Best photos of July 2: Wildfires in Latakia to a Muharram mourning procession in Baghdad
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
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Khaleej Times
7 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE spending surge anticipated heading into Dubai Summer Surprises 2025
As the UAE gears up for another season of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), new data reveals a sharp increase in digital spending during last year's campaign, with signals pointing to even greater momentum this summer. The number of daily digital transactions in the UAE jumped by 25% year-on-year during the DSS 2024 period, while consumers also spent more per transaction, with average ticket sizes growing by 16% year-on-year, according to data from A closer look at the data uncovers deeper consumer behaviour shifts. Spending on interior furnishings rose notably last year, suggesting that many residents used the summer period and DSS sales as an opportunity to upgrade their homes. Recreation-related categories also spiked, indicating an increase in families opting for local leisure experiences during the school break. The toys and sporting goods sector saw heightened activity as parents looked to keep children engaged through the hotter months, while education spending climbed as families paid school tuition and stocked up for the academic year ahead. Notably, the automotive category also saw a summer boost, driven by seasonal promotions on vehicles and related services. own processing volumes in the UAE rose by 44% during last year's DSS, reflecting a broader shift toward online-first lifestyles and growing consumer trust in digital payments across high-intent seasonal moments. These insights are consistent with latest State of Digital Commerce in MENA 2025 report, which found 62% of UAE consumers plan to increase their online shopping next year, and 44% now say that they shop for better options online even while browsing in-store. 'Dubai Summer Surprises continues to act as a key catalyst for digital commerce in the region,' said Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA at 'From household upgrades to family recreation and back-to-school prep, the data shows UAE consumers turning to digital channels to meet both everyday needs and high-value purchases. With the growth we've seen year over year, we expect 2025 to break even more records.' As the region continues to lead in digital commerce adoption, the summer months are proving to be peak moments for merchants to connect with digitally savvy consumers driven by speed, convenience, and seamless online experiences.
Arabian Business
8 hours ago
- Arabian Business
flydubai partners with emaratech to launch new smart gates
flydubai has partnered with emaratech, a technology organisation in the UAE, to implement smart border control solutions. The new smart gates will be accessed by the Dubai-based carrier's pilots and cabin crew as part of its commitment to innovation and investing in technologies. 'We are pleased to have partnered with emaratech to implement this innovative solution for our pilots and cabin crew. We always look for opportunities to harness the latest technologies that support our growth and operational efficiencies and with the introduction of these biometric smart gates, this marks another step towards fostering a more seamless, punctual and secure operation as we future-proof our systems,' Mohammed Hareb AlMheiri, Chief Procurement & Technology Officer at flydubai said. AI-powered immigration for flydubai crew The smart gates are located at the carrier's Airport Operations Centre and use biometric technology, AI-driven verification and real-time data integration to streamline immigration processes. The system provides a faster and more efficient immigration experience for flight operations, supporting the carrier's operational efficiency during busy travel periods. 'We are proud to partner with flydubai in pioneering a next-generation, paperless immigration experience for their crew members. Through the integration of AI-powered facial recognition technology, our smart gates seamlessly connect with both flydubai's and immigration's platforms, enabling real-time validation and a truly frictionless journey,' Thani Alzaffin, Group Chief Executive Officer of emaratech said. 'This initiative reflects emaratech's continued commitment to redefining border control processes—making them smarter, faster, and more secure. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, we are shaping a future where innovation drives convenience and trust at every checkpoint. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with flydubai across future initiatives that further enhance the travel experience for both passengers and crew,' he added. The carrier continues to invest in technologies that improve the daily experience of its frontline teams. Six smart biometric gates have been installed at the flydubai Airport Operations Centre where the crew report for their flights. Today, flydubai has created a network of more than 135 destinations served by a fleet of 89 aircraft. The carrier has built a workforce of more than 6,400 employees, more than 1,300 of whom are pilots along with 2,500 cabin crew.
Khaleej Times
9 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: After Fujairah's musical road, 6 more unusual routes to discover
When you think of UAE roads, are traffic jams and long tailbacks the only things that jump to mind? Not at these spots! The UAE actually has some interesting roads that will make you rethink the phrase "it's not about the journey, it's the destination". From Dubai to Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah to Fujairah, here are some wonderfully weird and unusual spots you should make plans to visit — maybe even this weekend — if you haven't been here already. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. 1. Fujairah's Musical Road This road has recently gone viral for its ability to produce a portion of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Love listening to a good tune when driving? When you drive over rumble strips on Sheikh Khalifa Street, you can be a part of creating music with your car as the instrument. Installed just before the Fujairah Police Headquarters, the nearly 1km-long musical street has people changing over to the last lane just for the experience. However, it is essential to keep safety in mind and avoid haphazardly switching lanes. Here's a Khaleej Times guide — yes, we went over to check it out ourselves — with tips to help you get the best musical experience on the road. 2. Half-Desert Road in Dubai With UAE being a desert country, it is no surprise that a drive through the country will take you on many a road with sand dunes on both sides. On this particular road, however, you do not go to the desert — the desert comes to you. Half Desert in Dubai, as the name suggests, is a place where the wind often carries sand from the nearby dunes to the road. Cars going through this area will find some of their journey on the asphalt, and some on sand. The road partly covered in desert sand makes for a stunning view (see image above!), and is a popular getaway for tourists and residents alike, particularly in cooler conditions. 3. Khor Fakkan Tunnels Have you ever been under a mountain? How about under five consecutive ones? In the UAE, the latter is not just possible — it makes for a pretty neat drive. The five tunnels are located on the Sharjah-Khor Fakkan road and cut through the imposing peaks — with hills on your left and right, but also above you. This includes the 2.7km Al Sidra tunnel which is also the longest covered tunnel in the Middle East. The four other tunnels are Al Saqab at 1.4km, Al Raugh at 1.3km, Al Ghazeer at 0.9km, and Al Sahah at 0.3km. 4. Al Shindagha Tunnel Now that we've been in a tunnel under the mountains, there's another that goes underwater. And no, you do not have to don your scuba gear for this one. What is particularly fascinating about the Al Shindagha tunnel is this engineering marvel, going under Dubai Creek, was opened as early as 1975, making it the oldest tunnel in the Emirates. You can still get a feel for the 'olden days' as you pass this two-lane tunnel with its jet fans humming along. The area boasts not just an underwater tunnel for vehicles, it also has a underwater pedestrian walkway, which means you can walk under the creek, while still keeping your feet on land. 5. Wadi Al Qor Wadi Al Qor in Ras Al Khaimah is not your typical road — it offers off-road experiences. Visitors to this spot, often known as the "lost trail", have reported hearing a chorus of frogs all throughout their journey, giving it the name "Wadi of Frogs". Since it is not a city road like the others, this terrain is best suited for 4x4 vehicles due to the off-road paths. Unique about this spot is the trail follows a riverbed, with water being seen on the path, while it also cuts through mountains. When visiting such places, always be mindful of the risky terrain, and keep your safety at first priority. You must also be respectful of private property boundaries, such as farms owned by the local community. 6. Floating Bridge The Floating Bridge, as the name suggests, is a bridge built right on the water — and was shaped in the motion of waves, so drivers experienced a little 'wave action' as they drove by. It was the first of its kind in the region, and spans Dubai Creek. The bridge would open and close every day to allow for marine traffic to pass by. Here's an exclusive behind-the-scenes video that shows how it worked: This peculiar spot saw both cars and boats pass by, albeit at different times, making for an enthralling experience. The bridge rests on pontoons, which are hollow structures, that support it and allow the bridge to move along with the tide. The Floating Bridge is currently closed for maintenance, as announced by RTA in 2023. 7. Zero-Gravity Road? Travellers have reported experiencing a "magnetic" hill in the area of Masafi, Fujairah, where the car seemingly rolls upwards. While Khaleej Times was not able to independently confirm this, such roads do exist in other parts of the world and are often caused by optical illusions. These roads appear to be going uphill when, in reality, they are sloping downwards. You could check out Fujairah's Masafi area for yourself and see if those anti-gravity claims have any truth to them. Alternatively, such a road can be seen not too far away — in Oman, in the route between Mirbat and Salalah. The spot is fairly well-known and can be an awe-inspiring experience for many UAE residents, given the proximity of the place.
