Hayya wins Silver Stevie Award for Technology Excellence in government innovation
Doha: Qatar Tourism (QT) has announced that the Hayya platform has been awarded Silver in the Technical Innovation of the Year in Government Technology category at the 2026 Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence, recognising its continued evolution as a digital platform driving AI-enabled, automat»»»
Abu Dhabi steps up push for autonomous transport
Abu Dhabi: As part of Abu Dhabi's vision for smart mobility, the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, has organised a series of workshops on smart and autonomous transport across the air, maritime and land sectors. The ses»»»
Inspectors cite repeated violations before ordering restaurant closure
Dubai: Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has ordered the temporary administrative closure of So Great Restaurant in Abu Dhabi after inspectors found repeated food safety violations that the authority said posed a risk to public health. The authority said the closure was issue»»»
Muscat Stock Exchange closes higher
Muscat: The Muscat Stock Exchange 30 index closed Monday at 7,349.07 points, up 53.6 points, or 0.73 percent, compared to the last trading session which closed at 7,295.45 points. Trading value reached OMR 69,380,613, an increase of 61.87 percent, compared to the last trading session, which amounte»»»
Katara opens applications for 10th Quran Recitation Award
Doha, Qatar: The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara ) has opened applications for the 10th Holy Quran Recitation Award under the motto of amplifying beautiful recitation voices. It said submissions shall start on Monday, Aug. 3, with Sept. 30, 2026, being the deadline for receiving applications. T»»»
Oil slides, stocks rise on hopes of deal to end Mideast war
London: Oil prices tumbled Monday and stocks mostly rose after US President Donald Trump said he was preparing for new talks with Iran aimed at ending the war in the Middle East. Crude futures slid more than six percent, even though Iran denied that any negotiations were taking place and earlier tr»»»
EU chief urges 'united action' on borders after Ceuta migrant rush
Brussels, Belgium: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called Monday for "united action" on border security after a migrant rush on Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta triggered a public spat between Madrid and several European partners. "From this incident, it is clear that we must do more to further»»»
Amid a drought and soaring temperatures, Hungary shuts down its nuclear plant
Nuclear power is often touted as a solution to global warming. It comes with risks, but creates energy without the same greenhouse gas emissions as coal or gas plants. However, rising temperatures and drought in Europe are creating problems and shutdowns at nuclear power plants. With water levels t»»»
Russian Embassy in Rome blames Ukraine for deadly Italian restaurant bombing in Moscow
MOSCOW: The Russian Embassy in Rome on Monday blamed Ukraine for a deadly weekend bombing at a Moscow restaurant, describing it as an attempt to intimidate the Italian community in Russia. The embassy said “Kyiv terrorists” wanted to “scare the Italians working in Russia and to show them that they »»»
One killed, five injured in gas cylinder explosion at Dubai car showroom
Dubai: One person was killed and five others injured after a gas cylinder explosion at a car showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, authorities said. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Dubai Civil Defence teams responded to the incident and are cont»»»
Poland posts strongest first half in eight years as investment exceeds EUR 3 bln
According to Colliers’ latest report, CEE Investment Scene H1 2026, commercial real estate investment volume in Poland exceeded EUR 3 bln, representing an increase of 71% y/y and the strongest first-half result since 2018. The performance confirmed Poland’s position as the most liquid and diversifi»»»
KSrelief, Italian officials discuss humanitarian issues
RIYADH: Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor general of Saudi aid agency KSrelief, recently met Italian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Carlo Baldocci in Riyadh. The meeting at KSrelief headquarters reviewed humanitarian and relief issues of mutual interest. Baldocci praised Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian e»»»
Kingdom adds 1,173 archeological sites to national register
RIYADH: The Heritage Commission has registered 1,173 new archeological sites in the National Antiquities Register, bringing the total number of registered sites across Saudi Arabia to 14,164. The commission said registering archeological sites is a key part of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage manage»»»
Air France extends Dubai flight suspension again as US-Iran tensions escalate
Dubai: Air France has extended the suspension of its flights to and from Dubai until August 18, citing the evolving security situation in the Near and Middle East. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The French national carrier said on Monday that flights to and from Dubai»»»
Dubai Police shut 103 fake social media accounts as fraud and cybercrime cases fall
Dubai: Dubai Police recorded a decline in several major crime categories during the first half of 2026, including fraud, cybercrime and economic crime, according to a performance review of the General Department of Criminal Investigation. The results were presented during a meeting chaired by Major»»»
Own a date farm? The UAE's latest fatwa explains exactly how to pay zakat
Dubai: The UAE Council For FATWA has issued a nationwide ruling standardising the zakat threshold for dates at 541 kilograms after drying, while clarifying how growers and date companies should calculate and pay the religious levy under a unified framework aligned with the country's agricultural pr»»»
Lebanon cautiously optimistic ahead of seventh round of talks with Israel
BEIRUT: Lebanon is preparing for a seventh round of US-mediated negotiations with Israel in Rome on Tuesday amid cautious hopes of progress, despite continued Israeli military escalation in the south. Lebanese expectations range from deep pessimism over the prospect of securing further Israeli with»»»
Road to 2034: What does Saudi Arabia have to do to produce a successful national team?
RIYADH: In hindsight, Saudi Arabia’s exit from the World Cup after a stalemate with Cape Verde does not look as bad as it did at the time. The Blue Sharks were one of two teams to put two goals past runners-up Argentina, and the only team in the tournament to avoid both losing and conceding a goal »»»
Properties for sale in Bali in 2026 and the areas that suit each kind of buyer
Bali behaves like several islands stitched into one, and the area you choose matters far more than the headline price. A surf town, a wellness retreat, an upmarket beach strip and a quiet family bay all sit within an hour of each other. Anyone weighing properties for sale in Bali is really picking »»»
Former 'X Factor' singer denies running down woman outside London club - UPI.com
Gabrielle Carrington, a former finalist in the U.K. version of "X Factor," pleaded not guilty in court in London on Monday to charges she murdered a social media influencer and injured a security guard in an incident outside a nightclub in the capital's Soho nightlife district. File Photo by Mike T»»»
Trump’s declassified election documents fall short of primetime claims - UPI.com
1 of 2 | President Donald Trump delivers an address on election security from the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 16. Pool Photo by Saul Loeb/UPI | License Photo Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The 2026 midterm elections are fast approaching and President Donald Trump has launched a multi»»»
Four days left: Sharjah warns owners to reclaim impounded vehicles or face auction
Sharjah: Sharjah City Municipality has urged owners of vehicles, machinery, motorcycles and bicycles that have been impounded for more than six months to complete the necessary release procedures within four days or risk having their property sold at public auction. The municipality said owners mus»»»
Dubai is still No. 1! The world's busiest airport adds even more international flights this August
Dubai: Dubai International Airport retained its position as the world's busiest airport for international seat capacity in August, with airlines scheduling 4.54 million one-way seats, or about 9 million seats across both directions, as carriers expanded operations to meet peak summer demand. Accord»»»
China's stalling car market masks a record global EV surge - IEA
Global electric car sales rebounded sharply in the second quarter of 2026, rising 35% quarter-on-quarter to record levels in 50 countries, even as overall car sales fell around 5% y/y in the first half of the year on weaker demand in China and the US, according to the International Energy Agency's »»»
Need an eye test for your Dubai driving licence? Here’s where you can get it
Dubai: Motorists looking to obtain or renew a driving licence in Dubai now have more places than ever to complete one of the mandatory requirements, with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) expanding its network of approved eye test centres by 30 per cent across the emirate. The RTA said it add»»»
BIG Poland acquires Grodzisk Sfera Park in the Warsaw metropolitan area
The transaction involves an 11,000 sqm GLA retail park located in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, in the western part of the Warsaw metropolitan area. The property will become the 13th retail park in BIG Poland’s Polish portfolio and its second in the Mazowieckie voivodeship, alongside BIG Łubna near Warsaw. »»»
What UAE residents need to know about the US-Iran conflict this evening (August 3)
The US-Iran standoff remains tense, with conflicting signals over diplomacy, continued military pressure and fresh concerns over regional security. While US President Donald Trump says talks with Iran are set to resume, Tehran insists there are currently no direct negotiations with Washington. The »»»
5th Middle East Tyre, Auto & Spare Parts Expo opens in Sharjah
The 5th Middle East Tyre, Auto & Spare Parts Expo (METAS 2026) officially opened today at Expo Centre Sharjah, with 44 Chinese enterprises from 8 provinces joining 7 international exhibitors from the UAE and Jordan for three days of trade, matchmaking, and investment discussions. Opening ceremony w»»»
Bangladesh measles outbreak drives families into debt: aid groups
Dhaka: Bangladesh's deadliest measles outbreak in decades, which has killed hundreds of children, has had a crippling economic impact on families, aid groups warned Monday. At least 844 children have died and more than 112,000 people have sought hospital treatment for the preventable disease since »»»
Nazi shipwrecks and WWII bombs resurface amid record-low water levels in Danube
Several sunken World War II-era Nazi warships have resurfaced in the Danube River amid a major heatwave and prolonged drought. The vessels became visible as the water level in Europe’s second-longest river fell to record lows. Photos and videos posted on social media showed massive shipwrecks lying»»»
Culture minister appoints Mohammed Alwan acting president of Riyadh University of Arts
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan has appointed Mohammed Hasan Alwan as acting president of Riyadh University of Arts. Alwan has served as CEO of the Theater and Performing Arts Commission since November 2024. He previously led the Literature, Publishing and Tran»»»
Official transfer of Chon-Gara and Tash-Dobo villages to Kyrgyzstan begins - | 24.KG
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have begun the organizational and technical procedures for the official transfer of the villages of Chon-Gara and Tash-Dobo, formerly part of Uzbekistan’s Fergana region, the Office of Presidential Representative in Batken region reported. The work is being carried out und»»»
Sharjah announces 2026-2027 academic calendar for private schools
The Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) has announced the academic calendar for private schools in the emirate for the 2026-2027 academic year, with classes set to begin on August 31, 2026. The calendar applies to all private schools in Sharjah except those following the Indian and Pakistani»»»
SolitAir launches cargo services to Otopeni International Airport, its second destination in the EU
SolitAir, the UAE’s dedicated B2B, airport-to-airport cargo airline, today announced the launch of cargo services to Bucharest’s Otopeni International Airport (OTP), Romania – its second destination in the European Union made possible by the carrier’s ACC3 (Air Cargo and Mail Carrier from a Third C»»»
Iran's leaders show united front over war but are divided over what the goal is
With escalating attacks against U.S. bases and its allies over the past week, Iran's leaders are showing considerable unity over their war strategy: hanging tough, determined to show Iran can endure more than America and its allies can. But within the leadership, there are sharp differences over wh»»»
Al Sadd signs goalkeeper Abubaker Hassan for five seasons
Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd SC, the reigning Qatari football league champions, announced today the signing of goalkeeper Abubaker Mohammed Hassan from Al Khor. The player officially signed a five-year contract with Al Sadd, running until 2031, marking a new chapter in his career. He joined Al Khor from Me»»»
If they beat Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Red Star will face Aarhus or Sabah in UCL play-off
NYON - If they knock out Israeli side Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, Serbian football champions Red Star Belgrade will play the winner of the tie between Danish club Aarhus and Azerbaijan's Sabah in the competition's play-off qualifying round, a draw in Nyon»»»
Etihad Rail sells 70,000 tickets as UAE passengers embrace train travel
Dubai: Etihad Rail has reported selling over 70,000 tickets, as travelers throughout the UAE are increasingly integrating rail services into their journey plans. The figures provide one of the clearest indications yet that passenger rail is beginning to establish itself as a new travel choice for f»»»
Saudi Arabia’s TASI bucks regional market trend in tough H1: Kamco Invest
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index has climbed 0.9 percent since January, making it the Gulf Cooperation Council region’s second-best performer in 2026 despite recent widespread regional market turbulence. That positive year-to-date performance puts TASI well ahead of most regional peer»»»
Watch: Heavy rain lashes Sharjah as UAE braces for four days of showers
Dubai: Heavy rain lashed parts of Sharjah on Monday, with motorists sharing videos of downpours on Al Dhaid Road, Al Maliha Road and Khor Fakkan Road as unstable weather returned to the UAE. The rainfall comes as the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) forecasts four consecutive days of afternoon »»»
Israeli Occupation Forces, Settlers Intensify Attacks Across West Bank, Al-Quds
Israeli occupation forces and settlers carried out a series of raids, demolitions, and attacks across the occupied West Bank and Al-Quds (Jerusalem), targeting Palestinian civilians, homes, property and holy sites. The latest incidents included house demolitions, mass arrests, restrictions on worsh»»»
Automatic pension assignment without citizen applications proposed in Kyrgyzstan - | 24.KG
Transition to proactive assignment of certain types of pensions is proposed in Kyrgyzstan. A corresponding draft law has been submitted for public discussion. This will be possible if the information system contains all the necessary information about person’s employment record and social insurance»»»
Egypt launches QR Code tourist visa System at Cairo airport to streamline entry and boost tourism by 2030
Dubai: Egypt has launched a new QR code-based tourist visa system at Cairo International Airport, allowing visitors to obtain their visas digitally before travelling or on arrival as part of efforts to modernise border procedures and help attract 30 million tourists annually by 2030. The system, wh»»»
Migration: Reform U.K. says it will use Royal Navy to stop small boats - UPI.com
Reform U.K. leader Nigel Farage (L) and his Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf (R) at the launch Monday of the party's "Operation Fortress" policy to stop the influx of migrants to the country arriving on small boats by deploying the Royal Navy. Photo by Tolga Akmen/EPA Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Britain's Refo»»»
Dubai Police visit road accident victims at Rashid Hospital in 'Relieving the Injured' drive
Dubai: Dubai Police has visited road traffic accident victims receiving treatment at Rashid Hospital as part of its "Relieving the Injured" initiative, which combines emotional support for injured patients with road safety awareness. The delegation was led by Lieutenant Colonel Ali Yousif Yaqoub, H»»»
Newcastle sign goalkeeper Hornicek from Braga
London: Managerless Newcastle announced the signing of Czech goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek from Portuguese side Braga on Monday. Hornicek has agreed a five-year deal after the Magpies activated his 30-million-euro (£25.7 million, $34.6 million) release clause, and he becomes the club's fifth signing of»»»
US faces new pressure to build weapons without China's rare earth magnets
A giant American flag hanging on the wall of a warehouse in New Hampshire hints at the national importance of the elements bound inside the mining waste stored in 1-ton bags. The company uses electrolysis to separate the key critical elements President Donald Trump's administration desperately want»»»
Sharjah government on course to surpass 3,000 Emirati hires in 2026
The Sharjah government is on track to exceed its target of employing 3,000 Emirati citizens in 2026 after recruiting 1,524 nationals during the first seven months of the year, officials said. Abdullah Ibrahim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Human Resources , said the appointments we»»»
Water bombers take to skies as Greece battles wildfires
Kryo Pigadi, Greece: Water-bombing aircraft resumed firefighting operations in Greece on Monday after winds eased, joining hundreds of firefighters battling multiple blazes that have already claimed five lives, the fire department told AFP. Greece, which had largely avoided major blazes at the star»»»
Residents of former Uzbek village to receive Kyrgyz citizenship - | 24.KG
The process of granting Kyrgyz citizenship to residents of the village of Chon-Gara, which was transferred to Kyrgyzstan under a border territory exchange agreement with Uzbekistan, has begun, the Presidential Administration told 24.kg news agency. Officials are holding informational meetings with »»»