.

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  Episode #4

  Inside the modern risk playbook - In conversation with Mashreq's Anuratna Chadha

  Jun 29, 202630 minS8

  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.

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  Episode #3

  The business logic of Spartan races | A chat with Layova Group's Najib Yaacoub

  Jun 11, 202618 minS8

  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.

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  Episode #2

  What’s next for Dubai real estate? In conversation with Yousuf Fakhruddin

  May 25, 202620 minS8

  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.

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