Author: Editorial team
DALLAS/NEW YORK, 21st July, 2026 (WAM) — The Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), MGX, and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) (collectively, the Consortium), today successfully completed their previously announced acquisition of 100 percent of the equity in Aligned Data Centres from private infrastructure funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management and its co-invest partners. The transaction, which represents Aligned’s enterprise value of approximately $40 billion, stands as one of the largest private investments made to date in digital infrastructure. Aligned Data Centres is one of the largest and fastest-growing data centre developers globally, with a portfolio spanning 51 campuses and more…
DUBAI, 21st July, 2026 (WAM) — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has ordered the promotion of Major General Tamim Al Muhairi, Director-General of Dubai’s State Security Department, to the rank of Lieutenant General, in recognition of his dedicated service and outstanding contributions to strengthening the emirate’s security apparatus, reinforcing safety and stability, and advancing institutional excellence in Dubai. His Highness also ordered the promotion of 6,526 personnel serving with Dubai’s State Security Department, Dubai Police, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, and Dubai Civil Defence,…
When Shaukat Ali Rana opens the front door of his villa in Mirdif to visitors, they quickly realise they have stepped into something far more than an ordinary home. Walls are lined with black-and-white photographs. Vintage cameras sit beside film projectors, Polaroids and wooden field cameras. Glass cabinets display yellowing newspapers, old passports, pre-Union border permits, coins, stamps, driving licences and documents that many people would have discarded decades ago. However, Rana does not begin the tour with any of these. Instead, he walks to a framed black-and-white photograph of Al Maqta Fort near Abu Dhabi. “This was the first…
ABU DHABI, 21st July, 2026 (WAM) — The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) confirmed a significant increase in the number of beneficiaries of the VAT Refund Scheme for UAE Nationals Building New Residences in the first half of 2026. The authority stated that approximately 4,000 refund applications submitted by UAE nationals for VAT incurred during the construction of their new residences were approved in H1 2026, with total refunds reaching AED353.5 million. The authority said this compares to 3,100 approved applications worth AED284.8 million in H1 2025, representing a 27.5 percent increase in the number of approved applications and a 24.1…
ABU DHABI, 21st July, 2026 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, received Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates. During the meeting, held in Abu Dhabi, the two sides discussed developments in the Middle East and ways to strengthen regional and international efforts to end the escalation in the region and ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law. The two ministers also discussed the importance of working to achieve lasting security and stability across the region…
Planning to host family or friends in Dubai? You could unlock hotel, dining and attraction offers worth more than Dh3,000 when they visit the emirate. Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism on Tuesday announced the launch of ‘A Dubai Invite’, which will run from July 20 to October 31, 2026. Under the initiative, residents who successfully nominate family members or friends and verify their visit can access a range of rewards, from hotel stays and restaurant offers to experiences at some of the city’s attractions. How can residents unlock ‘A Dubai Invite’ benefits? To take part, residents must nominate their…
FARNBOROUGH, 21st July, 2026 (WAM) — Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), an Abu Dhabi sovereign investor, and Embraer, a leading global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, today signed a Strategic Framework Agreement at the Farnborough International Airshow, establishing a pathway to a long-term collaboration across supply, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), human capital development, and research and development. The agreement was signed by Amer Siddiqui, Executive Director at Mubadala’s UAE Investments Platform on behalf of Mubadala, and Dimas Douglas Tomelin, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer of Embraer S.A. on behalf of Embraer. The partnership draws on the UAE’s integrated aerospace ecosystem,…
The Indian Embassy in UAE announced that consular, passport, visa and attestation services in UAE have been outsourced to AlHind Tours & Travels with effect on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. These services and will be delivered through 16 Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs). These services will no longer be available at the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General of India in Dubai. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. How to book appointments In a circular, the embassy said that appointments can be booked online on the website consularsevainuae.com. The…
PARIS, 21st July, 2026 (WAM) — French lawmakers Tuesday passed banning access to social media for children under the age of 15. The bill became law after being backed by both French legislative chambers, the Senate and National Assembly, AFP reported. France’s government has touted it as a major legislative step. “France will become the first country in Europe to introduce a digital age limit to better protect our children online,” France’s Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff said on X. The law would add France to a growing list of countries that have already introduced similar restrictions. The restrictions could…
BANGKOK, 21st July, 2026 (WAM) — Hussein Shawqi, a swimmer of the UAE national team, won the gold medal in the 50-meter freestyle at the 12th Asian Age Group Swimming Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, adding another continental achievement to the UAE’s swimming record. The gold medal came just two days after Shawqi claimed the silver medal in the 50-meter butterfly, which marked the UAE’s first medal of the championship. He concluded his campaign with a gold, reaffirming his status among Asia’s elite young swimmers. This achievement continues Shawqi’s string of successes at the Asian level and reflects the steady progress…