Good morning from The National on January 2, 2026.
Here is your digest of what is making the headlines in the Emirates.
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
First babies of 2026 bring New Year joy for families
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
UAE lowers age of adulthood to 18 in modernisation drive
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
Fact of the day
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
Today's must-reads
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