The Agenda

Flights in the region climb back above 1,000 a day, with Tim Clark predicting a strong rebound for aviation.

Etihad Rail has completed its first freight delivery of vehicles, with a shipment of cars transported by rail for the first time in the country.

Abu Dhabi has approved the use of a new daily weight-loss pill as part of a wider programme to tackle obesity.

We also look at the UAE’s new one billion dirham fund to support vital industries, and what that means for sectors like agriculture.

With regional tensions impacting travel and footfall, how are Dubai’s malls adapting? 

And from business to entertainment, the new Michael Jackson biopic is breaking box office records despite poor reviews.

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Tech unicorn CEO's are coming out to bat for Dubai - saying it is fast becoming the global launchpad for the next generation of innovation.

And with oil prices soaring, the cost of cooling your home is likely to rise, even here in the UAE.

So is now the time to make the switch to solar?

Meanwhile, with restaurants in the UAE face rising costs and tough choices, a brand new platform's opening up to help them save money on ingredients.

If you're looking for something to keep the family occupied this week - The Ripe Market re-opens this afternoon, with longer hours and lots more on offer.

And it's hard to believe - but the next Eid break is only one month away. And if you take the Monday off, you'll get a nine day break. 

So should you be booking a trip or planning a staycation? We look at the best options.

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Forty two kilometres long, 40 metres underground. Eighteen stations. Fifteen key areas. And it's going to expand the Metro by more than a third.

A new report shows the UAE leading global hiring in 2026, with strong job growth across the Gulf driven by tech, AI, healthcare and energy.

Meanwhile, there’s a growing focus on worker wellbeing in the UAE’s real estate sector.

Plus, City Nature Challenge runs April 24–27, inviting people to record local wildlife and support real scientific research.

And, with World Book Day being celebrated across the UAE this week, we think we've found Dubai's smallest library.

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That's the decision of the KHDA, for remote learning during the conflict. We discuss this with Audrey Hametner of The Bedrock Program.

Dubai is looking to build an express rail line linking DXB with Al Maktoum International. We get the take of transport expert Martin Tillman.

Abu Dhabi has revealed the results of a landmark genome programme involving 500,000 Emiratis, with new findings on eye health. How could this reshape how vision conditions are treated?

A new AI model, Claude Mythos, is causing concerns. Apparently it’s a brilliant hacker. 

Beaches in Dubai are getting a serious upgrade, as part of a wider AED 3 billion dirham plan to transform the city’s coastline. Georgia speaks with the Dubai Municipality.

And for thrill-seekers out there... Skydive Dubai is back!

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With students going back to in-person learning this week, we go behind the scenes at the university where students are also back on campus.

We meet the brilliant 17-year-old Anvith who has come up with a clever carpooling platform.

The completed Hessa Street upgrade is making traffic in Dubai flow faster. We ask the RTA how they managed to reduce travel time from 24 minutes to just 5.

A brand new agency employing AI-only influencers is launching in Dubai. So what does it mean for the real people who are already shaping the industry?

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Confusion in the Strait of Hormuz raises questions over what’s really happening.

UAE students return to classrooms, but the transition is far from normal.

Dubai’s rental market is shifting, with short stays down and long stays rising.

Dubai’s first flying taxi hub is now ready at DXB.

A €100 ticket wins a Picasso worth over a million in Paris.

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With school buses suspended ahead of the return to classrooms, what does that mean for your morning commute? Could thousands more cars be hitting the roads next week, and how much pressure will that put on the network? What are other alternatives for parents and students?

From the UAE to the Philippines, we discuss the impact of the nationwide transport strike driven by soaring fuel prices.

And we speak to one UAE-based company using AI to support small businesses struggling with falling footfall.

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It was the news many families across the UAE have been waiting for, classrooms reopening and students heading back in from Monday. We speak with Her Excellency Aisha Miran, Director General - Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) to find out how ready the system truly is.

We also welcome school officials from both private and higher institutions to learn how they are managing the return.

With a draft law on the table for e-scooters and e-bikes, including registration and parental responsibility, could we be about to see a major shift in how they are regulated in Dubai?

We also turn to the future of the city, with a major new masterplan community unveiled in Al Jaddaf, built around connectivity, transport and how people live and move.

And could thinking about how your mum would judge your driving actually make Dubai’s roads safer?

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After 7 weeks of disruption and four weeks of distanced learning, nurseries in Dubai and Sharjah are preparing for a phased return to in-person learning from this week, subject to approval from the Dubai's KHDA and Spear, the bodies that regulate private childcare and schools in the emirates. So what does that mean in practice? We speak to one Dubai-based nursery.

We also talk to education leaders about how schools are preparing, from safety measures to supporting students as they readjust.

With paid parking fees in Discovery Gardens getting a revision from today, we ask: what's driving the expansion of paid parking in residential areas?

If you’ve been on the roads in Dubai recently, you may have noticed a slightly different tone when it comes to road safety. The RTA, working with Dubai Police, has launched a new campaign encouraging drivers to behave as if their mum is in the car.

And after recent heavy rain, Dubai Municipality is stepping up mosquito control efforts.

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Gaming platform Roblox is rolling out major new safety measures, including age-based accounts, stricter parental controls, and mandatory verification for certain features, to better protect children online. But how effective are these safeguards in reality? We hear from Roblox directly, and then speak to a child development expert about what it means for behaviour, wellbeing, and digital literacy.

Claims about extending distance learning until May 1st have been confirmed as FALSE, and authorities are reminding residents that sharing unverified information, particularly during times of crisis, can carry serious legal consequences. So what counts as misinformation, and could simply forwarding a message land you in trouble? We speak to lawyer Dino Wilkinson from Baker McKenzie.

The global impact of the Iran-US conflict is deepening, and with US President Donald Trump ordering a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports, oil prices have surged back above $100 a barrel. What impact is that having on Asian countries? We get the latest on the ground in the Philippines.

If you're looking for a new way to stay active in Dubai, Dubai Police is stepping things up with a new initiative that’s making fitness completely free and accessible to everyone.

And we tell you about a new in-store dining experience right here in Dubai.

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