Khaleej Times

Classrooms across the UAE

came alive again on Monday as students returned to in-person learning, reconnecting with friends and teachers.

Let’s work to eradicate river blindness, says Dubai Ruler

Anew humanitarian project to eradicate river blindness has been announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The project, which is a part of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global...

UAE AND EGYPT PRESIDENTS DISCUSS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, who is on a fraternal visit to the UAE. They exchanged views on the latest regional developments and their serious implications for...

‘UAE CAN CONFRONT ANY THREAT’

From the UAE Armed Forces’ response to recent Iranian attacks to their sacrifices over five decades, the country’s leaders have paid tribute to the men and women in uniform as the nation marked the 50th anniversary of the unification of its Armed...

REOPENS AFTER DH500M FACELIFT

Al Mamzar Beach officially reopened on Tuesday and welcomed visitors with upgraded facilities and improved public spaces. The Dh500 million project is a key part of Dubai Municipality’s broader vision to transform the city’s beaches into modern,...

US destroyers enter Gulf to escort ships

US guided-missile destroyers have passed through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Gulf as part of a new mission to restore maritime traffic in the vital waterway, the US military said on Monday. The warships “are currently operating in the Arabian...

Dubai on track with its Metro Blue line launch

Dubai has revealed design concepts for upcoming stations on the Metro Blue Line, a 30km route that will feature 14 stations, including three interchange, seven elevated and four underground. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president and...

UAE charges 13 suspects, 6 firms in Sudan arms smuggling case

The UAE has officially concluded its investigation into a Sudanese arms smuggling network and referred the case to the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal (State Security Court) for a final ruling. UAE Attorney-general Counsellor Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi...

UAE LEADERS RECEIVE BAHRAIN KING

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, who is on a visit to the UAE, on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE...

UAE QUITS OPEC

In a historic shift for global energy markets, the UAE on Tuesday announced it will leave the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the wider Opec+ alliance effective May 1, 2026, ending nearly six decades of membership and signalling a...

You love Dubai, Dubai loves you too, Mohammed tells 9-year-old

“Remember, I will always be your friend,” said Sheikh Mohammed to nine-year-old Roger Xie as he welcomed a young boy who had written a heartfelt letter expressing his love for Dubai and the UAE. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president...

Trump safe after gala shooting

UAE and other nations express solidarity with the Trump family as a gunman firing his gun rushes through a security checkpoint outside the ballroom where the US president was attending a gala dinner in Washington on Saturday night. The man carrying a...

UAE IN THE AI FAST LANE

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced that in two years, 50 per cent of UAE’S government sectors, services, and operations will run on Agentic AI. The new government model...

Route map: 18 stations, Etihad Rail link, ‘high-speed rail’

Dubai’s newly released Rail Network Plan 2032 map has revealed the full route of the upcoming Gold Line, showing a corridor that begins in the historic Al Ghubaiba area and runs across the city to terminate at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The line will pass...

We’ll never stop, Dubai has a lot to achieve: Ruler

Dubai is work in progress and will never stop in its race to attain even greater achievements, the emirate’s ruler said on Tuesday. “Our projects are moving ahead, and work will not stop. On the contrary, the pace will accelerate. We remain committed...

We never stop learning or teaching, come what may: VP

“We are a nation that does not pause in the face of challenges. We never stop learning or teaching.” With this message, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum welcomed students in the UAE back to school on April 20. After more than a month of remote...

Safety first as schools reopen

After weeks of distance learning, UAE schools are moving towards in-person education with new safety infrastructure, emergency protocols, and in some cases, staggered schedules in place. Moreover, teachers and staff will be trained in line with...

Parents rue absence of buses as schools brace for opening

Parents in the UAE have begun making alternative arrangements after the Ministry of Education announced that school bus services will be postponed. While some working parents opted to take taxi services, others decided to continue online schooling for...

IN THE UAE, RESILIENCE IS MORE THANJUST A WORD

All of us in the UAE, in one way or another, have demonstrated strength in recent weeks. And the beautiful thing about resilience is that the more you display it, the more you internalize it. The more it becomes a part of you. Today marks the 48th...

Pakistan pulling out all the stops to get US, Iran back to the table

Pakistan is gearing up to host a second round of talks between the United States and Iran later this week with backchannel communications aimed at bringing the two sides together for more talks gathering pace. Sources familiar with the matter told...

Iran threatens to retaliate against Gulf ports over Trump blockade

The deadline passed on Monday for the start of a US military blockade of ships leaving Iran’s ports, and Tehran threatened to retaliate against ports of its Gulf neighbours after weekend talks on ending the war broke down. Since the war started on...

UAE reviewing ties based on Iran lessons: Gargash

The UAE has begun reassessing its security posture and alliances following Iran’s attack earlier this year, days after a ceasefire brought a halt to the Us-israel-iran war. In a statement, top UAE diplomat Dr Anwar Gargash said it was still...

Hormuz not owned by any state, must reopen without terms: UAE

The UAE on Thursday called for the full and unconditional opening of the Strait of Hormuz with “no strings attached” as the important oil chokepoint remains closed by Iran after briefly being opened following a fragile ceasefire. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE...

Pakistan to host Iran talks

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Islamabad would host delegations from the United States and Iran later this week following their ceasefire announcement. “I... extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the...

WORLD ON A SHARP EDGE

● Trump threatens ‘a whole civilisation will die’ if Iran does not fall in line ● White House denies considering using nuclear weapons ● Tehran says will not show flexibility as long as Washington demands surrender ● Pakistan fears attacks on Saudi...

IRAN REJECTS TRUCE PLAN

Iran said on Monday it wanted a lasting end to the war with the US and Israel, and pushed back against pressure to swiftly reopen the Strait of Hormuz under a temporary ceasefire as the Americans and the Iranians weighed a framework plan to cease their...

US commandos go deep into Iran to rescue downed airman: Media

American commandos deployed deep into Iranian territory to rescue a downed airman, US news outlets reported on Sunday, hours after President Donald Trump announced that the crew member had been recovered “safe and sound”. Tehran said this week it had...

NASA BACK TO MOON AFTER HALF-A-CENTURY

Four astronauts blasted off from Florida on Wednesday on Nasa’s Artemis II mission, a high-stakes 10-day trip around the moon that marks the United States’ boldest step yet towards returning humans to the lunar surface this decade. After nearly three...

Trump says US may exit Iran war soon and threatens to quit Nato

The United States will end its war on Iran fairly soon and could return for “spot hits” if needed, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, hours before he was scheduled to make a primetime address to the nation. Trump also said he would state in the...

China, Pakistan outline five-point plan to end Us-israel-iran war

China and Pakistan called on Tuesday for an immediate end to the war in the Middle East, and for peace talks as soon as possible, as they agreed to boost their cooperation on Iran. The two countries outlined a joint initiative “for restoring peace and...

DUBAI UNVEILS DH1B SUPPORT PACKAGE

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, approved a Dh1-billion support package for the emirate’s business sector,...

30 years on, Dubai World Cup is still at pinnacle of global racing

Thirty years on from its launch in 1996, the Dubai World Cup has established itself as one of racing’s biggest global spectacles, and Saturday’s 30th anniversary meeting at Meydan delivered again. A nine-race card worth $30.5 million brought together...

Lost car number plates surface after heavy rain across UAE

After the heavy rain that lashed the UAE, a familiar sight has cropped up once again — car number plates sticking out of the side of pavements, echoing a scene that became one of the most defining images of the historic April 2024 floods, when the...

UN council slams Iranian attacks on GCC, demands reparation

The UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday condemned Iran’s “egregious attacks” on its Gulf neighbours and demanded full “reparation” for all victims of its strikes. The 47-member council backed a resolution brought by the six Gulf Cooperation Council (...

Tehran toughens stand, seeks key concessions

Iran’s negotiating posture has hardened sharply since the war began, with the Revolutionary Guards exerting growing influence over decision-making, and it will demand significant concessions from the United States if mediation efforts lead to serious...

HEAVY RAIN LASHES PARTS OF UAE

Heavy rain lashed Sharjah as residents woke up to lightning and thunder across parts of the UAE during the morning hours of Monday. UAE airports have urged passengers to allow additional time for travel this week as unstable weather is forecast to...

Rain to continue in UAE until March 27

Rainfall is expected to affect different parts of the UAE over the coming days, shifting across regions, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). This comes after a wet weekend that brought rain, thunder and strong winds to several parts...

No aggression can dampen this Eid smile, camaraderie

People of all ages thronged markets across the country for last-minute shopping ahead of Eid Al Fitr, being celebrated today under the shadow of a regional conflict. Despite the ongoing tensions and unprovoked Iranian aggression, UAE residents and...

Dubai Airports will bounce back in a jiffy: CEO Griffiths

Dubai Airports will bounce back from the impact of the current regional military conflict “very quickly”, and it has no plans to put its expansion on hold, its chief has said. “We will bounce back from the current situation very quickly. Of that I am...

UAE rejects Iran’s justifications for unprovoked, unlawful aggression

The UAE has rejected descriptions of Iran’s attacks on the country as “retaliatory strikes”, calling the characterisation legally unfounded and a pretext for unlawful aggression. Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Jamal Al Musharakh,...

UAE RESIDENTS GEAR UP FOR EID

Residents make last-minute shopping ahead of the upcoming Eid celebrations in Sharjah on Monday as markets and shopping districts witness a surge of festive shoppers. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has announced that all public parking across...

Global investors back UAE’S resilience amid Iran conflict

Global financial institutions, credit rating agencies and economists are reaffirming strong confidence in the resilience of GCC economies, especially the UAE, despite escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, highlighting powerful fiscal...

Ships on fire as Iran vows to keep Hormuz shut

Iran will fight on and keep the Strait of Hormuz shut, new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday in a statement read out on state television, the first remarks attributed to him since he succeeded his slain father. In a defiant address,...

Hamdan pledges all steps to ensure sustainable growth

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, has pledged to take all necessary steps to ensure sustainable economic growth, safeguard Dubai’s development gains and...

Rest assured: UAE will remain a haven of safety and stability

The leaders of the UAE have pledged to keep the nation a haven of safety and stability. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday met Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,...

Shares skid, oil soars 30% over prolonged war fears

Shares and bonds slumped and Global oil markets witnessed one of their sharpest rallies in years on Monday as the escalating conflict raised fears of a prolonged supply disruption in the Middle East, the world’s most critical oil-producing...

Thank you, beloved President

People of the UAE and beyond are grateful to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who praised the unity of Emiratis and residents during the Iran conflict with his epochal statement that in the UAE, everyone is Emirati through their love, and...

GCC, EU cry halt as Iran widens war

EU and Gulf ministers called following crisis talks on Thursday for Iran to immediately end “indiscriminate” attacks across the region in retaliation for US-IS-raeli attacks, warning global security was at stake. Oil prices jumped more than three per...

It’s business as usual in UAE despite regional tensions

Top UAE companies on Wednesday said they continue to “operate normally” despite the ongoing military conflict in the region. From banking to real estate to ports to telecom, many listed companies in the UAE assured that there was no impact of the...

Hear us loud and clear: No missile can shatter UAE

The UAE maintains strategic reserves of essential goods sufficient to meet market needs for four-six months, Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said, stressing that supply chains remain stable and imports are proceeding according...

Oil spikes, hundreds of ships drop anchor

Oil surged nine per cent as at least 150 tankers, including crude and LNG vessels, dropped anchor in open Gulf waters beyond the Strait of Hormuz amid mounting fears that an escalating Us–iran conflict could severely disrupt supplies. Dozens more...

Khamenei killed

165 MISSILES, 541 DRONES TARGET UAE Iranian strikes in the past two days resulted in three fatalities in the UAE among Pakistani, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi expats. The authorities reported 58 cases of minor injuries involving citizens and residents of...

Gaps still remain in Us-iran talks: Omani minister

The United States and Iran could reach a framework for a deal if Washington separates “nuclear and non-nuclear issues”, a senior Iranian official told Reuters, adding that remaining gaps need to be narrowed during a third round of talks in...

TIME FOR A QUIET MOMENT OF REFLECTION

As Ramadan begins, questions about daily life in Dubai — from dining during the day to entertainment, dress codes and visitor experiences — resurface among residents and tourists alike. Khaleej Times compiled a list of the most common queries people...

Ukraine ‘unbroken’ after 4 yrs, but Russia vows to fight on

Vladimir Putin has not broken Ukraine, its leader Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday, as the Kremlin marked the start of the fifth year of its invasion by vowing to keep fighting Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II until it achieves its...

Winter storm forces state of emergency in NYC

Children across parts of the US Northeast will stay home on Monday as a powerful winter storm forced school closures and pushed offices and transit systems onto emergency schedules, with officials across the region warning of heavy snow, strong winds...

Arab, Muslim countries slam US envoy’s remarks on Israel’s right to Mideast land

Arab and Islamic countries issued a joint condemnation on Sunday of remarks by US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who suggested Israel had a biblical right to a vast swath of the Middle East. Huckabee, a former Baptist minister and a fervent...

Modi’s call to democratise AI as India firms pledge $210B

India’s biggest conglomerates are stepping up a push into AI and data infrastructure, with Reliance committing about $110 billion and Adani pledging $100 billion to position the nation as an emerging hub for AI development. While the sum is modest...

The Dubai Police fire the ceremonial cannon at Downtown to announce Iftar time on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan on Wednesday.

The holy month is here

The UAE’S moon-sighting committee confirmed on Tuesday that Ramadan 2026 officially begins today. This means Muslims across the nation will start their fasts and mark the beginning of the holy month from today. For Muslims in Saudi Arabia, the first...

West Bank land registration rule draws global outrage

Israel’s government has approved a process to register land in the West Bank as “state property”, drawing condemnation from Arab nations and critics who said it would accelerate annexation of the Palestinian territory. Israel’s foreign ministry said...

‘Thank you for making my mother’s kiss possible’

Fawzia Mahmoudi from Morocco was crowned Arab Hope Maker 2026 at a ceremony held in Dubai on Sunday, earning the Dh1 million top prize for her life-changing work with children born with cleft lip and palate. Mahmoudi has helped nearly 19,000 children...

No idea of motive in Canada school shooting: Police

The suspect in a deadly school shooting in western Canada was an 18-year-old woman with mental health issues who killed her mother and stepbrother before attacking her former school, police said on Wednesday, but investigators did not offer a motive...

Canada stunned by school carnage

Canada was in mourning on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said, after a lone shooter killed at least nine people, including seven at a school, and injured dozens more in a remote western town. An emotional Carney said in brief remarks to...

UAE and Iran to keep regular coordination

The UAE and Iran on Tuesday decided to maintain regular coordination and activate joint technical committees to accelerate the implementation of existing agreements and explore new avenues for cooperation. This emerged at the second round of political...

GLOBAL INDIANS OF THE UAE: WOMEN ON THE RISE

Across technology, education, healthcare, media and the arts, a rising generation of Indians is redefining leadership. Through a year-long editorial series, Khaleej Times will trace these journeys and their impact. This first chapter spotlights 24...

Moscow shooting: Putin thanks UAE for quick arrest of suspect

Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked his UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for help with the detention of a man suspected of shooting a Russian military intelligence officer, Russian agencies reported, citing Kremlin spokesperson...

Dream come true! $1 million Gems award moves teacher

An internationally acclaimed Indian artist, social innovator, and transformative educator who taught children in slums and other marginalised communities was announced the winner of the $1 million Gems Education Global Teacher Prize. Rouble Nagi was...

To be future-ready is crucial for nations, says President

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Wednesday advancing government capabilities is a vital priority for nations seeking to navigate the trajectory of the future. This involves enhancing the capacity to anticipate change and stay ahead...

DUBAI LOOP ON THE WAY

A top official announced on Tuesday that the first phase of work for the Dubai Loop will begin soon. The service will begin in areas of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Dubai Mall at a total cost of Dh600 million. The announcement was...

UAE’S diversification and AI integration timely: IMF

Economic growth in Arab countries remain positive despite challenges but it is important these states strengthen defences, build resilience, and harness the power of artificial intelligence, according to Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the...

Science and scientists at the core of UAE’S vision, says President

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Sunday science and scientists are at the core of the UAE’S vision for the future and that countries that make knowledge a national priority are the ones capable of leading global transformations and...

Putin thanks UAE for its mediation efforts

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday ahead of a second round of talks on the Ukraine war in Abu Dhabi. The UAE has emerged as a key mediator in the nearly four-year war, brokering...

Time running out for Iran as US forces build up in Gulf: Trump

President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that time is running out for Iran to come to the table and avoid US military action, prompting Tehran to retort that it would respond to any attack “like never before”. As Trump issued another threat, his top...

DH100B expansion to make DIFC a global economic hub

Dubai took another step on Tuesday towards its goal to rank among the world’s top four financial centres as the emirate’s Ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced the launch of the second phase of the Dubai International Financial...

PRESIDENT ATTENDS GRADUATION CEREMONY

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attends the graduation ceremony of the 50th batch of officer cadets and the first batch of university officer cadets at Zayed II Military College in Al Ain on Monday. He congratulated the graduates and...