Month: August 2026

Abudhabi , August 24, 2026 : The Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will take place from 3rd to 6th December at Yas Marina Circuit, bringing the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship season to a close.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula One, said preparations to host the season finale in Abu Dhabi are progressing according to plan, reaffirming the championship’s commitment to the scheduled calendar.

He added that Abu Dhabi is preparing to host the season finale in an exceptional atmosphere, alongside a packed programme of events and experiences accompanying the race.

Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Under-Secretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said hosting Formula 1 since 2009 reflects the emirate’s global standing and its ability to attract major international sporting events.

He added that the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix contributes to enhancing Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a global destination and supporting the tourism, hospitality and events sectors, while attracting visitors from around the world.

Saif Rashid Al Noaimi, CEO of Ethara, said preparations for the race are progressing well, affirming cooperation with Formula 1 and partners across the emirate to deliver an exceptional experience for fans, teams and drivers.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix combines competition at Yas Marina Circuit with a diverse programme of entertainment events, concerts and hospitality experiences across Yas Island, making it one of the most prominent season-ending rounds on the Formula 1 calendar.

Abu Dhabi is preparing to welcome championship fans from around the world, with the race serving as the season finale and bringing together sport, entertainment and tourism in an integrated world-class experience.

Dubai , August 24, 2026 : Dubai Municipality has opened a new 102-metre landmark bridge at Mushrif National Park, enabling an uninterrupted and safer mountain biking journey through Dubai’s largest forest and adding a distinctive new feature to one of the city’s leading outdoor and nature destinations.

The bridge transforms the mountain biking experience at Mushrif National Park by connecting previously separated sections of the trail into one continuous route, eliminating the need for riders to cross a road used by vehicles while enhancing safety, connectivity and the overall quality of the outdoor experience.

Featuring two dedicated lanes, one for mountain bikers and another exclusively for hikers, the bridge also separates user movements and improves safety and connectivity across the wider trail network. The end-to-end mountain biking journey across the bridge spans 182 metres.

More than an infrastructure addition, the bridge creates a new experience within Mushrif National Park by connecting adventure, movement and nature through a continuous journey across the park’s natural landscape.

The project forms part of Dubai Municipality’s continued development of Mushrif National Park as a destination for outdoor recreation, adventure and active lifestyles. It responds to the growing popularity of mountain biking, hiking and nature-based activities by providing purpose-built infrastructure that makes these experiences safer, more accessible and more enjoyable.

As Dubai’s largest forest and one of the emirate’s key green and recreational destinations, Mushrif National Park attracts families, mountain bikers, hikers, fitness enthusiasts and nature explorers.

The new bridge strengthens the park’s wider mountain biking and hiking infrastructure while improving access across its trails and natural areas.

Bader Anwahi, CEO of the Public Facilities Agency at Dubai Municipality, said, “The new bridge represents a significant addition to Mushrif National Park and transforms the mountain biking experience by creating a continuous connection between two sections of the trail. Mountain bikers can now continue their journey without having to stop and cross a road used by vehicles, providing a safer, smoother and more enjoyable experience through one of Dubai’s most distinctive natural environments.”

He added, “Our approach to developing Mushrif National Park goes beyond adding individual facilities. We are creating an integrated outdoor destination where adventure, nature and active lifestyles come together. This bridge strengthens that experience and adds a new landmark to Dubai’s largest forest, giving residents and visitors another reason to explore and engage with the park.”

The bridge has been developed in harmony with the park’s natural environment, enhancing accessibility and movement while preserving the distinctive character of Mushrif National Park. It also supports Dubai Municipality’s wider efforts to develop high-quality public spaces that encourage physical activity, community engagement and greater interaction with nature.

The project contributes to Dubai’s ambition to integrate wellbeing, outdoor recreation and active lifestyles into everyday life while strengthening the range and quality of experiences available across the city’s parks and public spaces.

The new mountain biking and hiking experience is now open at Mushrif National Park. Visitors can begin their journey from Mushrif Hub, the one-stop space for mountain bikers, hikers and nature explorers, and experience the new seamless trail connection through Dubai’s largest forest.

Dubai, August 24, 2026 : Lieutenant General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, paid an inspection visit to Naif Police Station as part of the annual inspection programme for general departments and police stations.

The visit focused on reviewing workflow, performance indicators, security readiness levels, and the station’s key achievements in 2025, along with examining plans and initiatives aimed at enhancing security, improving emergency response, and elevating services provided to community members.

The Commander-in-Chief reviewed the station’s departmental performance indicators, along with the outcomes of security, criminal, and traffic operations over the past year and the extent to which approved targets were met.

He stressed the importance of continuously refining performance measurement tools and linking results to field outputs and levels of community satisfaction and trust.

The results showed that the station recorded outstanding performance indicators, including a 99.2% sense of safety, 98.8% trust in the police station among community members, 99.6% sense of safety when walking at night, 99.4% security coverage in areas of jurisdiction, 98.6% job satisfaction, and zero traffic-related fatalities.

Al Marri reviewed the response time for critical emergencies, where Naif Police Station recorded 1 minute and 35 seconds, surpassing the target of 2 minutes and 45 seconds. This achievement reflects the rapid deployment of patrols and specialised teams to incident locations, as well as the efficiency of the patrol distribution system and the handling of high-priority cases.

He emphasised the importance of maintaining this high level of performance and continuously working to reduce response times through the optimal use of smart systems and data, analysing incident density, and deploying patrols according to the most active areas and peak times.

Al Marri also received a briefing on the performance of the station’s sections, the transactions received during 2025, and completion rates in processing them. This included a review of key complaints and criminal transactions, as well as the mechanisms for classifying, tracking, and resolving them within approved timeframes.

He also reviewed the results of inspection checkpoints conducted by the station and their role in strengthening security presence, and crime prevention. This was accompanied by an analysis of areas with the highest traffic accident rates, and measures taken in coordination with relevant authorities to reduce them, address their causes, and improve road safety.

During the inspection, the station highlighted its key security and field achievements, including the issuance of 180 noise disturbance fines over the past year.. These efforts aim to enhance quality of life, respond to community feedback, and address behaviours that affect the comfort of residents and visitors.

Al Marri stressed the importance of using performance indicators as a fundamental tool for understanding the security landscape and anticipating future needs. He emphasised the need to leverage data and statistics to reallocate human and field resources more effectively, and to identify areas and times that require greater security presence.

He affirmed that the nature of the Naif area, with its high population density, continuous commercial and tourist activity, and significant diversity in nationalities, demands high levels of readiness, proactive problem-solving, and the continuous development of security plans. “This is essential to keep pace with the rapid changes taking place in the Emirate of Dubai,” Al Marri added.

At the conclusion of the inspection, Al Marri extended his thanks and appreciation to all Naif Police Station personnel for their efforts in maintaining safety and security, and for the positive results and indicators they have achieved, reflecting the efficiency of the work system and the integration among various departments, field teams, and administrative units.

The Commander-in-Chief called on the station’s personnel to continue on this path, work as one team, maintain and build on their achievements, and continue to develop performance and elevate security and police services. He affirmed that excellence requires sustained effort, ongoing development, and the ability to anticipate challenges and respond to community needs with efficiency and speed.

Al Marri also reaffirmed the importance of supporting and empowering talented personnel within the station, fostering a culture of innovation and initiative, and leveraging smart technologies and systems to enhance security and field performance, reinforcing Dubai Police’s position as a leading police model built on proactivity, readiness, rapid response, and the delivery of the highest levels of safety and quality of life.

Sharjah , August 24, 2026 : The Sharjah Police General Command (SPGC) concluded its summer programmes under the “Little Policeman” programme, with the participation of 2,164 children and youth.

The programme included a series of high-quality activities aimed at utilising the summer break to develop young people’s skills, enhance security and community awareness, and instill values ​​of responsibility and belonging.

This aligns with the strategic objectives aimed at enhancing quality of life, community partnership, and building a conscious and responsible generation.

The Sharjah Police Academy’s summer programmes were led by the “Police Friends” and “Police Girlfriends” courses. The 39th edition of the “Police Friends” programme and the 8th edition of the “Police Girlfriends” programme offered a comprehensive national programme designed to engage young people during their summer break, fostering values of discipline, responsibility, and national loyalty, while also developing their personal, social, and leadership skills through diverse training and educational content.

SPGC summer programmes, under the umbrella of the “Little Policeman” programme, included a variety of skills combining knowledge, training, field experience, and physical activity.

SPGC affirmed that these programmes are an extension of its institutional approach to investing in youth and strengthening the community prevention system. This contributes to preparing more aware generations capable of positively contributing to their communities and reinforces the leadership’s objectives of establishing and sustaining security, quality of life, and their sustainability for future generations.

Dubai , August 23,2026 : Dubai Chambers recently organised a series of roundtable discussions in Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, India, attended by 71 investors.

The roundtables aimed to highlight the diverse investment opportunities Dubai offers to Indian companies across various sectors, particularly in digital economy and advanced technologies.

During the visit, a Dubai Chambers delegation led by Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, held eight meetings with business and investment organisations and multinational companies.

These included the Confederation of Indian Industry – Karnataka State Council (CII Karnataka), the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry – Karnataka State Council (FICCI Karnataka), and Nasscom DeepTech, as well as multinational companies.

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, commented, “Dubai and India share a longstanding partnership that continues to gain momentum. We are working to deepen trade and investment cooperation across priority sectors and strengthen engagement with business communities throughout India, including in Karnataka. These efforts are helping to create new opportunities for companies in both markets and support shared growth.”

Lootah added, “Dubai offers Indian investors and entrepreneurs a competitive environment for innovation, growth, and expansion into regional and global markets. At Dubai Chambers, we remain committed to supporting the Indian business community in expanding into global markets from Dubai.”

As part of the visit, the Dubai Chambers delegation organised roundtable discussions with the participation of Indian companies from diverse sectors spanning industry and trade as well as Agentic AI and deeptech.

The sessions highlighted Dubai’s advantages as an enabling environment for the future economy and a platform for developing and scaling innovative solutions.

They also showcased the emirate’s advanced infrastructure and integrated ecosystem for entrepreneurship, financing, and investment, while exploring opportunities to build new business partnerships and support the expansion of Indian companies across the Middle East, Africa, and global markets from Dubai.

Dubai International Chamber opened a representative office in Bengaluru in 2025, following the launch of its first office in India in Mumbai in 2018. The expansion supports closer cooperation between businesses in Dubai and India by enabling the chamber to engage directly with the Indian business community, strengthen relationships with key public and private sector stakeholders, and promote Dubai’s competitive advantages as a global business destination.

Dubai , August 23, 2026 : Dubai Municipality has opened a new 102-metre landmark bridge at Mushrif National Park, enabling an uninterrupted and safer mountain biking journey through Dubai’s largest forest and adding a distinctive new feature to one of the city’s leading outdoor and nature destinations.

The bridge transforms the mountain biking experience at Mushrif National Park by connecting previously separated sections of the trail into one continuous route, eliminating the need for riders to cross a road used by vehicles while enhancing safety, connectivity and the overall quality of the outdoor experience.

Featuring two dedicated lanes, one for mountain bikers and another exclusively for hikers, the bridge also separates user movements and improves safety and connectivity across the wider trail network. The end-to-end mountain biking journey across the bridge spans 182 metres.

More than an infrastructure addition, the bridge creates a new experience within Mushrif National Park by connecting adventure, movement and nature through a continuous journey across the park’s natural landscape.

The project forms part of Dubai Municipality’s continued development of Mushrif National Park as a destination for outdoor recreation, adventure and active lifestyles. It responds to the growing popularity of mountain biking, hiking and nature-based activities by providing purpose-built infrastructure that makes these experiences safer, more accessible and more enjoyable.

As Dubai’s largest forest and one of the emirate’s key green and recreational destinations, Mushrif National Park attracts families, mountain bikers, hikers, fitness enthusiasts and nature explorers.

The new bridge strengthens the park’s wider mountain biking and hiking infrastructure while improving access across its trails and natural areas.

Bader Anwahi, CEO of the Public Facilities Agency at Dubai Municipality, said, “The new bridge represents a significant addition to Mushrif National Park and transforms the mountain biking experience by creating a continuous connection between two sections of the trail. Mountain bikers can now continue their journey without having to stop and cross a road used by vehicles, providing a safer, smoother and more enjoyable experience through one of Dubai’s most distinctive natural environments.”

He added, “Our approach to developing Mushrif National Park goes beyond adding individual facilities. We are creating an integrated outdoor destination where adventure, nature and active lifestyles come together. This bridge strengthens that experience and adds a new landmark to Dubai’s largest forest, giving residents and visitors another reason to explore and engage with the park.”

The bridge has been developed in harmony with the park’s natural environment, enhancing accessibility and movement while preserving the distinctive character of Mushrif National Park. It also supports Dubai Municipality’s wider efforts to develop high-quality public spaces that encourage physical activity, community engagement and greater interaction with nature.

The project contributes to Dubai’s ambition to integrate wellbeing, outdoor recreation and active lifestyles into everyday life while strengthening the range and quality of experiences available across the city’s parks and public spaces.

The new mountain biking and hiking experience is now open at Mushrif National Park. Visitors can begin their journey from Mushrif Hub, the one-stop space for mountain bikers, hikers and nature explorers, and experience the new seamless trail connection through Dubai’s largest forest.

Sharjah ,August 22, 2026 : The 11th edition of the Souq Al Jubail Dates Festival has kicked off at Souq Al Jubail – Al Dhaid, running until 14th September 2026, offering visitors a unique seasonal experience that celebrates the authenticity of Emirati heritage and the quality of local produce.

Visitors can enjoy the festival’s traditional atmosphere and explore a diverse selection of the finest fresh Emirati dates.

The festival features a wide variety of premium fresh Emirati dates sourced from different regions across the UAE, highlighting the quality of local produce and supporting Emirati farmers during the harvest season. It also provides visitors with an opportunity to discover the diversity of local products and enjoy the festival’s vibrant atmosphere.

Talal Mohammed, Director of Central Region Markets, said, “The Souq Al Jubail Dates Festival represents a seasonal occasion through which we celebrate one of the products that holds a special place in Emirati heritage, while highlighting the quality and diversity of local produce. The festival also provides a platform that brings farmers and producers together with visitors, fostering direct engagement and offering the public an authentic experience that reflects the atmosphere of the dates season across the UAE.”

​Dubai , August 22, 2026 :Sharjah Police have announced their readiness for the new 2026-2027 academic year with an integrated traffic, community and media plan involving several departments and in cooperation with strategic partners.

The plan aims to enhance the safety and security of students, celebrate their return to school, ensure the safety of road users and maintain smooth traffic flow around schools.

The announcement was made during a meeting chaired by Major General Ibrahim Mesbah Al Ajel, Director-General of the General Directorate of Comprehensive Police Stations, and attended by Major General Staff Omar Al Ghazal Al Shamsi, Director-General of the General Directorate of Operations and Security Support; Brigadier Faisal bin Nassar, Director-General of the General Directorate of Community Prevention and Protection; and several deputy directors-general and department directors.

The meeting reviewed operational plans and objectives and discussed the level of readiness and coordination among all departments and strategic partners. The aim is to ensure an integrated approach and unified efforts that enhance students’ security, safety and wellbeing as they begin the new academic year.

Major General Ibrahim Mesbah Al Ajel stressed that student safety remains a top priority for Sharjah Police. He said the plan is based on proactive coordination and the integration of roles among various departments and partners to meet the requirements of the return to school and provide the highest levels of safety for students, parents and teaching staff.

The plan includes an integrated operational system under which the Traffic and Patrols Directorate will increase patrols at key locations, roads and intersections around schools. It will also regulate vehicle movement during peak hours to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow.

Regarding operational readiness, the Operations Centre will enhance its preparedness by improving the efficiency of its incident-reporting system, monitoring developments on the ground and coordinating directly with relevant teams and authorities. This will help ensure a swift response to incidents and reports received during the back-to-school period.

As part of efforts to enhance school transport safety, the Vehicle and Drivers Licensing Department will step up inspections of school buses to verify their readiness and compliance with security and safety requirements.

This will be accompanied by awareness programmes and initiatives targeting drivers to reinforce compliance with safe transport procedures for students travelling to and from school.

On the community front, the Community Security Department will conduct a series of field visits to schools. These will include welcoming students at the start of the academic year and delivering lectures and awareness programmes that promote safety, positive behaviour, responsibility and cooperation among students.

As part of the media campaign, the Security Media Department will launch the “Safety is our first lesson” campaign under a comprehensive media plan targeting students, parents and road users.

The campaign will feature a variety of awareness content across Sharjah Police’s digital platforms, alongside media coverage of related programmes and initiatives. The aim is to broaden the reach of safety messages across different segments of society and raise awareness of safe practices and behaviour throughout the academic year.

The plan also includes strategic partnerships with the Sharjah Private Education Authority through the “Ma’man” service. The service enables school bus drivers and supervisors to send an emergency alert directly to the Operations Centre at the press of a button from inside the bus, while automatically identifying its location.

This allows for a rapid response and the dispatch of the nearest patrol to deal with the situation, further enhancing student safety while travelling to and from school.

​Dubai , August 22, 2026 : As part of its vision to enrich the cultural and intellectual landscape, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library will organise the Epistolary Literature Forum on 1 and 2 September. The forum will celebrate letters as a literary art form and as a human and cultural experience that documents the thoughts, emotions, and relationships between creative figures throughout history.

The forum will feature panel discussions exploring the history of epistolary literature and examining its presence in Arab and global culture. It will also highlight notable examples of literary correspondence and explore their human and intellectual dimensions.

The forum will kick off with a short film, followed by a welcome address and a presentation of a research paper entitled Epistolary Literature in Emirati Culture. The paper will explore the presence of letters in the UAE’s cultural memory, their various forms, and their role in expressing human, social, and intellectual relationships.

In collaboration with Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, the forum will feature a session titled Epistolary Writing in the Works of Abu al-Ala al-Ma’arri: Reflections on Humanity and Existence. This session will explore al-Ma’arri’s experience with correspondence and the intellectual, philosophical, and human reflections contained within his letters, as well as their role in understanding his perspective on humanity and existence.

The programme will continue with Writers’ Letters: A Private Space Between Art and Creativity. This panel discussion will explore letters as an intimate space for expression in comparison with other literary forms.

Furthermore, day one of the forum will also include a session entitled Al-Jahiz’s Letters: Literature, Thought, and the Art of Arabic Letter-Writing. The session will shed light on the importance of letters in the Arab literary heritage and their role in enriching intellectual and literary life.

Meanwhile, on day two, the Russian-language session When Writers Write to One Another: Friendships That Shaped Literature will examine literary relationships and friendships that emerged and developed through correspondence and contributed to shaping creative experiences and influential literary dialogues.

Day two will also feature an English-language session titled Letters in the Age of Speed: Has the Form Changed, or the Essence? The session will examine transformations in writing in the digital age and explore whether modern communication technologies have changed the essence of letter-writing as a form of human expression and communication, or merely reshaped its form and media.

Furthermore, the programme will feature a French-language session titled From Guilleragues’ Portuguese Letters to Autofiction: Intimacy Ahead of Its Time, or When Fiction Invents Sincerity. This session will explore the impact of The Portuguese Letters on the development of a language of personal confession and its continuing influence on contemporary fiction and autofiction, reaffirming the place of epistolary literature as a timeless literary space for self-discovery.

The programme will also include a two-day workshop titled The Letter Lab. It will offer a space for participants to develop their creative writing skills and explore techniques of expression and text construction, with an emphasis on writing as a creative practice.

Simultaneous interpretation will be available throughout all forum sessions, allowing audiences from different linguistic backgrounds to follow the discussions and benefit from their content.

The Epistolary Literature Forum reflects the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library’s commitment to presenting cultural programmes that create spaces for dialogue and interaction around different forms of creativity. It also reinforces the role of literature as a means of communication between cultures and generations.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library urged community members and those interested in literature, writing, and culture to participate in the forum and register to attend its sessions and activities through the following link: https://events.mbrl.ae/EpistolaryLiteratureForum

​Dubai , August 22, 2026 :The United Arab Emirates is expanding its integrated supply chain infrastructure in 2026, consolidating maritime, land, air, rail, and free zone operations to maintain global trade flows and enhance transit adaptability. Transitioning from a traditional import-export hub into an end-to-end logistics platform, the nation now links manufacturing and storage directly with ports, airports, and border crossings.Regional developments are accelerating this multi-modal integration.

The Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority, in coordination with Oman Customs, recently established a logistics corridor connecting Sharjah’s coastal ports—including Khorfakkan, which is targeting a future capacity of 10 million containers—with Omani ports such as Sohar, Duqm, and Salalah. Domestically, Sharjah is developing the Al Dhaid Logistics Complex, spanning over 16 million square feet with an initial capacity of 1.5 million TEUs.

Rail freight is expanding cross-border capabilities following contracts signed by Hafeet Rail in February 2025 to design and build railway facilities in Oman. Within the UAE, Etihad Rail transported approximately 1.8 million tonnes of sulphur, over 4 million tonnes of aggregates, and 129,000 containers during 2026 across 11 terminals linking major industrial hubs and ports, including Khalifa Port and Jebel Ali.

Air freight capacity is expanding through the Abu Dhabi Airports Free Zone, which features the 8.3-million-square-metre Al Falah Logistics Park and a East Midfield cargo terminal set to handle 1.5 million tonnes annually upon completion in 2027. On the east coast, Fujairah Terminals managed over 70,000 TEUs and 100 cargo vessels during recent regional disruptions, serving as an alternative trade route alongside planned developments at Rugeilat Port and Dibba Al Fujairah.

In Dubai, the Dubai Logistics Corridor continues to bridge sea and air freight between Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport. Concurrently, Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) attracted AED854 million in new investments during the first four months of 2026, expanding facilities across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and food production.

Digital tracking infrastructure and platforms such as ADDED, which expanded its partner network to over 30 logistics operators in 2026, enable real-time cargo rerouting and emergency response coordination.

These operational capabilities contributed to a 3% growth in the UAE’s real GDP in the first quarter of 2026 to AED485 billion at constant prices, while non-oil foreign trade reached a record AED1.937 trillion in the first half of the year.

The enhanced logistics ecosystem continues to attract major multinational firms, including healthcare provider Novo Nordisk, which established one of its three global distribution hubs in the country.

These developments reflect the synergy between ports, airports, railways, roads, free zones, storage facilities, and digital systems in facilitating trade. This multi-route framework enhances cargo accessibility, rerouting, storage, manufacturing, re-exportation, and distribution capabilities, placing supply chain resilience at the core of the UAE’s economic development.