Dubai News

🇦🇪 No more AED

📲 The UAE's currency symbol has officially been added to the Unicode standard and assigned its own code, meaning it can now be integrated into iPhone and Android keyboards.

@DubaiOnline

🔜 Dubai is gearing up for a big season

🐘 Dubai Safari Park reopens on October 12, welcoming visitors with over 3,000 animals, six themed zones, and safari experiences.

🎡 Global Village officially opens on October 14 at 6:00 PM, bringing new attractions, shows, restaurants, shops, and pavilions from countries around the world. The season runs for more than seven months, until May 2027.

@DubaiOnline

🏃‍♂️ Dubai Run 2026: Sheikh Zayed Road to become the largest running track again

ℹ️ The UAE's busiest highway will transform into a giant open-air stadium for one day — Dubai Run, the world's largest fun run, is coming as part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge (30X30).

📅 Sunday, 22 November 2026
⏰ 06:30 AM

🛣 Two routes to choose from:
• 5km – through Downtown Dubai on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Boulevard
• 10km – starting and finishing on Sheikh Zayed Road

👟 Open to everyone from first-timers to seasoned runners. Free to join.

Are you in, @DubaiCity?

🌊 Aquaventure World turns into one massive night party

📍 Aquaventure World, Atlantis Dubai
📅 October 9
🔞 13+

🪩 From 8 PM to midnight, the park transforms into After Dark mode: DJ sets, lasers, fire shows, LED screens, immersive sound, a beach setup, prize games, and access to 105+ slides and rides, including Odyssey of Terror, Blackout, and Immortal Falls.

📍 The main stage takes over Torrent Beach, while Trident Tower hosts a separate zone dedicated to music and contemporary culture.

🍔 Expect a solid food lineup too: burgers, hot dogs, pizza, Asian dishes, vegan options, and the signature chocolate-dipped Atlantis strawberries.

🎟 For the first time, guests can add After Dark to a regular Day Pass and stay in the park until midnight without leaving Aquaventure.

@DubaiCity

🏙 Dubai is getting a residential complex staffed by robots

🤖 Robots will be on every floor greeting guests at reception, handling security, delivering orders, cleaning, and even making coffee. They'll basically become residents' new "neighbors," while the apartments themselves get fully AI-powered smart systems.

📍 The $191M project, called Tréppan Vision, is set to rise in Dubai Land Residence Complex and is expected to be completed in 2029.

@DubaiOnline

🚗 New at DXB: International Driving Permit in just 5 minutes

📰 Dubai has rolled out an instant IDP service right at Dubai International Airport. UAE citizens and residents with a valid UAE driving licence can now walk up to the Customer Happiness Centre in Terminal 3 Arrivals (open 24/7) and walk away with an International Driving Permit before their flight.

What you need:
• Emirates ID
• Valid UAE driving licence
• Passport copy
• A personal photo

ℹ️ The service is a joint effort by GDRFA Dubai, the RTA, the Emirates Automobile and Touring Club, and Amer. Thanks to integrated digital systems, applications are verified and approved almost instantly: no long queues, no separate trip to a service centre.

Great news for anyone planning a trip abroad who needs an IDP last-minute.

@DubaiOnline

🤢 Dubai residents have been complaining about a strange bad smell spreading across several neighborhoods

📍 For two days now, people in Dubai Marina, Jumeirah, Al Furjan and other areas have reported an odor described as rotten, sewage-like, or smoky. Authorities have acknowledged the issue and say they're working to resolve it.

🥴 The smell may be linked to the sewage treatment plant in Jebel Ali. Dubai Municipality has confirmed this and says it's already addressing the problem.

Has anyone noticed it in an area?

@DubaiOnline

🤖 Dubai Police "hired" 36 robots

📰 Dubai Police has rolled out 36 software robots to automate routine work, using Robotic Process Automation (RPA) — technology that lets programs handle repetitive tasks on their own.

👮‍♂️ According to police officials, this frees up staff to focus on more complex, specialized work, boosting productivity and cutting down on routine busywork. In 2026, government service uptime hit an impressive 99.97%, with IT systems stability at 99.92%. Looking ahead, Dubai Police plans to expand the use of AI across law enforcement, administrative, and operational functions including decision-support tools and faster emergency response times.

ℹ️ The force also runs smart police stations, giving residents even more ways to access services without stepping into a traditional station.

@DubaiOnline

🆕 iPhone 18 Pro price hike incoming?

📰 Analyst Jeff Pu (GF Securities) expects Apple's iPhone 18 Pro lineup to cost $250-300 more than the current generation.

📈 The reason is rising costs for Apple's upcoming 2nm chips, plus surging DRAM and NAND prices driven by AI-related demand across the supply chain.

🇦🇪 Estimated UAE pricing (rough projections, not direct conversions):
• iPhone 18 Pro: AED 5,799-5,999
• iPhone 18 Pro Max: AED 6,199-6,399

📆 Apple hasn't confirmed any of this yet. The new Pro models are expected to launch on September 9 alongside Apple's first foldable iPhone, with the standard iPhone 18 rumored for later.

@DubaiOnline

📱 More ➡️ @DalilyApple News

🏉 Dubai is hosting a major sports & music festival

📰 Emirates Dubai 7s: November 27-29, The Sevens Stadium will host tournaments across 6 sports, including rugby and padel, plus live music, food, and family entertainment — from a Ferris wheel to a zipline.

🎫 The lineup hasn't been announced yet. Tickets start from 75 AED.

@DubaiOnline

✈️ Dubai is taking urban travel to the skies

🚁 DXV – the world's first purpose-built commercial vertiport, near Dubai International Airport, has been certified and is set to launch before the end of 2026.

📍 It'll anchor a network linking Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina, cutting travel time to 10-12 minutes vs ~45 min by car. The 3,100 m² facility (4 floors) has landing pads, charging stations, parking and lounges – built for up to 170,000 passengers/year.

3️⃣ more vertiports (Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah) are under construction — Dubai aims to be the first city with a fully integrated air taxi network.

@DubaiOnline

🚦 School season = Dubai traffic jams

📰 The new academic year kicked off on September 1, with around 1.27 million students back in class. RTA warns that traffic around schools typically spikes in the first weeks, as parents' cars and buses converge for drop-offs at the same time each morning. Over summer, RTA upgraded roads at 6 school zones (Al Barsha, Dubai Motor City, Al Sufouh, and more): new lanes, extra parking, and traffic-calming measures.

🚸 Btw: zero traffic fatalities near Dubai schools since 2010. A result of RTA, police, and schools working together on safety.

@DubaiOnline

💻 Free co-working spot in Dubai

No membership, no booking – just vibes and Wi-Fi.

💺 Stylish workspaces & cocoon swings
🎮 Arcade corner
📚 Thousands of books to browse
🎶 Vinyl & cassette music station
⚡️ Free high-speed WiFi

🪴 Just walk in, pick your cozy corner, and get things done in the aesthetic setting in the city. There's a café right on-site too, so grab a coffee (it's basically your entry ticket) and fuel your productivity all day long.

📍 25hours Hotel, One Central – Lobby & First Floor (right behind the Museum of the Future).

#places #free @DubaiCity

🏰 Hogwarts and Diagon Alley are coming to Abu Dhabi

📰 Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is building a major Harry Potter-themed land, the first of its kind in the Middle East.

🐉 According to construction permits, the project will recreate both Hogwarts Castle and Diagon Alley. The official Warner Bros. World website also lists three rides and attractions, plus themed restaurants and shops, but details are still under wraps.

🌳 A "Forbidden Forest" zone is rumored too, though not officially confirmed.

ℹ️ The project is part of a wider Warner Bros. World expansion on Yas Island, expected to grow the park's footprint by around 26%.

🪄 Opening date? Not yet announced and the construction is still underway. Unofficial reports suggest 2029.

@DubaiOnline

🕌 Mawlid Al Nabi

📰 Today, Friday, August 28, 2026, is an official paid public holiday in the UAE in observance of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (Mawlid Al Nabi).

🌙 Mawlid is a time to remember the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad. Across different countries and communities, it may be observed through prayers, Quran recitations, religious gatherings, charitable acts, and reflection on values such as mercy, generosity and kindness.

✨ Happy Mawlid Al Nabi, @DubaiCity!

🤖 Museum of the Future is closing its doors

📰 Starting September 1, 2026, the Museum of the Future will close for a major renovation. The current exhibitions will be completely replaced with new ones offering a whole new perspective on humanity's future. The new spaces are being built on more than 1,000 ideas and suggestions submitted by visitors from around the world.

What's changing?
• New multimedia and interactive installations
• Fully redesigned thematic zones
• A fresh take on the evolution of science, technology, and society
• Even more ways to engage with the exhibits

📆 The reopening of the updated museum is planned for early 2027, marking the Museum of the Future's 5th anniversary.❗️Until August 31 (inclusive), visitors still have a chance to experience the legendary exhibitions before they become part of the museum's history forever.

@DubaiCity

🛍️ New mall just opened in Dubai

🆕 The Grand which is two-storey community mall has opened in Nad Al Sheba. Rolling out in phases with shops, dining, services & leisure spots.

🏪 Open now: Waitrose (anchor), MMI, Heart Cottage Lane, Maple Bear nursery, Al Jaber Optical, Fixperts

🍽️ Coming September: Tashas, Somewhere Home Bakery, Kokoro, Blu Pizzeria, Bake My Day, Daima, Staywell Pharmacy, Tips and Toes

💪 Early 2027: Fitcode gym & American Hospital

🍣🍪 Fun twist: Kokoro (Japanese handrolls) and Bake My Day (cookies) will share one space 50/50 where each keeping its own vibe

📍 Located in Nad Al Sheba Gardens, ~10 min from central Dubai; open to everyone, not just residents.

@DubaiCity

📰 What UAE residents need to know - August 19

ℹ️ The UAE Ministry of Defence said air defences detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the country. One fell outside UAE territorial waters, the other inside them (both landed in the sea), no casualties or damage on land reported. Authorities said the missiles appeared aimed at maritime shipping routes, and the UAE has since halted all trade and financial transactions with Iran until further notice. Iran's foreign ministry has denied it targeted the UAE.

🟠 Iran's parliament speaker Ghalibaf reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz stays closed until the US lifts its naval blockade, unfreezes Iranian assets and eases sanctions.

🟠 Qatar said it's watching Iran-Oman talks on a Hormuz shipping arrangement, hoping a deal there opens the door to broader US-Iran negotiations.

🟠 Mixed signals from Washington: envoy Jared Kushner described "very positive and active conversations" with Iran, but President Trump later posted that there are "no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled" – and that the naval blockade stays in full force.

🟠 President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed spoke by phone with Trump on Tuesday, discussing UAE-US cooperation and the regional situation.

✈️ Flights: Emirates and Etihad continue running reduced schedules to Bahrain and Kuwait (some routes still cancelled), while flydubai says its Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia services are operating as scheduled. Always check your airline directly before heading to the airport, since schedules can shift on short notice.

@DubaiOnline

8️⃣ art spots in Dubai with 🆓 entry from an old villa to a digital dome

#wheretogo #free @DubaiCity