News

A trillion-dollar industry in transformation The opening speaker for the media programme highlighted the scale of the sector, noting that global media and entertainment generated over $2.8 trillion last year, with gaming alone rivaling film and television at nearly $200 billion. Streaming continues to reshape consumption, while nearly 70% of content creators are already using … Read more

According to the airline, the sale provides travellers from the UAE with an opportunity to secure their 2026 itineraries well in advance, offering significant flexibility for long-awaited trips and leisure travel. Upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila, passengers can seamlessly connect to 27 additional domestic destinations spanning the main island … Read more

Giving creators a real shot The best thing about the digital age: Anyone can share their story. A child in a village can upload something today and reach millions tomorrow. That’s revolutionary. But there’s a problem. Many African creators who go viral can’t actually get paid. Banking restrictions and digital barriers lock them out of … Read more

Manjusha Radhakrishnan has been slaying entertainment news and celebrity interviews in Dubai for 18 years—and she’s just getting started. As Entertainment Editor, she covers Bollywood movie reviews, Hollywood scoops, Pakistani dramas, and world cinema. Red carpets? She’s walked them all—Europe, North America, Macau—covering IIFA (Bollywood Oscars) and Zee Cine Awards like a pro. She’s been … Read more

The Sudanese conflict is witnessing a dangerous escalation, with mounting allegations against the Sudanese army regarding the use of chemical weapons during its military operations. At the same time, US and international pressure is intensifying to compel the government in Port Sudan to acknowledge these violations and cooperate with the relevant authorities, foremost among them … Read more

Fox survey: Approval for Trump down 41% Every major polling outfit now shows Trump underwater. Yet nothing stings quite like the latest Fox News survey, the one network Trump once called “his favourite.” Tariffs are eating his presidency alive No magic reset button this time Even Trump-friendly voices are running out of adulation. The New … Read more

Dubai: The Dubai Shopping Festival’s most anticipated spectacle—the DSF Drone Show 2025—returned on 5 December, delivering an enchanting visual experience above the bay between Bluewaters and The Beach, JBR. This season introduces more than 1,000 next-generation LED drones, faster, brighter and more synchronised than ever before, creating a futuristic aerial display that elevates the festival … Read more

The trigger incident: Robbery in a lift Casualties and emergency response A total of 21 people suffered breathing difficulties, eye irritation, or coughing, with five taken to hospital, though none with life-threatening injuries, according to British media reports, This prompted a massive emergency mobilisation: Armed police flooded the car park Firefighters and paramedics treated victims Access roads and tunnels … Read more

Saudi prices also unchanged Across the border in Saudi Arabia, gold prices stayed flat through the night. 24-carat gold is priced at Dh518 per gram, exactly the same as late last night. The 22-carat variety also stayed firm at Dh476 per gram. This stability is important for UAE consumers who often compare regional prices before … Read more

With over 30 years of journalistic experience spanning from Jordan to the UAE, Khitam has spent the past 22 years reporting on national and regional news from Dubai, with a strong focus on the UAE, GCC and broader Arab affairs. As Chief News Editor, she brings extensive expertise in delivering breaking and engaging news to … Read more

Traffic was particularly heavy on main arterial routes leading towards Dubai, with the most significant tailbacks reported on both Al Ittihad Street and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Road (E311). On Al Ittihad Street, congestion was concentrated around the Al Nahda First area of Dubai, where an accident restricted lanes and slowed movement significantly for commuters … Read more

In early 2025, billionaire John Fredriksen made headlines—not just for the scale of his fortune, but for where he chose to move it. Long a fixture on London’s rich lists, Fredriksen decided to call time on the UK’s “non-dom” tax regime and shift the nerve centre of his empire to Dubai. He is hardly alone: … Read more

JMBR Courier Services has completed a vital road safety training programme for its delivery agents, held in collaboration with Dubai Police’s Department of Traffic Education. This initiative was aimed at enhancing the safety and professionalism of JMBR’s delivery fleet. The comprehensive training session carried out in August and October was expertly delivered by an officer … Read more

Esha Deol remembers father Dharmendra on his birth anniversary On Monday, Esha posted two photographs with her late father on Instagram, pairing them with a moving note that captured the depth of their bond. “To my darling Papa. Our pact, the strongest bond. ‘Us’ through all our lifetimes, all the realms and beyond… We are … Read more

“A nearly ninefold increase in real estate activity (real estate activity in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2017) reflects a market that has moved far beyond speculation,” said Andrei Charapenak, CEO of Major Developments. “Buyers and investors today are looking for stability, infrastructure, and long-term value, and they’re finding that in Ras Al Khaimah.” Luxury … Read more

HBO and Warner Bros programming still appears in the region through licensing deals, and once Netflix controls that library, it determines where those titles will be released, how widely they’re distributed, and whether they remain exclusive. In practice, that means Netflix will increasingly shape the viewing options available across the Gulf, even without HBO Max … Read more

Voter priorities, erosion of trust An SWS survey highlighted eradicating graft as the top voter concern for 2025 elections, amplified by livestreamed hearings revealing multibillion-peso irregularities. Marcos Jr.’s trust rating hit a record low post-probe revelations, with 90% suspecting collusion among officials, contractors, and lawmakers in flood fund misuse.​ Vice President Sara Duterte’s approval ratings … Read more

Manjusha Radhakrishnan has been slaying entertainment news and celebrity interviews in Dubai for 18 years—and she’s just getting started. As Entertainment Editor, she covers Bollywood movie reviews, Hollywood scoops, Pakistani dramas, and world cinema. Red carpets? She’s walked them all—Europe, North America, Macau—covering IIFA (Bollywood Oscars) and Zee Cine Awards like a pro. She’s been … Read more

Dubai: Jebel Ali Police Station has launched a new initiative, “Customer Voice,” aimed at enhancing communication with the public, in line with directives from Lt Gen Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police. The first session brought together Colonel Jamal Ibrahim Ali, Director of Jebel Ali Police Station, his deputy Colonel Ali Ahmad Al … Read more

Farrhana Bhatt secures runner-up spot The season’s first runner-up was Farrhana Bhatt, who battled her way to the finale alongside Gaurav. Singer Amaal Mallik was the first contestant to be evicted from the top five, followed by Tanya Mittal. Pranit More finished as the second runner-up, leaving Gaurav and Farrhana as the top two finalists. … Read more

“Thrown Under the Bus”: Salah’s accusations After the final whistle, a visibly frustrated Salah spoke with rare honesty and frustration. “I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season,” said Salah, who signed a new deal at Anfield at the end of last season. “Now I’m sitting on the … Read more

Storms hit Tabuk region Thunderstorms of varying intensity struck Haql governorate in the Tabuk region on Saturday, affecting towns and villages such as the Al Durra border crossing, Wadi Mabrak, Al Zaytah, Ras Al Zaytah, Al Kharj, Al Wadi Al Abyad, Al Mujayfil, and Sharif Mu’tiyah. Ulu Al Qusayr and Alqan also saw moderate to … Read more

Tim Southee, skipper of the Sharjah Warriorz said: “Both sides were in the game throughout, and the partnership between Kohler-Cadmore and Raza was outstanding, but we fell short in the end. Our bowling was an improvement from the other night, though as a unit we know we can be better; the day game was always … Read more

More than 70 professionals on duty National Ambulance deployed a team of more than 70 qualified personnel, including: The teams were backed by a fleet of 14 ambulances and first responder vehicles, providing round-the-clock coverage throughout the race weekend. Close coordination with key partners Operations were carried out in close coordination with strategic partners, including: … Read more

What sparked the latest speculation? For his birthday, Khalid shared a series of intimate photos from a dimly lit, flower-adorned restaurant. While one image showed him holding a bouquet, attention quickly shifted to a mirror selfie where he held a woman’s hand—later identified as Sunainaa. She wore a striking purple saree and stood close to … Read more

Jai is a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience across India and the UAE, specialising in sports reporting. Throughout his distinguished career, he has had the privilege of covering some of the biggest names and events in sports, including cricket, tennis, Formula 1 and golf. A former first-division cricket league captain himself, … Read more

Operation Gallant Knight 3 Mohammed Al Sharif, official spokesperson for Operation Gallant Knight 3, said Sheikh Mohammed’s initiative will support brothers and sisters in Gaza during the winter. Having packed food items for three million meals in just three hours, he was confident the 10-million-meal target would be met by day’s end. “We plan to … Read more

Who are the 10 accused and their alleged roles? The case involves 10 accused, facing charges ranging from gang rape and kidnapping to criminal conspiracy: Pulsar Suni (N.S. Sunil) – Prime accused; allegedly carried out the assault and filmed it. Claimed he was hired by Dileep for Rs15 million. He spent years in custody before … Read more

Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, met on Sunday with Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa at Zabeel Palace, where the two leaders discussed plans to expand cooperation across key sectors and strengthen long-term ties. The meeting, also attended by Sheikh Maktoum … Read more

Expression of democratic commitment In Senegal, expanding digital infrastructure was not simply a technical goal; it was an expression of democratic commitment. Connecting rural communities, strengthening press freedom, and enhancing access to education and services were essential to our nation’s development. These experiences taught me that digital transformation must go hand in hand with institutional … Read more