Author: Editorial Team

The World Health Organisation said Thursday that more hantavirus cases could emerge after the disease killed three passengers from a cruise ship but it expected the outbreak to be limited if precautions were taken. Another sick passenger from the MV Hondius landed in Europe earlier in the day, as the vessel headed to the Spanish Canary Islands and health officials scrambled to map the outbreak of the potentially deadly human-to-human strain. The fate of the Hondius sparked international alarm after three people travelling on it died, though health officials have played down fears of a wider global outbreak from the…

From red carpets to fragrance campaigns, Syrian actor Bassel Khaiat is deepening his ties with luxury house Dior. The actor has officially been named the new fragrance ambassador for Dior Beauty in the Middle East, expanding a relationship that has already seen him front the brand’s menswear division in the region since 2024. “Becoming a beauty ambassador for Dior feels like stepping into a legacy of timeless confidence,” the actor told GQ Middle East. “It’s about how you carry yourself, and Dior understands that on a deeper level. Being a Dior ambassador is about owning your presence, quietly, confidently, and…

Abu Dhabi Biobank has partnered with Japan’s Human Life CORD Japan Inc. to localise the development of umbilical cord–derived stem cell therapies in the UAE, accelerating cutting-edge healthcare solutions. The strategic collaboration, announced on Tuesday, marks a significant step in expanding access to regenerative treatments across the UAE and the wider Mena region. It also strengthens Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to become a global hub for advanced healthcare and life sciences. Backed by the Abu Dhabi health department and global health company M42, the initiative will combine large-scale biobanking infrastructure with advanced clinical research and proprietary stem cell technologies. Stay up…

Eid Al Adha is falling at the end of May this year and UAE residents are already planning how to turn that break into a proper getaway. With Arafah Day expected on May 26, followed by a three-day public holiday from May 27-29, most people with a Saturday–Sunday weekend are looking at a six-day escape window without touching too much annual leave. If you’re one of them and you want somewhere that doesn’t involve weeks of embassy appointments and paperwork, these visa-free and visa-on-arrival destinations should be on your radar. Where UAE residents are heading this Eid What’s different this…

When Rihanna stepped into Antilia for an intimate lunch with the Ambani family, the Internet saw a global superstar wrapped in marigolds and sunlight. In one frame, she is mid-laugh, showered in flower petals, bathed in a soft yellow glow that feels almost too ‘Bollywood’ to be real. For the man behind the lens, however, the moment was less about its “viral” potential and more about what it truly captured: a global icon slipping, effortlessly, into the heart of an Indian celebration. Himanshu Patel, founder of Epic Stories, had already documented one of the Ambani family’s most significant milestones during…

Dubai Municipality has launched a first-of-its-kind lab in the UAE to detect foodborne viruses, marking a significant step forward in the emirate’s food safety infrastructure. The ViruGenetics Lab, established at Dubai Central Laboratory, uses advanced genomic technologies to process approximately 60 samples per day under normal conditions. This capacity can be ramped up to 100 samples in emergency situations, ensuring that the city is prepared for potential outbreaks or surges in food safety incidents. The facility delivers results within record turnaround times, accelerating inspections and supporting timely, data-driven decision-making based on reliable findings. This speed is critical when dealing with…

Dubai Municipality has launched a first-of-its-kind lab in the UAE to detect foodborne viruses, marking a significant step forward in the emirate’s food safety infrastructure. The ViruGenetics Lab, established at Dubai Central Laboratory, uses advanced genomic technologies to process approximately 60 samples per day under normal conditions. This capacity can be ramped up to 100 samples in emergency situations, ensuring that the city is prepared for potential outbreaks or surges in food safety incidents. The facility delivers results within record turnaround times, accelerating inspections and supporting timely, data-driven decision-making based on reliable findings. This speed is critical when dealing with…

A routine blood test at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has helped doctors uncover hidden inherited cancer risk across an entire family, identifying multiple relatives who had no symptoms, no diagnosis and no idea they carried potentially life-changing genetic mutations. In one of the most unusual cases seen by the hospital’s hereditary high-risk team, specialists discovered that both parents in the same family were carriers of two completely different cancer-causing gene mutations. Further testing later revealed at least three relatives who were completely healthy but had inherited the mutations, while one daughter was found to carry both genes, putting her at risk for…

  Parenting is a job where one often second-guesses oneself. The moments of absolute ecstasy are followed by those of absolute agony. Because parenting is such a mixed bag, the responsibilities around it can feel overwhelming. Enter an app that promises to put a structure around your life as a parent. This is but the brainchild of UAE resident Nazia Jawwad.   Like many parents, Nazia had been exasperated carrying what she calls was “the invisible mental load of everyday family life” that included school updates, activity schedules, birthday reminders, forms, special daysm among others. And then came that day…

Days after Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum called for wider planting of flame trees across Dubai, the city has rushed to embrace the season in its own way, from community giveaways and café drinks to nail art inspired by the vivid red bloom. What began as a citywide greening initiative has quickly evolved into a cultural moment, with businesses, residents and creatives weaving the flame tree into everyday life across the emirate. Dubai Municipality takes the lead Following Sheikh Hamdan’s directive on Sunday, 3 May, Dubai Municipality launched a campaign to intensify the planting of flame trees…