Khaleej Times

Hormuz not owned by any state, must reopen without terms: UAE

The UAE on Thursday called for the full and unconditional opening of the Strait of Hormuz with “no strings attached” as the important oil chokepoint remains closed by Iran after briefly being opened following a fragile ceasefire. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE...

Pakistan to host Iran talks

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Islamabad would host delegations from the United States and Iran later this week following their ceasefire announcement. “I... extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the...

WORLD ON A SHARP EDGE

● Trump threatens ‘a whole civilisation will die’ if Iran does not fall in line ● White House denies considering using nuclear weapons ● Tehran says will not show flexibility as long as Washington demands surrender ● Pakistan fears attacks on Saudi...

IRAN REJECTS TRUCE PLAN

Iran said on Monday it wanted a lasting end to the war with the US and Israel, and pushed back against pressure to swiftly reopen the Strait of Hormuz under a temporary ceasefire as the Americans and the Iranians weighed a framework plan to cease their...

US commandos go deep into Iran to rescue downed airman: Media

American commandos deployed deep into Iranian territory to rescue a downed airman, US news outlets reported on Sunday, hours after President Donald Trump announced that the crew member had been recovered “safe and sound”. Tehran said this week it had...

NASA BACK TO MOON AFTER HALF-A-CENTURY

Four astronauts blasted off from Florida on Wednesday on Nasa’s Artemis II mission, a high-stakes 10-day trip around the moon that marks the United States’ boldest step yet towards returning humans to the lunar surface this decade. After nearly three...

Trump says US may exit Iran war soon and threatens to quit Nato

The United States will end its war on Iran fairly soon and could return for “spot hits” if needed, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, hours before he was scheduled to make a primetime address to the nation. Trump also said he would state in the...

China, Pakistan outline five-point plan to end Us-israel-iran war

China and Pakistan called on Tuesday for an immediate end to the war in the Middle East, and for peace talks as soon as possible, as they agreed to boost their cooperation on Iran. The two countries outlined a joint initiative “for restoring peace and...

DUBAI UNVEILS DH1B SUPPORT PACKAGE

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, approved a Dh1-billion support package for the emirate’s business sector,...

30 years on, Dubai World Cup is still at pinnacle of global racing

Thirty years on from its launch in 1996, the Dubai World Cup has established itself as one of racing’s biggest global spectacles, and Saturday’s 30th anniversary meeting at Meydan delivered again. A nine-race card worth $30.5 million brought together...

Lost car number plates surface after heavy rain across UAE

After the heavy rain that lashed the UAE, a familiar sight has cropped up once again — car number plates sticking out of the side of pavements, echoing a scene that became one of the most defining images of the historic April 2024 floods, when the...

UN council slams Iranian attacks on GCC, demands reparation

The UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday condemned Iran’s “egregious attacks” on its Gulf neighbours and demanded full “reparation” for all victims of its strikes. The 47-member council backed a resolution brought by the six Gulf Cooperation Council (...

Tehran toughens stand, seeks key concessions

Iran’s negotiating posture has hardened sharply since the war began, with the Revolutionary Guards exerting growing influence over decision-making, and it will demand significant concessions from the United States if mediation efforts lead to serious...

HEAVY RAIN LASHES PARTS OF UAE

Heavy rain lashed Sharjah as residents woke up to lightning and thunder across parts of the UAE during the morning hours of Monday. UAE airports have urged passengers to allow additional time for travel this week as unstable weather is forecast to...

Rain to continue in UAE until March 27

Rainfall is expected to affect different parts of the UAE over the coming days, shifting across regions, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). This comes after a wet weekend that brought rain, thunder and strong winds to several parts...

No aggression can dampen this Eid smile, camaraderie

People of all ages thronged markets across the country for last-minute shopping ahead of Eid Al Fitr, being celebrated today under the shadow of a regional conflict. Despite the ongoing tensions and unprovoked Iranian aggression, UAE residents and...

Dubai Airports will bounce back in a jiffy: CEO Griffiths

Dubai Airports will bounce back from the impact of the current regional military conflict “very quickly”, and it has no plans to put its expansion on hold, its chief has said. “We will bounce back from the current situation very quickly. Of that I am...

UAE rejects Iran’s justifications for unprovoked, unlawful aggression

The UAE has rejected descriptions of Iran’s attacks on the country as “retaliatory strikes”, calling the characterisation legally unfounded and a pretext for unlawful aggression. Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Jamal Al Musharakh,...

UAE RESIDENTS GEAR UP FOR EID

Residents make last-minute shopping ahead of the upcoming Eid celebrations in Sharjah on Monday as markets and shopping districts witness a surge of festive shoppers. Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has announced that all public parking across...

Global investors back UAE’S resilience amid Iran conflict

Global financial institutions, credit rating agencies and economists are reaffirming strong confidence in the resilience of GCC economies, especially the UAE, despite escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, highlighting powerful fiscal...

Ships on fire as Iran vows to keep Hormuz shut

Iran will fight on and keep the Strait of Hormuz shut, new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday in a statement read out on state television, the first remarks attributed to him since he succeeded his slain father. In a defiant address,...

Hamdan pledges all steps to ensure sustainable growth

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, has pledged to take all necessary steps to ensure sustainable economic growth, safeguard Dubai’s development gains and...

Rest assured: UAE will remain a haven of safety and stability

The leaders of the UAE have pledged to keep the nation a haven of safety and stability. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday met Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,...

Shares skid, oil soars 30% over prolonged war fears

Shares and bonds slumped and Global oil markets witnessed one of their sharpest rallies in years on Monday as the escalating conflict raised fears of a prolonged supply disruption in the Middle East, the world’s most critical oil-producing...

Thank you, beloved President

People of the UAE and beyond are grateful to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who praised the unity of Emiratis and residents during the Iran conflict with his epochal statement that in the UAE, everyone is Emirati through their love, and...

GCC, EU cry halt as Iran widens war

EU and Gulf ministers called following crisis talks on Thursday for Iran to immediately end “indiscriminate” attacks across the region in retaliation for US-IS-raeli attacks, warning global security was at stake. Oil prices jumped more than three per...

It’s business as usual in UAE despite regional tensions

Top UAE companies on Wednesday said they continue to “operate normally” despite the ongoing military conflict in the region. From banking to real estate to ports to telecom, many listed companies in the UAE assured that there was no impact of the...

Hear us loud and clear: No missile can shatter UAE

The UAE maintains strategic reserves of essential goods sufficient to meet market needs for four-six months, Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said, stressing that supply chains remain stable and imports are proceeding according...

Oil spikes, hundreds of ships drop anchor

Oil surged nine per cent as at least 150 tankers, including crude and LNG vessels, dropped anchor in open Gulf waters beyond the Strait of Hormuz amid mounting fears that an escalating Us–iran conflict could severely disrupt supplies. Dozens more...

Khamenei killed

165 MISSILES, 541 DRONES TARGET UAE Iranian strikes in the past two days resulted in three fatalities in the UAE among Pakistani, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi expats. The authorities reported 58 cases of minor injuries involving citizens and residents of...

Gaps still remain in Us-iran talks: Omani minister

The United States and Iran could reach a framework for a deal if Washington separates “nuclear and non-nuclear issues”, a senior Iranian official told Reuters, adding that remaining gaps need to be narrowed during a third round of talks in...

TIME FOR A QUIET MOMENT OF REFLECTION

As Ramadan begins, questions about daily life in Dubai — from dining during the day to entertainment, dress codes and visitor experiences — resurface among residents and tourists alike. Khaleej Times compiled a list of the most common queries people...

Ukraine ‘unbroken’ after 4 yrs, but Russia vows to fight on

Vladimir Putin has not broken Ukraine, its leader Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday, as the Kremlin marked the start of the fifth year of its invasion by vowing to keep fighting Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II until it achieves its...

Winter storm forces state of emergency in NYC

Children across parts of the US Northeast will stay home on Monday as a powerful winter storm forced school closures and pushed offices and transit systems onto emergency schedules, with officials across the region warning of heavy snow, strong winds...

Arab, Muslim countries slam US envoy’s remarks on Israel’s right to Mideast land

Arab and Islamic countries issued a joint condemnation on Sunday of remarks by US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who suggested Israel had a biblical right to a vast swath of the Middle East. Huckabee, a former Baptist minister and a fervent...

Modi’s call to democratise AI as India firms pledge $210B

India’s biggest conglomerates are stepping up a push into AI and data infrastructure, with Reliance committing about $110 billion and Adani pledging $100 billion to position the nation as an emerging hub for AI development. While the sum is modest...

The Dubai Police fire the ceremonial cannon at Downtown to announce Iftar time on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan on Wednesday.

The holy month is here

The UAE’S moon-sighting committee confirmed on Tuesday that Ramadan 2026 officially begins today. This means Muslims across the nation will start their fasts and mark the beginning of the holy month from today. For Muslims in Saudi Arabia, the first...

West Bank land registration rule draws global outrage

Israel’s government has approved a process to register land in the West Bank as “state property”, drawing condemnation from Arab nations and critics who said it would accelerate annexation of the Palestinian territory. Israel’s foreign ministry said...

‘Thank you for making my mother’s kiss possible’

Fawzia Mahmoudi from Morocco was crowned Arab Hope Maker 2026 at a ceremony held in Dubai on Sunday, earning the Dh1 million top prize for her life-changing work with children born with cleft lip and palate. Mahmoudi has helped nearly 19,000 children...

No idea of motive in Canada school shooting: Police

The suspect in a deadly school shooting in western Canada was an 18-year-old woman with mental health issues who killed her mother and stepbrother before attacking her former school, police said on Wednesday, but investigators did not offer a motive...

Canada stunned by school carnage

Canada was in mourning on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said, after a lone shooter killed at least nine people, including seven at a school, and injured dozens more in a remote western town. An emotional Carney said in brief remarks to...

UAE and Iran to keep regular coordination

The UAE and Iran on Tuesday decided to maintain regular coordination and activate joint technical committees to accelerate the implementation of existing agreements and explore new avenues for cooperation. This emerged at the second round of political...

GLOBAL INDIANS OF THE UAE: WOMEN ON THE RISE

Across technology, education, healthcare, media and the arts, a rising generation of Indians is redefining leadership. Through a year-long editorial series, Khaleej Times will trace these journeys and their impact. This first chapter spotlights 24...

Moscow shooting: Putin thanks UAE for quick arrest of suspect

Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked his UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for help with the detention of a man suspected of shooting a Russian military intelligence officer, Russian agencies reported, citing Kremlin spokesperson...

Dream come true! $1 million Gems award moves teacher

An internationally acclaimed Indian artist, social innovator, and transformative educator who taught children in slums and other marginalised communities was announced the winner of the $1 million Gems Education Global Teacher Prize. Rouble Nagi was...

To be future-ready is crucial for nations, says President

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Wednesday advancing government capabilities is a vital priority for nations seeking to navigate the trajectory of the future. This involves enhancing the capacity to anticipate change and stay ahead...

DUBAI LOOP ON THE WAY

A top official announced on Tuesday that the first phase of work for the Dubai Loop will begin soon. The service will begin in areas of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Dubai Mall at a total cost of Dh600 million. The announcement was...

UAE’S diversification and AI integration timely: IMF

Economic growth in Arab countries remain positive despite challenges but it is important these states strengthen defences, build resilience, and harness the power of artificial intelligence, according to Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the...

Science and scientists at the core of UAE’S vision, says President

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on Sunday science and scientists are at the core of the UAE’S vision for the future and that countries that make knowledge a national priority are the ones capable of leading global transformations and...

Putin thanks UAE for its mediation efforts

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday ahead of a second round of talks on the Ukraine war in Abu Dhabi. The UAE has emerged as a key mediator in the nearly four-year war, brokering...

Time running out for Iran as US forces build up in Gulf: Trump

President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that time is running out for Iran to come to the table and avoid US military action, prompting Tehran to retort that it would respond to any attack “like never before”. As Trump issued another threat, his top...

DH100B expansion to make DIFC a global economic hub

Dubai took another step on Tuesday towards its goal to rank among the world’s top four financial centres as the emirate’s Ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced the launch of the second phase of the Dubai International Financial...

PRESIDENT ATTENDS GRADUATION CEREMONY

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attends the graduation ceremony of the 50th batch of officer cadets and the first batch of university officer cadets at Zayed II Military College in Al Ain on Monday. He congratulated the graduates and...

850K without power in US

More than 850,000 customers in the US as far west as New Mexico were without electricity and over 10,000 flights were cancelled on Sunday during a monster winter storm that paralysed eastern and southern states with heavy snow and ice. As snow,...

Board of Peace, Trump’s global organisation, launched at Davos

US President Donald Trump unveiled his new Board of Peace at Davos on Thursday, casting himself again as a global peacemaker despite widespread scepticism over a plan that aims to rewrite the world order. Trump officials also unveiled ambitious plans...

No force, but I want that piece of ice, says Trump

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would not take over Greenland, which he called “a piece of ice”, by force, but stuck firmly to his demands for control of the Danish territory during a speech in Davos and hinted at consequences if his...

Trump: No going back Macron: No to bullies

French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said Europe would not give in to bullies or be intimidated, in a scathing criticism of US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose steep tariffs if Europe does not let him take over Greenland. Trump said on...

UAE, India pledge to deepen ties

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday pledged to enhance bilateral cooperation across various fields. The talks took place at the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi during Sheikh...

MOHAMMED HONOURS GREAT ARAB MINDS

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, honours winners of the Great Arab Minds Awards in recognition of their outstanding achievements across various fields during a ceremony held at the...

Trump to Iranians: Help is on its way

US President Donald Trump urged Iranians on Tuesday to keep protesting and said help was on the way, without giving details, as Iran’s clerical establishment pressed its crackdown against the biggest demonstrations in years. “Iranian Patriots, KEEP...

Unrest ‘toll 500’ as Iran warns US against attack

Unrest in Iran has killed more than 500 people, a rights group said on Sunday, as Tehran threatened to target US military bases if President Donald Trump carries out threats to intervene on behalf of protesters. With the Islamic Republic’s clerical...

Security forces open fire as new protests hit Iran

Protesters denounced the Iranian authorities and staged strike actions on Thursday in a new wave of demonstrations that have spread across the country, as rights groups accused security forces of shooting on people in several locations. Twelve days of...

Trump threat: Europe stands by Greenland

Leaders from major European powers on Tuesday expressed support for Denmark and Greenland in a joint statement, saying the Arctic island belongs to its people, following renewed interest by US President Donald Trump in taking over the Danish...

Thank you, for making UAE great in no time

Since assuming leadership of the UAE Government on January 5, 2006, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has championed an innovative model of nation-building that has driven the...

The father, leader & inspirer

Messages of congratulations and best wishes poured in on Sunday as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Father, Leader and Inspirer for not just one emirate and not just one generation of the nation, celebrated 20 years as the Ruler of Dubai and...

Dozens killed, 100 injured in Swiss ski resort bar fire

Dozens of people were killed and around 100 injured, most of them seriously, after fire tore through a crowded bar during a New Year’s Eve party in the upscale Swiss ski resort of Crans-montana, officials said on Thursday. Fire broke out at 1.30am...

Quality, diversification in investment to remain priorities in 2026, say experts

Investing in 2025 was less about chasing new and flashy opportunities and more about trusting traditional avenues. Across asset classes and geographies, investors gravitated towards tangible, cash-generating assets that could withstand geopolitical...

NATURE GETS READY TO USHER IN 2026

Golfers enjoy a sunny afternoon at Dubai Sports City on Monday. As the year draws to a close, Dubai is getting ready for vibrant New Year celebrations, with the weather expected to remain mild. The National Centre of Meteorology has not yet predicted...

UAE issues law to protect children from digital risks

The UAE Government has issued a federal decree law on child digital safety, aimed at protecting children from digital risks and promoting the responsible and safe use of technology. This comes within the framework of the UAE'S declaration of 2026 as...

Pope decries dire situation in Gaza

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday urged Russia and Ukraine to find the “courage” to hold direct talks and spoke of the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza in his first Christmas message. The US pope, who was elected by fellow cardinals in May after the death...

Ukraine backs plan, awaits Russian nod

Ukraine won some concessions in the latest version of a Us-led draft plan to end the Russian invasion, revealed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, though key questions remain over territory and whether Moscow could accept the new terms. The 20-point...

DUBAI DECKS UP FOR XMAS CELEBRATIONS

Two-year-old Shaily enjoys the Christmas mood with her mother Sashli at Wafi Mall in Dubai on Monday. Adorned with thousands of lights, trinkets, and ornaments, malls become popular gathering spots for families and offer picture-perfect backdrops for...

Well done and thank you UAE for keeping your powder dry in rains

Resilience is built on preparedness and it was the proactive approach by the entire UAE government that mitigated the risks of the two-day adverse weather conditions that affected the country on Thursday and Friday. Days before the rains, the National...

Rain, rain, run, run

Torrential rain hit several parts of the UAE early on Thursday, with residents in some areas experiencing flooding and even hail. In Ras Al Khaimah, rain poured steadily in the early hours of Thursday. Resident Soni Salim said she woke up with a start...