JEDDAH — Al Ittihad crashed out of the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals on Friday after a 1-0 defeat to Japanese side FC Machida Zelvia. A 31st-minute strike from Tete Yengi, which took a decisive deflection off Fabinho, proved enough to send the J1 League club into the semi-finals and end Al Ittihad’s hopes of a third Asian crown. Machida will now face either Buriram United or Shabab Al Ahli in the last four. Backed by more than 16,000 fans at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, Al Ittihad started brightly, with Moussa Diaby and Roger Fernandes both threatening early. But…
Author: Editorial Team
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,…
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence has launched a flagship postdoctoral fellowship designed to transform Emirati Ph.D. graduates into the tenure-track AI faculty who will define the UAE’s research ecosystem for the next three decades. The Ruwwad AI Scholars programme, announced this week, offers UAE nationals two-year fully funded postdoctoral positions at elite global research institutions with a singular goal: build the homegrown AI professoriate the country will need as it positions itself among the world’s leading AI nations by 2031. “RAIS is more than a fellowship, it is a national investment in the scholars who will define the…
A total of 4,034 players won prizes in the latest UAE Lottery Lucky Day draw held on Saturday, April 18, including three Lucky Chance winners who took home Dh50,000 each. For draw number 260418, the winning combination was: Days: 1, 3, 11, 15, 17 and 20 Lucky Month: 12 No winner was announced for the Dh30 million jackpot or Dh5 million second prize. While no top-tier prizes were claimed, several players won across other categories. 37 players won Dh1,000 each in the fourth prize tier. 3,994 players won Dh100 each in the fifth prize tier. Lucky Chance winners Three players…
MAKKAH — The General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque announced the completion of routine maintenance of the Holy Kaaba and Hijr Ismail, in line with the highest engineering and technical standards. It said the project was carried out under a precise operational plan that ensured smooth pilgrim flow without affecting rituals. The works took about 4,700 man-hours and included 31 main packages and 305 activities, covering maintenance of the Kaaba’s interior, roof, and surroundings, as well as detailed inspections and tests. The scope of work also included the replacement of more than 30…
LONDON — European leaders on Saturday called for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans for a UK-France-led multinational mission to protect maritime navigation. Speaking after a video conference involving 49 countries, along with the European Union and the International Maritime Organization, Starmer said participants agreed to accelerate military planning to secure the strategic waterway. “I can confirm that, along with France, the UK will lead a multinational mission to protect freedom of navigation as soon as conditions allow,” Starmer said, describing the operation as strictly peaceful and defensive. He said…
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…
Just shortly after its debut at Dubai Mall drew massive crowds, Primark’s second UAE store has officially opened, and shoppers are already lining up. The new branch at City Centre Mirdif opened its doors on April 9 at 10 am, with long queues forming outside early in the morning, echoing scenes from the brand’s first launch. Videos shared online show crowds gathering ahead of opening, with live music and in-store performances setting the tone for the launch. The opening also featured a performance by percussionist Rodolphe Manoukian. Royal visit ahead of second opening The buzz around the brand comes just…
[Editor’s Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog for the latest regional developments with the US-Israel-Iran ceasefire now in effect.] The UAE has strongly condemned an attack on the French battalion within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) in southern Lebanon, which resulted in the death of one soldier and the injury of three others. Earlier on Saturday, April 18, a French soldier was killed and others were wounded while clearing a road in southern Lebanon, in an attack that Unifil peacekeepers and French officials said was likely carried out by Iran-backed Hezbollah. French President Emmanuel Macron identified the slain soldier…
MAKKAH — Jeddah and several other governorates of the Makkah region witnessed a dust storm on Saturday. This follows the forecast of the National Center for Meteorology (NCM), which stated earlier that active winds stirring up dust would hit the governorates of Jeddah, Rabigh, Bahra, Al-Kamil, Khulais, and Allith, including open areas and highways, leading to reduced horizontal visibility. The center indicated that the conditions persisted until 7:00 in the evening. Earlier on the day, NCM predicted thunderstorms accompanied by active winds and dust in Makkah. The report stated that the maximum temperature would reach 39 degrees Celsius, while the…