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.
Dubai , August 17 , 2026 : The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has issued its Financial Stability Report 2025, affirming the strength and resilience of the UAE financial and banking system, supported by the robust performance of the banking sector, adequate capitalisation and liquidity, improved asset quality, and continued growth in credit, deposits and profitability, amid the positive performance of the UAE economy.
The report showed that the UAE banking system’s total assets increased by 17.1 percent to AED5.3 trillion at the end of 2025, while the loan portfolio expanded by 17.8 percent, primarily driven by increased domestic lending, particularly across the retail and private corporate segments.
Asset quality indicators continued to improve, with the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio declining to 3.3 percent in 2025, compared to 4.7 percent in 2024 and 8.2 percent in 2020. The UAE banking system also maintained adequate capitalisation, with the Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) at 17.0 percent at the end of 2025, remaining well above minimum regulatory requirements.
The banking system maintained strong profitability, with net profits increasing by 11.7 percent to AED90.8 billion in 2025, supported by growth in total operating income. It also maintained strong liquidity, supported by continued deposit growth.
The results of the 2025 supervisory stress tests confirmed the banking sector’s resilience to severe economic and financial shocks. Under the adverse scenario, the average Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio declined from 14.1 percent to 11.1 percent at its lowest point during the stress-test horizon, while remaining above the minimum regulatory requirements.
The report also highlighted the continued resilience of other segments of the financial system, including the insurance sector and Islamic banking, as well as the continued development of the UAE’s financial infrastructure and payment systems under the Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) Programme, contributing to the efficiency and resilience of the financial system and supporting digital transformation.
The report highlighted developments in payment systems, including Aani, the Instant Payments Platform, and Jaywan, the UAE’s national card payment scheme, alongside developments in cross-border payments, further enhancing the efficiency and resilience of the UAE’s financial infrastructure.
Khaled Mohamed Balama, Governor of the CBUAE, said, “The Financial Stability Report 2025 affirms the strength and resilience of the UAE financial system and its ability to continue supporting the national economy efficiently, underpinned by adequate capital and liquidity, improved asset quality, and continued growth in credit, deposits and profitability.
“The CBUAE will continue to strengthen its supervisory and prudential frameworks and enhance the financial system’s preparedness to address future risks and challenges, contributing to safeguarding financial stability and supporting sustainable economic growth.”
Vertix Holdings Chairman joins the global business educational body’s industry council for 2026-27 term
Abu Dhabi, August 17, 2026: UAE National business leader Amer Al Ahbabi, Chairman of Vertix Holdings, has been appointed to the Business Influencer Council of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for the 2026–2027 term. His name appears on the Council roster published by AACSB, alongside members representing Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, SHRM, Harvard Business Publishing, Kyndryl, and The Bank of East Asia.
Founded in 1916, AACSB is the accrediting body whose standards are used to assess business schools worldwide. Less than five percent of business programmes globally are accredited by AACSB. It has more than 2,000 member organisations and more than 1,000 accredited business schools spread across 100+ countries and territories where more than five million students have enrolled. AACSB-accredited schools have addressed significant societal challenges, reporting over 700 initiatives between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024 aimed at positively impacting the economy, biosphere, society, and more.
According to its published materials, the Business Influencer Council (BIC) brings the business community into that system, contributing industry perspective on emerging skills and competency gaps, on experiential learning and internships, and on partnerships between employers and business schools.
The purpose of the BIC is to serve as a collaborative partnership for an ongoing and sustainable relationship between the business community and business schools at the business education industry level (AACSB).
Professor Mohammed Madi, Dean, College of Business and Economics, UAE University, says,
—This distinguished appointment places Amer Al Ahbabi among business and thought leaders contributing to global conversations on talent, leadership, innovation, and the skills needed for the future workspace.
—Of particular significance, Amer is the only council member representing this organization from the Arab World, bringing a valuable regional perspective to an international forum that helps shape the future of business education.‖
Al Ahbabi joins the Council as Chairman of Vertix Holdings, a diversified investment group with interests across auditing and financial advisory, real estate, education, technology, hospitality, and asset management. He is the first Emirati to serve on the Global Board of Directors of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), an Ambassador of the UAE Internal Auditors Association, a Fellow Member of the UAE Accountants and Auditors Association, and a board member of the GCC Board Directors Institute, UAE Chapter. He serves as an Advisory Board Member of the College of Business at Abu Dhabi University and at Amity University.
Amer Al Ahbabi says, —Governance and judgment are treated as specialist subjects when they should be part of every business degree. Good judgment is a skill, and skills can be taught. As technology absorbs more of the routine work, judgment is what a graduate carries that lasts — and that is what business education should be building.‖
The Council’s membership is drawn largely from North America, Europe, and Asia. The questions it addresses — which skills matter, how internships should work, how employers and schools should collaborate — are therefore answered against the labour-market conditions of mature economies. Those conditions do not transfer cleanly. Gulf markets have younger workforces, national employment priorities that shape private-sector hiring directly, and regulatory frameworks being built at speed rather than inherited.
Al Ahbabi said his contribution to the Council would focus on three areas: bringing employer-sideevidence on where graduates arrive under-prepared, particularly in governance, risk, and the fast-expanding compliance requirements of the UAE market; expanding structured internships and live client projects through Vertix Auditing and the group’s operating businesses; and strengthening the link between what regional firms need and what business schools research.
He noted that business schools across the Gulf have held international accreditation for twenty-five years, since United Arab Emirates University became the first in the region to achieve it in 2000.
Our region has spent twenty-five years meeting a global standard in business education. We are ready now to help shape it, and to bring the ambition of a young workforce into that conversation,‖ Al Ahbabi adds.
Amer Al Ahbabi now holds seats in two bodies that shape how business and finance professionals are formed: IMA, which sets standards for the profession, and AACSB, which accredits the schools feeding it. These are opposite ends of the same pipeline.
The GCC and UAE would benefit from Ahbabi’s appointment in a number of ways. One of them is competency gaps. The most useful contribution is evidence on where graduates arrive in the job market under-prepared. In the UAE that gap is dateable: corporate tax, transfer pricing, e-invoicing, family business legislation, and expanded compliance obligations have all landed within a few years. Curricula lag regulatory reality while graduates join firms that need those capabilities immediately.
Experiential learning is another gap that could be addressed. Vertix Auditing is an operating audit and advisory firm, and a natural host for structured internships, live client projects, and placements with regional business schools. The Memorandum of Understanding signed with the European Emirati Business Council in February 2026 already covers joint training in accounting, forensic audit, taxation, compliance, and risk. A pilot with a single college would convert the appointment into an outcome.
Research partnership is another area of possible improvement. Gulf business schools often calibrate research toward international journals rather than regional practice. Someone running operating businesses can state plainly what regional firms would fund and use.
National workforce priorities are a crucial gap that Amer Al Ahbabi would look into. Emiratisation and its Gulf equivalents depend on graduates being genuinely employable in the private sector, not merely credentialed. That is the problem the Council exists to solve, approached from the other end.
Dubai, August 15, 2026: The Child and Women Protection Department of the General Department of Human Rights at Dubai Police has urged parents to monitor their children’s use of electronic games, given the significant rise in gaming activity during the summer break. The department has also warned of certain gaming links that can lead to conversations with strangers. In an awareness message to parents as part of its “Our Children’s Safety this Summer” campaign, the Women and Child Protection Department stated: “Some gaming links may conceal dangers far beyond mere entertainment. Certain links lead to conversations with strangers. Keep track of what your child browses and always stay informed.” The Women and Child Protection Department stressed the vital role of family supervision in protecting children from potential risks or crimes linked to electronic games. They emphasised the importance of continuously monitoring the content children browse and the links they access while gaming to safeguard them from unsafe content or communication. The Department also urged parents to activate appropriate privacy settings and parental controls, become familiar with the games and platforms their children use, monitor friend lists and in-game conversations, and encourage children to immediately report any message, link, or contact that makes them feel uneasy. The Women and Child Protection Department further clarified that reports of any cybercrimes linked to electronic games can be submitted through the “e-Crime” platform, by calling 901, or via the Dubai Police app or website. The Department wished all children a safe and secure summer.
