Author: Editorial team
AL AIN, 30th April, 2026 (WAM) — The Asian Chess Federation (ACF) has released a report highlighting a substantial increase in the number of players and officials in the UAE and across Asia as of January 2026. Hisham Al Taher, Secretary-General of the ACF, stated that the UAE now has 3,745 registered players, consisting of 2,461 males and 1,284 females. Among these, 590 players are internationally rated, with 163 currently classified as active internationally rated players. The report also detailed the UAE’s officiating strength, which includes 44 international arbiters (34 men and 10 women), 20 FIDE-rated arbiters, and 67 national…
Running a marathon is hard enough and doing it in a kandura feels learning to move all over again. “You can’t open your legs naturally,” said UAE resident Sedique Ahamed, who has set a Guinness World Record at the London Marathon. “After 25km, every step needed attention.” For the 35-year-old runner, the 42.2km race was less about speed and more about control. While the kandura felt manageable in the opening kilometres, the challenge quickly shifted. “The kandura actually felt okay in the first 5–10 km. I even thought, ‘this might be manageable.’ But after 15 km, I started to feel the difference,”…
Dining is not an impersonal experience. Behind every memorable meal that one has had, there is a person — a chef, a waiter, a helper — who’s warmth has etched the experience in your minds and hearts. Today, as the hospitality industry navigates uncertainty, a unique initiative has been designed to help the workers — from bartenders, waiters, chefs and baristas to hostesses, supervisors and back-of-house teams — affected by current circumstances. The Art of Hosting, a local catering and events agency, has launched a programme, Family Meal, to support them by offering gourmet meals prepared by top chefs.…
DUBAI, 30th April, 2026 (WAM) — Mashreq Bank recorded a net profit after tax of AED1.927 billion during the first quarter of 2026, compared to AED1.792 billion in the same period of 2025, reflecting a growth of 8 percent year-on-year, while net profit before tax reached AED2.28 billion, marking a 9 percent increase year-on-year. According to a statement issued today, the bank recorded revenues of AED3.426 billion during the first quarter of the current year, compared to AED3.12 billion in the corresponding period last year, representing a growth of 10 percent. Total assets reached AED344.305 billion by the end of…
ABU DHABI, 30 April (WAM)– H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, has received Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, to discuss overall regional developments. During the meeting, the two top diplomats reviewed the repercussions of Iran’s unprovoked and terrorist missile attacks that targeted the UAE and a number of brotherly and friendly countries on regional and international peace and security, as well as on international maritime security, energy supplies and the global economy. The French minister reaffirmed his country’s solidarity with the UAE and its…
Followers of Dubai Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, on X, are more used to tweets from him announcing major projects, new milestones on the emirate’s path to being the best city in the world to live in, or glimpses of his personal life. On Thursday, April 30, 2026, a brief but powerful message was conveyed by the UAE royal through the social media platform. “The soul of Dubai is found in its people,” Sheikh Hamdan, who also serves as UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, said in the…
As students across Dubai juggle a mix of in-person and remote learning after a prolonged stretch of online classes, the transition has brought its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to rebuilding social connections and a sense of routine. For 16-year-old Dubai student Mehrin Shiras, the changing state of affairs highlighted a gap that needed to be filled. As a result, the Year 12 student and Head Girl at Repton Dubai launched ‘The Third Space’, a student-led initiative offering free creative sessions for children struggling with the loss of routine, social interaction and a sense of belonging. “The…
WASHINGTON, 1st May, 2026 (WAM) — Apple on Thursday forecast sales that beat expectations, even as it said it expected to continue to face chip supply constraints, sending shares up more than 3%. Apple executives said they expect sales growth of 14% to 17% in the current fiscal third quarter, which was above Wall Street estimates of 9.5% growth to $102.93 billion, according to data from LSEG. Apple reported better-than-expected second-quarter results, with customers showing eagerness to buy a new MacBook model, according to Reuters. Apple said sales and profits were $111.18 billion and $2.01 per share for the fiscal…
SHARJAH, 1st May, 2026 (WAM) — The UAE’s fisheries and fishing sector is witnessing a new expansion of the “SFS Fisheries” system, the first digital platform of its kind at the national and regional levels, specialised in tracking and documenting fish landings and the origin of local catch. This comes as Fujairah has become the latest emirate to adopt SFS Fisheries, the country’s first integrated digital platform for tracking fishing operations and verifying the origin of local catch. The expansion builds on the system’s initial deployment in Sharjah and signals a broader national shift toward transparency, efficiency, and long-term resource…
ABU DHABI, 30th April, 2026 (WAM) — Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family,has affirmed that mass weddings are not merely celebrations but a meaningful start to stable family life, easing financial burdens on young people and reinforcing social cohesion. Her remarks came during a mass wedding organised by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security for its employees and their sons, with participation of 60 grooms, under the Year of the Family 2026 initiative. Source: Emirates News Agency