United Arab Emirates

Emirates customers made over one million connections to Starlink Wi-Fi in seven months, using more than one petabyte of data through the satellite internet service accessible free onboard aircraft in the fleet

Under Roads and Transport Authority's People Happiness programme Dubai will equip 30 pedestrian bridges across the emirate with moving sensors that action light when people walk by, aiming to improve safety and comfort for residents crossing major roads

Gold jewellery in the UAE is costing up to 13% less than in India, and many UAE residents travelling home for holidays wonder how much gold they can legally carry into India after changes to baggage rules in 2026 and revised duty-free allowances for gold

A new phase of streamlined, fully digital work permit services has been launched to speed up hiring processes; the new unified platform will offer access to 13 different permit types to boost efficiency in UAE labour market

A second oil pipeline bypassing strait of Hormuz will be completed by 2027; the State oil company has disclosed and accelerated the project, which is expected to double export capacity transporting fuel to Fujairah area bordering northern Oman

Residents in Abu Dhabi have been warned about a surge in fake social media accounts and messages aimed at defrauding the public and stealing personal data by promoting a range of scams: concert tickets, domestic worker recruitment, insurance products

The pause on NASA Gateway lunar space project was welcomed by the UAE, reiterating its long-term commitment to space exploration; the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre will continue collaborating with NASA, aiming to advance the nation’s lunar capabilities

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