Day: December 29, 2025

Dubai , December 29 , 2025 :

The total proceeds of the 120th open auction of distinctive vehicle number plates, launched by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on the evening of Saturday, 27th December, reached AED 109,026,000, representing the highest revenue recorded in the history of distinctive number plate auctions since their launch. Plate number BB12 recorded the highest value at the auction at AED 9.66 million, followed by plate number AA25 at AED 8.04
million, plate number BB30 at AED 6.74 million, and plate number CC100 at AED 4.21 million. These results underscore the success of the strategy adopted by RTA in managing both open and electronic auctions. The strategy is founded on neutrality and transparency, while ensuring equal opportunities for all those wishing to acquire distinctive number
plates, which carry symbolic value for their owners. RTA offered 90 distinctive vehicle number plates, comprising two,
three, four, and five-digit numbers, from the codes AA, BB, CC, K, N, O, R, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z at its 120th open auction. The
auction took place at Al Joud Ballroom at Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City at 4:30 pm. Registration opened on Monday, 22nd December, with participants able to register through RTA’s website at www.rta.ae, Customer Happiness Centres in Umm Ramool, Deira, and Al Barsha or at the auction venue itself. Priority was given to
those who registered in advance. The sale of number plates was subject to a 5% value-added tax.
Participation in the auction required customers to have a traffic file in the Emirate of Dubai, submit a security cheque payable to RTA in the amount of AED 25,000, and pay a non-refundable participation fee of AED 120 at Customer Happiness Centres. RTA also enabled payment by credit card through its website.

Dubai,December 29,2025 : Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2025 has begun announcing weekly winners for its citywide Shop, Scan & Win campaign, offering shoppers the opportunity to win from a total cash prize pool of up to AED 1 million. Running from 5 December 2025 until 11 January 2026, the campaign rewards everyday shopping with weekly cash prizes and live winner celebrations held as part of DSF Nights.

As part of the promotion, shoppers who spend AED 200 or more at any participating outlet can scan the QR code on their receipt to enter the digital raffle. Entries are collected weekly, with six winners selected every week across 15 participating malls and community centres in Dubai.

Each Wednesday, raffle winners are announced, following which selected winners are invited every Monday to the DSF Stage for a live celebration experience. During these DSF Nights events, winners spin the wheel and instantly reveal their cash prizes, which range across multiple tiers starting from AED 10,000 up to AED 33,333.


Adding to the emotional resonance of the campaign, the inaugural weekly draw witnessed a particularly memorable moment on stage when two winners discovered they were long-lost friends who had not seen each other for years. Their unexpected reunion during the live announcement created a heart-warming moment, reinforcing the community-driven spirit at the heart of Dubai Shopping Festival’s citywide celebrations.

Several winners shared heartfelt reactions upon being selected, describing feelings of surprise, excitement, and gratitude. One winner noted it was their first-ever win after living in Dubai for 19 years, while others spoke about plans to use their winnings for family celebrations, personal commitments, and upcoming holidays.

Powered by Raffle Tech, the Shop, Scan & Win campaign combines simple digital participation with on-ground excitement, making it easy for shoppers to enter while ensuring transparency and efficiency in winner selection and prize distribution.

Weekly draws continue throughout the festival, with raffle entries closing every Wednesday and live Spin-the-Wheel celebrations taking place every Monday, until the campaign concludes on 11 January 2026.

Bahrain , December 29 ,2025 : Sustainability Forum Middle East (SFME) has announced National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) as a Forum Partner for its 4th edition, to be held on 27–28 January 2026 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bahrain, under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Minister of Oil & Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, and with the support of the Supreme Council for Environment.

Held under the theme “Advancing Alignment, Innovation, and Implementation for Energy and Climate Transformation”, the Forum will open with a special address by H.E. Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and will bring together more than 400 senior leaders from government, business, and the sustainability and climate sectors across the region and internationally.

As Bahrain’s national bank, NBB continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability through a strong ESG framework aligned with Bahrain’s Economic Vision and national climate goals. The Bank recently launched its Sustainable Finance Framework, supporting the financing of green and social projects in areas such as renewable energy, clean transportation, green buildings, and community development.

As part of the programme, Zaina Alzayani, Group Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at NBB, will participate in a panel on unlocking climate finance, exploring innovative financial instruments and strategies to support decarbonisation, climate resilience, and sustainable economic growth across the GCC and wider MENA region.

The Forum’s 2026 edition will feature high-level national vision discussions, expert panels, and practical workshops addressing transition finance, energy transformation, industrial decarbonisation, emerging technologies, carbon markets, and human capital development. High-impact workshops will be led by organisations including KPMG, UNDP, and Anthesis Group.

SFME 2026 is supported by Lead Partners SAFA and Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK), Strategic Partner UNDP, and Forum Partners from across key regional industries, reinforcing the growing role of collaboration in advancing sustainable finance and climate action in the Middle East.