Category: What’s On

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced the holiday for the private sector in observance of Eid Al Etihad, aligning with the cabinet’s decision to recognise official public holidays. The holiday will offer employees in the private sector a designated time off to mark the festive occasion.The Eid Al Etihad holiday typically reflects national pride and unity, as it is celebrated across the country, highlighting the importance of social and cultural traditions. Government employees, in particular, have long

The Middle East's aviation market is poised for an extraordinary expansion, according to Airbus's Global Market Forecast 2025. The region, currently experiencing rapid economic growth and a surge in travel demand, is expected to see its in-service fleet more than double over the next two decades. The forecast reveals that the fleet will increase from 1,480 aircraft in 2024 to 3,700 by 2044, driven by both the region's burgeoning economy and its strategic geographic location as a global travel hub.Airbus's

A groundbreaking performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto by the renowned St. Petersburg Opera will soon grace Dubai’s Zabeel Theatre. Known for its lavish productions and exceptional vocal talent, the company, under the direction of acclaimed Russian director Yuri Alexandrov, brings a fresh and daring interpretation of this iconic opera. This marks the company’s return to Dubai after their successful appearance at Expo 2020, where they garnered international acclaim for their unique approach to classical music theatre.The St. Petersburg Opera, founded

Dubai’s ambitious urban landscape is set to evolve with the debut of Palm Jebel Ali, a new palm-shaped island poised to transform the city’s skyline and luxury real estate market. Located just off the coast of Dubai, Palm Jebel Ali is part of the broader expansion of the city’s coastline, reinforcing its reputation as a global hub for innovation in both architecture and tourism. The first beachfront apartments with terraces, situated in the heart of Palm Central, are now available

Jumeirah, renowned for its luxury hotels including the iconic Burj Al Arab, has ventured into fashion with the launch of its first-ever capsule collection. The move marks a bold step for the Dubai-based hospitality group as it explores ways to blend its longstanding heritage with contemporary trends. The collection, designed by Dubai-based fashion label Bouguessa, takes inspiration from the distinctive architectural and cultural elements of Jumeirah's luxury properties.The partnership with Bouguessa, a brand known for its modern, modest designs, is

US and London-based educational technology company, DataCamp, has acquired the UAE-based AI-native learning platform, Optima, in a move designed to enhance its offerings in personalised and real-time learning. The acquisition will see Optima’s technology fully integrated across DataCamp’s existing platforms, bolstering its data science and analytics services with cutting-edge artificial intelligence features.The deal, however, did not include the financial terms, leaving the acquisition value undisclosed. Following the transaction, Yusuf Saber, the founder and CEO of Optima, will join DataCamp as

How Visarun.ai is using AI-first approach to capture enterprise clients in the fragmented visa processing industry While giants like VFS Global and BLS International process millions of visa applications annually through legacy systems, a Dubai-founded startup is betting that AI-native infrastructure can carve out a lucrative niche in the $13.87 billion global visa services market—projected to hit $55 billion by 2034 at 16.6% CAGR.Visarun.ai, founded in 2024 by Vladimir Indjikian and Alena Iakina, just closed a $700,000 pre-seed round from Swiss

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has opened the door for qualified companies and consortiums to submit their proposals for the seventh phase of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Solar Park, one of the largest renewable energy projects in the world. This expansion is set to significantly enhance Dubai's efforts to diversify its energy mix and meet its sustainability targets.The upcoming phase will incorporate 2,000 megawatts of capacity through photovoltaic solar panels. Additionally, it will feature a 1,400

The high-end Solaya waterfront development in Dubai has already garnered significant attention, despite the fact that construction has yet to begin. With luxury penthouses priced upwards of $24 million, wealthy individuals from across the globe are competing in an intense bidding process. This unique approach to real estate sales has elevated the project’s status as one of the most anticipated luxury developments in the region.The project, a collaboration between Brookfield Properties and Dubai Holding, promises to deliver an exclusive residential

A landmark agreement has been signed by the UAE clean-energy firm Masdar and Austrian integrated energy company OMV to establish a joint venture for the financing, construction and operation of a 140 MW green-hydrogen electrolyser plant at Bruck an der Leitha, Austria. The plant is expected to commence operations in 2027, following the commencement of construction in September 2025.OMV will hold a 51 per cent majority stake in the JV, while Masdar will hold 49 per cent, effectively combining

A field of 73 thoroughbreds are set to line up at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai for the opening evening of the 2025-26 Dubai Racing Carnival, with seven races and a total prize purse of AED 1.33 million. The fixture marks the beginning of a five-month season which culminates with the landmark 30th edition of the Dubai World Cup on 28 March 2026.Trainers and jockeys boasting international credentials will be in contention from the very first race as the Carnival

Dubai’s fuel-retail market marked a shift this week as Emirates Petroleum Company opened its 158th service station, the “Al Buhaira” site in Barsha South, incorporating what the company describes as the GCC’s first dedicated Electric Vehicle Service Centre. This move underscores Emarat’s response to evolving mobility trends as electric vehicles gain traction across the region.Located in Dubai’s New Dubai zone, the Al Buhaira station not only offers 24-hour fuel retail, a Freshplus convenience store, Bakeria, Café Arabica, a

There is a good deal of worry about AI. While some feel it’s a godsend, others think it might take away their career options. These are legitimate concerns.Let’s talk about some careers that AI is not likely to take away anytime soon.Travel AgentIf you’re a travel agent, and you set up a business with great payment processing for travel industry expenses and a highly accessible website, you can still attract plenty of business. While some would-be customers might rely on

Dubai telecom operator du has launched a new cloud-mining subscription service named “Cloud Miner” offering residents in the UAE access to cryptocurrency mining without the need to purchase or operate hardware. The offering was introduced at a launch event held at the Burj Khalifa and will be managed under du’s B2B sub-brand du Tech.Customers will be able to lease 250 terahashes per second of mining capacity under a 24-month contract. The bidding for these subscriptions opens between 3 and

Rosewood Hong Kong has been crowned the number one hotel in the World’s 50 Best Hotels list for 2025, marking another milestone for the prestigious hotel rankings. However, a standout newcomer on this year’s list is Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, a luxury resort in Dubai, which made an impressive debut at 20th place, just eight months after opening its doors to guests.Located on a private island along the shores of the Arabian Gulf, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab offers a blend

OPEC+ has defied expectations, continuing its strategy of increasing oil output despite a weaker global oil market and growing concerns that prices could slide further. The cartel's resolve to raise production reflects its broader strategic priorities, which remain largely unchanged even in the face of declining prices.Oil prices, which are hovering in the mid-$60s per barrel, are still far from triggering a shift in OPEC+ policy. This price range, though a dip from earlier highs, is not low enough to

Horizon English School has announced the establishment of an all-through campus in the Town Square community of Dubai, signalling a strategic expansion of the institution’s British curriculum offering to ages 3-18. Under a joint venture between education group Cognita and developer Nshama, the new facility is scheduled to open in August 2027 and will begin with Foundation Stage 1 through Year 8, expanding to Year 13 in subsequent years.The move follows more than 35 years of the school’s operation at

Dubai didn't become a hub of thoroughbred racing overnight. Its dominance grew from carefully planned moves, including one key transaction in 1981 that brought carefully selected bloodlines from British industrialist Jim McCaughey into the hands of Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum.McCaughey's journey from construction tycoon to influential racing figure shows how vision and timing can create legacies no one could have predicted. By the late 1970s, he was Britain's 11th richest man, and when he stepped into racing, he

The kingdom is committing multibillion-dollar investments into artificial intelligence, high-tech manufacturing and gaming as it repositions its economy away from a flagship megacity project. Officials have indicated that the NEOM venture will receive a smaller share of funding as more capital flows into next-generation industries. The move reflects a pivot by policymakers toward technology-driven growth sectors.Top-level figures including the Public Investment Fund highlight that the ecosystem around AI and gaming offers faster returns and closer alignment with the kingdom’s

Dubai– Nakheel has unveiled a new collection of ultra-luxury waterfront villas at its flagship Palm  Jebel  Ali development, signalling a major push in high-end residential real estate on the island. The release covers both the “Beach Collection” and “Coral Collection” villa clusters, with the broader master plan of the scheme now coming into sharper focus.The announcement highlights that the master community will include a 9,000 sq m retail centre and a Friday Mosque, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, capable of accommodating up

The urban development landscape of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is being reshaped as Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding announced a landmark merger to form a unified entity under the Marjan brand, merging land-development and hospitality arms into one.Under the partnership, Marjan will consolidate real-estate development, hospitality operations and lifestyle offerings, effectively becoming one of the largest property developers in the United Arab Emirates. According to executive statements, the move is aligned with the emirate’s long-term “RAK Vision

Visitors to the heart of Australia’s Red Centre are being drawn to Uluru‑Kata Tjuta National Park by a confluence of cultural significance, unique experiences and strategic branding that spotlight the historic destination for 2026. Plunge into the landscape and traditions of this immense sandstone formation and its neighbouring domes, and you’ll discover a land of deep meaning, geological wonder and evolving travel dynamics.Standing 348 metres tall and encircling 9.5 kilometres at its base, Uluru is acknowledged as the largest monolith of

Feenie Khan didn’t set out to disrupt an industry. She set out to make a plate for her daughter and for anyone who wanted to see their way of eating represented.It began with a practical fix: a plate that keeps textures true and meals composed. From that small decision came Feenie’s Table, a design that reads as simple at first glance and quietly questions what “standard” tableware has long assumed.The idea started at home. Khan’s daughter, who has ADHD, preferred

A team of scientists has stabilised a high-performing sodium compound that could unlock safer, cheaper and greener solid-state batteries, putting sodium one step nearer mainstream use in electromobility and grid storage.The breakthrough hinges on a metastable form of sodium hydridoborate, which the researchers heated to the brink of crystallisation and then quenched to lock in a high-conductivity phase. This novel phase exhibits ionic conductivity at least an order of magnitude greater than previous analogues, enabling thick, energy-dense cathodes while maintaining

Abu Dhabi’s Stargate UAE project is advancing swiftly, with G42 and its affiliate Khazna Data Centers confirming that construction has moved past preliminary stages and that the design-to-build effort is now in full execution. The first 200 MW of capacity is slated to go live in 2026, forming part of a 1 GW AI cluster within the broader 5 GW UAE–U. S. AI Campus.Civil, structural and architectural works are well underway, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing elements are being finalised.

Sharjah’s government has successfully raised Rmb 2 billion by issuing a three-year panda bond in China’s onshore renminbi market. The issuance marks the emirate’s return to the panda bond space after its inaugural foray seven years ago.The pricing range for the bond was initially indicated in the 2.5 % to 3.2 % area. The transaction was arranged through a syndicate led by Bank of China, with joint underwriting and bookrunning by Crédit Agricole, JP Morgan Chase, Industrial and Commercial

DP World has struck a joint venture with Tashkent Invest, a firm under the Tashkent City Administration, to build and manage a multimodal logistics terminal in the Yangi Avlod Special Industrial Zone in the Yangihayot district on the outskirts of Tashkent. Under the deal, DP World will own 85 percent of the venture and Tashkent Invest will contribute 15 percent. The overall investment across three phases is projected to exceed USD 288 million.The terminal site will span around 82

Amazon has slashed prices on a wide range of Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics cards as its Prime Big Deal Days shopping event goes live from 7 to 8 October. Among the standout bargains are flagship and mid-tier models hitting their lowest-ever prices, while concerns about shipping scams have also drawn scrutiny.The most aggressive discount applies to the Asus TUF GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, currently offered at $850, down from $1,000—a reduction of $150. This matches its best historical pricing. Another

UAE’s non-oil private sector continued to gain momentum in September, with the seasonally adjusted S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index reaching 54.2 — the highest reading in seven months and up from 53.3 in August. The increase underscores a solid acceleration in non-oil business activity in the country’s diversified economy.Growth was led by a sharp upswing in new business; the new orders sub-index jumped to 57.2 from 53.1, marking its fastest pace since February. Over 30 percent of firms

The Ai Everything Global Supernova Challenge concluded in Dubai with Pulsar. ml crowned champion among 30 startups from 15 nations vying for a USD 60,000 prize pool. The event drew over 150 global investors representing some USD 50 billion in assets under management, who watched founders pitch AI solutions across sectors including robotics, fintech, e-commerce and healthcare.Pulsar. ml, based in Canada and led by founder Mohamed Sabri, secured the top prize of USD 30,000 with its AI governance platform that

Why Flowers Are Central to Anniversary Traditions Anniversaries are more than calendar reminders—they are emotional milestones that mark the journey of two people growing together through time. Over the years, couples find ways to celebrate these occasions, whether with gifts, trips, or intimate moments. Among all possible gestures, flowers have remained the most enduring.The tradition of associating flowers with anniversaries goes back centuries. Each bloom has been given a meaning that mirrors the qualities of marriage at that stage—youthful passion, resilience,

Etihad Rail has confirmed that passenger services will begin operations in 2026, ushering in a new era of high-speed connectivity across the UAE. At the Global Rail 2025 exhibition in Abu Dhabi, the company revealed the first public visuals of its passenger rolling stock and detailed plans for its network, integration efforts, and operating partnerships.Azza Al Suwaidi, deputy CEO of Etihad Rail Passenger Services, stated that work is underway to deliver “seamless and connected journeys” through collaboration with municipalities, technology

The third edition of the AlUla Desert Blaze concluded on Saturday night, with more than 500 runners from Saudi Arabia and across the globe competing in one of the most gruelling desert races in the region. Held at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hegra, the event offered a choice of four race categories: 5 km, 10 km, 21.1 km, and 42.2 km.Starting early at 8:00 AM, the runners were tested not only by the physical demands of the race

Helium balloons add instant magic to any outdoor celebration whether it’s a birthday, wedding, or corporate gathering. Their bright colors and floating elegance can transform an ordinary space into a festive wonderland. However, many people discover that setting up helium balloons outdoors is trickier than it looks. Strong winds, direct sunlight, or poor anchoring can quickly turn your decoration plans into a disappointment.In this guide, we’ll walk you through practical tips on how to set up helium balloons outside while