ABU DHABI, 9th April, 2026 (WAM) — Mubadala continued in 2025 its efforts to strengthen the national economy, supporting the creation of high-quality jobs in the UAE, facilitating inward capital flows, and accelerating the development of industries that underpin the nation’s long-term competitiveness. The UAE Investments platform reinforced its role in national value creation and economic diversification. Mubadala contributed AED45 billion in GDP impact, equivalent to 5.7 percent of Abu Dhabi’s non-oil GDP, while supporting around 98,000 jobs in Abu Dhabi, directly and indirectly, marking a 51 percent increase since 2021, reinforcing its role in empowering and developing national talent.…
Author: Editorial Team
[Editor’s Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.] The UAE has warned of global health, environmental and food system risks arising from ongoing regional attacks, as it addressed international leaders at the One Health Summit in Lyon, France. Speaking at the summit convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, the UAE said the developments are affecting critical global systems linked to health, food and the environment. On behalf of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ahmed Al Sayegh, Minister of Health and Prevention participated in the high-level gathering that brought together heads of state, more…
A mix of horsepower and heritage is set to take over Dubai this weekend, as Kandura Rally returns for its fifth edition at Dubai Festival City Mall. Taking place on April 11, the one-day event brings together car enthusiasts, modified builds, and cultural expression, turning the mall’s outdoor space into a full-day motor festival. What is Kandura Rally Positioned as one of the UAE’s more community-driven car events, Kandura Rally blends automotive culture with local identity. The event celebrates the kandura not just as traditional dress, but as a symbol of pride, style, and belonging within the UAE’s youth and…
Editor’s note: This is the second part of Khaleej Times’ interview with Issam Kazim. Read Part 1 here. Dubai has hosted “numerous successful events” in recent weeks, even as some organisers opt to reschedule programmes to maximise attendance and impact, the emirate’s tourism chief has said. In an interview with Khaleej Times, Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said the city’s events ecosystem remains active, supported by infrastructure, coordination and a flexible approach to evolving conditions. “The situation requires us to be both forward-looking and pragmatic,” Kazim said. The 30th edition of the Dubai World…
Parkin Company, the largest provider of paid public parking in Dubai, on Thursday launched “Spot for Shops”, which enables motorists to validate their parking fees by supporting neighbourhood small businesses in the city. Under this initiative, customers can offset their parking fees through qualifying purchases at participating shops. Validation will be done via the Parkin app, with the value credited directly to their Parkin wallet. The initiative aims to incentivise motorists to support hidden gems tucked between the city’s better-known destinations. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels “Small businesses play a vital role…
When Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, conceptualised the Dubai World Cup (DWC)\ in 1993, his vision was to bring the world’s finest horses to the emirate. Nearly three decades later, that vision has evolved into something far grander. What began as a bold experiment in international horse racing has transformed into the UAE’s most anticipated social spectacle — a dazzling fusion of elite sport, high fashion, tourism, and global networking that now defines Dubai’s cultural calendar. The inaugural DWC was, by all accounts, a leap of faith, according…
TOKYO, 9th April, 2026 (WAM) — Japan’s Nikkei index declined today amid investor caution, following a sharp rise in the previous session. The Nikkei fell 0.3 percent to 56,125.02 points, heading to end a four-session rally if the current trend continues. The broader Topix index dropped 0.26 percent to 3,765.52. Shares of chipmakers and artificial intelligence-related stocks declined. Advantest shares fell 1.59 percent, while SoftBank Group shares dropped 3.95 percent. Source: Emirates News Agency
WASHINGTON, 9th April, 2026 (WAM) — Meta Platforms on Wednesday unveiled Muse Spark, the first artificial intelligence model from a team it assembled last year to catch up with rivals in the AI race. Superintelligence refers to AI machines that could outthink humans. Muse Spark is the first in a new series of models, known internally as Avocado, from that team. The model, the first the company has released in about a year, will initially be available only on the lightly used Meta AI app and website. In the coming weeks, it will replace the existing Llama models powering chatbots…
When the UAE Cabinet approved the National Healthy Nutrition Strategy 2031 earlier this year, one measure drew particular attention: a full ban on partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary industrial source of artificial trans fats. For Nada Zuhair Al Adeeb, Secretary-General of the UAE Nutrition Society and member of the Supreme Committee for Consumer Protection, the decision came as no surprise. It was, she says, the logical conclusion of years of steadily building regulatory groundwork. Industrially ‘improved’ at your health’s expense Al Adeeb describes PHOs as liquid vegetable oils that have been chemically modified through the partial addition of hydrogen,…
In September 2021, the UAE launched the Nafis programme, a Dh24 billion initiative designed to fundamentally change the employment landscape. As part of the “Projects of the 50,” the goal was to integrate 75 thousands Emirati nationals into the private sector by 2025 and reduce the traditional reliance on public sector jobs. Fast forward to April 2026, and the landscape has transformed beyond those initial expectations. With over 176,000 Emiratis now employed through the programme, 152,000 of whom are currently active in the private sector, Nafis has not only met its targets but shattered them. Recognizing this unprecedented success, Sheikh…