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5 hours ago
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), on Jan. 13, announced the launch of a new air defense coordination cell in Qatar. CENTCOM, the U.S. military command that oversees operations in the Middle East, said the new unit is located at the Al Udeid Air Base and will be operated by personnel from the United States and other regional partners. Called the Middle Eastern Air Defense—Combined Defense Operations Cell, the center is situated within the existing Combined Air Operations Center at Al Udeid Air Base. Over the past 20 years, representatives from 17 nations have helped to coordinate air operations from the Combined Air Operations Center. “This is a significant step forward in strengthening regional defense cooperation,” Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of CENTCOM, said in a statement on Tuesday. “This cell will improve how regional forces coordinate and share air and missile defense responsibilities across the Middle East.” CENTCOM and its regional partners have contended with long-range missile and drone attacks in recent years. In April 2024, Iran launched a wave of one-way attack drones and missiles at Israel in response to an apparent Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria. U.S. forces helped blunt that Iranian barrage, with […]
10 hours ago
Temu has opened its platform to sellers in the UAE, creating new growth opportunities for local businesses while enabling faster delivery times and a broader range of products for consumers. The expansion brings the UAE into Temu’s Local Seller Program, which is already active in more than 30 markets worldwide, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Japan. The move represents the latest step in Temu’s strategy to support locally registered businesses and enhance the shopping experience through quicker fulfilment and local inventory. Under the programme, UAE-registered businesses with locally stocked inventory can now use Temu as a low-cost digital channel to reach millions of customers. The local-to-local model is designed to reduce delivery times while giving consumers access to a wider selection of affordable products. Temu in the UAE “With our local-to-local initiative, we aim to create new growth opportunities for UAE businesses, while giving consumers access to a wider selection of affordable, quality products with faster delivery,” said a Temu spokesperson. Temu launched in the UAE in September 2023 and has rapidly gained traction among consumers drawn to its wide product assortment and competitive pricing. According to Similarweb, Temu ranked as the top shopping app on Android in the […]
10 hours ago
Emirates will launch a daily flight between Helsinki and Dubai from October 1, 2026, strengthening its presence in the Nordic region and introducing the only year-round, direct air link between Finland and the UAE. The new service will operate using Emirates’ newest aircraft type, the A350, bringing the airline’s latest onboard products and its Premium Economy cabin to Finland from the inaugural flight. The route is designed to unlock expanded opportunities for both leisure and corporate travellers. Emirates flight EK167 will depart Dubai at 8.45ams, arriving in Helsinki at 2.55pm. The return service, EK168, will depart Helsinki at 4.45pms, landing in Dubai at 12.20am the following day. The schedule has been optimised to support smooth onward connections, offering access to destinations across East and Southeast Asia including Bangkok, Phuket, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei. The route also provides connectivity across West Asia, popular Indian Ocean destinations, African cities such as Cairo, Cape Town and Johannesburg, major Middle East and GCC hubs including Dammam, Riyadh, Muscat and Kuwait City, all five Australian cities on Emirates’ network, and onward connections from Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand. Emirates to launch Dubai […]
10 hours ago
Saudi Arabia has overtaken the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the largest issuer in the Middle East and North Africa’s sustainable finance market, as total regional issuance reached $35.1 billion in 2025, according to a new report from Bloomberg Intelligence. The report shows that MENA sustainable finance issuance has expanded sevenfold since 2020, underscoring the sector’s rapid structural evolution despite a moderation in volumes last year. Issuance in 2025 was 18 per cent below its 2023 peak, a slowdown Bloomberg Intelligence attributed to global market headwinds rather than regional weakness. Saudi Arabia emerged as the region’s largest issuer by volume in 2025, reaching $19.7 billion and overtaking the UAE. The report said the Kingdom’s rise was supported by the publication of its Green Financing Framework in 2024, which helped provide regulatory clarity and accelerate capital mobilisation at scale. The findings highlight a shift in the MENA sustainable finance market away from a predominantly sovereign-led model towards a more diversified ecosystem anchored by financial institutions and energy-related issuers. Financial companies accounted for almost 50 per cent of total issuance in 2025, up from 32 per cent in 2020, reflecting increased underwriting and lending activity as banks moved to decarbonise balance sheets […]
11 hours ago
Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is set to launch a new pilot initiative for school transport pooling in the first quarter of 2026, as part of its efforts to advance a smart and sustainable transport system and improve daily mobility for school students across the emirate. The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with Yango Group and Urban Express Transport, following the signing of two memoranda of understanding with the private-sector partners. The memoranda of understanding were signed by Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency, on behalf of Roads and Transport Authority. Islam Abdul Karim signed on behalf of Yango Group, while Mohammad Al Hashimi signed on behalf of Urban Express Transport. Ahmed Hashem Bahrozyan, CEO of Public Transport Agency, RTA, said: “In recent years, a noticeable increase has been observed in the number of private vehicles used to transport students to and from schools, which directly affects traffic flow around school zones. “Through this initiative, RTA aims to offer an alternative school transport solution at affordable rates, helping to improve traffic movement and deliver a more efficient daily mobility experience. “The pilot initiative will be implemented in accordance with the highest approved safety and security standards governing school transport, […]
11 hours ago
The UAE has recorded the strongest long-term rise of any country on the Henley Passport Index, climbing 57 places over the past two decades to rank fifth globally in 2026, marking an unprecedented ascent in passport power. According to the latest Henley Passport Index, which marks its 20th anniversary this year and is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), UAE passport holders now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 184 destinations worldwide. This represents an increase of 149 destinations since 2006, the largest gain recorded by any country in the index’s history. UAE passport power The UAE’s passport strength has been built through sustained diplomatic engagement, strategic visa policy and the expansion of bilateral and multilateral partnerships, positioning the country among the world’s most globally connected nations. “The UAE’s rise on the Henley Passport Index is without parallel,” said Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the index. “It demonstrates how long-term vision, political stability, and proactive diplomacy can translate directly into tangible mobility benefits for citizens, and increasing soft power for the country.” The UAE now ranks ahead of traditionally strong passports including New Zealand (6th), the United Kingdom and Australia (both 7th), Canada […]
16 hours ago
Dubai Police have issued a public warning over the growing misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in forging official and unofficial documents, a practice increasingly being used to commit financial fraud and bypass the law. The alert was issued by the Anti-Fraud Centre at the Dubai Police General Department of Criminal Investigation, urging institutions, companies and members of the public to remain vigilant and to carefully verify any documents received via email or social media. As part of Dubai Police’s ongoing #BewareofFraud campaign, the Anti-Fraud Centre stressed the importance of digital awareness across all segments of society. Fraudsters are exploiting rapid technological advances, including AI tools, to produce forged documents that may appear professionally written and well formatted at first glance. Despite their polished appearance, many forged documents contain red flags that specialists can detect. These include inaccurate or inconsistent information, wording that differs from approved official templates, and the use of fake signatures or stamps. Dubai Police advised the public not to rely solely on how documents look. Verification should include checking the source, reviewing digital file details such as creation and modification dates, and confirming the presence of official reference numbers that can be traced. Dubai Police AI fraud The […]
1 day ago
The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) announced that its intensified inspection campaigns and visits conducted over the past six months have resulted in the deportation of more than 1,100 workers who violated labour and residency laws across the Kingdom of Bahrain. Between late September and early January, several inspection drives reported deportations as a result of monitoring violations under the LMRA and Residency Laws. In late September, 127 violators were deported following 1,109 campaigns and visits. In October, 93 deportations were reported after inspection operations. In December and early January, 97 violators were deported during another round of campaigns. Cumulatively, these campaigns and others carried out in recent months have pushed total deportations well past 1,100. During the week of January 4-10, the LMRA conducted 342 inspection campaigns and visits, resulting in the detention of 18 violating and irregular workers and the deportation of 127 violators. The inspection programme included 303 shop visits across all governorates and 39 joint campaignscoordinated with government bodies such as the Ministry of Interior’s Nationality, Passports & Residence Affairs (NPRA), respective Police Directorates, the General Directorate of Crime Detection and Forensic Science, the General Directorate of Verdict Enforcement and Alternative Sentencing, the Ministry of Industry […]
1 day ago
The Second High Labour Court has ordered a fitness centre to pay a Bahraini fitness trainer BD 2,000 in outstanding wages, along with interest for delayed payment and all court costs and legal fees. The court ruled that the centre must pay interest at a rate of 6% per annum on wages delayed for up to six months, with the rate increasing by 1% for each additional month of delay, capped at a maximum of 12% annually, until full payment is made. According to the trainer’s lawyer, Alaa Adel, the plaintiff was employed by the fitness centre at a rate of BD 5 per training hour and carried out her duties regularly throughout her employment. However, the centre failed to pay her wages for nearly two years, resulting in accumulated dues of BD 2,000. Despite sending a formal notice demanding payment and granting the employer a grace period, the trainer received no settlement, prompting her to resign due to continued non-payment. She subsequently filed a lawsuit citing Article 40 (b)(4) of the Labour Law, which requires employers to pay all outstanding wages immediately upon termination of employment, or within seven days in cases of voluntary resignation. In its ruling, the […]
1 day ago
An agricultural milestone has been achieved in Hail with the launch of the Kingdom’s first white strawberry harvest, making Saudi Arabia the third country in the world to produce this rare variety. Previously limited to the United States and Japan, the breakthrough reflects the Kingdom’s rapid advancement in the agricultural sector and highlights its growing capacity for innovation and high-value crop production. The cultivation of white strawberries represents a qualitative addition to regional agriculture, introducing a premium crop known globally for its distinctive flavor and strong market appeal. Despite their rarity, the strawberries were successfully grown in Hail thanks to the region’s favorable climate and advanced irrigation infrastructure. According to the Saudi Press Agency, one of the farm owners in Hail said the project was carried out under an exclusive agreement with the University of Florida to trial the variety in the Kingdom. He explained that the production process involves laboratory techniques in which red strawberry flowers are pollinated with pineapple flowers, extending the ripening period from flowering to harvest by around 30 days. Beyond agriculture, the farms have also boosted Hail’s profile as a tourism destination. By offering visitors interactive farm experiences alongside premium produce, the initiative is contributing […]
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