Author: Editorial team

DUBAI, 8th July, 2026 (WAM) — Dubai maintained its strong economic performance in the first quarter of 2026, with the emirate’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reaching AED232 billion, representing a 2.4% increase from the same period last year. The performance reflects the strength, resilience, and adaptability of Dubai’s economy, driven by the diversity and integration of its economic activities, as well as the effectiveness of its development policies and strategies in enhancing its competitiveness and ability to respond to evolving global economic conditions. It also reaffirms Dubai’s continued progress in advancing sustainable economic growth, driven by innovation, openness, and strategic…

DUBAI, 8th July, 2026 (WAM) — In the presence of H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, the Arab Reading Challenge will tomorrow host a major ceremony at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo Dubai, to honour the winners of its 10th edition following a record participation from across the UAE. More than 830,000 students from schools across the UAE took part in this year’s competition, marking the highest level of participation in the initiative’s history at the national level. The ceremony will also be attended by Her Excellency Sarah bint…

DeepSeek, the AI start-up based in China, is reportedly developing its own AI chip in a bid to reduce dependence on processors developed by Nvidia and Huawei. According to Reuters, the chip will be designed to tackle inference workloads, a stage of AI computing where trained models are utilised for generating responses for users rather than for training new models. The company has apparently been working on the project for about a year and is in talks with external partners including chip-design firms, foundries and memory suppliers, It has also increased recruitment of chip design engineers, although hiring has been…

[Editor’s Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog after the signing of the MoU between the US and Iran.] The UAE on Wednesday issued a statement condemning the renewed Iranian attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait with missiles and drones. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Kuwait, and pose a threat to their security and stability. The ministry reaffirmed the UAE’s full solidarity with Bahrain and Kuwait, and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding their security and stability. Stay up to date…

Building a system that can recognise risk, guide families, and protect children before Type 1 Diabetes becomes clinical Published: Wed 8 Jul 2026, 4:55 PM By: Lama Saleh | Partner Content In medicine, the ultimate breakthrough is not merely treating a condition, it is securing time. For generations, the global approach to Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) has been strictly reactive, defined by how well we manage the disease after it arrives. Today, here in the UAE, we are fundamentally rewriting that trajectory. Driven by a national health vision that consistently translates ambition into clinical reality, we are moving away from…

DUBAI, 8th July, 2026 (WAM) — Dubai Internet City, the region’s leading technology hub, has entered into a strategic partnership with Luxinnovation, Luxembourg’s national innovation agency, to drive innovation, foster cross-border collaboration, and support knowledge sharing. The partnership will also create opportunities for Dubai-based start-ups, scale-ups and technology companies interested in exploring the European market through Luxembourg, leveraging the country’s innovation ecosystem, international connectivity and strategic position within the European Union. Luxinnovation and its partners will provide personalised support to help companies determine whether Luxembourg is the ideal location for their business expansion, while enabling them to explore opportunities across…

DUBAI, 8th July, 2026 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, chaired the council’s 95th meeting, held virtually in the presence of Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the council, where members reviewed the emirate’s progress in achieving its sustainable development goals and approved the 2025 greenhouse gas emission results. The meeting was attended by Ahmed Buti Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of the council, and council members Marwan bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality; Abdulla bin Kalban, Managing Director of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA); Hussain Lootah, Chief Executive…

AJMAN, 8th July, 2026 (WAM) — Ajman Bank, rated BBB+ (Stable) by Fitch, has successfully priced its inaugural USD 300 million Additional Tier 1 (AT1) Perpetual Non-Call 5.5-Year Sukuk at a profit rate of 6.500%, marking another important milestone in the Bank’s continued growth journey. The issuance reflects the strong confidence investors placed in Ajman Bank’s financial strength, strategic direction, and ongoing transformation. As the Bank’s first Additional Tier 1 capital Sukuk issuance, this achievement builds on the success of its debut senior Sukuk issuance last year and highlights the progress made in strengthening its financial profile. Through this successful…

Ahmed Al Anqari, Chief Executive Officer, Salam. Ahmed Al Anqari, Chief Executive Officer of Salam, discusses how the company’s expanding Research & Innovation Centres are nurturing AI, cloud, and cybersecurity talent while strengthening industry-academia collaboration in support of Saudi Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia is accelerating its transformation into a global digital economy, placing innovation, artificial intelligence, and home-grown talent at the centre of its Vision 2030 ambitions. Continued investment in research, digital infrastructure, and advanced technologies is creating stronger links between academia, industry, and technology leaders to develop the next generation of innovators and accelerate the Kingdom’s knowledge-based economy. Ahmed…

Building teenagers’ confidence to say “no” to drugs requires more than awareness campaigns and law enforcement; it demands a strong partnership between families, schools and the wider community, experts and officials say. While government-led prevention efforts have helped strengthen awareness about the dangers of narcotics, specialists warn that peer pressure remains one of the biggest risk factors leading young people to experiment with drugs, often through a single decision that can become the first step toward addiction. Recent studies indicate that teenagers and young adults are among the groups most vulnerable to substance abuse. Factors including poor parenting skills, emotional…