The Haghartsin Monastery in Armenia, a 10th-century complex that had been left structurally unsound by earthquake damage and decades of neglect, was restored through a donation from Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who contributed an estimated $1.7 million (Dh6.2 million) to fund the work. How the Haghartsin Monastery Sharjah restoration came about Sheikh Dr Sultan visited Armenia in 2005 at the invitation of then-president Robert Kocharian, a trip arranged by the Armenian business community in Sharjah. The state of the monastery during that visit prompted the offer to finance its full…
Author: Catherine Smith
Dubai’s JLT Link electric bus service has launched in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, connecting residents across the neighbourhood for Dh3 per journey, as August also brings higher petrol prices and the return of the school year. JLT Link electric bus routes and how to pay The JLT Link electric bus service runs on two routes: Route 1 covers clusters A to N, and Route 2 covers clusters O to Z. Both connect to DMCC Metro Station and Sobha Realty Metro Station, as well as Uptown Dubai. Passengers can pay through the JLT Link app, which also shows live bus timings and…
The UAE Year of Award applications are now open, with families and organisations able to submit entries until 10 September 2026 through the official platform at uaeyearof.ae. The Award was launched under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as a permanent national recognition programme, designed to carry forward the legacy of each annual UAE Year Of theme. Five categories and three core pillars The Award is built around three core pillars: Impact, Sustainability, and Inspiration. It comprises five categories covering the range of ways individuals and organisations can contribute to each year’s theme: Main Award, Collective…
The Ministry of Education has published the UAE public school uniform guide for 2026-2027, covering approved designs, prices and authorised sales outlets for government school students from kindergarten to Grade 12. The guide is available on the ministry’s website and includes illustrations of every approved uniform, a full price list, and details of where families can buy the items before the first day of school on 31 August 2026. Where to buy and what the guide covers Government school uniforms will be sold through approved LuLu Hypermarket outlets across the UAE, as well as designated locations serving more remote communities.…
Russian consumer goods company Global Dent is pushing into the UAE oral care market, bringing three product lines that position daily dental hygiene as part of a wider preventive wellness routine. The move comes as the UAE’s oral care segment reached Dh727 million in 2025, growing 5 per cent year on year. A wellness economy that reaches beyond spas The UAE’s total wellness economy is valued at $40.8 billion, according to the Global Wellness Institute’s 2025 report, produced in partnership with developer Aldar. The economy grew 14.3 per cent between 2019 and 2024, the fastest rate in the MENA region.…
Emirates has launched a student fare discount giving travellers aged 16 to 31 reduced airfares and additional baggage allowance on bookings made through to 31 March 2027. The Emirates student fare discount applies across Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class, with students required to enter the promotional code ‘STUDENT’ at the time of booking. What the Emirates student fare discount covers Students booking Economy Class fares can receive up to 10% off, while those booking Premium Economy or Business Class are eligible for up to 5% off. According to the Emirates student special fares terms and conditions, discounts are exclusive…
The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) is launching JLT Link, an electric bus service connecting clusters across Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Uptown Dubai, on 1 August 2026. The fare is Dh3 per ride, with no advance booking required. DMCC describes JLT Link as Dubai’s first fully electric community bus service. The fleet comprises a mix of 16- and 23-seat electric buses finished in turquoise livery, replacing the existing internal bus service that ran across the district. Two routes, 18 stops across JLT and Uptown Dubai The JLT Link electric bus network operates across two circular routes. Route 1 covers clusters…
A Dubai-based student who identified India exam portal cybersecurity vulnerabilities in two of the country’s high-stakes examination systems says the anti-paper-leak legislation passed by India’s parliament this week does not go far enough on its own. Rylen Anil, a Grade 12 student at JSS Private School in Dubai, called on the Indian government to mandate regular Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) on all examination portals, particularly before major exam seasons and after significant system updates. ‘Examination portals contain highly sensitive student information, so they must be protected with strong security controls,’ Rylen said. ‘Regular monitoring and faster responses to…
UAE residents applying for a Spain visa must now book appointments directly through the Spain visa self-booking system on the BLS International website, with no travel agents or other intermediaries permitted to make bookings on their behalf. BLS International, which manages Spain’s visa application centres in the UAE through its wholly owned subsidiary BLS International FZE, announced the change in a notice on its website. The company said it acted ‘in response to evolving market demands and to enhance our technical infrastructure.’ Any appointment made through a third party will be rejected at the Visa Application Centre (VAC). ‘During the…
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered its condolences to Japan on 29 July 2026 following a 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Kyushu Island on 28 July, killing at least 13 people and injuring others. In a statement, the ministry expressed sympathy to the families of victims and to the Japanese government and people, and wished a speedy recovery for the injured. Death toll and damage across Kumamoto The quake, measured at magnitude 7.1 by Japan’s Meteorological Agency (JMA), caused widespread destruction across the southwestern region of Kumamoto. Homes were flattened, fires broke out, and tens of thousands of residents were…