Author: Editorial team

DUBAI, 17th April, 2026 (WAM) — Dubai South has announced a new set of incentives for companies operating within its Free Zone, reinforcing its commitment to supporting the business community and sustaining economic momentum. Aligned with the wider efforts of the Dubai Free Zones Council to enhance the competitiveness and resilience of Dubai’s free zone ecosystem, the initiative introduces a range of measures designed to facilitate business continuity and ease operational requirements for companies. The incentives include support for new company formation, facilitation of licence renewals, and exemption from late renewal fines. “Dubai South remains committed to supporting our business…

ABU DHABI, 17th April, 2026 (WAM) — The Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Professor Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump of a ceasefire between Lebanon and the Israel, considering this step a significant and positive development toward de-escalating tensions, sparing the blood of innocent civilians, and creating conditions conducive to the restoration of stability in the country. In a statement today, the Council affirmed that the ceasefire is a genuine opportunity that must be built upon to establish lasting calm and to advance comprehensive peaceful…

Fernando Cea, Vice President of Technology for MENA and APAC, Globant. From 3D rendering to open worlds, gaming has always evolved through innovation that reshapes how we play, what we expect, and who gets to participate. Today, we’re standing at another inflection point: the integration of AI. With AI, non-playable characters (NPCs) can respond and adapt to a player’s behavior in real time. Procedural storylines can actively evolve in unexpected ways, and entire worlds can expand dynamically.   We’re in the midst of a profound transformation that’s shifting gaming not just for a few players, but for all of us. However, every advancement in gaming has forced…

Visitors looking to stay at the St Regis Dubai, The Palm, in the next 4.5 months will not be able to make bookings as the hotel has suspended most of its services till August 31. The luxury property is undergoing refurbishments, due to which they have closed off guest rooms, spas and other key services since April 12. Only their lobby lounge and and the St Regis Bar remain functional, an operator at the hotel told Khaleej Times. Their website displays the following message titled, ‘Property Enhancement Program’: “As part of our ongoing commitment to delivering an exceptional luxury experience…

Burj Al Arab is finally taking a day off — well, 18 months off — for a large scale restoration. The city’s best‑known icon, which has doubled as a status symbol, afternoon‑tea backdrop and Instagram trophy since 1999, will be wrapped up and worked on while designers refresh its interiors and public spaces. For travellers who built an itinerary (and a budget) around that ‘seven‑star’ stay, the obvious question is: now what? The good news is that in a city like Dubai, there’s always plenty of choice. The Emirate has spent the last few years building a new generation of…

DUBAI, 17th April, 2026 (WAM) — Dubai Sports Council, in partnership with Ski Dubai, has announced that the seventh edition of the DXB Snow Run will take place on 17th May. Held under the theme of “Growing in Unity” in this year’s “Year of Family,” the unique -4⁰C running experience brings families, friends and communities together to strengthen inclusion and well-being through an active lifestyle. Following the success of last year’s edition, which saw a record number of 700 athletes from 70 nationalities, DXB Snow Run welcomes male and female runners aged 13 to 70 years and above. Runners can…

Anthropic recently announced plans to expand its London presence by adding new office space capacity for around 800 employees. This move comes at a time when the comping is increasing its research, safety and commercial operations in the UK. Pip White, head of EMEA North at Anthropic, stated on LinkedIn the AI player currently has more than 200 employees based in London, including around 60 AI safety researchers. The new office space is in London’s Knowledge Quarter. The move puts Anthropic alongside other major AI companies already based in the area, as competition for London-based talent and infrastructure continues to…

Several schools in the UAE will continue online schooling next week until they get the necessary permits from the educational authorities. According to communication sent out to parents on Thursday and Friday, all schools must pass an inspection process to be approved to open. In one such email seen by Khaleej Times, a Dubai school’s management wrote, “We await a time and date to be allocated to our school for our reopening inspection. This may take a few days as all private schools in Dubai have to undergo the same process before approval to re-open is granted.” Another one noted that…

Across Dubai, running clubs are emerging as some of the most accessible and genuine spaces for connection and a recent almost 2,000-runners-strong sprint at Kite Beach offered a glimpse into why. Dubai’s beaches have seen their fair share of weekend runs, but what unfolded at Kite Beach last Sunday was way beyond just staying “on track” with your fitness regime. At sunrise, close to 2,000 people gathered for the ‘Run As One’ initiative, a community-led solidarity run that turned an ordinary stretch of sand and running track into a snapshot of Dubai’s spirit of togetherness. Flags were tied like capes,…

VIENNA, 17th April, 2026 (WAM) — The OPEC Fund for International Development has approved a US$20 million loan to support a disaster risk management programme in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, aimed at strengthening national capacities for disaster preparedness, response and mitigation. A statement issued by OPEC Fund’s headquarters in Vienna noted that the programme represents a top priority for the Caribbean island state, which is among the most affected by the impacts of climate change. The statement added that the programme supports the conservation and management of natural resources, contributing to the protection of environmental assets that sustain both…