Month: August 2026

Dubai, August 19, 2026 : Dubai is accelerating its transition towards a future powered by
autonomous mobility, with Robotaxi operations recording more than
4 million kilometres travelled and 7,613 passenger trips since
launch, demonstrating growing public confidence in autonomous
transportation and laying the foundation for the next phase of
driverless mobility in the emirate.
Providing further details, Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of Corporate
Technology Support Services Sector, Chair of Autonomous
Transport and Aerial Taxi Committee, said: “the Robotaxi service
currently has a fleet of 144 vehicles, including 48 vehicles in
active operation, completing around 50 trips daily. Most notably,
the service has achieved a 97% customer satisfaction rate,
reflecting strong acceptance of the technology and the quality of
customer experience.
Bahrozyan added: “the operational performance represents an
important milestone in Dubai’s journey towards its strategic target of
making 25% of all transportation trips autonomous by 2030.”
From Safety Testing to Driverless Mobility
The Robotaxi program is being developed through a rigorous,
phased approach designed to ensure the highest standards of
safety, reliability and operational readiness. Carefully defined
operational zones enable the technology to be tested and validated
under real-world conditions, supporting the smooth transition from
safety-driver trials to fully driverless public transportation.
The extensive distance travel to date provides a substantial
operational base for evaluating autonomous driving performance,
refining customer experience and preparing the service for future
expansion.

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Strengthening Strategic Partnerships for Autonomous Mobility
RTA adds a new dimension to Dubai’s public transport ecosystem
through its partnerships with Baidu’s Apollo Go, WeRide, and
Pony.ai. By leveraging autonomous driving technologies and the
fleet operation expertise of these companies. Through their
collaboration with RTA, the three companies aim to co-build a global
benchmark for smart mobility and contribute to solidifying Dubai's
position as a world-leading autonomous city.
This rapid implementation builds on agreements signed between
RTA and the three companies, ensuring timely and on-plan
execution of RTA’s roadmap to introduce autonomous taxi services
in Dubai, in line with the emirate’s continuous development across
all sectors.
The advancement of Dubai’s autonomous mobility ecosystem is
being supported by strategic partnership with leading global
technology and mobility companies. In this context, RTA is working
with its autonomous mobility partners to expand access to
driverless transportation and integrate autonomous vehicles into
Dubai’s wider mobility network.
The partnerships represent an important step in connecting
autonomous vehicle technology with Dubai’s established digital
mobility ecosystem. Through these partnerships, riders in selected
areas of Dubai can access fully driverless Robotaxi services,
supporting the integration of autonomous mobility into everyday
journeys and contributing to Dubai’s ambition to scale safe, efficient
and sustainable autonomous transportation.
In the same line, Uber Technologies, Inc (NYSE: UBER) today
announced that Baidu fully driverless Apollo Go vehicles are
officially available to riders on the Uber platform in Dubai, with
New Horizon Luxury Transport serving as the fleet operator.
Meeting Dubai’s Growing Mobility Demand
The advancement of autonomous mobility comes as Dubai
continues to experience sustained population growth, with the
emirate now home to more than 4 million residents. This growth is
generating increasing demand for convenient, efficient and
technology-enabled mobility solutions, while accelerating reliance on
shared mobility and app-based ride-hailing services.

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The scale of this demand is reflected in the performance of Dubai’s
transport network. Public transport, shared mobility and taxis
carried 348 million riders during the first half of 2026, with
average daily ridership reaching 1.9 million. This growing mobility
ecosystem provides a strong foundation for the development and
expansion of autonomous vehicle services.
Building the Future of Urban Mobility
Robotaxis are emerging as a key component of Dubai’s next-
generation mobility ecosystem, complementing public transport,
taxis and shared mobility while offering a new model of safe,
technology-driven transportation.
With millions of kilometres already covered, thousands of customer
journeys completed and satisfaction reaching 97%, Dubai’s
Robotaxi program is moving beyond technology demonstration
towards scaled, real-world autonomous mobility.
The continued expansion of autonomous services will support
Dubai’s vision of becoming a global leader in smart and sustainable
transportation and contribute directly to its ambition of making one
in every four transportation trips autonomous by 2030.

Dubai , August 19, 2026 : Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has
announced its event calendar for the remainder of 2026, featuring international exhibitions,
conferences and business events taking place from August to December 2026 across its two
venues – DWTC, in the heart of Dubai’s central business district, and Dubai Exhibition Centre
(DEC) at Expo City.
The event calendar brings together established international events and industry gatherings
across a diverse range of sectors, including tourism, technology, sustainability, healthcare, food
and beverage, energy, construction, automotive, education and consumer goods, among
others. Reflecting DWTC’s pivotal role in advancing innovation, trade and international
collaboration, featuring flagship events including Arabian Travel Market, Beautyworld, Big5,
Automechanika and GITEX Global.
Mahir Julfar, Executive Vice President at DWTC, said: “The breadth of our calendar for the
remainder of 2026 is significant, bringing together major international events and specialist
industry platforms across multiple sectors. For organisers, our priority is to provide the scale,
flexibility and support they need to deliver successful events, while creating the right
environment for businesses and industries to connect and grow.
“With DWTC and Dubai Exhibition Centre operating as complementary venues, we have the
capacity to accommodate a particularly active period ahead, including several large-scale
events within a concentrated calendar. This expanded venue capacity allows us to respond to
the needs of organisers, support events as they grow and welcome a greater diversity of
industries and audiences across Dubai. Ultimately, it is about ensuring that every event has the
platform to deliver meaningful value for the organisers, participants and the wider business
community.”
August Events Calendar
August closes out the summer season with the final weeks of Dubai Sports World and Modesh
World 2026 (both running to 25 August), alongside the return of Middle East Event Show (18-19
August) and JPEX Entertainment Exhibition (20-23 August). The month’s healthcare calendar
includes Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference & Exhibition (DIHAD)
and The International Emergency and Catastrophe Management Conference and Exhibition
(both 24-26 August), followed by Dubai International Pharmaceuticals and Technologies

Conference and Exhibition – DUPHAT and The International Family Medicine Conference &
Exhibition (both 25-27 August).
September Events Calendar
September brings a diverse programme of international and regional events across DWTC and
DEC, spanning energy, investment, healthcare, technology, travel, finance, cybersecurity and
more.
At DWTC, the month begins with Middle East Energy (1-3 September), followed by International
Property Show and AIM Congress (both 7-9 September). Healthcare and finance events
continue with Dubai World Dermatology and Laser Conference and Exhibition – Dubai Derma
(8-10 September) and Crypto Expo (9-10 September), before the much-awaited return of
Arabian Travel Market (14-17 September).
The second half of the month continues with The Forex Expo (22-23 September) and Seamless
Middle East (22-24 September), before MEIDAM – the 11th International Congress of Medical
Excellence in Dermatology & Aesthetic Medicine (24-26 September). Ru’ya – Careers UAE (28-
30 September) anchors the final week, alongside GOTECH (29 September – 1 October), and
AWS Summit Dubai (30 September).
At Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), GISEC – Gulf Information Security Expo & Conference (16-18
September) brings the cybersecurity community together, followed by Middle East Coatings
Show (28-30 September).
October Events Calendar
At DWTC, October features Beautyworld Dubai (6-8 October), follow by Airport Show & Global
Airport Leaders Forum (12-14 October) and RISE Global Real Estate Investment Summit &
Expo (13-14 October), alongside HR Summit and Paperworld Middle East / Gift & Lifestyle
Middle East (both 13-15 October). The month continues with AccessAbilities Expo (19-21
October), WETEX (20-22 October) and World Green Economy Summit (21-22 October), before
closing with Najah Exhibition (25-27 October), Dubai AI Festival (26-27 October), ArabLab+ and
Growtech Middle East (both 26-28 October), and EHS Public Health Conference (28-29
October).
At Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), October begins with CABSAT and SAT Expo (both 5-7
October), followed by World Tour (10-15 October), Baby & Kids Expo (22-24 October), The
School & Nursery Show (24-25 October), Jewellery, Gem & Technology in Dubai (27-29
October) and Dubai Muscle Show & Active Show (30 October – 1 November).
November Events Calendar
November opens at DWTC with Gulf Host, Gulfood Manufacturing, ISM Middle East and Private
Label Middle East (all 3-5 November), followed by the International Symposium on
Electronic/Emerging Art – ISEA (7-18 November). The month continues with World Tobacco
Middle East (10-11 November) alongside EV World Show, GESS – Global Educational Supplies
& Solutions and World Vape Show (all 10-12 November), before The Mining Show (16-17
November) and a cluster of shows running 16-18 November: Dubai International Food Safety
Conference Applied Nutrition, International Apparel & Textile Fair, Middle East Organic and
Natural Products Expo, Paper Arabia and World Police Summit. The building and construction
sector rounds out the month with Big 5 Global, GeoWorld, HVACR World and LiveableCitiesX
and Future FM (all 23-26 November).

At Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC): Automechanika Dubai, the region’s largest automotive
aftermarket event (10-12 November), the 44th ICAI Annual International Conference (14-15
November), World Art Dubai (19-22 November) and Onset Expo (20-22 November).
December Events Calendar
December brings the 2026 calendar to a close with a diverse programme spanning technology,
healthcare, aviation, mobility, jewellery and more across DWTC and DEC, anchored by GITEX
Global at Dubai Exhibition Centre.
At DWTC, the month begins with the 13th Evolving Practice of Ophthalmology Middle East
Conference (EPOMEC), Jewellery & Bride Arabia (3-6 December) and Gallery of Dreams (3-9
December). The Gitex Global Summit follows from 4-8 December, ahead of Sign & Graphic
Imaging M.E. Exhibition (7-9 December), UITP Conference (9-10 December) and MEBAA Show
Dubai (10-12 December).
GITEX Global, the world’s largest technology show, takes place from 8-11 December, bringing
together the global technology community together at its new home at Dubai Exhibition Centre
at Expo City.
The year closes with International Summit for Aviation Training/ISAT (14-15 December),
followed by a trio of consumer shows, Asia Baby Children Maternity Exhibition, International
Appliance and Electronics Show and China Products Fair (all 15-17 December).

Dubai, August 19, 2026 : The Dubai International Holy Quran Award has received a record 20,500 applications from 135 countries for its 29th edition in 2027, attracting the broadest international participation in the history of Quran awards.

The award is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

This record-breaking participation reflects the remarkable success of the award’s comprehensive developmental vision, “In Search of the Most Beautiful Quran Recitation in the World,” which has fundamentally transformed the award by introducing direct personal applications alongside the traditional nomination process through participants’ home countries or accredited Islamic centers.

The vision also introduced the largest prize package in the history of Quran awards, with total prize money exceeding AED12 million, in addition to significant updates to the award’s categories, eligibility criteria, evaluation, and participation mechanisms.

Ahmed Darwish Al Muhairi, Director-General of the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai International Holy Quran Award, affirmed that the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has transformed Dubai into the centre of an unprecedented global movement dedicated to learning, memorising, mastering, and promoting the Holy Quran.

He noted that this level of international participation, which has surpassed all expectations, confirms that the award’s new developmental vision is opening broader and more inspiring horizons in serving the Holy Quran while strengthening the connection of future generations with its teachings, values, and noble principles.

“Today, with these record numbers of participants, the award’s impact extends across a vast geographical and human landscape around the world. Its influence now goes far beyond participation figures, generating exceptional engagement with the Award and the outstanding Quranic voices participating throughout every stage,” he said.

Applications were received from a broad international landscape, including Arab and Islamic countries as well as Muslim communities in non-Muslim nations across every continent. Egypt ranked first with 6,838 applications, followed by Indonesia with 1,923, Pakistan with 1,862 and Syria with 1,511 applications.

The Male Category (Over 16 years old) received 14,040 applications, while the Male and Female Category (Under 16 years old) attracted 6,495 applications, including 2,394 female applicants.

The first-place winner in the Male Category (Over 16 years old) will receive US$1 million, while the first-place winner in the Male and Female Category (Under 16 years old) will also receive US$1 million. The second-place winner in each category will receive $100,000, the third-place winner $50,000, and the Global Quranic Personality will be honoured with a $1 million award.

The introduction of direct personal applications, alongside nominations submitted through participants’ home countries or accredited Islamic centres, has also contributed to exceptional growth in participation from around the world by giving outstanding Quranic talents greater flexibility to submit their applications.

The 29th edition also introduces a landmark initiative under which a select group of finalists will be invited to Dubai during the holy month of Ramadan to lead Taraweeh prayers at the emirate’s major mosques. Public voting will then determine the Most Beautiful Quran Recitation in the World during the final stage of the award.

All applications received by the award are undergoing a rigorous preliminary evaluation process based on the highest standards of Tajweed, vocal excellence, recitation quality, and overall performance, with judging panels currently selecting the finest voices to advance to the next stages.

For the Male Category (Over 16 years old), contestants who qualify in the first stage based on vocal excellence, recitation quality, and mastery of Tajweed will advance to the second stage, where the Most Beautiful Quran Recitation in the World will be selected through public voting.

A select group of outstanding contestants will be invited to Dubai during Ramadan to lead Taraweeh prayers at major mosques before public voting takes place from 8th to 16th February 2027.

For the Male and Female Category (Under 16 years old), contestants selected in the first stage based on vocal excellence, recitation quality, and mastery of Tajweed will advance to the second stage, which will be held from 1st to 14th September 2026 through live video judging.

The finalists will then compete in the third stage through public voting to determine the Most Beautiful Quran Recitation in the World from 8th to 16th February 2027, culminating in the award’s closing ceremony during the second week of the blessed month of Ramadan.

The Dubai International Holy Quran Award has firmly established its global standing through achievements spanning 28 editions. Since its launch, 7,826 contestants from 123 countries have participated in the award. The award has distributed more than AED67 million in prize money and has honoured 24 individuals and three institutions with the Global Quranic Personality Award.

Singapore,August 19,2026 : Oil extended gains for a fourth day in Asia trade, with Brent and WTI near three-week highs.

Brent crude edged up 26 cents to around $91.28 a barrel, while US WTI crude rose 37 cents to around $85.31.

Both contracts closed Tuesday at their highest levels since July 24.

Washington , August 19, 2026 : Apple released iOS 26.6.1 on August 17, patching 29 security vulnerabilities, including a critical ImageIO flaw enabling arbitrary code execution via crafted images and a Telephony bug letting network attackers bypass IPSec authentication to intercept traffic.

The update also covers iPadOS 26.6.1, macOS 26.6.2, and visionOS 26.6.1, with most fixes targeting WebKit — around a third of which Apple credits to OpenAI’s internal Codex Security team.

The release, arriving just 11 days after an emergency macOS 26.6.1 fix for a separate Screen Sharing flaw, reflects Apple’s accelerated update cadence amid AI-powered hacking concerns and comes weeks before the expected iOS 27 launch.

The company also released the first Release Candidates for macOS Tahoe 26.7 and macOS Sequoia 15.8 on the same day, suggesting that the security push extends to older operating systems still in active use.

Release notes for the macOS updates are characteristically sparse, with Sequoia 15.8 noting only that “this update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users.”

August 19, 2026 : Old prices edged higher in early Asian trade on Wednesday as U.S. Treasury yields eased from recent highs, while market participants ‌awaited the release of the Federal Reserve’s meeting minutes.

Spot gold was ‌up 0.2% at $4,342.33 per ounce, as of 0030 GMT after falling nearly 2% on Tuesday. Meanwhile, U.S. ​gold futures for December delivery edged 0.6% lower to $4,396.30.

Among other metals, spot silver fell 0.5% to $62.99 per ounce. ​Platinum climbed 0.3% to $1,717.03, ‌while palladium lost 0.3% at $1,286.73.

Dubai , August 18, 2026 : Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced the launch
of the second edition of the Road Safety Film Festival, with total prizes
of up to AED 300,000, including cash awards and recognition trophies,
and sponsored by Azizi Developments. The launch follows the success
of the festival’s inaugural edition, launched by RTA in 2025, which
attracted more than 100 creative entries, showcasing a diverse range of
innovative ideas and content in road safety awareness.
The competition aims to promote awareness of safe road behaviours
through the production of short awareness films that cultivate a culture of
compliance with traffic laws and regulations and reduce dangerous road
behaviours. It also provides individuals, university students, government
entities and private-sector companies with an opportunity to present
creative and impactful ideas that spread awareness across broader
community segments.
RTA will begin accepting entries from 24th August to 22nd November
2026 through its website at www.rta.ae/roadsafetyfilmfestival, which
sets out the participation requirements, submission process, evaluation
criteria and competition categories.
Hussain Al Banna, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, said the
competition forms part of RTA’s efforts to develop its traffic awareness
tools and broaden their reach across different segments of the
community. He noted that short films are among the most effective
means of delivering awareness messages, particularly amid the growing
reach of digital platforms and social media.
Al Banna added that the success of the festival’s first edition, which
attracted more than 100 entries, highlights the importance of
harnessing creativity and visual content to support traffic awareness
efforts. He noted that the second edition builds on this approach by
providing greater scope for talent and innovative ideas and encouraging
the community to contribute to promoting a culture of road safety.

Al Banna added that entries will be accepted across three main
categories: Individuals and University Students; Government
Entities and Private-Sector Companies; and Community. These
categories include subcategories covering awareness of the leading
causes of traffic accidents, the promotion of safe driving behaviours and
the portrayal of real-life stories from the community.
He explained that the prizes for the top three places in the first and third
categories are AED 30,000 for first place, AED 20,000 for second place
and AED 10,000 for third place, with total cash prizes of AED 240,000.
Winners in the Government Entities and Private-Sector Companies
category will receive recognition trophies.
Al Banna added that RTA has allocated a prize within the Community
category for films featuring real-life stories of traffic accident victims, with
the aim of highlighting the consequences of unsafe behaviours and
failure to comply with traffic regulations, while reinforcing individual and
collective responsibility on the road.
The initiative is aligned with global trends supporting the use of visual
content in road safety awareness. Campaigns supported by visual
materials can communicate messages more effectively, particularly when
human stories are combined with factual information relating to accidents
and injuries, serving to curb dangerous behaviours such as speeding,
using mobile phones while driving and failing to wear seat belts.
The CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency confirmed that RTA will
incorporate the winning films into its ongoing traffic awareness
programmes by featuring them in educational lectures, workshops, road
safety campaigns and across RTA’s digital platforms, thereby extending
the reach of the awareness messages and sustaining their impact.
The second edition of the festival forms part of RTA’s Traffic Safety and
Awareness Strategy, which is underpinned by the “Zero Fatalities” vision
and aims to drive Dubai and the UAE toward achieving some of the
world’s best road safety performance levels. This is supported by
developing an integrated and sustainable awareness framework
targeting different categories of road users and promoting safe and
responsible road behaviours.
RTA’s Traffic Safety and Awareness Strategy focuses on delivering
specialised awareness programmes and initiatives targeting key groups,
including students, truck drivers and delivery riders, in cooperation and
partnership with Dubai Police, government entities and strategic
partners. It further seeks to enhance safety in residential and school areas by developing pedestrian crossings, directional signage,
pedestrian bridges and other solutions that support road safety.
The strategy’s overarching objective is to reduce traffic fatalities and
serious injuries and work towards providing a safe and sustainable traffic
environment for all road users by combining awareness and education
with safe road design and integrated efforts among the relevant entities.
Among RTA’s key awareness programmes for students are the “Golden
Rules for Generational Safety” programme for middle-school students,
the “Hello, My School” programme for kindergarten pupils and the
“Virtual Driving Licence” programme for secondary-school students. RTA
also runs specialised campaigns targeting truck drivers and delivery
riders, including the “Safe and Healthy Summer” campaign for delivery
riders and joint inspection initiatives aimed at reducing violations and
dangerous road behaviours.

Dubai , August 18, 2026 : Emirates Extrusion Factory (EEF), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Dubai Investments and a leading manufacturer of aluminium profiles for
architectural, engineering and industrial applications, delivered its strongest first-half
production performance in a decade during H1 2026, supported by sustained customer
demand, manufacturing efficiency and disciplined operational execution.
The achievement was driven by efficient production planning, effective management of
mixed-order schedules, uninterrupted raw material availability and strong cross-functional
coordination across operations. During the period, EEF achieved a peak monthly production
output of 1,500 metric tonnes, its highest monthly production level in the last decade,
highlighting the strength and consistency of its manufacturing operations.
EEF also recorded its strongest first-half sales performance of the decade. Compared to the
corresponding period in 2025, production and sales volumes increased by 24%, reflecting
the success of the company's process improvements, customer-focused approach and
ongoing investments in operational capabilities. The results further strengthen EEF's position
as a leading aluminium extrusion manufacturer in the region and provide a solid foundation
for continued growth in the second half of the year.
Sreekumar Brahmanandan, General Manager of Emirates Extrusion Factory, said:"Our
H1 2026 performance marks Emirates Extrusion Factory's strongest first-half production
performance in a decade and reflects the strength of customer demand, the commitment of
our team and the effectiveness of our operational strategy. Achieving a peak monthly
production output of 1,500 metric tonnes during the period underscores our ability to
maximise manufacturing efficiency while consistently delivering the quality, reliability and
service standards our customers expect. This achievement reinforces our commitment to
operational excellence and continuous improvement. As we move forward, we remain
focused on enhancing productivity, strengthening customer partnerships and building on this
momentum to support sustainable growth across our key markets."
EEF also strengthened its order pipeline across domestic and export markets, reflecting
sustained customer confidence in the company's manufacturing capabilities, product quality
and delivery reliability. Serving customers across the UAE, the wider GCC, Asia and Africa,
the company remains well positioned to support a broad range of architectural, engineering
and industrial applications.
The strong H1 performance demonstrates EEF's ability to meet growing demand across
construction, infrastructure and industrial sectors while maintaining operational resilience,
production flexibility and manufacturing efficiency.
Established in 1995, Emirates Extrusion Factory is among the UAE's pioneering aluminium
extrusion manufacturers and has contributed to numerous construction, infrastructure and
industrial projects over the past three decades. The company supplies green-certified
aluminium profiles to customers across the UAE, the wider GCC, Asia and Africa, supporting
a broad range of architectural, engineering and industrial applications

Ajman , August 18, 2026 : The Ajman Municipality and Planning Department announced that the total value of rental contracts registered during the first half of 2026 reached approximately AED2.91 billion, across a total of 73,472 contracts.​ The figures reflect the emirate’s sustained activity and underscore its growing appeal as a preferred destination for living, investment and doing business, in line with Ajman Vision 2030, which aims to create a competitive business environment and an investment climate that drives economic growth and enhances investment promotion and attraction programmes.Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director-General of the Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, said the emirate continues to consolidate its position as an integrated and ideal destination, supported by flexible legislation, advanced infrastructure and smart services that facilitate customer journeys and enhance quality of life and community wellbeing​ . He added that Ajman continues to meet the needs of residents and investors, supporting the emirate’s comprehensive and sustainable development​ . Al Nuaimi said the results clearly demonstrate growing confidence in Ajman and reflect the success of integrated efforts to provide a supportive and enabling environment for individuals and business owners, meeting their aspirations and keeping pace with the emirate’s continued growth across sectors that contribute to sustainable economic development​ . Yousef Mohammed Al Sheiba Al Nuaimi, Executive Director of the Rental Regulation Sector at the department, outlined the indicators, saying they confirm continued activity in rental contracts and sustained demand for housing and investment​. He stressed that the department remains committed to developing the rental regulation ecosystem and harnessing the latest smart technologies and advanced systems.