Author: Editorial team
The UAE passport has retained its position as the world’s most powerful, a spot it has held since 2018, after reaching a record score of 182 in the Passport Index by Arton Capital. The latest score, the highest ever recorded in the index, keeps the UAE passport at number one globally and gives Emirati citizens access to 127 destinations visa-free, 45 with visa on arrival and 10 with electronic travel authorisation. The passport has a world reach of 91 per cent, while only 16 destinations require a visa, according to the Passport Index. Stay up to date with the latest…
SHARJAH, 19th May, 2026 (WAM) — The Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH) launched a special cultural celebration as part of the “World Heritage Cultural Weeks in Sharjah” programme, marking International Museum Day on 18th May and International Tea Day on 21st May. The four-day programme, running from 18th to 21st May at the institute’s headquarters, features diverse international and cultural participation, highlighting tea as a global cultural and humanitarian element. The event features a range of heritage, artistic and educational activities for the public and heritage enthusiasts. The opening ceremony was attended by Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the…
Landmark partnership marries 110 years of industrial domain expertise with Claude’s frontier AI to accelerate the safe, enterprise-scale deployment of physical AI across critical infrastructure worldwide. Dubai — Hitachi, Ltd. has announced a strategic partnership with Anthropic PBC, the AI safety company behind the Claude family of models, to strengthen its Lumada 3.0 business model and accelerate the safe deployment of frontier AI across mission-critical industries. Announced jointly from Santa Clara and Tokyo, the alliance unites Hitachi’s 110-plus years of domain expertise in IT, operational technology, and products with Anthropic’s frontier AI capabilities. The companies will focus on advancing system…
ABU DHABI, 18th May, 2026 (WAM) — The Abu Dhabi Sports Council achieved a new milestone, adding to its ongoing record of success, after winning 7 gold awards at the Middle East Sports Industry Awards “SPIA 2026”, one of the region’s leading awards dedicated to the sports sector, recognising the most influential and distinguished sports institutions, initiatives, and leaders. The gold awards included, firstly, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council winning the Gold Award in the Sports Organisation of the Year 2025 category. Secondly, Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, received the Gold Award in…
LONDON, 18th May, 2026 (WAM) — The United Arab Emirates participated in a high-level meeting with the United Kingdom in London to strengthen cooperation under the UAE-UK Partnership to Tackle Illicit Financial Flows. Held at the headquarters of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the meeting addressed several priority areas of bilateral cooperation, including financial security, anti-money laundering, judicial cooperation, and emerging risks affecting the global financial system. The UAE delegation was led by Saeed Al Hajeri, Minister of State, while the UK delegation was led by The Honourable Dan Jarvis MP, Minister of State for Security. The meeting reflected…
DUBAI, 19th May, 2026 (WAM) — Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships and cooperation among government entities and private-sector companies to support RTA’s priorities, enhance future readiness, and contribute to developing the transport and mobility ecosystem in line with Dubai’s rapid development. The remarks were made during RTA’s Annual Partnership Forum, organised at its Transportation Research and Innovation Pavilion (TRIP) at the University of Birmingham in Dubai Academic City. The event brought together 15 government entities and eight business-sector entities in the UAE, in addition to 48 partners, external experts, and representatives of RTA…
DUBAI, 18th May, 2026 (WAM) — Dubai is set to welcome Eid Al Adha with a citywide programme of festivities, staycation offers, and family experiences running from 22 to 31 May. As part of the Season of Wulfa, and in alignment with the Year of Family, the city will bring together residents, families and friends through a series of cultural, entertainment and community experiences. Organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, a range of limited-time staycation offers and value-driven packages will be specially curated for Eid Al Adha, with experiences…
As schools across the UAE enter the final stretch of term ahead of the long Eid Al Adha break, classrooms are buzzing with a mix of revision sessions, assessments, and festive preparations. With only days remaining before the holiday begins on Monday, May 25, educators are focused on keeping students academically engaged while also making room for wellbeing and cultural celebration. The lead-up to the nine-day break, when combined with weekends, often brings a noticeable shift in student energy, as anticipation of travel and family time builds across diverse school communities. Still, schools say they are maintaining momentum through interactive…
What is it about Ruskin Bond? It’s not just the stories he writes. He unlocks a wooden door in your memory. They hold your hand and walk you back to school corridors, to friends whose names you hadn’t said aloud in years, to a time when joy was as simple as a toffee and a bicycle race. That is his magic. As the author turns 92 today, he celebrated his birthday by launching a new book titled All-Time Favourite Friendship Stories. Bond turns his gentle gaze towards one of life’s most cherished gifts and that is friendship. In an exclusive…
ABU DHABI, 18th May, 2026 (WAM) — The UAE has moved beyond experimentation toward integrating AI into core government functions — grappling in practice with questions of leadership, procurement, sovereignty, and organisational redesign that many governments are only beginning to confront, according to new research published by Yango Group and INSEAD. Governments that treat artificial intelligence as part of their core operating infrastructure — rather than a collection of standalone projects — are better positioned to scale AI sustainably across public services, the research said. The paper, AI as Public Infrastructure: Lessons from the UAE for Government Transformation, argues that…