United Arab Emirates

A luxury hotel in Dubai was hit as Iran launched strikes across Middle East in retaliation for a "massive" and ongoing attack against it by the US and Israel; video verified by the BBC shows a fire raging and thick black smoke rises into the sky

Over 700.000 visitors attended this season’s Liwa International Festival, confirming the success of large-scale events; the 23-days festival in Al Dhafra, transforming Tal Moreeb area, UAE’s tallest sand dune, into one of the busiest winter destinations

The UAE is taking part in the Winter Olympics for the very first time, affirming that Emirati sport has neither geographical nor climatic boundaries, but is driven by a clear vision of excellence; one two skiers started skying as a child indoor in Dubai

FoodTech Challenge winners have been proclaimed and awarded $500.000 each; winning ideas demonstrated real-world impact on food loss, yields and resource efficiency: natural produce protectors, tree-health sensors and insect-based waste recycling systems

As Christmas approaches offices across the UAE enter the year-end slowdown, although Christmas Day is not listed among the official public holidays issued under the Cabinet resolution regulating holidays which came into force on 1 January 2025

A new ant has been discovered in Wadi Shees and registered under the scientific name Carebara Sharjahensis, or Sharjah Ant; efforts to monitor local wildlife and study endemic species are ongoing within the Hajar Mountains, ecologically reach UAE region

Commercial operations for fully driverless vehicles have been launched in the emirate, first in the MENA region; the announced was made by Integrated Transport Centre and Abu Dhabi Mobility

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai celebrated Flag Day by hoisting the nation's 'symbol of pride' in the presence of 300 students from schools across the emirate

'Golden Ink: A Journey through Arabic and Islamic Manuscripts' exhibition has opened in Abu Dhabi, offering a fresh look into how handwritten knowledge shaped civilisations; it is a collaboration between DCT Abu Dhabi and McGill University, Canada

The UAE has joined a group of 14 smaller member of WTO in an international initiative aimed at promoting “open and free” trade as "vital to our stability and prosperity" amid growing risks of rising tariffs and economic fragmentation

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre launched a major initiative giving readers access to over 30.000 digital libraries worldwide to promote reading and expand Arabic publications; OverDrive platform for e-book and audiobook is the technology partner