Author: Editorial team

ABU DHABI, 22nd July, 2026 (WAM) — TRENDS Global, a subsidiary of TRENDS Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Liwa University to strengthen its research partnership and expand knowledge-based collaboration across areas of mutual interest. The MoU was signed by Awad Mohammed Al Breiki, General Manager of TRENDS Global, and Professor Mohammed Mahjoub Dhiaf, President of Liwa University. The agreement reflects both parties’ commitment to advancing original, evidence-based research and leveraging it to serve society and support policymakers. Under the MoU, the two institutions will collaborate on joint research addressing current and future issues in the social,…

[Editor’s Note: This article is part of Khaleej Times’ Schools and Parents, a dedicated section designed to support families in the UAE as they explore educational choices. The section offers explainers, guidance from education leaders, expert advice and insights from parents to help readers make informed decisions about schools, curricula and communities.] Dubai parents are getting a clearer picture of their education choices ahead of the 2026-27 academic year, with private school fees frozen and families taking a closer look at what Outstanding-rated schools offer — from learning experiences and facilities to student opportunities and asking: are these ratings worth the price tag? Families in…

DALLAS/NEW YORK, 21st July, 2026 (WAM) — The Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), MGX, and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) (collectively, the Consortium), today successfully completed their previously announced acquisition of 100 percent of the equity in Aligned Data Centres from private infrastructure funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management and its co-invest partners. The transaction, which represents Aligned’s enterprise value of approximately $40 billion, stands as one of the largest private investments made to date in digital infrastructure. Aligned Data Centres is one of the largest and fastest-growing data centre developers globally, with a portfolio spanning 51 campuses and more…

Despite the harmful effects of smoking being well-known, many smokers are unable to quit. However, a new research is showing that data on personal wearables that indicate exactly how smoking is affecting the body could be a key factor in helping smokers quit. A landmark study by wearable brand Whoop published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, analysed more than 12,000 new members over 72 weeks. It found that continuous health monitoring co-occurs with substantial, sustained reductions in tobacco use, and those reductions track with measurable improvements in cardiovascular and sleep health. The study found that the probability of daily tobacco use…

DUBAI, 21st July, 2026 (WAM) — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has ordered the promotion of Major General Tamim Al Muhairi, Director-General of Dubai’s State Security Department, to the rank of Lieutenant General, in recognition of his dedicated service and outstanding contributions to strengthening the emirate’s security apparatus, reinforcing safety and stability, and advancing institutional excellence in Dubai. His Highness also ordered the promotion of 6,526 personnel serving with Dubai’s State Security Department, Dubai Police, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, and Dubai Civil Defence,…

When Shaukat Ali Rana opens the front door of his villa in Mirdif to visitors, they quickly realise they have stepped into something far more than an ordinary home. Walls are lined with black-and-white photographs. Vintage cameras sit beside film projectors, Polaroids and wooden field cameras. Glass cabinets display yellowing newspapers, old passports, pre-Union border permits, coins, stamps, driving licences and documents that many people would have discarded decades ago. However, Rana does not begin the tour with any of these. Instead, he walks to a framed black-and-white photograph of Al Maqta Fort near Abu Dhabi. “This was the first…

ABU DHABI, 21st July, 2026 (WAM) — The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) confirmed a significant increase in the number of beneficiaries of the VAT Refund Scheme for UAE Nationals Building New Residences in the first half of 2026. The authority stated that approximately 4,000 refund applications submitted by UAE nationals for VAT incurred during the construction of their new residences were approved in H1 2026, with total refunds reaching AED353.5 million. The authority said this compares to 3,100 approved applications worth AED284.8 million in H1 2025, representing a 27.5 percent increase in the number of approved applications and a 24.1…

ABU DHABI, 21st July, 2026 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, received Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates. During the meeting, held in Abu Dhabi, the two sides discussed developments in the Middle East and ways to strengthen regional and international efforts to end the escalation in the region and ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law. The two ministers also discussed the importance of working to achieve lasting security and stability across the region…

Planning to host family or friends in Dubai? You could unlock hotel, dining and attraction offers worth more than Dh3,000 when they visit the emirate. Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism on Tuesday announced the launch of ‘A Dubai Invite’, which will run from July 20 to October 31, 2026. Under the initiative, residents who successfully nominate family members or friends and verify their visit can access a range of rewards, from hotel stays and restaurant offers to experiences at some of the city’s attractions. How can residents unlock ‘A Dubai Invite’ benefits? To take part, residents must nominate their…

FARNBOROUGH, 21st July, 2026 (WAM) — Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), an Abu Dhabi sovereign investor, and Embraer, a leading global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, today signed a Strategic Framework Agreement at the Farnborough International Airshow, establishing a pathway to a long-term collaboration across supply, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), human capital development, and research and development. The agreement was signed by Amer Siddiqui, Executive Director at Mubadala’s UAE Investments Platform on behalf of Mubadala, and Dimas Douglas Tomelin, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer of Embraer S.A. on behalf of Embraer. The partnership draws on the UAE’s integrated aerospace ecosystem,…