Local News from Sunday, February 8th, 2026

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has held a phone call with Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, during which they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation within the framework of the two countries’ strategic partnership.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella has praised the decision by the jury of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity to honour the historic peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia as the award’s recipient for 2026, reaffirming Italy’s support for the peace process between the two countries.

Preparations and loading operations began on Sunday for the Umm Al Emarat humanitarian vessel, as part of the UAE’s ongoing efforts under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 to support the people of the Gaza Strip.

The UAE Cyber Security Council has urged residents to take extra care when handling financial information online, warning that banking and payment data remain among the top targets for cybercriminals.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened a new bridge at the busy Al Qudra Road intersection, cutting journey times by more than 50 per cent and almost tripling traffic capacity on one of the city’s fastest-growing corridors.