Category: What’s On

Dubai’s next private-island address is moving from concept to market signal, with Naïa Island emerging as a new test of how far demand for ultra-luxury coastal living can stretch in a city already defined by record-setting property deals.The project, developed by Shamal Holding off the Jumeirah coastline between Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah 3, is designed as a low-rise, low-density enclave with private beaches, estate plots, branded residences, sea-facing villas, landscaped open spaces and a private marina. Its central hospitality asset

Dubai has moved closer to launching commercial air taxis after the vertiport serving Dubai International Airport reached technical completion, making it the first site in the emirate’s planned aerial mobility network ready to handle electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.The facility, developed as part of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority’s air taxi programme with Skyports Infrastructure and Joby Aviation, is intended to serve as the flagship hub for a four-site network linking Dubai International Airport with Palm Jumeirah, Downtown Dubai

Dubai has moved a new cluster of mega projects from ambition to execution, tying transport, aviation, finance, mobility and artificial intelligence into a single development push aimed at reshaping how the emirate lives, works and competes.The programme is anchored by the Dubai Metro Blue Line, the expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport, future mobility systems, a major widening of Dubai International Financial Centre and an AI-powered government model. Together, they signal a shift from stand-alone infrastructure projects to a broader

Digital Dubai has released a whitepaper introducing the AI Integration Matrix Framework, a government-wide model designed to move artificial intelligence use from scattered pilots to a coordinated operating system across public entities.The framework marks a new stage in Dubai’s effort to embed advanced digital tools into public administration, with an emphasis on interoperability, secure data use, institutional readiness and measurable service improvements. It is aimed at helping government entities classify AI use cases, set priorities, reduce duplication and align technology

Emirates has completed the first installation of Starlink Wi-Fi on an Airbus A380, marking a major step in its plan to turn onboard internet from a limited add-on into a core part of the long-haul travel experience.The upgraded superjumbo returned to Dubai after installation and certification work in Newquay, United Kingdom. The aircraft is the first A380 in the world to be fitted with the next-generation Starlink system, a milestone for a double-deck jet that carries hundreds of passengers across

 Dubai has moved to link social policy with high-end retail employment after the Community Development Authority signed an agreement with Louis Vuitton aimed at opening more career pathways for Emiratis and People of Determination across fashion, retail and craftsmanship. The memorandum of understanding, announced on 22 April, sets out training and employment tracks that officials say are designed to convert inclusion goals into long-term jobs rather than symbolic commitments.At the centre of the deal is a practical skills agenda. The

Oman’s pavilion drew brisk business traffic at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona this week as the sultanate used one of the industry’s biggest international marketplaces to deepen export links, court investment and showcase the scale of its fisheries and seafood processing sector. The 32nd edition of the event, running from 21 to 23 April at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, is the largest in the expo’s history, bringing together exhibitors from more than 80 countries and dozens of national

KUALA LUMPUR — The United Arab Emirates National Pavilion opened strongly at DSA and NATSEC Asia 2026 in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, drawing senior military, government and industry visitors as Gulf defence manufacturers used one of Asia’s largest security exhibitions to press for deeper commercial ties, technology partnerships and export growth in South-East Asia. The pavilion is part of the four-day event being held from 20 to 23 April at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre, where organisers have

A rumour that distance learning in the UAE would continue beyond April 17 has been formally denied, with education authorities making clear that no decision had been issued to extend the current remote-learning period to May 1 and urging families to rely only on official channels for updates. Existing schedules, as communicated by the authorities, remained unchanged at the time of the clarification.The clarification matters because it came after weeks of shifting academic arrangements across schools and higher education

 Light showers, dusty winds and rougher sea conditions are set to affect parts of the UAE over the coming days, with the National Centre of Meteorology forecasting a shift from fair skies on Sunday to cloudier, more unsettled weather from Monday night through midweek. Coastal areas, islands and some eastern parts are expected to face the highest chance of rainfall, while winds could reach 40kph and reduce visibility in exposed areas.The official forecast shows Sunday staying largely fair to partly

Dubai will resume private school bus services from Monday, April 20, after education and emergency authorities cleared a return to operations under tightened safety procedures aimed at protecting pupils as campuses reopen. The move aligns Dubai with a nationwide decision to restart school transport across public and private institutions after a period of distance learning and transport disruption.The decision for Dubai’s private education sector was announced after what officials described as ongoing assessments by the National Emergency and Crisis Management

Louvre Abu Dhabi has opened its signature dome to visitors for the first time through a new guided “Architectural Experience”, giving the public access to the museum’s most recognisable feature as it broadens its appeal beyond galleries and exhibitions into design-led cultural tourism. The new 90-minute tour begins this month and runs on Saturdays, with separate time slots for individuals and groups.The move marks a notable shift for a museum whose architecture has long been as much a draw

United Arab Emirates has won a seat on the World Food Programme’s Executive Board for the 2026–2028 term, giving it a direct role in shaping policy at the UN’s main food assistance agency as conflict, supply disruption and funding pressure deepen the global hunger crisis. The appointment places the country inside the WFP’s top governing structure at a moment when aid agencies are being forced to balance emergency relief with longer-term efforts to make food systems more resilient.The board

 Pupils across the UAE will return to classrooms from Monday, April 20, after the Ministry of Education said all nurseries, kindergartens, and public and private schools are cleared to resume full in-person learning for students, teachers and administrative staff nationwide. The move ends more than six weeks of distance learning and signals that authorities believe campuses have completed the safety, staffing and facility checks needed for a broad reopening.The decision, announced on Wednesday, applies across the school system and follows

A newly circulating render of Dubai’s future skyline has pushed Burj Azizi back into view, drawing fresh attention to a tower that developers say will rise about 725 metres on Sheikh Zayed Road and rank behind only Burj Khalifa when complete. The project, positioned in the Dubai World Trade Centre corridor, has become one of the emirate’s most closely watched construction bets because it combines sheer height with a broad luxury offering aimed at residents, investors and visitors.Azizi Developments

UAE authorities have rolled out a nationwide school nutrition guide that bans sugary drinks, fried foods, sweets, chocolate products, processed meats, tea and coffee across educational institutions, widening a health drive that officials say is aimed at improving children’s diets, sharpening concentration in class and cutting obesity. The framework applies across public, private, independent and vocational schools, as well as centres for People of Determination, and sets common standards for canteens, food suppliers and campus food handling.The new National

The UAE Ministry of Education has moved to stamp out social media claims that distance learning will be extended until 1 May, saying no such decision has been issued and that the existing nationwide schedule remains unchanged. For now, remote classes continue until Friday, 17 April, across nurseries, kindergartens and public and private schools, with officials insisting that any further decision will be announced only through verified channels.The denial matters because families, schools and transport operators have been planning

DIFC Art Nights will return to Gate Village in Dubai from 23 to 26 April, offering free entry to a four-day programme of visual art, performances, panel discussions and workshops as the financial district once again turns part of its public realm into an open-access cultural venue. Organisers have billed the 2026 edition as the 21st staging of the event, with visitors able to attend from 5pm to 10pm each evening without booking in advance.Set in one of Dubai’s

DIAFA, the Abu Dhabi-based luxury hospitality investment platform affiliated with IHC Group, has completed a majority investment in Richard Caring’s hospitality portfolio in a deal described as ten-figure, placing a value of at least £1 billion on a collection of some of London’s best-known restaurants and private members’ clubs. The transaction brings The Ivy Brasseries, Caprice Holdings and The Birley Clubs under DIAFA’s control, while Richard Caring stays on as executive chairman.The assets involved give DIAFA an immediate foothold

Service My Car and PlusX Electric have formed a partnership aimed at making life easier for households in the UAE that own both petrol-powered vehicles and electric cars, as mobility providers race to adapt to a market that is adding EVs faster than the after-sales ecosystem has traditionally been built to handle. The agreement links a mainstream digital servicing platform with an EV-focused charging and support business, creating a bundled offer that reflects how car ownership in the Gulf is

Dubai has unveiled a parking-linked retail incentive that will allow motorists to recover paid parking costs as cashback when they shop at participating neighbourhood businesses, in a move that blends urban mobility policy with support for smaller traders. The initiative, called Spots for Shops, is being introduced by Parkin, the emirate’s public parking operator, with the first phase due to go live on the Parkin app in early May 2026.Under the pilot, drivers will still pay the applicable parking fee

Dubai’s Al Mamzar Corniche development has moved into its closing stretch, with construction reaching 88% completion as the emirate pushes ahead with one of its most closely watched public beach upgrades. Dubai Municipality said the scheme is progressing in line with delivery schedules and is intended to open as a new coastal destination combining leisure, sport and community facilities. The project has drawn particular attention for including Dubai’s first women-only public beach, with controlled access and facilities for evening swimming.

UAE authorities are advancing a Dh6 billion federal highway project designed to ease chronic congestion on the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman corridor, pressing ahead with what officials describe as a strategic expansion of the national road network as population growth and commuting demand intensify. The scheme, reviewed this week by the UAE Infrastructure and Housing Council, centres on the Fourth Federal Corridor, a planned road of about 68 kilometres with six to eight lanes in each direction, 10 major intersections and four

Dubai International Financial Centre has rolled out a temporary package of economic support measures for businesses and retailers, offering flexible payment plans, licence-fee instalments and grace periods on selected administrative charges as the emirate’s financial hub seeks to cushion companies from a turbulent regional operating environment. The steps took effect immediately and were presented by the centre as a way to reduce short-term financial and operational pressure across its commercial community.The support package covers commercial and retail tenants and

Dubai’s public parking operator Parkin has launched “Spots for Shops”, a scheme designed to let motorists recover parking fees when they spend at participating neighbourhood businesses, in a move that links curbside parking more directly to street-level retail trade. Under the pilot, customers park in a paid Parkin bay, pay the normal tariff, make a qualifying purchase set by the merchant, and then have the fee validated through the Parkin app, with the cashback credited instantly to the customer’s Parkin

UAE residents could receive the longest continuous public holiday stretch of 2026 at the end of May, with astronomers and local media forecasts pointing to Arafat Day on Tuesday, May 26, followed by Eid al-Adha from Wednesday, May 27, to Friday, May 29. When combined with the Saturday-Sunday weekend on May 30 and 31, that would create a six-day break, while employees who take leave on Monday, May 25, could turn it into a nine-day run from May 23 to

Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi has secured five new industrial and logistics projects worth AED147 million across Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, adding more than 84,000 square metres of development space and an estimated 500 jobs as the emirate presses ahead with its manufacturing and supply-chain expansion plans.Four of the projects are earmarked for KEZAD Al Ain, where they account for just over 37,400 square metres, AED47 million in investment and about 200 jobs. The fifth and largest scheme

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has opened a new Al Mutakamela vehicle testing and registration centre in Al Qusais, adding fresh capacity to a part of the city with heavy residential and commercial traffic and extending access to licensing services for motorists in the eastern districts. The facility began operations on 6 April and is intended to ease processing for both private vehicle owners and business customers.The new branch is equipped with seven testing lanes for light vehicles and

Dubai Basketball’s Under-18 Elite team has won the 2026 Basket Cup Sarajevo title, beating Ras Beograd U18 69-53 in the final after an unbeaten run through the tournament in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The victory, secured in the side’s first appearance at the event, marks one of the clearest signs yet that Dubai’s push to build a serious youth basketball pathway is beginning to produce results beyond the Gulf.Played from 2 to 5 April in Sarajevo, the 14th edition of

 Al Hudayriyat Island has emerged as one of Abu Dhabi’s clearest statements of how urban expansion, tourism strategy and lifestyle planning are being fused into a single waterfront destination, as the emirate pushes to raise liveability, broaden its non-oil economy and create new high-value districts beyond its traditional city core.Developed by Modon, the island’s evolution has moved well beyond a beach-and-leisure concept into a much wider masterplanned project that combines housing, sport, hospitality, recreation and public realm. Abu Dhabi officials

Abu Dhabi’s cultural calendar for 2026 is being redrawn, with Abu Dhabi Festival now set to begin its main programme in October under a revised line-up that still includes Croatian cellist Hauser and Tunisian oud virtuoso Dhafer Youssef, while other large-scale music events in the emirate have also been pushed back amid regional disruption to travel and live entertainment logistics.The changes place several of the capital’s biggest ticketed events into the second half of the year, creating a denser

Staycations across the Northern Emirates and quieter destinations beyond Dubai and Abu Dhabi are gaining momentum as UAE residents rethink holiday plans amid flight disruption and wider uncertainty linked to the Iran war. Hotels in Umm Al Quwain, Hatta, Al Ain and parts of Fujairah have reported firmer domestic demand, with some properties saying residents are choosing short road trips over overseas travel during the Eid period and the weeks around it.That shift is unfolding against a broader shock

Dubai Municipality has unveiled a Dh150 million plan to install electric-vehicle supercharging facilities across 600 public parking spaces at parks, beaches and recreational sites, in a move aimed at widening access to charging beyond roadsides, malls and fuel stations. The scheme, announced on Friday, is being rolled out with Emarat EV Charging Stations Company, known as UAEV, and its first phase will bring 75 supercharging stations serving 150 parking bays within two years.Public leisure sites added to Dubai’s EV

Dubai has moved to shore up business confidence with a fresh set of fee deferrals and administrative easings under a wider AED1 billion support package, as the emirate seeks to protect cash flow, sustain hiring and cushion sectors exposed to regional disruption. The measures, announced this week and effective from 1 April, cover hotels, holiday homes and businesses across the wider economy for periods of three to six months.At the centre of the package is a temporary postponement of