
Mohammed bin Rashid, Colombia's President discuss bilateral ties
The Summit, which began in Dubai on Tuesday, runs until 13 February under the theme 'Shaping Future Governments'. Sheikh Mohammed welcomed President Urrego's participation in the Summit, where he is set to deliver a keynote address on the second day.
Enhancing bilateral relations
The meeting was attended by several prominent figures, including Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Discussions centered on enhancing bilateral relations between the UAE and Colombia, with a focus on expanding cooperation across various sectors.
Strengthening global cooperation
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to global cooperation and government innovation. He emphasized the importance of international collaboration to address global challenges and ensure sustainable development.
The Summit's global impact
President Urrego praised the UAE-Colombia ties and the Summit's influence on shaping governance frameworks. WGS 2025 brings together over 30 heads of state, 80 international organizations, and 140 government delegations, fostering dialogue on key global issues and future transformations.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arabian Business
an hour ago
- Arabian Business
Emirates Islamic to power Kimera Group's UAE finances with digital-first banking solutions
Emirates Islamic, one of the UAE's leading Islamic financial institutions, has been appointed as the lead cash management service provider for all UAE financial operations of the Kimera Group. Under the agreement, Emirates Islamic will deliver a comprehensive range of innovative digital and operational banking solutions, including: Access to its digital platforms businessONLINE and smartTRADE Smart Cash Deposit Machines (SCDM) Cheque Scanning ICCS Remote Cheque Printing The bank will also facilitate Payroll (Non-WPS) services and provide Corporate Credit Cards tailored to Kimera Group's needs. Emirates Islamic in the UAE Mohammad Kamran Wajid, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Emirates Islamic, said: 'We are pleased to partner with Kimera Group to deliver digital banking solutions to meet their advanced financial needs. 'With a focus on innovation, operational excellence, and client-centric solutions, we continue to strengthen our position as a trusted partner to corporate clients, further reinforcing our position as a key player in the UAE's banking sector.' He added that the bank remains committed to digitally-first banking solutions that unlock efficiency, convenience, and agility, supporting clients through their digital transformation journeys. Tariq Al Ghussein, CEO, Kimera Group said: 'Partnering with Emirates Islamic is a strategic move in advancing Kimera Group's financial operations with state-of-the-art digital banking solutions. Their expertise and innovative platforms will enable us to enhance operational efficiency, optimise transaction management, and drive greater financial agility. 'This collaboration reflects our commitment to integrating best-in-class financial solutions that support our growth The collaboration reinforces Emirates Islamic's role as a key player in the UAE's corporate banking sector, providing Sharia-compliant, technology-driven solutions to support business growth and operational excellence.


Arabian Business
an hour ago
- Arabian Business
New UAE school holidays; GCC visa rules; Dubai property boom; Etihad Rail real estate forecast; Abu Dhabi road tolls – 10 things you missed this week
A longer winter break for UAE students, new visa-on-arrival rules in Kuwait, and record-breaking Dubai property sales made headlines in the Middle East this week. From landmark hotel launches to transformative transport projects there were also major changes in education, travel, real estate, and infrastructure across the UAE and GCC Catch up on the biggest news stories this week, as selected by Arabian Business editors. UAE school calendar for 2025-2026: Longer winter break and new mid-term holidays revealed The UAE has announced the academic calendar for public and private sector schools in the 2025-2026 academic year, introducing unified term dates, longer breaks, and new mid-term holidays. The UAE Ministry of Education (MoE) unveiled the new school calendar, which was approved by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council. The updated schedule will take effect from August 25, 2025, aligning with the country's 'Year of Community' goals to strengthen family cohesion and create a balanced learning environment. See key dates for UAE school year 2025-2026 here. Kuwait announces new visa for expats in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman Kuwait has announced new visa on arrival rules for expat residents living in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. The new visa was announced by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al Yousef Al Sabah. The tourist visit visa is offered to residents of GCC countries and is designed to boost tourism from neighbouring countries. Where Dubai rents rose and fell in first half of 2025 Dubai's rental market delivered mixed performance during the first half of 2025, with luxury waterfront communities posting steep increases whilst budget-friendly neighbourhoods experienced significant declines, according to industry experts and market data. The biggest winners were prime areas like Business Bay and Dubai Marina, where rental rates surged driven by young professionals seeking proximity to Dubai's financial districts. Meanwhile, areas like International City and Discovery Gardens saw rents tumble as regulatory crackdowns and increased competition took their toll. 'Business Bay saw rental rates increase in H1, driven by high demand from young professionals and its proximity to Downtown Dubai and DIFC,' said Ronan Arthur, Director and Head of Residential Valuation at Cavendish Maxwell. UAE real estate: Etihad Rail to boost property market and create new trade and investment corridors Etihad Rail will transform real estate, investment and trade across the UAE, according to a property CEO in the country. A UAE property expert says the benefits delivered by Etihad Rail will extend far beyond real estate, creating new corridors for living, trade, and investment across the Emirates. Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties, believes the Etihad Rail network will transform the UAE's economic landscape by boosting connectivity, reducing travel times, and driving genuine demand in emerging markets. UAE announces major new passport rule UAE citizens will now be able to renew their passports up to one year before the expiry date, following a new decision by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP). Previously, the renewal period was limited to six months before expiry. The updated rule — announced by ICP Chairman Ali Mohammed Al Shamsi — comes into effect Monday, August 18, 2025, and will be available via the Authority's smart services platform. Al Shamsi said the move will improve citizens' quality of life by allowing them to plan international travel further in advance, complete official transactions without delays, and increase the use of secure digital documents. Dubai Smart Rental Index bears fruit as landlords recalibrate pricing strategies Tenants are successfully using Dubai's Smart Rental Index to challenge unjustified rent hikes, leading to fairer rental agreements and reduced conflicts with landlords, as the regulatory tool delivers on its promise to moderate extreme rental increases seven months after its introduction. The Index, launched by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) in January 2025, has shifted bargaining power towards tenants and created what brokers describe as a more balanced rental market, with data from the first half of 2025 revealing divergent trends across different price segments and neighbourhoods. Landlords are recalibrating their pricing strategies in response to the artificial intelligence-powered tool, which uses multiple data points including rental contract values, area averages, and building classifications to determine fair rental adjustments whilst requiring landlords to provide 90 days' notice for increases. Dubai property sales hit $14bn in July as off-plan demand and rents surge, top developers revealed Dubai's residential real estate market continued its upward trajectory in July 2025, with Betterhomes reporting strong growth in both sales and leasing, driven by robust off-plan demand and an influx of new tenants. Drawing on data from Property Monitor and its own transactions, the firm highlighted significant month-on-month gains in volumes, values, and rental activity. Average price per square foot: AED1,893 ($516), up 3.3 per cent from June Total transactions: 18,816, up 20.5 per cent month-on-month Total sales value: AED51.3bn ($13.96bn), a 10.6 per cent increase Off-plan sales: 65 per cent of transactions, up from 62 per cent in June Mandarin Oriental to open Dubai hotel and branded residences in Wasl Tower by October 2025 Mandarin Oriental is expanding its footprint in Dubai with the launch of its second property, Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai, set to open in October 2025. Located within Wasl Tower, a striking new addition to the Sheikh Zayed Road skyline, the hotel will feature 259 rooms and suites and 224 private residences. A rooftop helipad will provide seamless VIP arrivals. The tower itself is set to become a design landmark, boasting the region's tallest ceramic façade and a distinctive twisting form. Dubai real estate insights 2025: What are GCC property investors prioritising in H2? Dubai real estate investors are looking for off-plan properties, high rental yields, and long-term lifestyle investments, according to analysis by brokerage and development firm Asico. Asico has identified key trends shaping GCC buyer preferences for the second half of 2025 based on detailed market analysis and direct client feedback. Wail Abualhamail, Director of Real Estate at Asico, said: 'We've seen a significant increase in enquiries from GCC clients, especially those seeking a blend of capital appreciation and lifestyle value. Our clients are not just looking for property, they're making long-term decisions tied to family life, income generation, and future stability in the UAE.' Abu Dhabi to scrap road toll caps from September 1 under new rules Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre has announced major changes to the emirate's Road Toll Executive Regulations (DARB), aimed at improving traffic flow and easing congestion on main roads during peak hours. Effective Monday, September 1, 2025, the evening toll period will be brought forward to run from 3pm to 7pm, while the morning period remains unchanged at 7am to 9am, Monday to Saturday. Tolls will continue to be free on Sundays and public holidays.


Khaleej Times
4 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Putin, Trump share greeting, shake hands ahead of Alaska summit
US President Donald Trump greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin with a handshake ahead of a high-stakes summit in Alaska on Friday that could determine whether a ceasefire can be reached in the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two. Trump disembarked his plane, Air Force One, and awaited Putin on the tarmac. The two exchanged greetings while smiling. US F-22 aircraft were placed on either side of the red carpet. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was not invited to the talks, and his European allies fear Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict with Russia and recognising, if only informally, Russian control over one-fifth of Ukraine. Trump sought to assuage such concerns as he boarded Air Force One, saying he would let Ukraine decide on any possible territorial swaps. "I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I'm here to get them at a table," he said. Asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: "I want to see a ceasefire rapidly ... I'm not going to be happy if it's not today ... I want the killing to stop." Trump will be joined in his meeting with Putin by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said. At the subsequent larger, bilateral meeting, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and chief of staff Susie Wiles will also join Trump, Leavitt said. The Russian officials accompanying Putin in the talks with the US delegation will be foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN. Trump hopes a truce in the three-and-a-half-year war will bring peace to the region as well as bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. For Putin, the summit is already a big win that he can portray as evidence that years of Western attempts to isolate Russia have unravelled and that Moscow is retaking its rightful place at the top table of international diplomacy. Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev described the pre-summit mood as "combative" and said the two leaders would discuss not only Ukraine but the full spectrum of bilateral relations, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Trump, who once said he would end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours, conceded on Thursday it had proven a tougher task than he had expected. He said if Friday's talks went well, quickly arranging a second, three-way summit with Zelenskiy would be even more important than his encounter with Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said a three-way summit would be possible if the Alaska talks bore fruit, Interfax news agency reported. Peskov also said Friday's talks could last six to seven hours. Zelenskiy said the summit should open the way for a "just peace" and three-way talks that included him, but added that Russia was continuing to wage war. A Russian ballistic missile earlier struck Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, killing one person and wounding another. "It's time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America," Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app. 'Smart guy' Trump said there is mutual respect between him and Putin. "He is a smart guy, been doing it for a long time, but so have I ... We get along, there's a good respect level on both sides," Trump said of Putin. He also welcomed Putin's decision to bring businesspeople to Alaska. "But they're not doing business until we get the war settled," he said, repeating a threat of "economically severe" consequences for Russia if the summit goes badly. The United States has had internal discussions on using Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker vessels to support the development of gas and LNG projects in Alaska as one of the possible deals to aim for, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. One source acquainted with Kremlin thinking said there were signs Moscow could be ready to strike a compromise on Ukraine, given that Putin understood Russia's economic vulnerability and costs of continuing the war. Reuters has previously reported that Putin might be willing to freeze the conflict along the front lines, provided there was a legally binding pledge not to enlarge NATO eastwards and to lift some Western sanctions. NATO has said Ukraine's future is in the alliance. Russia, whose war economy is showing strain, is vulnerable to further US sanctions, and Trump has threatened tariffs on buyers of Russian crude, primarily China and India. "For Putin, economic problems are secondary to goals, but he understands our vulnerability and costs," the Russian source said. Putin this week held out the prospect of something else he knows Trump wants, a new nuclear arms control accord to replace the last surviving one, which is due to expire in February. Common ground? The source familiar with Kremlin thinking said it looked as if the two sides had been able to find some common ground. "Apparently, some terms will be agreed upon ... because Trump cannot be refused, and we are not in a position to refuse (due to sanctions pressure)," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the matter's sensitivity. Putin has said he is open to a full ceasefire but that issues of verification must first be sorted out. One compromise could be a truce in the air war. Zelenskiy has ruled out formally handing Moscow any territory and is also seeking a security guarantee backed by the United States. Ukrainians who spoke to Reuters in central Kyiv on Friday were not optimistic about the summit. "Nothing good will happen there, because war is war, it will not end. The territories - we're not going to give anything to anyone," said Tetiana Harkavenko, a 65-year-old cleaner.