The Agenda

A viral fake AED 500 note has put counterfeit cash back in the spotlight, so what should you do if you come across one?

Samsung unveils the Galaxy S26 series as rumours swirl that Apple could launch a foldable phone later this year.

Air taxis move closer to take-off as Joby Aviation partners with Uber to launch bookable flights in the UAE.

And 12-year-old Warren Bacongallo wins the UAE Spelling Bee Championship, with his younger brother Rei Martus finishing second runner-up.

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The UAE has confirmed the academic calendar for the next three years, giving families and schools clarity on term dates, shorter breaks and a slightly later return after summer. Does this three-year clarity make your life easier, or are shorter breaks a concern for your family?

A major shake-up in the UAE’s taxi market-- Bolt has added 1,823 vehicles through a new partnership, taking its Dubai fleet past 10,000 cars.

A new UN report says the world has entered what it calls an era of “global water bankruptcy”, with 75 percent of people now living in water insecure countries and water-related conflicts rising sharply.

And we are catching up with the UAE alpine skiers who have just returned from the slopes of the Winter Olympics. 

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We look at the power of giving and the rules that govern it after authorities put out a warning that collecting donations without a licence could mean jail time and fines of up to AED 500,000 dirhams. So what does the law actually say, and how can you make sure your generosity stays compliant?

Then, turning charity into lasting impact. A major new endowment launched by Awqaf Abu Dhabi aims to provide long-term support for orphans across the UAE. We find out how it works.

The UAE Central Bank has issued new guidelines governing how AI can be used across the banking sector. So what does that mean for your money, your data and your access to credit?

Could we soon be drinking water made from thin air? 

And we look at a research suggesting that consciousness may not switch off instantly when the heart stops.

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Dubai commuters could soon see their journey times cut from 24 minutes to just five. That will be the result of Hessa Street Development Project Phase 2, one of Dubai's latest major road upgrades.

According to the Dubai Health Authority, the emirate now has over 4,000 licensed healthcare facilities, including hospitals, day-surgery centres and specialised clinics, and more than 50,000 licensed healthcare professionals operating across the system. So we’ve got more providers, more patients, more demand, and that growth inevitably feeds into insurance pricing. So what does that mean for you when your renewal notice lands in your inbox?

The UAE says it has successfully stopped a wave of coordinated cyberattacks targeting key national infrastructure before any significant damage was done. But it does raise serious questions about the scale, frequency and sophistication of cyber warfare facing the region.

And we look at the business of camel milk not just in the Gulf, but in the Land Down Under.

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We're talking smart doorbells and neighbourhood privacy, as Ring’s new AI-powered “Search Party” feature promises to reunite lost pets using your footage, but do you feel like you’re being watched when you walk around your community? And what does UAE law say about surveillance, consent and sharing those videos?

We’re also looking ahead to the Eid break, why Ramadan is becoming a key driver for halal travel.

Plus parking fees are rising across Dubai, so could the new rules actually help residents make money?

And should we be worried about the thousands of potentially city-destroying asteroids NASA can’t currently track?

Finally, Global Teacher Prize winner Rouble Nagi joins us to explain how she’s turning her $1 million award into real impact for children’s education.

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Day two of Ramadan and as families ease into new routines, we ask what the shift in pace means for domestic workers’ hours.

Careem joins us to launch its ‘Seeds for Gaza’ campaign and reveal how drivers will have their tips doubled during the Holy Month.

Plus - moon sighting goes futuristic with AI-powered drones now scanning the skies.

A new viral video starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise has Hollywood shaking in its boots, because it looks totally really, but it's totally AI.

And from Tokyo, how groundbreaking tech at the Deaflympics is letting fans feel the action like never before.

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British children born overseas could be denied entry to the UK from next week because of a change in passport rules. And it is not just children. Dual nationals more broadly are facing a scramble for documentation before the new rules come into force on February 25th. So what does the law actually say?

We are in the first day on Ramadan and the Holy Month of course, is a time of reflection and generosity, but how does that spirit translate into real-world behaviour, not just here in the UAE, but globally? We also find out a bit more about how you can give back this Holy Month.

This week the UAE marked five years since its Hope Probe entered orbit around Mars, a historic achievement that made the Emirates the first Arab nation to reach the Red Planet. And today we learned the mission has been extended until 2028, three years beyond its original plan.

There is now a growing campaign calling on hotels to bring back proper bathroom doors, arguing that privacy should not be optional. Is this clever use of space, or have hotels taken minimalist design too far?

And some hotels are now embedding tiny tracking tags into towels and linens. The aim? To reduce theft, cut costs and monitor inventory more efficiently.

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A new premium airline is planned to be launched in Bahrain, creating around 1,200 jobs. What does this mean for the wider Gulf aviation landscape?

It is now easier to travel between the UAE and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

According to the latest World Tourism Barometer, Europe remains the most visited region, but the real growth stories are elsewhere. So what is driving travellers toward these so-called high-identity, emerging destinations?

The second member of UAE's Winter Olympics contingent had a difficult outing on Monday as Alex Astridge did not finish his round in the men's slalom competition.

Staying on the Winter Games, there’s growing concern among climate scientists that rising global temperatures could dramatically reduce the number of cities capable of safely hosting the Winter Olympics within the next few decades.

And Dubai could one day be home to a 900-foot-high Moon. 

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The UAE Ministry of Education has introduced nine new enforcement measures to tackle rising student absenteeism, particularly before weekends and public holidays. Under the new rules, unexcused absences are capped at 15 days per academic year in public schools. So what message does this send, and could private schools follow suit?

New data shows road accidents spike significantly during Ramadan, with the two-hour window between 2pm and 4pm accounting for the highest proportion of incidents. So how significant is the risk this year, and what should motorists be mindful of?

We also look forward to the commencement of Ramadan and speak with the Dubai Astronomy Group.

A new study is making headlines after researchers found that stimulating a specific part of the brain with mild electrical currents appeared to reduce selfish behaviour and increase generosity in decision making tasks.

A team in the UK is using spider silk fibres and implanting them into a vein or hollow conduit to help repair a nerve, and they eventually degrade safely into the body.

And we're telling you details about human poo used in medicine.

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The UAE’s Ministry of Education has updated its early years entry policy to give flexibility to children entering Foundation Stage in the British curriculum. We hear your comments, parents, and we speak to two educators-- Sarah Hollingworth from GEMS Wellington Academy - Silicon Oasis and Rebecca Coulter from Dubai British School Jumeirah Park.

Antimicrobial Resistance is being described as one of the greatest global health threats of our time and we discuss this on The Agenda today with three experts live from the ongoing WHX in Dubai.

We also discuss camel racing in Saudi Arabia.

And a new research from NYU Abu Dhabi suggests unusually warm waters in the Arabian Sea played a key role in intensifying the record-breaking rainfall in April 2024.

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