A 10-year-old Emirati boy named Ahmed Haitham Ahmed Al Naqbi saved his family from a dangerous fire in Sharjah. 

The incident occurred around 2 am in the Kalba area of the emirate. Ahmed woke up sensing a burning smell from his bedroom and quickly alerted his father, Haitham Ahmed Al-Naqbi. 

Upon investigation, Haitham discovered a fire originating from the air conditioning unit above Ahmed’s bed. He swiftly evacuated his two younger sons, Nahyan (9 years old) and Maktoum (8 years old), who were asleep when the AC caught fire. 

The family escaped to safety as the fire alarm alerted authorities. The civil defence team arrived in time to prevent the fire from spreading further. Haitham praised his son’s rapid response, emphasizing Ahmed’s sense of responsibility and protective nature towards his family.

Despite his young age, Ahmed is a dedicated football player and excels academically, always seeking to develop his skills.

Due to heavy rains and flooding in the UAE, all federal government schools will conduct classes online on Friday. 

Private institutions in Dubai have been advised by the KHDA to consider distance learning. This decision was made by the Council of Ministers as a safety measure in response to the adverse weather conditions. 

On Thursday, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning affected Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other parts of the Northern Emirates, leading to early class suspensions. 

Some schools warned parents that students might come home with wet feet due to flooded bus bays. 

Activities on Friday were either canceled or moved online. The National Centre of Meteorology predicts continued rain over the next few days.

Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) has implemented artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor and manage the performance of 14,500 drivers and 7,200 vehicles. 

This technology is utilized at the DTC control center, overseeing various transportation services including taxis, limousines, school buses, public buses, and motorcycles. The system enables efficient decision-making and scheduling for events in Dubai, ensuring a responsive taxi fleet and redirecting vehicles to high-demand areas. 

It also tracks drivers’ behavior and vehicle routes, with a special focus on school buses to ensure safety and punctuality. Additionally, the center supports drivers and evaluates daily vehicle movement. 

The move demonstrates DTC’s commitment to advanced monitoring and safety measures in transportation services.

The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has resulted in the reported casualties of 6,546 Palestinians, including 2,704 children, with 17,439 individuals wounded.

During the same period, the Israeli military reported one member of the security forces killed in a raid. In the past 24 hours alone, 756 Palestinians, including 344 children, were reported killed in Israeli strikes. 

Additionally, over 100 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank since the conflict began on October 7. The situation remains highly volatile and tense.

The UAE has discontinued the issuance of three-month visit visas. Currently, visitors can come on 30- or 60-day visas, and travel agencies can issue them. 

In Dubai, a 90-day visa is available for first-degree relatives of residents. This change comes after the three-month visit visa was initially suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a 60-day option introduced instead. 

The three-month scheme was later reinstated as a leisure visa in May. The suspension of long-term leisure visas is reported to be temporary, as demand for this visa had been slightly increasing due to the upcoming winter months. The UAE offers various visa options for individuals seeking employment opportunities in the country, including job exploration visas for 60, 90, and 120 days.

Additionally, there is a 5-year multiple-entry visa and a Green Visa for investors, high-level skilled workers, and self-employed individuals. 

Applicants for these visas must submit supporting documents, including a six-month bank statement.

The Directorate of Traffic and Patrols of Abu Dhabi Police has issued a warning that individuals caught throwing trash out of car windows will face a AED1,000 fine and six black points on their driver’s license.

This announcement was made during the ‘Our City is Beautiful’ event organized by the Abu Dhabi City Municipality at Rabdan Park, Zayed City. The event aimed to highlight the importance of adhering to traffic rules and maintaining the cleanliness of the city. 

Dean Mahmoud Youssef Al Balushi, Director of the Directorate of Traffic and Patrols, emphasized the need for prioritizing traffic safety and cautioned against the risks associated with e-scooters. He recommended using them only in designated areas with appropriate safety equipment. 

This warning comes after a report from Dubai Police revealed five deaths and 29 injuries from e-scooter accidents in the emirate over the past eight months. Major-General Saif Muhair Al Mazroui mentioned that over 10,000 fines were issued to riders during this period, with 32 accidents attributed to “improper use” of e-scooters. 

Assistant Tariq Muhammad Hamidan emphasized the importance of supervising children, especially during the winter vacation, and protecting them from e-scooter dangers. He also highlighted the significance of maintaining Abu Dhabi’s appearance by not littering while driving.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai is offering loyal commuters a chance to win up to one million nol Plus points in celebration of the 14th Public Transport Day.

The initiative, running until November 8 with the theme ‘Gym on the Go’, aims to promote the health and fitness benefits of using public transport. RTA’s rewards are open to regular users of various modes of public transport over the past five years. Participants need to register on the RTA website and link their nol card to be eligible.

The nol Plus program allows members to accumulate points for using their nol card, which can be used for various services in Dubai. This year’s Public Transport Day coincides with the Dubai Fitness Challenge and features a range of events emphasizing sustainability.

One highlight is a GPS drawing competition led by social media influencers, and there’s also a smartphone game promoting environmental conservation.

Dubai Municipality has begun testing a self-driving electric vehicle designed to clean bicycle paths along Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim beaches.

This initiative aims to maintain cleanliness and sustainability in Dubai’s tourist facilities, especially public beaches, while incorporating advanced technologies like automated and electric vehicles. The smart sweeper is equipped with sensors for obstacle avoidance, ensuring higher efficiency compared to manual cleaning.

It can operate continuously for eight hours on a single charge, with a top speed of 40 kmph in normal mode and low carbon emissions. Earlier this year, Dubai Municipality introduced five advanced sweepers for cleaning roadways, covering around 2,250 kilometers daily. They have also expanded their automated waste management fleet to enhance various cleaning operations across the city.

A team of 12 supervises 72 cleaners working around the clock to maintain cleanliness on public beaches, equipped with 13 new tools to improve communication and emergency response.

Tawazun Industrial Park (TIP), in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Municipality and Tadweer, has initiated a tree planting project, placing 300 Ghaf trees around Tawazun Industrial Park as part of the Year of Sustainability.

The endeavor aims to promote sustainability and environmental protection, involving the Tawazun Council and TIP employees. Abu Dhabi City Municipality organized an awareness workshop to educate participants on the significance of the Ghaf tree and its planting process.

This initiative aligns with the UAE government’s sustainability objectives and reflects a shared commitment to environmental preservation. The municipality emphasizes the expansion of agriculture, climate protection, and cultural alignment through native trees.

TIP also partnered with Emirates Global Motor Electric (EGME) to provide sustainable transportation in the form of electric buses for the participating employees. Tadweer is involved in waste management for agricultural sustainability, ensuring safe disposal and recycling of agricultural waste.

Ali Al Dhaheri, CEO of Tadweer, affirmed their dedication to environmental awareness, sustainable practices, and comprehensive waste management.