Good morning from The National on January 2, 2026.

Here is your digest of what is making the headlines in the Emirates.

The initiative is in line with President Sheikh Mohamed's vision to invest in the talent of citizens. Photo: UAE Presidential Court
The initiative is in line with President Sheikh Mohamed's vision to invest in the talent of citizens. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

The UAE is to put power in the hands of the people after setting out plans for a new form of government led by some of its brightest and best citizens.

President Sheikh Mohamed has directed the launch of the Community-Managed Virtual Authority, which is to be led by a director general and other team members all drawn from Emirati society.

The authority aims to attract a cross section of Emiratis, including specialists, academics, entrepreneurs, young people and retired citizens with significant experience.

The initiative "entrusts the community with full management of a public authority within a structured institutional framework".

Read all about it here


Baby Hamdan was born at Burjeel Hospital at 12:01am. Photo: Burjeel
Baby Hamdan was born at Burjeel Hospital at 12:01am. Photo: Burjeel

The start of the new year proved extra special for proud parents who welcomed the UAE's first babies of 2026.

Fireworks were still shooting into the skies when two little bundles of joy made their way into the world to light up the lives of their families.

Emirati Saif Al Rumaithi named his first son after his father, Saeed. He was born with a healthy weight of 3.3kg at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi.

Moments later, Salma Alhosani gave birth to Hamdan at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi. “We are happy that our son was born on New Year’s Day, which is an auspicious occasion and represents a new beginning for people across the world,” the boy's father said.

Read the full story from Nick Webster here


The government said the Civil Transactions Law will serve as a 'pivotal legislative milestone'. Getty Images
The government said the Civil Transactions Law will serve as a 'pivotal legislative milestone'. Getty Images

The UAE has set out reforms to its legal system that formally establish 18 as the age of adulthood, strengthen the rights of people as young as 15 to manage their own financial affairs and give greater decision-making powers to its judiciary.

The government said the new Civil Transactions Law – established through a federal decree – will serve as a “pivotal legislative milestone” and help to further modernise the country's legal landscape.

The age of majority, when a person is legally defined as an adult, will be reduced from 21 lunar years to 18 Gregorian years, using the calendar adopted by most of the world.

A person aged 21 in lunar years would be about 20 under the Gregorian system. The government said the switch had been made to align with “prevailing comparative legal systems”.

Read more here


Ras Al Khaimah kicked off 2026 by earning a Guinness World Record for the “largest aerial display of a phoenix formed by multirotors and/or drones” during its New Year's celebrations. Read more here



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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times

If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.

A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.

The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.

In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.

The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.

Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.

Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.

“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.

The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.

“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.

“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”

Signs%20of%20%20%20%20%20%20%20heat%20stroke
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Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)

Nancy Ajram

(In2Musica)

Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

The Freedom Artist

By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)

The biog

Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children

She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career

She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence

Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken

Company%20profile
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Company%20profile
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (UAE kick-off times)

Cologne v Hoffenheim (11.30pm)

Saturday

Hertha Berlin v RB Leipzig (6.30pm)

Schalke v Fortuna Dusseldof (6.30pm)

Mainz v Union Berlin (6.30pm)

Paderborn v Augsburg (6.30pm)

Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund (9.30pm)

Sunday

Borussia Monchengladbach v Werder Bremen (4.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)

SC Freiburg v Eintracht Frankfurt (9on)

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20(2022)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20Profile
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Profile of Whizkey

Date founded: 04 November 2017

Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani

Based: Dubai, UAE

Number of employees: 10

Sector: AI, software

Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million  

Funding stage: Series A

Results

Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent

Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent

Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent

Wonka
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Paul%20King%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3ETimothee%20Chalamet%2C%20Olivia%20Colman%2C%20Hugh%20Grant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Section 375

Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat

Director: Ajay Bahl

Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL

Rating: 3.5/5

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