Author: Editorial Team

Dubai Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Matkoum, has paid a visit to the emirate’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) on Wednesday, April 22, to review preparations for students’ return to their classrooms earlier this week. On April 20, schools across the UAE welcomed students back as a return to in-person learning was announced by the Ministry of Education. The move marked a shift back to classrooms after more than a month of distance learning, introduced amid regional uncertainty linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict During his visit, Sheikh Hamdan, who is also UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of…

MUSCAT, 22nd April, 2026 (WAM) — The Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) affirmed today that Gulf women continue to strengthen their presence in the development journey of GCC countries, supported by a young population base and growing participation in the labour market. In a report, the centre said indicators highlight the pivotal role of women, particularly in the health, education and tourism sectors, reflecting continued progress in empowerment and sustainable development across GCC countries. It noted that the female population in GCC countries grew by 15.8% between 2019 and 2024, reaching…

What does it take to keep going during uncertain times? Many business founders and CEOs are forced to make tough calls and re-examine leadership that is the need of the hour. Behind every redundancy decision is a calculation that goes far beyond numbers. As businesses navigate uncertainty, founders are being forced to take some of the most difficult decisions of their careers: deciding who stays and who goes. ‘You’re affecting people’s lives’ For Natasha Hatherall, founder and CEO of TishTash Group, these decisions are as personal as they are strategic. “There is no easy way to approach this,” Hatherall said.…

Abu Dhabi has announced on Wednesday, April 22, plans to introduce two new gates to the Darb Toll Gate system, as part of the Capital’s efforts to enhance traffic flow on main roads, improve the efficiency of road network usage, and reduce congestion. The two gates, which will be located on Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Street in Ghantoot and on Wahat Al Karama Street at the entrance and exit of Sheikh Zayed Street, will operate 24/7 starting May 4, 2026. They will be named Ghantoot Toll Gate and Al Qurm Toll Gate. The ITC further stated that a toll fee…

SHARJAH, 22nd April, 2026 (WAM) — Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD), in collaboration with Ruwad, has launched an awareness platform at City Centre Al Zahia from April 23 to 25 to showcase services for investors and entrepreneurs. The platform features key offerings including instant business licensing, an AI-powered trade name generator, support services and cost estimation tools, alongside programmes supporting Emirati entrepreneurs. Officials said the initiative aims to enhance engagement with the business community, strengthen partnerships and reinforce Sharjah’s position as a leading investment destination. Source: Emirates News Agency

Scott Wilcox, Senior Advisor and Founder, Sicuro Group. Scott Wilcox of Sicuro Group shares a practitioner’s view on how resilience and intelligence are redefining risk in the UAE. The UAE’s rise as a global hub for trade, energy, and digital infrastructure has been matched by a deliberate and highly integrated approach to risk management that prioritises coordination, speed, and real-time decision-making over fragmented or imported frameworks.  From cybersecurity and intelligence to crisis response and business continuity, the country has aligned its risk architecture to address the realities of operating in high-consequence environments. Risk is no longer treated as a compliance…

JEDDAH — The Saudi Passport authorities have made it easy and quick for six eligible categories of people, in addition to expatriates, to apply for an entry permit to Makkah during the current Hajj season through the Absher Individuals platform. These categories include holders of the Premium Residency, investors, citizens from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, non-Saudi mothers of Saudi citizens, non-Saudi family members, and domestic workers. The service allows these categories of people to get issued an entry permit through completing a few simple steps on Absher. The security forces started on Dhul Qada 1, corresponding to April…

RIYADH — The Saudi construction cost index recorded an increase of two percent during the last month of March compared to the same month in 2025. This was driven mainly by a 1.9 percent increase in residential costs and a 2.2 percent increase in non-residential costs. The annual construction cost index for the residential sector rose by 1.9 percent last month, driven by a 4.5 percent increase in equipment and machinery rental costs, which in turn was influenced by a 6.1 percent rise in operating costs. Labor costs also increased by 2.7 percent and energy prices by 3 percent along…

DUBAI, 22nd April, 2026 (WAM) — Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr qualified for the final of the AFC Champions League Two after a 5-1 victory over Qatar’s Al Ahli at Zabeel Stadium in Dubai today. Kingsley Coman secured a hat-trick with goals in the 12th, 63rd, and eighth minute of first-half stoppage time. Angelo Gabriel and Abdullah Al Hamdan added to the tally in the 23rd and 80th minutes, respectively, while Sekou Omar Yansane scored Al Ahli’s solitary goal in the 10th minute. Al Nassr will face Japan’s Gamba Osaka in the final, following the latter’s victory over Bangkok United. Source:…

SHARJAH, 22nd April, 2026 (WAM) — Sharjah’s Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) has signed a strategic partnership with ION to establish a wide network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the emirate. Under the agreement, ION, a joint venture between BEEAH and Crescent Enterprises, will develop, operate and maintain more than 100 fast EV chargers. Yousif Khamis Al Othmani, Chairman of SRTA, said the project will cater to the growing number of EV users while reinforcing the authority’s commitment to advancing electric mobility in line with global sustainability goals and efforts to reduce carbon emissions. He added that the…