Author: Editorial team

[Editor’s Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog for the latest regional developments with the US-Israel-Iran ceasefire now in effect.] UAE’s Ministry of Education denied reports of extension of distance learning till May 1. The ministry clarified that this information is “inaccurate”. The authority stressed that decisions related to education will only be announced through the ministry’s official channels. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels. Currently, distance learning is in place till April 17 across all educational institutions in the UAE for students as well as teaching and administrative staff. When schools across UAE transitioned to…

As the global automotive industry accelerates toward electrification and intelligent mobility, OMODA & JAECOO — fast-rising brands under the Chery Group — are reinforcing their position as one of the industry’s most dynamic new entrants. Following strong global expansion into 64 markets and cumulative sales surpassing 960,000 units in under three years, OMODA & JAECOO continue to gain traction and are fast approaching the one-million milestone, with the UAE emerging as one of the key regional growth markets in the Middle East. Within just one year of operations in the UAE, OMODA & JAECOO have recorded over 3,000 vehicle sales,…

DUBAI, 13th April, 2026 (WAM) — The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, represented by the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, has signed a partnership agreement with Sukoon Takaful, a leading provider of insurance and takaful services. The agreement aims to offer a comprehensive insurance protection umbrella for beneficiaries of housing loans, enhancing the sustainability of the housing support system and expanding insurance inclusion. This agreement builds on the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to develop the housing finance system, following the positive outcomes achieved by the initiative launched last year. That initiative marked the first phase of providing insurance coverage for housing loan…

A fire incident was reported in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) on Sunday afternoon, prompting a swift response from Dubai Civil Defence teams. According to authorities, the operations room received the alert at 2.28pm. Immediately after, Al Barsha Fire Station was dispatched as the first responder and arrived at the scene within six minutes. Upon arrival at 2.34pm, firefighters found that the blaze had broken out in a 27-story building under construction. The fire was classified as moderate. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels. Specialised teams quickly initiated evacuation and firefighting operations to contain…

ABU DHABI, 13th April, 2026 (WAM) — Etihad Airways has announced a significant expansion of its mainland China network, launching five new routes and adding 28 weekly flights, marking one of the airline’s largest single market increases in recent years. The expansion will see Etihad operate services from Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) to Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Guangzhou (CAN), Chengdu (TFU), Hangzhou (HGH) and Shenzhen (SZX), bringing its total operation in mainland China to 35 weekly flights across six destinations, including its existing daily service to Beijing Daxing (PKX). All services will be operated by Etihad’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner…

ABU DHABI, 13th April, 2026 (WAM) — Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of Sandooq Al Watan, praised the pivotal role played by influencers, content creators and podcasters in conveying the message of the ‘Our Life in the UAE’ forum to audiences within the country and abroad. He affirmed that this strong digital presence significantly amplified the forum’s reach and impact, with total views across various platforms exceeding 31 million within two days. Sheikh Nahyan noted that the forum attracted more than 74 content creators from Emirati citizens and residents, in addition to…

“I can walk a total of 10 steps,” says Amal Othman, the UAE mother who woke from a coma last year to find she had given birth, as she now faces a deteriorating condition and a need for lung transplant. Months after her story drew widespread attention, Amal says her health has significantly worsened, leaving her unable to carry out even the most basic daily tasks. “Any effort makes me lose oxygen. Even talking feels exhausting,” she told Khaleej Times. Medical reports reviewed by Khaleej Times, including a recent update by Othman’s doctor, confirm severe and progressive lung damage following acute respiratory…

SEOUL, 13th April, 2026 (WAM) — South Korea’s exports jumped 36.7 percent from a year earlier in the first 10 days of April, driven by strong overseas demand for semiconductors, data showed Monday. Outbound shipments reached $25.2 billion in the April 1-10 period, compared with $18.4 billion tallied in the same period last year, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. Imports went up 12.7 percent on-year to $22.1 billion over the cited period, resulting in a trade surplus of $3.1 billion, the data showed. Source: Emirates News Agency

BEIJING, 12th April, 2026 (WAM) — The UAE national judo team will begin its participation in the 2026 Asian Senior Judo Championships, scheduled from 16th to 18th April in China, with the men’s lightweight divisions under 60kg and under 66kg, and the women’s under 52kg category. The UAE Judo Federation said the delegation will arrive in China from Japan following a training camp at Tokai University in Tokyo. The championship, organised by the Chinese Judo Association under the supervision of the International Judo Federation, will be held at Ordos Sports Hall and feature 207 athletes from 21 countries, including the…

A Dubai-based property valuation platform has announced a real estate auction service, targeting sales timelines of around 30 days from listing to completion. YallaValue said the service is licensed by the Dubai Land Department (DLD), allowing sellers to auction their property for free, with an “optional marketing package available on a success-only basis”, meaning they only pay if the sale is completed. “We’re launching next month, so no properties are formally listed yet – but the early seller response has been stronger than expected,” Jack Sellers, founder of YallaValue, told Khaleej Times in an interview. “We opened our seller registration…