All

Sharjah, January 29, 2026 — The Xposure International Photography Festival 2026 opened to a strong public turnout on Thursday, as visitors gathered at Aljada in Sharjah to experience the opening day of the festival’s landmark 10th edition, held under the theme “A Decade of Visual Storytelling.”

Audiences explored a wide range of interactive displays, exhibitions and introductory sessions as Xposure launched its seven-day programme dedicated to photography, film and visual storytelling. The festival offers an extensive lineup of activities, including workshops for children and adults, public talks, panel discussions, portfolio review sessions, and opportunities to engage directly with photographers and documentary filmmakers from around the world.

A highlight of this year’s edition was the introduction of an interactive experience that brought photography and music together, expanding visual storytelling beyond static images into live artistic performance. In one of the festival halls, photographic exhibitions were complemented by musical renditions of classic works by Umm Kulthum and Fairuz, performed by Julie Al Bahiri, a media student at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), alongside her colleague Abdulrahman Tawfiq on the oud.

The spontaneous performance blended seamlessly with the surrounding exhibitions, creating a dynamic interaction between visitors and the creative space, and drawing warm engagement from audiences. The musical intervention reflects Xposure’s broader commitment to supporting emerging talent and providing the public with an integrated artistic experience where image and sound intersect.

Education and professional development remain central to Xposure 2026, with 280 portfolio review sessions, a wide range of hands-on workshops, and discussions examining visual storytelling across editorial, documentary and creative practices.

Spanning indoor and outdoor spaces across Aljada’s 49,000-square-metre venue, the festival features 95 exhibitions showcasing more than 3,200 artworks. In total, over 570 visual events are scheduled throughout the festival, organised across 12 thematic zones.

The 10th edition of the Xposure International Photography Festival runs from January 29 to February 4, 2026, at Aljada, Sharjah.

Ajman, UAE – January 28, 2026

Mark & Save, one of the Gulf region’s fastest-growing large-format value retail chains, has strengthened its regional presence with the opening of its 22nd hyperstore in the GCC, marking its ninth outlet in the UAE. The new hyperstore, located in Al Tallah, Ajman, is part of the company’s aggressive expansion strategy that will see seven additional stores launched across the GCC within the next six months.

Spanning over 100,000 square feet, the multi-storied hyperstore has been designed to offer customers a spacious, comfortable, and convenient shopping environment. It features an extensive range of categories including fresh food, groceries, household essentials, electronics, hot food, bakery, fashion, and lifestyle products, positioning the outlet as a comprehensive one-stop shopping destination.

Established in 2022 to address a growing demand for value-driven retail in the region, Mark & Save has rapidly scaled its operations in just a few years. The Ajman opening underscores the brand’s growing popularity among cost-conscious consumers seeking quality products at competitive prices.

“Mark & Save continues to expand its footprint across the UAE and the GCC by combining value-driven pricing with an unmatched customer experience,” said Debangshu Adhikari, Senior Vice President at Mark & Save. “We are extremely encouraged by the increasing consumer confidence in our value proposition, which delivers high-quality products at very affordable prices while maximizing customer savings.”

He added that the brand challenges the long-held perception that quality must come at a premium. “Our business model proves that high-quality products can indeed be affordable. By closely listening to our customers, we are able to continuously redefine value in the retail space.”

Operational excellence has played a key role in the brand’s rapid growth. Mohammed Fasil, Head of Operations at Mark & Save, highlighted the significance of reaching 22 stores within three years. “This achievement reflects strong teamwork, effective leadership, and meticulous planning executed with precision, particularly in an intensely competitive retail environment,” he said.

As part of its expansion strategy, Mark & Save has diversified its supply chain, sourcing products from countries including Poland, Turkey, Norway, the UK, Spain, China, Bangladesh, and Thailand, ensuring variety, quality, and competitive pricing across its product portfolio.

With a workforce exceeding 5,000 employees, the retailer continues to contribute to job creation and growth within the regional retail sector. Each Mark & Save hyperstore offers access to more than 200,000 product varieties under one roof, reinforcing the brand’s positioning as a destination for “affordable luxury.”

Mark & Save operates under the umbrella of Western International Group, one of the largest retail networks in the GCC. Currently present in the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, the company has outlined ambitious global growth plans, targeting 500 stores worldwide, including future expansions into India, Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe.

Dubai January 28 , 2026 : Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) completed 67 rapid traffic improvement measures across various areas of the emirate in 2025. These included 46 enhancements at key locations along major arterial roads and within residential areas, 12 improvements in school zones, and nine traffic enhancements across development
areas. This achievement forms part of a comprehensive strategic plan developed by the RTA to deliver rapid traffic improvement
measures aimed at optimising road network efficiency, improving traffic flow, and maintaining the safety of all road users.
RTA is preparing to implement more than 45 traffic improvement measures in 2026, including the widening and upgrading of key
intersections and development areas, enhancements to entry and exit points in residential and commercial districts, and the delivery of a package of rapid traffic improvement measures within school zones.
These traffic improvements reflect RTA’s commitment to delivering the leadership’s vision for sustainable infrastructure development, supporting mobility efficiency, reducing travel time & traffic congestion, and strengthening connectivity between residential, educational, and development areas. 

The initiatives align with Dubai’s ongoing urban growth while contributing to improved quality
of life and community well-being across the emirate. 
The rapid traffic solutions and improvement measures implemented in 2025 delivered tangible and measurable impacts, including enhanced road network efficiency, improved vehicular flow, and
reduced journey times by up to 45% within improvement areas. The measures also contributed to increasing 

vehicular capacity by up to  33% on several roads within the scope of the work of these improvements.
Traffic Improvements in Key Areas and Major Roads . The solutions and improvement undertaken in 2025 gave gad a
clear impact in enhancing traffic flow and expanding road capacity  across several key areas, most notably Al Warqa’a, Al Barsha
South, Nad Al Hamar, and Al Ras, as well as along major corridors  including Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Meydan Street, Emirates Road towards Sharjah, Umm Al Sheif Street, Al Wasl Street, Ras Al Khor  Road, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street, and Al Manara Street.  In 2025, RTA also completed a series of enhancements along key
roads, most notably the widening of Sheikh Zayed Road towards Al Meydan Street from two to three lanes at the entrance to Al
Khawaneej, as well as increasing the capacity of Al Meydan Bridge from three to four lanes. The works further included widening the exit from Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Meydan Street from one to two lanes and expanding the connecting links between at-grade roads and the bridge. Additional traffic improvements were implemented at the intersection of Al Wasl Street and Al Manara Street, resulting in a 50% increase in vehicular capacity and more than 30% reduction
in waiting times. Traffic Improvements in School Zones  Over the past year, RTA also implemented 12 traffic improvement
measures serving more than 30 schools across Dubai,  as part of its strategy to enhance road network efficiency and ensure smoother traffic operations, particularly within school zones.
Key locations included Al Warqa’a First School Complex, Mizhar First School Complex, Al Qusais School Complex, Al Mawakeb
School in Al Garhoud, English College in Al Safa 1, Zayed Educational Complex in Mizhar 4, and Al Barsha South School
Complex, in addition to several other schools across various areas of the emirate. 

The improvements included providing dedicated parking areas, upgrades to entry and exit points, and implementing traffic calming measures, contributing to reduced congestion and queuing, while  improving road efficiency and enhancing traffic safety levels in school zones.

Dubai , january 27 , 2026 : Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed cooperation agreements with five government entities to exchange knowledge, expertise and best practices, following its selection as an ‘Elite Entity’ under the Leadership Partners initiative in government excellence.

The initiative is led by the Dubai Government Excellence Programme under the General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai.

The agreements were signed with the Legal Affairs Department of the Government of Dubai, Dubai Government Human Resources Department, Community Development Authority, Endowment and Minors’ Trust Foundation (Awqaf Dubai), and Dubai Sports Council. They aim to enhance institutional cooperation and strengthen capabilities in areas including corporate excellence, leadership, project management, policy and initiative management, and operations management.

Signed at RTA’s headquarters, the agreements establish a corporate partnership framework under which RTA will act as a supporting entity for the participating organisations. This includes identifying partnership opportunities, sharing RTA’s success stories, transferring expertise, and organising awareness and training workshops to address development needs through clear and structured improvement plans.

The agreements were signed by Muna Al Osaimi, CEO of Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector at RTA, along with senior representatives from the participating entities: Shaikha Nasser Alqattan from the Legal Affairs Department of the Government of Dubai; Amna Hamood Obaid Al Suwaidi from the Dubai Government Human Resources Department; Maitha Mohammed Al Shamsi from the Community Development Authority; Ahmed Mohammed Al Yasi from Awqaf Dubai; and Ahmad Abdelkarim AlFahim from Dubai Sports Council.

Commenting on the occasion, Al Osaimi said:
“The Leadership Partners initiative embodies the vision of our wise leadership to foster a culture of collective action across the Government of Dubai. RTA’s selection as an elite entity reflects our commitment to supporting government organisations through knowledge exchange, the sharing of best practices, and the transfer of expertise, enabling the delivery of proactive and integrated services to the public.”

She added that RTA places strong emphasis on disseminating excellence, innovation and quality across its operations, accelerating development programmes, and enhancing performance efficiency in line with community expectations and the objectives of the Dubai Government Excellence Programme.

Al Osaimi further explained that the partnership is based on a short-term, clearly defined cooperation model under which RTA will support participating entities through knowledge transfer, data and research sharing, and other activities related to corporate excellence and leadership. Particular focus will be placed on project, initiative and policy management, as well as operations management.

She noted that the agreements also include identifying success stories and best practices to address improvement areas highlighted through evaluation reports and self-assessments, supported by targeted awareness and training workshops aligned with effective institutional development plans.

Al Osaimi expressed her pride in RTA’s selection as an elite entity, highlighting that it reflects the authority’s continued efforts to advance corporate excellence and strengthen its reputation at both regional and international levels.

Leadership Partners Initiative

Launched in June 2022 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, the Leadership Partners initiative aims to reinforce Dubai’s position as a global benchmark in government services. The initiative promotes cooperation among elite government entities, the exchange of expertise, and the dissemination of best practices, supported by performance indicators and continuous monitoring under the Dubai Government Excellence Programme.

Dubai , January 26 , 2026 : As part of its ongoing commitment to delivering a seamless, safe, and
comfortable public transport experience, Dubai’s Roads and Transport
Authority (RTA), in collaboration with Keolis-MHI (Dubai Metro and Tram
Operator), has launched an new Safety and Public Transport Etiquette
Campaign across Metro and Tram networks, in line with the highest global
standards of safety and service quality.
Hassan Al Mutawa, Director of Rail Operations at RTA’s Rail Agency, said:
“The campaign aims to reinforce a culture of courteous and responsible
passenger behaviour through focused awareness of key practices. These
include proper cabin selection, giving priority seating to people of
determination and senior citizens, keeping doorways clear to maintain
smooth movement, and respecting the rights and privacy of fellow
commuters. With Dubai Metro and Tram recognised among the world’s most
efficient and advanced transport systems, the campaign seeks to ensure
that every journey reflects the highest standards of safety and comfort.”
Al Mutawa explained that the campaign places a renewed focus on
enhancing passenger experience through smooth and comfortable journeys,
reducing risks, ensuring a safe environment inside trains and stations, and
improving passenger flow while preventing obstruction, contributing
positively to operational efficiency and overall service quality.
He further noted: “The campaign is implemented through an integrated
communication ecosystem, including guidance materials inside Metro and
Tram carriages, digital screens, awareness signage at stations, and social
media platforms, ensuring that awareness messages reach all segments of
the community across different age groups.”

Highlighting the role of frontline teams, Al Mutawa said: “Our station staff,
including Customer Happiness employees, ticket inspectors, and operational
teams, play a vital role in supporting awareness efforts on ground. Through
daily interaction with passengers, clear guidance, and real-time assistance,
they help reinforce safety and etiquette messages, contributing to a
smoother and more comfortable travel experience for all users.”
“This campaign forms part of RTA’s ongoing efforts to develop the public
transport network in Dubai and deliver innovative and smart solutions that
serve residents and visitors to the emirate, while aligning with other
initiatives aimed at improving traffic movement and enhancing efficiency of
the mobility system.”
He concluded: “Public transport is a shared space, and maintaining its safety
is a collective responsibility. This campaign goes beyond reminders; it
reinforces the culture of respect and awareness that distinguishes Dubai.
We are proud of our teams who work around the clock to ensure that every
journey is safe, smooth, and aligned with the emirate’s vision for smart and
sustainable mobility.”
The new Safety and Public Transport Etiquette Campaign aligns with RTA’s
comprehensive strategy, which places safety, inclusivity, and operational
efficiency at the forefront of its priorities, supporting Dubai’s ambition to
strengthen its position as a global leader in smart mobility and urban
transport.”

Ras Al Khaimah, January 22, 2026 : Al Hamra has set a new benchmark in Ras Al Khaimah’s luxury real estate market with the sale of the Sky Palace at the Waldorf Astoria Residences Ras Al Khaimah for USD 35.4 million (AED 130 million), marking the highest-value single-unit residential transaction ever recorded in the emirate.

In a separate high-profile deal, the developer also completed the sale of the development’s signature penthouse for USD 15 million (AED 55 million), further highlighting the growing demand for premium, lifestyle-driven residential offerings in Ras Al Khaimah.

Together, the two landmark transactions reinforce Al Hamra’s standing as one of the UAE’s most trusted real estate developers, showcasing its capability to conceptualize, deliver, and market ultra-luxury residential projects that meet international standards.

The Sky Palace is a one-of-a-kind residence crowning the uppermost levels of the beachfront Waldorf Astoria Residences tower. Spanning approximately 10,000 square feet across three levels, the home offers unmatched scale, exclusivity, and privacy. Residents enjoy sweeping, uninterrupted views of the Arabian Gulf, the upcoming Wynn Al Marjan Island integrated resort, and the rugged Hajar Mountains.

Owners of the Sky Palace benefit from exclusive access to private residents’ amenities located on the 16th floor, including a residents’ lounge, library, cigar lounge, and private cinema. A dedicated ferry service connects residents directly to Wynn Al Marjan Island, providing seamless access to world-class dining, entertainment, and leisure while maintaining the privacy of an elite residential address.

The development’s signature penthouse, also housed within the beachfront tower, spans approximately 6,000 square feet across the 19th and 20th floors. Designed with privacy and refinement in mind, the residence offers 360-degree panoramic views, redefining elevated coastal living in one of Ras Al Khaimah’s most sought-after waterfront locations.

Commenting on the milestone, Benoy J. Kurien, Group Chief Executive Officer of Al Hamra, said: “The Sky Palace embodies our vision for luxury living in Ras Al Khaimah, where exclusivity, scale, and quality of life converge to create lasting value. This record-setting sale reflects not only the market’s confidence in the emirate’s growth trajectory, but our belief that the most enduring investments are those that enrich how life is lived.”

With these milestone transactions, Al Hamra has set a new standard for ultra-luxury residential development in Ras Al Khaimah, further strengthening the emirate’s profile as an emerging global lifestyle and investment destination.