The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has confirmed 30 June as the cut-off for private sector firms with 50 or more staff to meet their first-half 2026 Emiratisation quotas. Companies that miss the target face fines of AED 10,000 per month for each unfilled position from 1 July.
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Dubai Holding Community Management has formalised a deal with ReFarm Global to convert algae collected from Palm Jumeirah's shoreline into nutrient-rich soil for community landscaping. The Sea to Soil programme expects to divert more than 20 tonnes of marine waste from disposal by the end of 2026.
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Giancarlo Esposito, the Breaking Bad actor, converted to Islam while filming the action movie 7 Dogs in Saudi Arabia. Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, shared a video of Esposito reciting the shahada and praying at a mosque with the production crew.
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An explosion at Qatar's Barzan gas facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City injured 54 people and left 18 missing, the interior ministry said Monday. The blast occurred during restart operations at the LNG hub, which had been shut down since Iranian drone strikes in March.
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The Dubai Civility Committee held its fifth meeting, advancing plans for a city-wide lighting strategy, a new urban experience assessment framework, and two guidelines documents on public conduct and celebrations. The committee, chaired by Mohammad Al Gergawi, is building what it describes as an integrated civility ecosystem for the emirate.
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The Iranian delegation walked out of US-Iran nuclear talks in Switzerland on Sunday after Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran and kidnap its negotiators. Talks resumed overnight, with Qatar and Pakistan brokering an agreement to establish a communications channel in the Strait of Hormuz and a de-confliction mechanism for Lebanon.
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Egypt recorded their first ever World Cup victory on Sunday, coming from a goal down to beat New Zealand 3-1 at the 2026 tournament. The result puts them top of Group 7, with Zizo, Salah, and Trezeguet all scoring in a second-half turnaround.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning a Middle East trip next week, with stops expected in Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain. Axios reports he is also expected to chair a GCC foreign ministers summit in Bahrain, though the State Department has not confirmed the visit.
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