Author: Editorial Team

ABU DHABI, 7th May, 2026 (WAM) — Emirates Development Bank (EDB), in partnership with Zelo, an ADGM-regulated private financing platform and IHC subsidiary, has launched an AED350 million financing programme to accelerate payments on approved Government and Government Related Entity (GRE) invoices. Announced as part of EDB’s participation in Make it in the Emirates, the initiative supports the UAE’s industrial growth ambitions by enabling SMEs to strengthen cash flow, scale operations, and play a greater role in national supply chains. The programme provides SMEs with up to 95 percent of the approved invoice value within 24 hours, helping address working…

Abu Dhabi Biobank has partnered with Japan’s Human Life CORD Japan Inc. to localise the development of umbilical cord–derived stem cell therapies in the UAE, accelerating cutting-edge healthcare solutions. The strategic collaboration, announced on Tuesday, marks a significant step in expanding access to regenerative treatments across the UAE and the wider Mena region. It also strengthens Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to become a global hub for advanced healthcare and life sciences. Backed by the Abu Dhabi health department and global health company M42, the initiative will combine large-scale biobanking infrastructure with advanced clinical research and proprietary stem cell technologies. Stay up…

Almost five years after the UAE made child car seats mandatory for children aged four and under, a new survey has revealed that 28 per cent of parents still do not own one. This is despite the fact that child restraint systems can reduce the risk of death by up to 71 per cent and injuries by up to 82 per cent. The study, commissioned by RoadSafetyUAE and Al Wathba Insurance, surveyed 1,010 residents in January 2026. While 95 per cent of parents acknowledged that child seats offer better protection during accidents, ownership and consistent usage lag significantly behind knowledge.…

ABU DHABI, 7th May, 2026 (WAM) — The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) honoured 20 companies and individuals at Make it in the Emirates 2026 on Tuesday for their contributions to the UAE’s In-Country Value (ICV) Programme — an initiative that has redirected AED473 billion into the national economy to date. The ceremony, held as part of National ICV Day on the second day of Make it in the Emirates, was attended by Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Undersecretary of MoIAT, alongside senior officials from government and industry. Al Nowais said the awards reflect the growing impact of public-private…

[Editor’s Note: Follow the Khaleej Times live blog for the latest regional developments with the US-Israel-Iran ceasefire now in effect.] The requirement would come at 4 pm. A team would work through the night. A second team would arrive before dawn and push the update before 10am, so the next shift of operators had an upgraded system before they began. That was the rhythm inside EDGE Group, one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defence groups, as Iran’s strikes continued week after week. By May 4, UAE air defences had engaged a cumulative total of 549 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles,…

AJMAN, 7th May, 2026 (WAM) — The Ajman Free Zones Authority has reinforced its partnerships supporting its business community through the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding during the ‘Make in the Emirates 2026’ events, with the aim of providing digital, communications, commercial, and banking solutions that contribute to supporting the growth of licensed companies, enhancing their efficiency, and preparing them for the future. The two MoUs come within the framework of the Authority’s commitment to building an integrated business ecosystem that does not merely support companies at the establishment and licensing stage, but extends to accompanying them throughout their…

UAE residents planning summer trips to Europe are facing wait times of up to 6 to 8 weeks for Schengen visa appointments, even as rare last-minute slots appear and vanish within minutes — triggering a rush to secure bookings or rethink travel plans. As summer travel demand surges, many are finding themselves caught between long processing timelines and limited appointment availability, with industry experts warning that the window to secure visas is rapidly narrowing. Rashida Zahid, VP – Operations at musafir.com, pointed to a steep rise in interest, noting they are “already seeing a 50 to 60 per cent surge…

ABU DHABI, 6th May, 2026 (WAM) — EDGE, one of the world’s leading advanced technology and defence groups, through its smart weapon systems producer, HALCON, has awarded a contract to Emirates Cable Corporation Interconnect (ECCI), an Abu Dhabi-based manufacturing company specialising in the design and production of world-class cable and tactical harness solutions, to manufacture and supply high-technology cable harness assemblies. The contract to provide mission-critical subsystems that enable power distribution, signal transmission, and system integration across a weapon’s architecture, highlights EDGE’s commitment to enabling growth opportunities across the UAE’s industrial sector. Witnessed in the presence of Dr. Nasser Humaid…

Eid Al Adha is falling at the end of May this year and UAE residents are already planning how to turn that break into a proper getaway. With Arafah Day expected on May 26, followed by a three-day public holiday from May 27-29, most people with a Saturday–Sunday weekend are looking at a six-day escape window without touching too much annual leave. If you’re one of them and you want somewhere that doesn’t involve weeks of embassy appointments and paperwork, these visa-free and visa-on-arrival destinations should be on your radar. Where UAE residents are heading this Eid What’s different this…

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a field campaign to verify the readiness of air-conditioned bus shelters and passenger waiting facilities ahead of summer 2026 as temperatures climb across the emirate. The campaign covers 895 shelters across 621 locations, with teams inspecting and maintaining systems to ensure efficient operation during peak heat. Thousands of daily commuters rely on these cooled waiting areas, especially during long waits and midday travel. “RTA is committed to ensuring the readiness of all service facilities used by the public and linked to public transport. Inspections are conducted around the clock, with immediate corrective…