Editor’s note: This is a guest column co-authored by Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Al Daheri, Deputy Director-General of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA), and Ahmed Alshamsi, CEO of the Emirates Foundation Mediation has traditionally been understood through formal procedures and institutional negotiation frameworks. The UAE approach complements this by prioritising trust-building as a precondition for dialogue. It reflects a distinctly Emirati style of communication, grounded in long-standing social practices where human connection, presence, and mutual respect precede formal negotiation, and applies these principles in a structured way to modern diplomacy. The UAE blends its own cultural traditions with its mediation…
Author: Editorial Team
MAKKAH — Deputy Emir of Makkah Prince Saud bin Mishaal made an inspection tour of the holy sites during which he reviewed full operational readiness of the facilities and services arranged for the pilgrims for the Hajj of 2026. This was in line with the directives of the Saudi leadership and under the supervision of Emir of Makkah and Chairman of the Permanent Committee for Hajj and Umrah Prince Khalid Al-Faisal. Prince Saud inspected several projects implemented by Kidana Development Company in Mina, including a network of 195 field maintenance centers, a pilgrim accommodation system covering more than 3.5 million…
Following the news around hantavirus and discussions on social media, doctors in the UAE are reassuring residents that the virus is not easily spread between people and behaves very differently from Covid-19. UAE authorities, including the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) and Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), have also said the country is fully prepared to deal with potential health threats while continuing to monitor the situation closely. Healthcare experts told Khaleej Times that while hantavirus infections can be serious, the virus remains rare and is mainly linked to contact with infected rodents and contaminated environments…
As financial pressures mount for some UAE families amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict, schools across the country highlight that they are stepping up support through flexible payment plans, open dialogue, and personalised arrangements aimed at helping parents manage fee commitments without disrupting their children’s education. The issue has resurfaced after celebrity radio host Kris Fade shared his frustration over the way a school communicated unpaid fee reminders to his family. Fade recently posted video talking about a suspension notice sent by his daughters’ school, warning that they could be suspended for three days over unpaid Term 3 fees. While he…
RIYADH — The Saudi Pro League title race is officially heading for a dramatic final-day finish after the Saudi Pro League confirmed the Matchweek 34 schedule for the 2025-26 season on Wednesday. With the championship, AFC Champions League Elite qualification spots and relegation battle all still alive, the SPL announced that all decisive fixtures will kick off simultaneously on Thursday, May 21, to preserve sporting integrity and competitive fairness. The final round will be split across two days — May 20 and 21 — following what the league described as a comprehensive assessment of the standings and all remaining competitive…
LONDON — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with the United Kingdom’s National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell in London on Tuesday. During the meeting, they reviewed areas of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. They discussed the latest developments in the region. They also stressed the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the need to strengthen efforts to maintain the region’s security and stability. Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Sultan also attended the meeting. Source: Saudi Gazette
SHARJAH, 13th May, 2026 (WAM) — The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), represented by the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, has begun handing over the final phase of homes in the Al Suyoh 16 residential community in Sharjah. The phase includes 380 homes allocated to beneficiaries as part of the UAE’s ongoing efforts to strengthen housing stability and enhance quality of life, in line with the objectives of the “Year of the Family” and the leadership’s vision of building a more cohesive and sustainable society. The Al Suyoh community project is part of the ministry’s national housing initiatives aimed at…
MADRID — Saudi Arabia and Spain have signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Saudi-Spanish Strategic Partnership Council. The two countries also inked an agreement on the mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, special and service passports. The pacts were signed during the meeting between the visiting Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares Bueno in Madrid on Wednesday. Their discussions focused on ways to further strengthen bilateral relations, elevate them to a strategic partnership, and advance the deep and growing…
SEOUL, 13th May, 2026 (WAM) — The Ministry of Investment has led a high-level delegation to the brotherly Republic of Korea to advance bilateral cooperation and unlock new partnership opportunities across the artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor value chain, reinforcing the UAE’s economic diversification agenda and its strategic focus on future-defining industries. The delegation was headed by Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Investment. Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to the brotherly Republic of Korea , also took part in the visit, which brought together a representative cross-section of the UAE’s technology and investment ecosystem, including AI…
For the last 104 years, one establishment in Dubai has quietly played a part in shaping the city. Built on generations of trust in this emirate and its rulers, ‘Uncle’s Shop’ began as a modest textile trading company in the bustling souk by a 13-year-old named Uttamchand Tulsidas Bhatia, lovingly called Vattra. Today the firm deals in building and construction materials and banking among other industries and is being run by the fourth generation of the Bhatia family. Last month, the company was honored with the ‘Best Private Sector’ entity award at the Erth Dubai Awards Ceremony for its role in…