Author: Mohammad Imran

Think you know your movies, music, general knowledge and random facts? September could be the perfect time to put that knowledge to the test. Dubai has no shortage of places to spend an evening, but if you want something more interactive than dinner or drinks, quiz nights offer an easy way to get a group together and compete for prizes and bragging rights. The best part? The quiz nights featured below have free entry, although some venues have separate food, brunch or minimum-spend offers. From Bollywood and music bingo to general trivia, here are some of the quiz nights worth…

Dubai families planning their autumn holidays may need to revisit their calendars after the UAE’s official 2026–27 academic schedule confirmed an October mid-term break earlier than some previously published school calendars had indicated. Under the Ministry of Education’s approved calendar, the first-semester mid-term break for students will run from Monday, October 12, to Sunday, October 18, 2026, with schools reopening on Monday, October 19. That gives students nine consecutive days away from school, including the two weekends surrounding the break. For parents who may already have been considering flights, hotels, childcare or short getaways based on an earlier school schedule,…

Thinking about upgrading this year? You might want to budget more than usual. Apple buyers across the UAE could be staring at a genuinely steep price jump on the next iPhone. According to GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max might cost between $250 and $300 more than their current counterparts. That’s not a minor bump. That’s a real shift in what flagship pricing looks like. Why The Sudden Increase? A few things are colliding here, and none of them are Apple simply deciding to charge more for the sake of it. Pu…

More than 1.277 million students walked back into UAE classrooms today. That’s not a small number. It’s the largest back-to-school return the country has seen, and for a good chunk of these students, August 31 doesn’t just mean the end of summer,  it marks the start of an entirely new academic year, 2026-27. For others, it’s simply picking up where they left off before the break. Some Schools Are Easing Students Back In Not every school is throwing everyone back in at once. The Ministry of Education confirmed that several schools across the country are running a phased return this…

Need a Nol card and don’t want the hassle of hunting one down? Good news. You can now grab one at selected Al Ansari Exchange branches across Dubai. One more errand crossed off, basically, without needing to detour to a metro station just to sort your transport card. Why This Actually Matters Getting around this city relies heavily on that one little card. The Nol card works across the Metro, the Tram, buses, marine transport, and public parking. All of it, through a single card. No juggling separate payment methods for each mode of transport, just tap and go, wherever…

Dubai drivers have a useful opportunity to give their cars a safety check without paying a dirham. As part of Dubai Police’s “Summer Without Accidents 2026” campaign, motorists can get free vehicle inspections at selected ENOC AutoPro centres across Dubai. The initiative is designed to help drivers identify potential vehicle problems before they turn into breakdowns or road safety risks, particularly during the UAE’s intense summer heat. Here’s everything you need to know about the free inspections, what gets checked and why a summer vehicle check can be worth your time. Free Car Inspections In Dubai: Where And When? Dubai…

That loud emergency alert on your phone can be unsettling, especially when it arrives without warning. But when an official alert is issued, your first priority should always be safety — not filming, driving around or sharing unverified information online. The UAE authorities regularly issue emergency notifications and safety instructions to protect residents and visitors during potentially dangerous situations. Understanding what these alerts mean, where to seek shelter and which emergency numbers to call can help you respond quickly when it matters most. Here’s everything you need to know about UAE emergency alerts, shelter instructions, emergency numbers and responsible behaviour…

That lump-sum rent payment everyone dreads? Dubai might be about to change it. The Dubai Land Department is working on something called “Rent Now, Pay Later,” and if it lands the way it’s currently planned, it could reshape how tenants across the city handle their annual rent. Here’s the idea. Instead of scraping together a full year’s rent upfront, tenants would be able to spread that cost over 12 months. Zero interest attached. A local bank is partnering with DLD on this, and the whole thing is expected to launch sometime in September. How Would It Actually Work? Emarat Al…

Planning a trip from India to Abu Dhabi? Your visa might not cost you anything this year. Abu Dhabi’s tourism authority just rolled out a new programme covering the full UAE entry visa cost for eligible Indian travellers. Free visa, real savings, but there are conditions attached, and they matter more than the headline suggests. Here’s everything you need to know before booking anything. What’s Actually On Offer The Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi is behind this one, and the offer is straightforward on paper. Book a holiday in Abu Dhabi through a participating travel partner, and DCT…

With the new academic year just around the corner, families across the UAE are preparing for one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year. From school uniforms and stationery to laptops and study desks, back-to-school expenses can quickly add up. The good news is that retailers across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah are rolling out seasonal promotions on everything students need for the new term. Whether you’re shopping for a child starting primary school or a university student upgrading their study setup, these offers can help you stretch your budget. Note: Offers, discounts, and participating products may vary by…