Schengen visa appointment delays of up to two months are prompting UAE residents to explore alternative destinations for National Day holidays. Countries including Georgia, Armenia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Sri Lanka are attracting interest due to more convenient visa options and short holiday packages.

Qitaf Holding and Japan’s Global Academy have signed an agreement to develop a large-scale aquaculture project in Abu Dhabi. The project aims to produce 30,000 tonnes of seafood annually, strengthen local production, reduce import dependence and support the UAE’s food security goals.

Dubai-based 10-year-old student Aryahi Tiwari has published her debut book, Paw-sitively Royal, inspired by her pet dog. She has donated the book's earnings of Dh5,000 to animal welfare initiatives supporting shelters in Dubai and India.

Mediclinic City Hospital in Dubai has completed 100 kidney transplants through its transplant programme, highlighting its partnership with Dubai Health, multidisciplinary clinical expertise and encouraging patient survival outcomes.

Citi Developers has partnered with Capital Zone to help property buyers in the UAE explore mortgage financing options, compare lenders and receive expert guidance throughout the home-buying process.

Artificial intelligence could contribute up to $1 trillion to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) economy. However, new World Economic Forum studies warn that the region must expand its electricity and water infrastructure to support growing data centre demand and sustain AI-driven economic growth.

Psychologists in the UAE believe that decriminalising suicide attempts could encourage people to seek mental health support earlier. Experts say the change may help patients speak more openly, improve access to treatment and reduce the fear of legal consequences when asking for help.

 
The UAE is expected to experience partly cloudy weather, with rain possible in some areas. Temperatures in Dubai may reach 37°C, while clouds could develop over the eastern and western parts of the country.

Artificial intelligence is expected to transform human resources by automating administrative tasks, employee queries and routine workflows. According to Dominic Keogh-Peters, the future HR function may become smaller and more specialised, focusing on organisational design, leadership, talent development and business performance.

Gold prices in Dubai edged higher, with 24K gold trading at around Dh505 per gram. Softer oil prices and a weaker US dollar supported bullion, while investors awaited US inflation data for clues about the Federal Reserve’s future interest-rate decisions.