Dubai Times

Skillibeng to Headline Performance at Club BLU Dubai

Jamaican dancehall artist Skillibeng will perform at Club BLU in Al Habtoor City as Dubai’s luxury nightlife venues continue to attract international performers.

UAE Expresses Solidarity With Central African Republic After Deadly Mine Collapse

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has offered condolences and support to the Central African Republic after a mine collapse in Zamboye left more than one hundred miners dead or seriously injured.

DEWA Expands Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park Toward Eight-Gigawatt Target

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority says the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park has reached 3,860 megawatts of capacity and is on track to exceed eight gigawatts by the end of the decade.

Five New Community Shopping Malls Planned Across Dubai by Year-End

Developers are expanding suburban retail capacity across Dubai, with Shamal Holding opening The Grand in Nad Al Sheba Gardens to provide grocery, dining and healthcare services for nearby residential communities.

Cooler Weather, Fog and Rain Forecast Across the UAE This Weekend

The UAE’s National Centre of Meteorology expects a break from intense summer heat, with convective clouds bringing rain to eastern and southern areas alongside strong winds and blowing dust.

Dubai Municipality Restructures Twenty Public Services to Reduce Bureaucracy

Dubai Municipality has merged or discontinued thirteen services and transferred seven environmental permits to the newly established Climate Change Authority as part of the government’s Services 360 policy.

UAE Media Authority Suspends Influencer Over Content Deemed Insulting to Emirati Women

The UAE National Media Authority has suspended a female resident’s advertising permit for three months after authorities said her social media content violated the Media Regulation Law and undermined community values.

Etihad Airways Becomes First Global Airline to Accept UAE’s Jaywan Payment Card

Etihad Airways now allows passengers to pay for flights through the UAE’s domestic Jaywan payment system, with exclusive fares and priority benefits planned for Jaywan Royal cardholders.

Dubai Autonomous Mobility Fleet Passes Four Million Kilometers

Dubai’s autonomous mobility fleet has travelled more than four million kilometers and recorded a ninety-seven percent customer satisfaction rate across more than 7,600 passenger trips as the emirate pursues its goal of making a quarter o...

Dubai Commercial Property Transactions Reach AED 15.8 Billion as Office Prices Surge

Commercial real estate transactions in Dubai tripled to AED 15.8 billion in the first half of 2026, while prices for premium Grade A office space rose eighty-five percent from a year earlier.

Abu Dhabi Cancels Shakira and Christina Aguilera Concerts Over Regional Security Concerns

Organizers have cancelled the Offlimits music festival and separate concerts featuring Shakira and Christina Aguilera, with ticket refunds promised as the wider regional conflict disrupts Gulf tourism and entertainment events.

UAE Declares Paid Public Holiday for Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday on August 28

The UAE government has confirmed Friday, August 28, as a paid national holiday for the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday, creating a three-day weekend for employees whose normal schedule runs from Saturday to Sunday.

Al Maktoum International Airport Awards Contract for Fifty-Kilometer Automated People Mover

A consortium led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Larsen & Toubro will build a driverless rail system with nine stations and 165 vehicles to connect terminals at Dubai’s expanding Al Maktoum International Airport.

Uber Launches Baidu’s Fully Driverless Apollo Go Robotaxis in Dubai

Passengers in Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim can now book fully autonomous rides through the Uber app as Uber and Baidu begin deploying a dedicated robotaxi fleet on Dubai’s public roads.

Dubai Property Investment Surges to AED 111 Billion in First Half of 2026

Real estate investment in Dubai rose fifty-two percent to more than AED 111 billion in the first half of the year, with 104 completed projects adding more than 24,500 residential units and land allocations rising sharply.

International Airlines Extend Dubai Flight Suspensions as Gulf Airspace Restrictions Persist

Several foreign carriers, including Air Astana, have postponed the resumption of flights to Dubai International Airport into late autumn, while Emirates, flydubai and Etihad continue core operations amid regional instability.

Saudi Arabia Tightens Oversight of Financial Transfers Involving the UAE

Saudi regulators have placed the United Arab Emirates under heightened scrutiny for potential illicit money flows, increasing oversight of cross-border transactions involving real estate and precious metals.

UAE Suspends Trade and Financial Transactions With Iran Amid Escalating Gulf Conflict

The United Arab Emirates has halted commercial and financial dealings with Iran following missile attacks targeting Emirati ships and a worsening security situation around the Strait of Hormuz.

UAE Intercepts Two Iranian Ballistic Missiles Targeting Maritime Traffic

The UAE Ministry of Defence said two Iranian ballistic missiles fell into the sea without causing damage, while authorities issued safety alerts as regional tensions in the Gulf intensified.

Abu Dhabi Exhibition Company Prepares for Busy Autumn Conference Season

The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company completed preparations for an autumn calendar featuring major international conferences and trade shows covering defense, energy, financial technology and medical technology.

Emirates Links Bicester Village Shopping With Direct Home Delivery to UAE Customers

Emirates partnered with Bicester Village to combine online luxury shopping with home delivery in the United Arab Emirates through the airline’s Emirates Delivers logistics service.

Dubai Expands Urban Greening Under the Dubai 2040 Master Plan

Dubai Municipality planted thousands of indigenous trees and expanded shaded pedestrian corridors across key districts as part of efforts to improve urban microclimates and city livability.

Sharjah Research Park Builds European Partnerships in Clean Technology

The Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park signed agreements with European academic institutions to establish joint laboratories focused on solar-energy efficiency and agricultural technologies suited to extremely dry climates.

Dubai Hosts International Talks on Ethical Artificial Intelligence Governance

The Dubai Future Foundation brought together policymakers, technology entrepreneurs and ethics experts for a ministerial roundtable focused on developing collaborative approaches to managing risks from generative artificial intelligence.

Abu Dhabi Deploys New AI Supercomputing Clusters for Advanced Computing

A global AI supercomputing consortium completed the installation of next-generation graphics processing unit clusters in Abu Dhabi, providing high-performance computing capacity for domestic language-model development.

UAE Expands School Curriculum With Coding, AI and Robotics

The Ministry of Education introduced mandatory foundational computing, artificial intelligence literacy and robotics problem-solving modules across public-school education.

Etihad Unveils Upgraded Long-Haul Aircraft With New Business Class Suites

Etihad Airways introduced retrofitted Boeing aircraft with upgraded cabins, improved passenger connectivity and more sustainable dining materials as it competes in the premium long-haul market.

Ras Al Khaimah Reports Double-Digit Growth in European and Regional Visitors

Ras Al Khaimah recorded double-digit year-on-year growth in European and regional visitor numbers, supported by new luxury hotels and continued expansion of its coastal leisure and adventure tourism offering.

Dubai Launches Autumn and Winter Tourism Campaign to Sustain Visitor Momentum

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism began an international campaign promoting cultural festivals, culinary events and luxury hospitality offerings ahead of the peak autumn and winter travel season.

PureHealth Expands International Healthcare Portfolio Through Western Acquisitions

PureHealth completed equity acquisitions in overseas medical research facilities as it expands its international healthcare operations and seeks to strengthen the UAE’s position in clinical research and pharmaceutical innovation.

Dubai Courts See More International Commercial and Digital Economy Disputes

The Dubai International Financial Centre Courts handled hundreds of opt-in commercial and digital economy cases involving parties from twenty-two overseas jurisdictions during the first half of 2026, underscoring the emirate’s role in cr...

Emaar Reports Record Off-Plan Sales Across Major Dubai Developments

Emaar Properties said its latest luxury villa and residential tower launches attracted unprecedented investor demand, reflecting continued capital inflows into Dubai’s prime residential market.

Aldar Begins Construction of Sustainable Waterfront Community in Abu Dhabi

Aldar Properties broke ground on a large residential development featuring net-zero energy buildings, mangrove conservation areas and integrated smart-transit networks.

Abu Dhabi Approves Solar-Powered Desalination Plant to Strengthen Water Security

Abu Dhabi energy authorities approved a solar-powered seawater reverse osmosis facility designed to expand potable water reserves while reducing the emissions associated with conventional thermal desalination.

UAE Banks Maintain Strong Capital and Liquidity Buffers, Central Bank Says

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates reported that commercial banks continued to maintain high capital and liquidity ratios, remaining well above international regulatory requirements.

UAE Expands AI Diagnostics Across Government Hospitals

The Ministry of Health and Prevention deployed machine-learning diagnostic software across government medical centers to support earlier cancer detection and streamline patient triage.

UAE Updates Residency Rules to Attract Global Technology Talent

The federal government introduced revised executive visa regulations aimed at speeding residency approvals for digital nomads and specialized technology workers, reinforcing the country’s push to attract international skilled professionals.

UAE Advances Autonomous Air Mobility Trials With Expanded Dubai Test Corridors

Dubai aviation authorities approved expanded testing corridors for commercial drone deliveries and passenger air taxis, moving the emirate closer to its goal of commercial autonomous urban transport networks by the end of the decade.

EGA Signs Long-Term European Contracts for Low-Carbon Aluminum

Emirates Global Aluminium secured export agreements to supply certified sustainable, solar-produced aluminum to European automakers seeking to reduce emissions across their vehicle supply chains.

DP World Completes Jebel Ali Port Upgrades to Improve Mega-Vessel Handling

DP World completed berth deepening and automated crane integration at Jebel Ali Port, with the upgrades designed to improve container handling efficiency along major Asia-Europe maritime trade routes.

Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus Reports 95% Surge in AI and Deep-Tech Startups

The Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus recorded a fifty-seven percent increase in new company registrations during the first half of 2026, with artificial intelligence and deep-tech ventures rising ninety-five percent.

Mubadala Expands Investment in European Clean Energy and Grid Infrastructure

Mubadala Investment Company finalized joint ventures to finance utility-scale renewable energy projects and grid modernization across Western Europe as part of its longer-term effort to decarbonize its investment portfolio.