Latest news with #winterbreak
Arabian Business
3 days ago
- Business
- 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.
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Princeton Plans New Budget Cuts as Pressure From Trump Builds
Princeton University is implementing a new round of cost cuts, citing pressure from the Trump administration's funding reductions in higher education as well as economic concerns. University departments will soon roll out measures such as 'less free food and merchandise' and reduced operating hours at some campus operations, Princeton said in a statement Thursday. The school, one of the wealthiest in the US, is also scrapping sessions during the last two weeks of winter break that offered workshops and activities to students and staff.
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Australian supermarket chicken nuggets taste test: from ‘mushy' and ‘yuck' to ‘super good'
What makes a good chicken nugget? Ahead of this taste test, I put a call-out on Instagram asking this question. Dozens of messages essentially said the same thing: real chicken flavour, evenly textured meat and a crisp exterior. Though a handful suggested I make my own, most understood the assignment: the appeal of a chicken nugget lies not in Nara Smith-ing it but in its convenience, especially during school holiday chaos. To that end, on the first day of winter break, I rounded up good friends, compliant siblings (including a 34-year-old nugget connoisseur-sister who still orders kids' meals) and their respective children to rate frozen supermarket offerings for their overall appeal, their texture and flavour. Nuggets were cooked in an oven according to their packet instructions, but the consensus was that almost all the nuggets needed longer cook times. The battered nuggets, which came out on top, tended to stick to the baking paper, and some tasters felt that an air fryer would definitely produce a superior crispiness. With 10 testers under 10, we learned fast that kids under seven are a little remiss in their paper scoring (lots of 10s and even more zeros, often for the same nugget) but great at verbalising feedback, so I prioritised their audible reactions and the scores of older children and adults as I pulled together the results. Just as we were wrapping up, one child went screeching through the kitchen yelling 'I NEED WATER'. I felt the sodium levels too, palming the leftovers off and declaring I'd be fine never seeing another chicken nugget again. My sister, meanwhile, sent me a picture of a small bowl of nuggets the very next day, with the message 'Chicken Nuggets for life'. Steggles Tempura Chicken Dino Snacks, 1kg, $13.50 ($1.35 per 100g), available at major supermarkets Score 7.9/10 It's easy to assume that these came out on top simply for their novelty. A cheer went out as they were brought to the table – surprising since we were six varieties in at that point. One little tester proudly declared she'd had three by the time I'd scouted everyone else's reaction. Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email Younger kids declared them 'really soft and nice' and 'super good'; older kids said they were 'just right' in both texture and flavour. The adults concurred, finding they had a 'crispy outside', 'delicious and tender' inside and an overall 'taste and texture that was consistent'. Their listed ingredients have one of the highest percentages of chicken (not breast) at 52% and a tempura coating of 26%. Could it be the shape? It's possible, one tester said, that the dino shape contributes to an exterior that is crispier in some parts and softer than others, making the overall experience a little better. Farmwood Chicken Breast Tempura Nuggets, 1kg, $9.29 ($0.92 per 100g), available at Aldi Score: 6.7/10 Across many of the nuggets we tried, we found the exterior texture and flavour weighted a nugget up or down more than the inside flavour and texture, which was relatively consistent no matter the brand. These budget versions from Aldi are a case in point: though three of the adults found they had a gummier inside than the other tempura varieties, they still ranked highly for inside taste, and exterior taste and texture. While some of the batter came off during baking, younger testers gave them a thumbs up on the whole, with one noting their taste and 'good exterior'. A similar ingredient makeup to the top scorer (52% RSPCA-approved chicken breast, 27% tempura coating) likely helps. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion Steggles Tempura Chicken Nuggets, 1kg, $13.50 ($1.35 per 100g), available at all major supermarkets Score: 6.6/10 These are essentially the same as their dino counterparts, with only a small variation in the ingredients (49% chicken and 30% tempura), yet testers found them 'soft' and 'bland' on the inside, with a superior outside thanks to their 'crispy texture'. One tester said the tempura layer tasted 'bread-like' and felt 'thin', which could suggest the dino shape theory has legs (pardon the pun). Ingham's Chicken Breast Nuggets Tempura, 1kg, $11 ($1.10 per 100g), available at all major supermarkets Score: 6/10 These were my pick of the bunch, but other tasters found the inside to be better than the outside, describing them as 'well-seasoned' and 'peppery and salty'. But they were short on the crispy exterior that makes a nugget what it is. Despite their lower chicken content (48%) these nuggets are made from chicken breast, with a much-lower tempura coating of just 22% that allows the taste of real chicken to come through. Woolworths Chicken Breast Crumbed Nuggets, 1kg, $9 ($0.90 per 100g), available at Woolworths Score: 5.9/10 Adult testers found these to be 'crumbly' or 'sandy' in texture, but found their inside taste and texture redeemable: 'flavourful' and 'soft'. Younger testers were overwhelmingly negative, blaming a 'no flavour inside taste' for their rejection of a second or third bite. On checking the ingredients after the taste test, these had a whopping 41% crumb coating, but the highest percentage of RSPCA-approved chicken breast at 59%. Their ingredient panel was also more specific than many, naming flavours like paprika and cumin over the more abstract 'seasoning'. Coles Crumbed Chicken Nuggets, 1kg, $11 ($1.10 per 100g), available at Coles Score: 5.1/10 Younger testers described the inside of these nuggets as 'weird' and 'not nice'; older ones as 'eggy' and 'bland'. The outside fared a little bit better: although some described the exterior as 'too crumbly', others found it to be the best in flavour. They do their job on a basic level, tasting sufficiently chicken-adjacent with a crispy enough outside, though coming out overall as kind of 'mid'. Farmwood Chicken Nuggets, 1kg, $6.49 ($0.65 per 100g), available at Aldi Score: 3.3/10 At 25c cheaper per hundred gram than the nearest competitor, these tied for lowest-cost nuggets. Their results were divisive. Some praised their 'good taste' and 'nice crumb', but one tester went so far as to say they should go 'in the bin'. It was the 'mushy' texture that let them down, with one person saying: 'If you'd told me these were made of potato, I would have believed you.' Black & Gold Australian Chicken Nuggets, 500g, $3.25 ($0.65 per 100g), available at independent grocers Score: 0.9/10 Although tied for first place on low price, this was the only variety I spat out. Testers also concluded they 'felt sandy', 'tasted horrible', were 'too hard' and had 'no flavour'. They have the lowest percentage of chicken at just 34% (and not specifically chicken breast), which I suspect affects the flavour. The rough, uneven crumb, noted as soon as they came out of the oven (and inferred when they were removed from the freezer), can't help.
