Author: Sam Allcock

Ski Dubai, in collaboration with the Dubai Sports Council, is preparing to stage the 16th edition of the Ice Warrior Challenge on Sunday, 14 September 2025. The event will be held inside the award-winning Ski Dubai Snow Park at the Mall of the Emirates, voted the World’s Best Indoor Ski Resort. Organisers say this year’s edition has already surpassed previous records for registration, with only a limited number of places left before the September 12 cut-off date. Demand has been so high that they expect tickets to sell out quickly through Premier Online. A test of strength and endurance The…

Union Coop, one of the UAE’s largest consumer cooperatives, has reported a sharp increase in retail activity during the back-to-school period, with August seeing peak demand at shopping centres and outlets across the country. The surge came as families prepared for the new academic year, driving higher sales of essential school and household items. Major campaigns launched To meet the seasonal demand, Union Coop rolled out three promotional campaigns covering a wide range of categories, including stationery, electronics, school bags, office supplies, food items and consumer products. The promotions featured discounts of up to 50 per cent on hundreds of…

Warba Bank, one of Kuwait’s leading Islamic financial institutions, has unveiled a new youth-focused digital platform called Wave Banking, marking a significant step in its digital transformation strategy. The service, launched under the slogan “Your Wave, Your Way”, is designed to give young customers more independence and confidence in managing their finances through a fully digital journey, from account opening to daily transactions. Ahmad Faisal Al-Qatami, Warba’s Chief Retail Banking Officer, described the initiative as a “strategic milestone” for the bank. “We believe youth are the driving force of change and progress in society,” he said. “Wave Banking provides them…

The American University of Beirut (AUB) inaugurated its 160th academic year on Monday, September 1, 2025, with an opening ceremony at Assembly Hall. Trustees, faculty, students, alumni, and friends gathered to mark a milestone that links the university’s historic roots to its present-day resilience. The ceremony featured the traditional academic procession followed by an address from AUB president Dr Fadlo Khuri, titled “In the Moment.” In his speech, Khuri reflected on the pressures faced by individuals and institutions in Lebanon and beyond, emphasising that adversity can serve as a catalyst for growth. “Here in Lebanon, and here at AUB, embracing…

IHG Hotels at Dubai Festival City is introducing a line-up of new food and entertainment offerings this September, aiming to bring together families, friends, and the wider community as the city transitions into the back-to-school season. According to Thomas Schmelter, Area General Manager of IHG Hotels at Dubai Festival City, the programme reflects the group’s focus on creating “moments that matter” for every guest. “September is about reconnecting after summer,” he said. “Our focus is to offer welcoming spaces where families and friends can relax, recharge, and share memorable experiences—whether through our signature brunches, live music evenings, or refined dining.”…

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has revealed he underwent treatment to remove skin cancer, urging people to take sun safety seriously. The 58-year-old, known for his fiery television persona, said he was “grateful and so appreciative” to his medical team after they treated a basal cell carcinoma – a common form of skin cancer that is not melanoma. Writing on Instagram on Saturday, Ramsay thanked the “incredible” doctors and nurses for their “fast reactive work,” while also reminding followers to wear sunscreen. “Please don’t forget your sunscreen this weekend,” he wrote. “I promise you it’s not a face lift! I’d need…

Google’s latest artificial intelligence tool, Gemini Nano Banana, is being hailed as a breakthrough in image editing—but not everyone is celebrating. While the model has impressed technologists with its ability to outperform rivals such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Elon Musk’s Grok, it has also triggered a new wave of anxiety among artists worldwide. The clash between AI innovation and creative industries is long-standing. Yet, Nano Banana’s capabilities—such as generating base sketches, building comic panels in specific styles, and producing poses and reactions from a single illustration—have intensified the debate. Many fear that the technology will further blur the line between…

Dubai is moving rapidly toward its ambition of becoming one of the world’s leading cashless economies, with officials targeting 90% of all transactions to be digital by 2026. The drive, part of the broader Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), was formally launched under the Dubai Cashless strategy in October 2024. Authorities see the project as central to positioning Dubai as a global hub for digital finance and investment, supported by partnerships across government agencies and the private sector. Digital milestones Since its launch, Dubai has already made significant strides. In 2023, collaborations with Network International and the Dubai Digital Economy Chamber…

Chinese scientists have successfully developed glowing succulent plants that can illuminate their surroundings, marking a major step in the quest to create bioluminescent ecosystems inspired by nature. The breakthrough, described by Popular Science, draws inspiration from naturally glowing organisms such as jellyfish, mushrooms, plankton, and certain species of fish. Researchers say the new development brings the dream of living, light-emitting environments closer to reality. In 2024, biotechnology company Light Bio created a petunia nicknamed “Firefly,” which glowed faintly in green. While considered a breakthrough at the time, its light was too dim for practical use. The new Chinese project goes…

Qatar Foundation’s BilAraby initiative has launched its first open translation workshop, bringing together translators, volunteers, and language enthusiasts to expand the reach of Arabic content worldwide. Held on Saturday at Multaqa, the Education City Student Center, the event gathered 25 participants for hands-on training with AI-powered translation tools and in-depth discussions on the project’s long-term vision. The workshop also saw the selection and training of BilAraby ambassadors, who will lead and mentor volunteer teams in future translation projects. Since its inception, BilAraby has drawn nearly 400 volunteers from across the globe, with around 80 based in Qatar. Volunteers support translation,…