News

Ramadan 2026 Are Dubai’s mall and cinema timings changing?

News Editor 09/01/2026

With fewer than 40 days to go until Ramadan 2026, Dubai is preparing for the holy month with extended retail hours, late-night entertainment, and a calendar of cultural and dining experiences that come alive after sunset. As in previous years, shopping centres across the city are expected to

Tech

Inside Egypt’s AI Playbook: How Cairo Aims to Lead Africa & the Middle East’s Intelligent Future

News Editor 08/01/2026

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has moved from aspiration to infrastructure in Egypt. Once framed as distant ambition, it is now shaping economic policy, investment priorities, and public debate. Across government, enterprise, and civil society, AI has become a key strategic lever for competitiveness, sovereignty and growth. This shift explains why Cairo is increasingly

News UAE

Emirates issues UK travel advisory as digital entry rules tighten

News Editor 08/01/2026

Dubai: Emirates has issued a travel advisory for passengers flying to the United Kingdom, warning that new digital entry requirements will come into force from February 25, 2026. The airline said travellers who require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) must secure approval before departure, or they will not be permitted to board flights to the […]

News UAE

Etihad Rail reveals UAE passenger rail network linking 11 cities by 2026

News Editor 08/01/2026

Etihad Rail has unveiled full details of the UAE’s national passenger rail network, confirming it will connect 11 cities and regions across the country by 2026. The announcement marks a major milestone in the nation’s transport and infrastructure development, delivering the UAE’s first fully integrated passenger rail system. The network is designed to strengthen

Transport UAE

Dubai opens first driverless taxi control centre, issues landmark permit

News Editor 08/01/2026

Photo Credit: RTA Dubai has taken a decisive step towards fully autonomous mobility with the launch of Baidu Apollo Go’s Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre, the first such facility established by the Chinese technology company outside China. The 2,000-square-metre centre, located at Dubai Science Park, was inaugurated on Thursday by Mattar Al Tayer, Director

News UAE

UAE updates federal laws on quarantine, biodiversity protection and plant innovation

News Editor 07/01/2026

Image Credit : WAM Abu Dhabi, January 7, 2026: The UAE Government has issued a wide-ranging package of updated federal laws aimed at strengthening agricultural and veterinary quarantine systems, protecting new plant varieties, and regulating the international trade of endangered animals and plants. The new legislation forms part of the UAE’s broader effort to modernise

News UAE

Sharjah Institute for Heritage showcases extensive cultural publications at Sharjah Literature Festival

News Editor 07/01/2026

Image Credit : WAM Sharjah, January 7, 2026 The Sharjah Institute for Heritage is contributing a wide range of knowledge-driven content and specialised publications to the second edition of the Sharjah Literature Festival, reinforcing its role in preserving and promoting cultural heritage. The institute’s pavilion features more than 1,100 publications focused on tangible

News Transport UAE

Dubai RTA adds four new bus routes, upgrades over 70 services from January 9

News Editor 07/01/2026

Photo Credit: WAM Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will roll out four new public bus routes and introduce adjustments to more than 70 existing services starting January 9, as part of a wider effort to improve network efficiency during peak travel hours. The new routes are aimed at easing pressure on busy corridors connecting […]

News UAE

Is Isra Wal Miraj a public holiday in the UAE?

News Editor 06/01/2026

Isra Wal Miraj, which translates to the Night Journey and Ascension, is observed on the 27th day of Rajab, the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. This year, the occasion is expected to fall on Friday, January 16, subject to moon sighting. While Isra Wal Miraj is officially recognised as a public holiday in countries […]

News UAE

Abu Dhabi Police step up wildlife protection with new Al Dhafra environmental patrols

News Editor 06/01/2026

Image Credit : X / Abu Dhabi Police Abu Dhabi Police have strengthened efforts to protect wildlife and natural habitats with the launch of a dedicated environmental police patrol in the Al Dhafra region. The new patrols operate under the Environmental Police Department within the Special Patrols Directorate and are focused on safeguarding terrestrial ecosystems […]

Education News UAE

UAE schools revise Friday schedules, early dismissals from 11.10am

News Editor 06/01/2026

Photo Credit: Khaleej Times Schools across the UAE have begun notifying parents of earlier Friday dismissal times, as campuses adjust schedules to align with the country’s newly unified Friday prayer timing. Circulars and emails sent to families confirm that students will now be dismissed earlier on Fridays, with some schools releasing pupils from as early […]

News UAE

Unsettled weather to persist across UAE until Thursday

News Editor 05/01/2026

Dubai: Unsettled weather conditions are set to continue across the UAE until Thursday, bringing dusty skies, shifting cloud cover, active winds and occasional chances of light rain, according to the National Centre of Meteorology. Forecasters said weather conditions will vary across different parts of the country over the coming days, ranging from dusty and hazy […]

News UAE

Back-to-school alert: Dh1,000 fine for ignoring school bus stop sign arm

News Editor 05/01/2026

Image Credit : X / Abu Dhabi Police Motorists across the UAE have been urged to strictly comply with school bus stop sign arms as more than one million students return to classrooms for the start of the second academic term. Abu Dhabi Police issued a renewed warning on Monday, as around 1.1 million pupils […]

News Qatar

QatarEnergy, Egypt sign MoU to expand LNG supply cooperation

News Editor 05/01/2026

Photo Credit: WAM QatarEnergy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources to deepen cooperation in the energy sector, with a particular focus on supplying liquefied natural gas to Egypt. The agreement was signed at QatarEnergy’s headquarters in Doha by Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy […]

News UAE

What new UAE law means for buyers as defect claim period extended

News Editor 02/01/2026

Buyers in the UAE are set to benefit from stronger legal protections under the country’s updated Civil Transactions Law, which introduces clearer rules for sales contracts, expands remedies for defective goods and extends the time limit for filing claims over hidden defects. The reforms, which came into effect on January 1, 2026, are part of […]

News UAE

Final call issued for global teams to register for UAE SWAT Challenge 2026

News Editor 02/01/2026

Dubai: The organising committee of the UAE SWAT Challenge has issued a final call for special police units, rapid-intervention teams and tactical squads from around the world to register for the 2026 edition of the global event. Teams can complete their registration through the official website, www.uaeswatchallenge.com, by submitting the required details and

News UAE

UAE expands Dh320 health insurance to 380 providers for private workers

News Editor 02/01/2026

Dubai: The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has expanded the network of healthcare providers offering the UAE’s basic health insurance package for private-sector workers and domestic helpers, increasing the total to 380 providers nationwide, up from 100 previously. The ministry said the expanded network delivers a broad range of services, including treatment

News UAE

Dubai Duty Free records strongest year ever with Dhs8.68bn sales in 2025

News Editor 01/01/2026

Image Credit : dubaidutyfree Dubai Duty Free has delivered its strongest performance on record, reporting annual sales of Dhs8.680 billion ($2.378 billion) in 2025, marking a 9.85 percent increase compared to 2024 and the highest result in the retailer’s 42-year history. The record-breaking year was underpinned by ten months of all-time high sales, with December […]

News UAE

UAE sets legal age of maturity at 18 under new civil law

News Editor 01/01/2026

The UAE has officially lowered the legal age of maturity from 21 to 18 under a newly issued federal decree law that updates the country’s Civil Transactions Law. Under the revised legislation, individuals aged 18 are now permitted to independently manage their financial affairs and assets. The law also allows those aged 15 and above […]

News UAE

Abu Dhabi Police offer traffic points relief during Liwa International Festival

News Editor 31/12/2025

Image Credit : Abu Dhabi Media Office  Abu Dhabi Police have announced a special initiative allowing motorists to benefit from traffic points services during the Liwa International Festival, giving eligible drivers an opportunity to reinstate suspended driving licences or reduce accumulated traffic points. The service will be available from Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at