Kate Garraway to host new podcast DXB Unheard, uncovering the untold stories of Dubai and its people

Kate Garraway has today been announced as the host of DXB Unheard, a new podcast and YouTube series which promises to uncover the hidden gems, personal triumphs, and extraordinary experiences in the cosmopolitan city of Dubai. Each of the eight episodes, which are released weekly, feature intimate interviews with remarkable individuals, where audiences can hear from Emiratis and Dubai residents who have left an indelible mark on the city. The first episode ‘The Melting Pot’, explores the diverse range of people who call Dubai home and is available from today on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and all other major audio platforms.

Hearing from Emiratis and expatriates who have made Dubai their home, Kate explores the remarkable transformation of the city from a small fishing village in the Arabian Gulf to a leading global hub of innovation. These conversations explore Dubai’s rich history and development, showcasing its evolution into a modern metropolis. This unique eight-episode series meets Dubai’s leading women and men to reveal the city today, from its global humanitarian and sustainability efforts to its hosting of iconic international sporting events.

Each episode features remarkable guests including Bakhita al-Muhairi, the first Emirati female commercial pilot, British-born Isobel Abulhoul OBE, founder, advisor and trustee, Emirates Literature Foundation, Mathew Tait, former England Rugby player and now Emirates Dubai 7s lead, and H.E. Salem Humaid Al Marri, Director General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre.

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Kate Garraway says: “In this series I get to introduce you to people who want to open your eyes and your mind to another Dubai, the one that is unheard, and explore what this city and its residents are all about. It is a place where east meets west, where women can and do lead the way, where science is saving resources and selflessness is saving lives.

“I’ve been to Dubai a few times, but it was through these conversations in people’s homes, restaurants, offices, and places of cultural significance that I’ve really been able to understand a different side of Dubai. It’s so special to _understand more how the people of Dubai - both locally raised and expats _– live and work together.

_“Dubai is a tapestry of stories woven together. DXB Unheard is our chance to unravel those threads and celebrate the extraordinary lives that intersect, uncovering stories that were previously unknown or unrecognised as part of Dubai’s rich narrative.”

One such extraordinary life that will be explored in the first episode of the series is that of expatriate Isobel Abulhoul OBE, founder, advisor and trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation. Born in Cambridge, Abulhoul moved from the UK to Dubai in the late 1960s and has played a profound role in the evolution of the country’s literary scene over the past five decades.

Isobel says: “I left the UK to start a new life with my Emirati husband. I had little idea of what to expect, but I knew that there were so many stories just waiting to be told, and I wanted to create spaces for readers and writers alike to celebrate the joy of literature. So much has changed over the past 50 years and the UAE’s literary scene had developed dramatically from when I first touched down on that small runway all those years ago. Dubai is a cultural hub for literature, and I hope listeners come away from the series keen to discover Dubai’s unique stories for themselves.”

Listen to this and many more insightful stories of the people of Dubai in the first episode of DXB Unheard, released on Monday 10 February 2025.