Abu dhabi: Egypt welcomed on Monday Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement that his country intends to recognise the State of Palestine during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September. According to Emirates News Agency, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the planned recognition as a historic step that supports the restoration of Palestinian rights, enables the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination, and advances the establishment of an independent state along the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The ministry emphasised that this decision-along with similar moves by

Abu dhabi: First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has formed a significant partnership with the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority (ADHA) to provide government-subsidised Islamic home financing to eligible Emirati citizens through its Islamic and National Housing Loan (NHL) divisions. This initiative supports the UAE’s “Year of Community” campaign, aiming to bolster family financial stability and promote sustainable homeownership nationwide. According to Emirates News Agency, this strategic collaboration establishes FAB as a primary financial partner for ADHA beneficiaries, offering a fully digitalised housing solution. Eligible customers will have access to secured FAB NHL loans and additional Shari’ah-compliant home financing from FAB Islamic

Sharjah: His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has made an important announcement to ensure that 700 Emirati citizens will be hired in the emirate’s government by the end of 2025. According to Emirates News Agency, H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed also approved promotions for 1,523 employees within the government. These promotions, which include job advancements and special financial awards, will come at an annual expense of AED22 million. Moreover, 254 employees who earned new qualifications, such as PhDs, Master’s, or Bachelor’s degrees, will have their statuses adjusted, costing AED8,420,803.

Dubai: Emirates NBD is marking a year since the launch of its groundbreaking zero-transaction-fee initiative for trading local equities via its award-winning digital wealth platform, accessible through ENBD X. According to Emirates News Agency, the offering, launched on 26 August 2024, has significantly increased access to local markets, empowering investors to trade UAE-listed equities commission-free. The impact of the zero-transaction-fee initiative has been significant, with more than 300,000 commission-free trades executed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), and Nasdaq Dubai, resulting in AED 5 billion in total trade volume. Investors can access over 150 UAE-listed

Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has adopted a smart digital platform named “Data Drive – Clear Guide,” designed to study and analyse both historical and real-time traffic flow on the emirate’s roads over the past five years. This platform enables the relevant authorities to analyse numerous traffic-related elements, identify road conditions, analyse road speeds, identify recurring traffic patterns, and pinpoint congestion points and traffic jams. According to Emirates News Agency, this initiative is part of RTA’s efforts to leverage artificial intelligence to alleviate congestion in Dubai. The move aims to deliver top-tier services that propel the emirate’s digital

Gaza: The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has condemned the killing of six Palestinian journalists in Gaza after their tent was targeted by Israeli military forces, describing the incident as a ‘grave breach of international humanitarian law.’ The attack has drawn international criticism and heightened concerns over the safety of journalists in the region. According to Emirates News Agency, the OHCHR emphasized the need for Israel to respect and protect all civilians, including journalists. The office made a public statement on social media urging for immediate, safe, and unhindered access to Gaza for all media workers to ensure they can

Dubai: The Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has intensified its oversight efforts this year by conducting inspection campaigns across markets in the UAE, in cooperation with the relevant authorities. These efforts aim to enhance tax compliance, protect consumer rights, and combat tax evasion to ensure adherence to tax laws and procedures. According to Emirates News Agency, the FTA announced in a press release that its inspection teams conducted a record of 85,500 field visits during the first half of this year as part of its nationwide campaigns. The number of inspections increased by 110.7% compared to the first half of 2024,

Sharjah: The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) recently held discussions with the Embassy of Uganda in the UAE to explore ways to enhance bilateral business relationships and advance cooperation to strategic levels. According to Emirates News Agency, the discussions aimed to promote mutual trade benefits and identify high-potential opportunities in priority sectors. These discussions build on the successes of the Sharjah Chamber’s trade mission to Uganda last year. The meeting took place at the Chamber’s headquarters and involved Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of SCCI, and Zaake Wanume Kibedi, Uganda’s Ambassador to the UAE, along with other senior