Author: Editorial team
ABU DHABI, 16th March, 2026 (WAM) — The United Arab Emirates has expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with the Republic of Kenya over the victims of heavy rains and flooding, which resulted in dozens of deaths and significant damage. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, and to the government and people of Kenya over this tragedy. Source: Emirates News Agency
Rising rents are pushing more residents in Abu Dhabi to consider buying property rather than continuing to lease, as the capital’s real estate market records strong activity this month. One resident who purchased an apartment at the launch of a new residential project on Reem Island said the decision came after months of watching rental costs climb. “We don’t know how long we can withstand the rental increases,” said a South African expatriate who bought his first property as an investment. “It’s an owner’s market, so we decided it’s better to own than remain tenants.” The buyer said he and…
Dubai authorities have launched ‘Itma’en’, a new mental wellness support line aimed at enhancing the quality of life across the emirate. The initiative translates to “Rest Assured,” providing a direct, confidential channel for anyone in Dubai citizens, residents, and visitors to access professional guidance and psychological support. The service is a collaborative effort between Dubai Health, the Community Development Authority (CDA), and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), reflecting a unified government approach to prioritising mental wellbeing as a cornerstone of a healthy society. Accessible free of charge to all, the Itma’en support line can be reached by calling the dedicated…
SHARJAH, 16th March, 2026 (WAM) — The Sharjah Excellence Award, organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), has officially commenced the assessment phase across all award categories, following the close of the application process and the completion of final submissions for the 2025 edition. More than 120 participants from various economic sectors have entered the award, underscoring its role in promoting institutional excellence, innovation and economic leadership. The Sharjah Excellence Award’s Board of Trustees explained that the evaluation phase involves recruiting assessors from across the UAE, selected according to the highest standards of expertise and professional competency.…
ABU DHABI, 16th March, 2026 (WAM) — The UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) held a specialised Crisis Simulation Exercise on Monday in cooperation with Immersive, a company specialising in human-centric cyber resilience development, to strengthen the cyber readiness of government entities across the country. The exercise comes amid the current circumstances facing the nation, which require sustained and strengthened preparedness across all cyber domains to protect the country’s digital infrastructure from potential threats and attacks. During the exercise, the council’s teams and Immersive experts conducted an advanced cyber simulation focusing on ways to confront, respond to, and halt a potential…
Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced on Monday that the Edge of Life Ramadan campaign raised more than 2.8 billion dirhams from individuals, institutions, humanitarian organizations, and major donors, with a total of 44 thousand contributors. Source: Khaleej Times
Muslims in Saudi Arabia have been urged to sight the Shawwal crescent moon on the evening of Wednesday, March 18. This sighting will determine the start of Eid Al Fitr 2026 in the Kingdom after a month-long fasting during Ramadan. According to astronomical calculations, the moon may not be visible on March 18, resulting in a 30-day Ramadan. This means the first day of Eid Al Fitr 2026 will on March 20. If the crescent is sighted on March 18, Eid will commence the next day, March 19. However, the moon sighting committee, that will convene on Wednesday will finally…
SHARJAH, 16th March, 2026 (WAM) — House of Wisdom (HoW) in Sharjah has drawn the curtains on its four-month exhibition “The Dice Player: Mahmoud Darwish”, attracting more than 25,000 visitors, including researchers, scholars, and prominent cultural figures. Marking the exhibition’s success and the strong public engagement it generated, HoW signed a memorandum of understanding with the Palestinian Museum, the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre, and the Barjeel Art Foundation to transform the exhibition into a travelling international exhibition. Starting from Sharjah, the exhibition will tour cultural institutions around the world, extending the reach of Darwish’s legacy and reaffirming his status as…
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that all public parking across the city will be free from the first day of Eid Al Fitr until the end of the third day of the holiday. The exemption applies to all public parking zones, except multi-storey parking facilities. Regular parking tariffs will resume from the fourth day of Eid, the RTA said in a statement. Source: Khaleej Times
FUJAIRAH, 16th March, 2026 (WAM) — The competent authorities in Fujairah confirmed that a major fire broke out in the Fujairah Oil Industries Zone following a drone attack, with no injuries reported. Civil defence teams in the emirate immediately began responding to the incident and continue their efforts to bring the fire under control. Source: Emirates News Agency