Good morning from The National on December 29, 2025.
Here is your digest of what is making the headlines in the Emirates.
A New Year action plan by the UAE government to clamp down on sugar-laden drinks has been hailed as a crucial step in boosting the long-term health of the nation.
A new pricing strategy, to come into effect on January 1, will see the rate of tax directly linked to the amount of sugar contained in drinks, with higher levies for products with larger volumes of sugar for every 100ml.
Medical and dental professionals said the policy will help to address the root causes of health crises facing the Emirates and the wider world.
“The policy encourages both manufacturers and consumers to choose low-sugar or natural-sugar alternatives,” said Dr Ali Elhouni, a consultant endocrinologist at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital Al Qusais.
The country's obesity rates are predicted to hit record levels by 2050, while across the Middle East and North Africa region it is believed 163 million people will have some form of diabetes by the same year.
Read Katy Gillett's full report here
All change: Etihad Rail to signal new era of public transport in 2026
The UAE's national rail project will go full speed ahead next year, with its long-awaited passenger line moving into clear view.
Etihad Rail has already confirmed that passenger trains will hit the tracks next year, helping to usher in a public transport revolution years in the making.
Passenger numbers across the Etihad Rail network are expected to reach 36 million by 2030. Trains will travel at speeds of up to 200kph and carry as many as 400 people, running on the same lines as freight trains.
The service will help to connect the emirates, while addressing traffic congestion and supporting key sustainability goals.
John Dennehy looks at what the future holds for Etihad Rail here
Abu Dhabi hospital is first in world to administer gene therapy drug
A leading Abu Dhabi hospital has become the first in the world to deliver a pioneering gene-therapy treatment that is poised to offer a lifeline to older patients with spinal muscular atrophy.
Sheikh Khalifa Medical City successfully administered Itvisma, a one-dose drug that works to replace the defective SMN1 gene responsible for the debilitating disease, under the supervision of the emirate's Department of Health.
Authorities did not reveal any details about the patient who received the treatment or when the procedure took place.
The drug, developed by Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, was given accelerated approval by the UAE on November 25, after clinical trials that showed sustained improvements in patients' motor abilities.
It was only the second country, after the US, to approve the use of Itvisma, which for children aged two and above as well as teens and adults with SMA.
Read more here
Fact of the day
Dubai will post 9,884 Dubai Police officers, 1,900 medical staff, 1,754 firefighters and 635 ambulance workers to help see in 2026 safely. Read more on the emirate's comprehensive New Year's Eve plan here
Today's must-reads
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