Environment Sustainability UAE

Fourth Forbes Middle East Sustainability Leaders Summit Kicks Off in Abu Dhabi

News Editor 19/10/2026

Photo Credit: WAM The fourth edition of the Forbes Middle East Sustainability Leaders Summit has officially opened at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, bringing together regional and international leaders to discuss sustainable development, economic resilience and responsible governance. Held under the

Economy Markets UAE

DIP Holding Announces Plans for IPO on Dubai Financial Market, Offering 20% Stake

News Editor 19/10/2026

Photo Credit: WAM DIP Holding Plc, the owner of Dubai Investments Park (DIP), has announced plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO) on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), with 20% of its issued share capital to be offered to investors. The proposed offering will involve the sale of 1,735,243,300 existing ordinary shares by Dubai […]

Tech UAE

American University of Sharjah Launches World’s Only UNESCO Chair for Arabic Language, AI and Digital Heritage

News Editor 19/10/2026

Photo Credit:WAM The American University of Sharjah (AUS) has partnered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to establish the world’s only UNESCO Chair dedicated to Arabic Language, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Heritage. The agreement, signed under the patronage of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi,

Education UAE

UAE school admission age cut-offs: a parent’s eligibility checklist

Seif Kamel 19/10/2026

An important decision that parents have to make is when their child should start school. This is particularly important when there are specific eligibility criteria that must be met. Schools in the UAE follow specific age eligibility requirements for students at different levels. This is why it is crucial for parents to understand the admission […]

Travel UAE

Salik variable toll pricing explained: peak hours, free periods and trip costs

Seif Kamel 19/10/2026

Launched on 31 January 2025, Salik’s variable toll pricing system introduced a new approach to toll charges in Dubai. The toll fee depends primarily on the time motorists pass through a toll gate. According to the standard schedule, motorists pay AED 6 per crossing during peak hours and AED 4 during off-peak hours, excluding VAT. […]

Events UAE

Abu Dhabi to host 2029 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings as UAE signs hosting agreement in Bangkok

Miguel Hadchity 19/10/2026

Dubai, UAE –– Oct. 2026 ––The United Arab Emirates formally signed an agreement to host the 2029 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Abu Dhabi, with the heads of both institutions praising the country’s infrastructure and readiness. The signing ceremony took place at the exhibition centre in Bangkok, […]

Business News UAE

Dubai Chambers signs four MoUs with Chinese business chambers

News Editor 16/10/2026

Photo Credit: WAM Dubai Chambers has signed four Memorandums of Understanding with leading chambers of commerce in China as part of efforts to strengthen business cooperation, expand trade and investment ties, and connect companies in Dubai with counterparts across key Chinese cities. The agreements were signed with the Beijing Chamber of International Commerce, the China

Energy

32nd IRENA Council reviews World Energy Transition Outlook 2026 in Abu Dhabi

News Editor 16/10/2026

The 32nd Council meeting of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has opened in Abu Dhabi, bringing together more than 300 government representatives and delegates to assess progress on the global energy transition and discuss priorities for the years ahead. The meeting, taking place from October 14 to 16, serves as one of IRENA’s key […]

News UAE

ADAFSA Highlights Agricultural Transformation Initiatives at Al Dhafra Dates Festival

News Editor 16/10/2026

Photo Credit: WAM The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) is showcasing a range of initiatives focused on sustainable agriculture, food security and agricultural innovation at the fifth Al Dhafra Dates Festival and Auction, being held in Zayed City from October 16 to 25. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the festival […]

News UAE

AI agents now involved in 9% of Majid Al Futtaim transactions

Miguel Hadchity 16/10/2026

Dubai, UAE — Oct. 2026 — AI agents now play a role in about 9 percent of Majid Al Futtaim Holding’s customer transactions, up from virtually zero a few months ago, CEO Ahmed Galal Ismail said on Wednesday. The agents recommend products, influence choices or direct purchases, Ismail told “The Consumer of 2035” session at […]

Health

UAE Ministry of Defence Opens Registration for ICMM Abu Dhabi 2026

News Editor 15/10/2026

Photo Credit: WAM The UAE Ministry of Defence has confirmed the scientific programme and opened registration for the 46th ICMM World Congress of Military Medicine – Abu Dhabi 2026, which will take place from 9 to 13 November 2026 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The congress is being organised by the Ministry of Defence in […]

Real Estate

Gargash Prime, JINGDONG Property Plan Major Logistics Hub in Dubai

News Editor 15/10/2026

Photo Credit: WAM Gargash Prime and JINGDONG Property, the infrastructure investment and asset management arm of JD.com, have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture focused on developing a major logistics facility in Dubai. The proposed project will cover around 2.5 million square feet of land, equivalent to approximately 250,000 square metres,

Arts & Culture

Al Dhafra Dates Festival Opens Friday with Kuwait as Guest of Honour

News Editor 15/10/2026

Photo Credit: WAM ABU DHABI: The fifth edition of the Al Dhafra Dates Festival will open on Friday, October 16, in Madinat Zayed, bringing together farmers, producers, artisans and heritage enthusiasts for 10 days of competitions, auctions and cultural activities. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin […]

News UAE

Cashless payments reach 99.3% of transactions in H1: Dubai Customs

Miguel Hadchity 15/10/2026

Dubai, UAE — Oct. 2026 — Cashless payments made up 99.3 percent of Dubai Customs’ payment transactions in the first half of 2026, the authority said, compared with 99.4 percent in 2025 and 99.2 percent in 2024. The figures support the Dubai Cashless strategy, which aims to integrate customs services with digital payments to simplify […]

Arts & Culture UAE

Global Village opens Season 31 with new attractions and cultural experiences

News Editor 14/10/2026

Photo Credit: WAM Global Village will open Season 31 on Wednesday, October 14, at 6 pm, welcoming visitors with new attractions, dining concepts, live entertainment and cultural experiences under the theme “A More Wonderful World.” The new season will run until May 2027 and builds on Global Village’s three-decade legacy as one of the UAE’s […]

Education

Sharjah unveils ethical AI framework for private schools

News Editor 14/10/2026

Photo Credit: WAM The Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) has introduced an ethical framework governing the use of artificial intelligence in educational institutions across the emirate, aimed at ensuring AI is used safely, responsibly and effectively. The framework is designed to strengthen the quality of education, support digital transformation and help teachers

Economy

Sharjah Digital Department, AWS partner to advance government digital capabilities

News Editor 14/10/2026

Photo Credit: WAM Sharjah Digital Department (SDD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to strengthen cooperation in digital capability development, knowledge exchange and technical expertise. The agreement supports Sharjah’s wider digital transformation agenda and aims to enhance the capabilities of government entities while

News UAE

UAE Cabinet approves AED292.5bn budget plan: Social spending takes biggest share of 2027 allocations

Miguel Hadchity 14/10/2026

Dubai, UAE — Oct. 2026 — The UAE Cabinet has approved a AED292.5 billion federal budget plan for 2027 to 2029, including AED90.1 billion for fiscal year 2027. The Cabinet, chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice president, prime minister and ruler of Dubai, approved both plans in line with the federal […]

Tech

Anthropic warns small AI models could self-replicate on IoT devices by year-end

News Editor 13/10/2026

Photo Credit: WAM Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has warned that smaller AI models could be only months away from gaining the ability to autonomously replicate across commercial Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, raising new cybersecurity and containment concerns. The company said increasingly capable AI systems could potentially spread across devices such as

Banking UAE

CBUAE to host 2026 UAE Banks Reception in Bangkok during IMF-World Bank meetings

News Editor 13/10/2026

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) will organise the 2026 Annual UAE Banks Reception in Bangkok, Thailand, on Thursday, October 15, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and the UAE Banks Federation (UBF). The event will take place alongside the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, […]