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Articles by Rohan Kumar
Dubai to Host ISEA2026, One of the World’s Biggest Electronic Art Gatherings, From November 6
A global gathering of artists, researchers and technologists is about to turn Dubai into a showcase for digital creativity. The 31st International Symposium on Electronic Art, known as ISEA2026, opens in Dubai on November 6. It runs from November 6 to 15, with exhibitions across the city and an online academic programme. What is on the programme The scale is considerable. The conference includes 145 academic papers, 40 discussion sessions and 20 workshops.
UAE Orders Recall of Baby Gripe Water Batch Over Undeclared Alcohol
Parents who give their babies gripe water should check the label this week. The UAE’s medicines regulator has ordered a batch of a popular infant product off the market after finding alcohol that was not listed among its ingredients. The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) ordered the recall of an affected batch of Babies’ Magic Tea – Baby Sleep Gripe Water, after detecting undeclared alcohol in the product. It also confirmed that the product lacks valid marketing approval in the UAE.
Dubai to Open Final World Trade Centre Bridge on Friday, Cutting a Six-Minute Trip to One
Drivers who know the World Trade Centre Roundabout as one of the city’s most persistent bottlenecks will get a different experience from Friday, when the last of five new bridges opens to traffic. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will open the final bridge of the project on Friday, October 30, 2026, marking the completion of a scheme that cost more than Dh696 million. What the new bridge does The new bridge is 1,000 metres long, has two lanes and can handle about 3,000 vehicles an hour.
Sharjah Closes All City Beaches as Tanker Oil Spill Threatens UAE’s Northern Coast
Beaches across the northern emirates are shut, and the closures have now reached Sharjah’s city coastline as authorities try to keep oil from a damaged tanker away from the shore. The Sharjah Government Media Bureau said the temporary closure of the city’s beaches is a precaution to stop pollution from reaching the coast. It did not say when the beaches would reopen. A closure spreading south The spill has been moving along the northern coast over several days.
UAE and Canada Sign Landmark Trade Pact as Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Visits Ottawa
ABU DHABI — The UAE and Canada have moved their relationship into a new phase. A trade agreement has been signed, a defence cooperation pact has been welcomed, and a large investment pledge has been renewed during a two-day visit by Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was welcomed to Ottawa by Prime Minister Mark Carney on the first-ever visit to Canada by a Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. The joint statement from both governments was published on Wednesday.
Sanadak Orders UAE Bank to Refund Customer After It Fails to Prove He Authorised Digital Payment
When money disappears from a bank account through a digital payment, who has to prove what? A new ruling from the UAE’s financial disputes unit gives a clear answer: the bank. Sanadak, the banking and insurance disputes settlement unit, said a local bank was obliged to return an amount deducted from a customer’s account through a digital payment service. The bank had failed to give evidence that the customer’s phone was linked to the service or that he agreed to use it.
Arab Reading Challenge to Crown 10th-Edition Champions in Dubai Today After Record 40 Million Entries
The world’s largest Arabic reading competition reaches its finale in Dubai today. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, will crown the champions of the tenth edition at a closing ceremony. The ceremony at Dubai World Trade Centre will honour the overall Arab Reading Challenge champion, along with winners in the People of Determination and community categories, the Outstanding School and the Outstanding Supervisor.
Third US Aircraft Carrier Heads to Middle East as UAE Residents Face Continued Travel Disruption
The military build-up around the Gulf has grown again, even as diplomats try to keep a deal alive. For UAE residents, Thursday brings a familiar mix of reassurance about flights at home and uncertainty about the region. More US forces on the way A third US aircraft carrier and additional troops are moving toward the Middle East. No peace agreement has been announced.
Dubai Now Has More Than 160 Self-Driving Vehicles, With 4,000 Targeted by 2030
Self-driving cars in Dubai are no longer a pilot project. The emirate’s transport authority says that the number of registered autonomous vehicles has passed 160, and it has set a target of 4,000 by the end of the decade. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said the figure forms part of the Dubai Autonomous Transportation Strategy, which aims for 4,000 vehicles by 2030. The goal: a quarter of trips The RTA’s ambition goes beyond fleet size.
UAE Leaders Send Condolences to Spain After High-Speed Train Collision Kills at Least 68
The UAE has joined the international response to one of Spain’s worst rail disasters in years. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of condolence to the Spanish king. WAM reported that the President wrote to His Majesty King Felipe VI, the families of the victims and the Spanish people over the collision between two trains in Toledo province, central Spain. Other senior UAE officials sent similar messages. What happened The collision happened on Wednesday morning.
UAE E-Invoicing Deadline Is Two Days Away: Larger Firms Face Dh5,000 Monthly Fines
For many of the UAE’s larger companies, the clock is nearly out. The deadline to appoint an accredited e-invoicing provider falls on Friday, two days from now. The deadline and who it covers Businesses with annual revenues of Dh50 million or more must appoint an accredited service provider by October 30, 2026, and begin using the new system by January 1, 2027.
Etihad Rail Joins Citymapper, Letting Passengers Plan Train, Metro and Bus Journeys in One App
Getting to the station and onward to a final destination is often the hardest part of a train trip. A new partnership aims to take the guesswork out of it. Etihad Rail has partnered with Citymapper, its parent company Via, and transport operator United Trans so that customers can plan journeys across the UAE through the Citymapper app. The announcement was issued on 27 October and has been widely reported today.
Travel Instalment Plans Spread Across the UAE, but Experts Say ‘Zero Interest’ Does Not Mean Zero Cost
Paying for a holiday in smaller pieces is becoming a common choice for UAE residents. Travel and finance experts say that, before signing up, buyers should look beyond the size of the monthly payment. Experts in the travel and tourism sectors have warned against treating offers marketed as zero interest as cost-free. They note a growing number of travel instalment products in the local market, similar to those in other retail sectors.
Oil Climbs as Houthis Claim Strike on Saudi Arabia’s Biggest Refinery; Riyadh Yet to Confirm
Oil prices rose on Wednesday after Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed a missile strike on Saudi Arabia’s largest refinery, a claim Riyadh has not confirmed. What the market did Brent futures for December delivery gained $1.55, or about 1.4 per cent, to $115.43 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate rose 1.43 per cent to $101.32. The rise reversed part of the previous session’s losses, when crude fell by nearly $2 a barrel as talks in the Middle East eased concerns about supply.
Dubai Police Warn Parents That Online Game Friendships Are Being Used to Groom Children
Dubai Police have issued a fresh warning to parents about predators who use online games to reach children, after a single child’s report exposed a pattern of abuse affecting at least nine others. The force said offenders target children and teenagers through video games and social media, exploiting their trust to obtain personal information and photos that are then used for blackmail or impersonation.
UAE Adds Seven Financial Institutions to Wages Protection System as Monthly Payments Top AED 37 Billion
The UAE has widened the network of banks and payment providers that employers can use to pay their workers, in a move aimed at simplifying compliance for businesses across the private sector. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has onboarded seven new financial institutions to the Wages Protection System (WPS). The ministry says the additions give employers broader payment channels and easier compliance. First Abu Dhabi Bank is among the new partners.
UAE Weather: Rain Likely in Northern and Eastern Areas, With Strong Winds and Fog Possible Overnight
Unsettled weather is continuing across the UAE, with rain expected in the north and east of the country on Wednesday, strong gusts in some areas and a chance of fog as the night turns humid. What the forecast says The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) predicts convective clouds, which are normally linked to rainfall, forming over northern and eastern parts of the country. Elsewhere, skies are expected to be fair to partly cloudy.
Emirati Researcher Develops Faster Detection System for Home Camera Cyberattacks
A research project by an Emirati engineer could make home security cameras harder to hijack. Mohammed Al Shehhi, a data scientist and lecturer at the Higher Colleges of Technology, has developed a system that detects cyberattacks on home cameras. Reports say it works 31 times faster than global benchmarks. The numbers behind the claim The headline figures are specific.
UAE Residents Urged to Check Flights as Gulf Tensions Linger and Strike Warnings Persist
Travellers in the UAE are facing a mixed picture. More flights are returning to the schedule, but routes into parts of Saudi Arabia remain suspended and foreign governments are warning of possible escalation in the wider conflict involving Iran. Capacity is rising, though unevenly The recovery is real. Seats on flights departing the UAE rose 23 per cent to 7.2 million between June and October, and up to 36 weekly Dubai–Europe services are expected to return by December.
UAE President Declares January 7 as Zayed the Founder Day, a New Annual National Occasion
The United Arab Emirates will mark a new annual national occasion every January 7, after President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced Zayed the Founder Day on Wednesday. State media described the day as a way to honour the legacy of the nation’s Founding Father and the values that continue to guide its progress. It adds a new date to a national calendar already full of commemorations of the country’s formation.
Airlines Begin Restoring Dubai–Europe Flights as Saudi Disruption Persists
UAE travellers could see more flight options in the coming weeks as airlines gradually restore services to Dubai, with up to 36 weekly flights between Dubai and Europe expected to return from late October through December. Services to Athens and Manila are also being restored. Flights to and from Saudi Arabia, however, remain badly disrupted. European routes coming back Lufthansa is gradually resuming Dubai–Frankfurt services today, October 26, after restarting Munich flights on October 25.
UAE Officials Reject Iranian Criticism of Lana Nusseibeh’s UN Secretary-General Bid
Senior UAE officials have pushed back against Iranian criticism of Lana Nusseibeh’s campaign to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations, defending the Emirati diplomat’s record as a consensus-builder. The exchange began on Sunday, when Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, who is also Tehran’s top negotiator in talks with the United States, questioned Ms Nusseibeh’s agenda in a post on X.
UAE Beach Closures Widen as Crews Battle Tanker Oil Spill off Umm Al Quwain
Beaches in Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah have been shut as authorities work to contain an oil spill from a tanker in the Arabian Gulf. Officials have not yet given a date for reopening, and the vessel involved has not been publicly How the spill was confirmed The UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said its technical monitoring and environmental assessment system had detected an oil spill from a tanker affecting beaches in Umm Al Quwain.
Dubai Closes Three Lanes of Emirates Road for Self-Driving Taxi Tests
Dubai will close three lanes of one of its busiest motorways for most of the coming week so that self-driving taxi tests can be carried out on a live stretch of road, the emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced. The restrictions apply to Emirates Road, also known as E611, opposite Al Maktoum International Airport. Vehicles will be barred from the three lanes between 9am and 4am each day, from Monday, October 26, until Saturday, October 31.
Your AI agent remembers everything. Can it prove any of it?
By Rohan · Tatum × Walrus Total Recall hackathon · Track 02: Smart Agents for Real Life Every belief traceable. Every decision provable. Every memory forgettable. Watch the demo video · Try the live agent, no wallet needed · Read the docs · Read the code - The short version. AI agents now remember things about us, and they act on what they remember.
UAE Nominates Lana Nusseibeh in Race to Become Next UN Secretary-General
The United Arab Emirates has entered the contest to lead the United Nations, formally nominating Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh as a candidate for secretary-general at a moment when the race has failed to produce a clear favourite. The UAE announced the nomination on Wednesday, as none of the six existing candidates had emerged as a front-runner. The nomination was submitted in a letter from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to the heads of the General Assembly and the Security Council.
UAE-Led Operation Exposes $39 Billion in Illicit Funds in Global Digital Fraud Crackdown
An international crackdown on online fraud led by the UAE has exposed more than $39 billion in illicit funds and assets, with authorities reporting more than 960 arrests across the countries involved. Operation Confrontation Ghost, overseen by the UAE Ministry of Interior, thwarted more than 123.7 million online fraud attempts worldwide, blocked 4,126 bank accounts, shut down 570 social media accounts and involved 29 raids on locations linked to fraud.
UAE Confirms Tanker Oil Spill Off Umm Al Quwain as Beaches Close and Fuel Smell Lingers
The UAE has confirmed that a tanker oil spill in the Arabian Gulf lies behind the strong fuel-like smell that has unsettled residents of Dubai and the northern emirates for several days. All beaches in Umm Al Quwain are now closed while crews work to contain the slick. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment announced the finding early on Friday.
UAE Pledges Further €15 Billion for Greece as Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Visits Athens
The United Arab Emirates will invest a further €15 billion ($16.8 billion) in Greece, a pledge that dwarfs the joint programme the two countries launched four years ago and underlines Abu Dhabi’s growing appetite for European assets. The announcement came on Thursday on the sidelines of an official visit by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, who met Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
UAE Flights to Saudi Arabia Cancelled as Dammam Airport Attack Rattles Regional Travel
Air passengers across the UAE contended with cancellations and delays on Thursday as the fallout from a deadly attack on a Saudi airport spread through regional travel networks. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said King Fahd International Airport in Dammam was targeted on Wednesday evening, killing one person and injuring eight others. On Thursday, the authority said the death toll had risen to two. It said flight operations at the airport had resumed by the morning.
Commercial Bank of Dubai Posts Record Nine-Month Pre-Tax Profit of AED 2.95 Billion
Commercial Bank of Dubai has reported its highest-ever profit for the first nine months of a year, with earnings strengthening through the third quarter even as the lender worked through narrower margins and a demanding operating environment. The bank said on Wednesday that net profit before tax for the period to 30 September reached AED 2.948 billion, up 4.1 per cent from a year earlier. Net profit after tax for the nine months was AED 2.684 billion.
Abu Dhabi’s M42 Launches “Ossi” AI Platform to Cut Doctors’ Paperwork and Free Up Time for Patients
A new digital assistant launched in the capital aims to tackle one of medicine’s most persistent complaints: doctors spend too much time on paperwork and too little with patients. M42, the Abu Dhabi-based healthcare technology company, unveiled Ossi at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit on Thursday. The platform is being rolled out at seven M42 centres across the UAE and Bahrain. The company estimates it can give doctors up to 60 per cent more time with patients.
UAE-Led Global Fraud Operation Uncovers $39 Billion in Illicit Funds and Leads to More Than 960 Arrests
A three-month international operation led by the UAE’s Ministry of Interior has struck at online fraud networks on a scale rarely seen in cross-border policing. Authorities report more than 960 arrests and the discovery of illicit funds and assets worth over $39 billion. The results of Operation Confrontation Ghost were announced on Thursday.
Britain to Fly RAF Typhoons Over Saudi Arabia as Houthi Attacks Intensify
Britain is stepping up its military role in the Gulf. The government says Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters will fly defensive missions over Saudi Arabia, which has come under sustained drone and missile fire from Yemen’s Houthi movement. The UK Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday the aircraft would help protect Saudi cities and critical national infrastructure, and would operate only in a defensive role without carrying out offensive strikes against the Houthis.
UAE Bans Veterinary Use of Ciprofloxacin in Fresh Move Against Antibiotic Resistance
The UAE has barred the use of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin in veterinary medicine, a move that extends a growing list of controls on antimicrobials in animals and food production. The decision targets a drug that belongs to a class considered important for treating serious infections in people. Limiting its use in animals is meant to slow the spread of resistant bacteria. Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, happens when bacteria and other microbes adapt so that medicines no longer work against them.
Abu Dhabi Health Regulator Introduces AI Clinician Framework to Guide Safe Use of Technology in Patient Care
Abu Dhabi has added a new layer to the rules governing artificial intelligence in medicine. The Department of Health (DoH), the emirate’s healthcare regulator, has introduced an AI Clinician Framework to guide how the technology is used in patient care. The announcement continues the emirate’s push to be both an early adopter of medical AI and a rule-setter for how it is applied.
Dubai’s Agentic AI Drive Targets 295,000 Companies as International Partnerships Widen
Dubai wants its businesses to do more than experiment with artificial intelligence. A government-backed programme aims to put “agentic AI”, software that can plan and carry out tasks with limited supervision, into the hands of a large share of the emirate’s private sector. This report is an explainer on that programme and its latest international partnerships rather than a single-day announcement.
UAE and France Formalise Defence Partnership as Gulf States Pledge Extra Diesel to Paris
The United Arab Emirates and France have deepened their military relationship with the formal exchange of a strategic defence framework. The step came as President Emmanuel Macron ended the Emirati leg of a Gulf tour that also produced fresh diesel commitments for a French economy under strain. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Macron witnessed the exchange on Tuesday, a day after the French leader’s regional tour began in Kuwait.
UAE Blocks Nearly 750,000 Cyberattack Attempts, With Energy and Education Among Top Targets
The UAE’s national cyber defences have turned back close to 750,000 attack attempts, according to the country’s Cyber Security Council. The council said energy and education were among the most heavily targeted sectors. The council said the threats detected and countered by the national cybersecurity system included AI-powered attacks, phishing, denial-of-service and remote code execution attempts.
UAE Launches World’s First AI-Powered Platform for Tourist VAT Refunds
Visitors who shop in the UAE are about to find the tax refund process at the airport considerably shorter. The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has launched a new digital platform for tourist VAT refunds. It describes the platform as the first of its kind in the world, built on artificial intelligence and entirely paperless.
UAE Amends E-Invoicing Rules: Two-Year Exclusion for Tax Groups and Looser Data-Storage Requirements
The UAE has eased parts of its upcoming electronic invoicing system, giving businesses more flexibility less than two weeks before the first major compliance deadline. The Ministry of Finance said on Monday that it has amended the e-invoicing rules that will apply to value-added tax filing from next year. The changes remove some operational burdens and give companies more time to adjust, according to the ministry.
Iran Renews Seven-Day Hormuz Reopening Offer as Brent Falls Below $108; UAE Holds Security Talks With Saudi Arabia
Iran has renewed an offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week, setting out terms that Washington has so far not accepted, even as oil prices eased on Monday on expectations of extra supply from Russia. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the seven-day proposal remains available despite stalled negotiations, according to Reuters. Tehran’s conditions include lifting the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, removing sanctions on Iranian oil exports and ending regional hostilities.
Flydubai Captain Describes Cockpit Attack and How He Opened the Door to Save Flight FZ1073
The flydubai captain who stopped a co-pilot’s attempt to take down a passenger jet has described the moments he fought to stay conscious, reached the cockpit door and called for help. Capt Smit Machchhar, speaking from hospital in Abu Dhabi to The National, said he was struck on the back of the head while flying flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30. He said his vision narrowed as the blows continued, and that he did not at first understand what had hit him.
Dubai’s Economy Shrinks 2.3% in First Half of 2026 as Finance and Healthcare Offset War-Hit Trade and Transport
Dubai’s economy contracted in the first half of 2026, official figures show, as the Iran war disrupted regional travel and trade and weighed on the emirate’s tourism and transport sectors. Growth in finance, healthcare and construction cushioned the fall. Real gross domestic product stood at Dh473 billion between January and June, down 2.3 per cent from Dh484 billion in the same period last year, according to figures released by the Dubai Data and Statistics Establishment.
Macron Begins Gulf Tour With UAE on the Itinerary as Hormuz and Energy Security Top the Agenda
French President Emmanuel Macron has started a three-day tour of the Gulf that will include the United Arab Emirates, as Paris seeks to help ease an energy crisis rooted in the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. Mr Macron arrived in Kuwait on Monday, the first stop on a programme that also takes in the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar and runs from October 19 to 21, according to his office. The Élysée Palace said the aim is to promote a return to stability and freedom of navigation in the strait.
Kuwait Wins Six Medals at UAE Freestyle Freeski FIS Championship in Dubai
Kuwait’s national ski team left Dubai with six medals, three gold and three silver, after the UAE Freestyle Freeski FIS championship ended on Friday following three days of competition. The event was held under the umbrella of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS). A strong haul across two disciplines Saleel Al-Abdullah and Safaa Al-Abdullah accounted for every one of the team’s medals.
UAE Weather: Fog, Rain and Dusty Winds Forecast Through Wednesday as Aviation Authority Warns of Flight Delays
Drivers and air travellers across the UAE should prepare for changeable conditions over the next few days. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) is forecasting rain in parts of the country, along with humid nights and a risk of fog or mist through Wednesday, October 21. On Saturday, skies are expected to stay fair to partly cloudy. Convective clouds are forecast to build over eastern areas in the afternoon and could bring rain.
Trump Waives New Russia Sanctions as Oil Markets Stay Tense: What It Means for the UAE
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order waiving new sanctions and tariffs on Russia that were due to take effect under legislation he signed last month. The move adds another variable to energy markets already unsettled by the war involving Iran and restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The measures set aside by the order included tariffs of up to 100 per cent aimed at major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Emirates, Etihad and Air Arabia Cancel Saudi Flights Through the Weekend as Riyadh Disruption Continues
UAE travellers face another unsettled day in the air. Cancellations and schedule changes continue to hit flights between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh the main disruption point. Emirates has cancelled its services between Dubai and Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh for Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18. Medina is the only Saudi destination in the latest update with flights operating or scheduled.
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Missiles and Drones as Gulf Security Concerns Mount: What UAE Residents Need to Know
Saudi Arabia said its forces intercepted a ballistic missile, two cruise missiles and three drones on Saturday. The Saudi-led coalition also stepped up strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, keeping regional security high on the agenda for residents across the UAE. The coalition said it destroyed a ballistic missile heading towards Yanbu, a Red Sea port that doubles as a major energy hub.
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