The UAE’s Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced that Term 2 grades for students in public schools will be based on continuous assessments, projects and assignments completed throughout the term.

The ministry said the approach aims to ensure fair evaluation of students’ academic progress during the term. “Term 2 grades for students in public schools will be determined based on the continuous assessments, projects, and assignments completed by students during the term,” the ministry said.

Private schools, meanwhile, will follow their own approved academic policies when determining how to complete the term and assess students. Each school will communicate the relevant procedures and requirements directly to parents and students, a WAM report said.

Spring break dates confirmed

In a related announcement, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) confirmed the dates for the upcoming Spring Break across schools and universities in the UAE.

The break will run from Monday, March 9, until Sunday, March 22, 2026, following approval by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council (EHCD).

Students, as well as academic and administrative staff, will resume classes and official working hours on Monday, March 23, 2026.

A subsidiary of 2PointZero Group has acquired a stake in US human performance technology company Whoop, according to a disclosure filed with the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX).

The filing did not disclose the size of the stake or the financial details of the transaction.

Boston-based Whoop was founded in 2012 and has a subscription-based wearable platform that provides 24-hour physiological monitoring and personalised health coaching.

The company’s membership model provides users with a proprietary wearable device and digital coaching platform that tracks key health metrics, including heart rate variability, sleep, respiratory rate and recovery optimisation.

Read: ‘WHOOP 5.0 Is our biggest leap yet’, says founder and CEO Will Ahmed

Whoop users include athletes, health-conscious consumers

The wearable firm’s membership base includes professional athletes, military personnel and health-conscious consumers seeking to improve performance and wellbeing.

The company has raised more than $400m from investors, including SoftBank Vision Fund, IVP and GP Bullhound, according to the disclosure.

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security has announced that travellers unable to leave the UAE due to exceptional regional circumstances will be exempt from fines related to delayed departures.

The decision follows widespread flight disruptions and temporary airspace closures that prevented many passengers from departing the country on schedule.

Read more-UAE banks keep digital services running despite disruption

According to the authority, the exemption applies to individuals who were unable to travel because of circumstances beyond their control, including visitors holding visit visas, tourist visas or exit permits, as well as residents who had already cancelled their residency permits in preparation for departure.

The measure was confirmed in a WAM report.

Fines waived from February 28

Officials said the exemption covers fines incurred on or after February 28, 2026, ensuring affected individuals can regularise their legal status without facing additional financial penalties.

“The decision comes in response to circumstances beyond travellers’ control that prevented them from leaving the country on their scheduled dates,” the Authority said, noting that many flights had been suspended or rescheduled due to regional developments.

Authorities added that the initiative reflects the UAE’s humanitarian approach to crisis management and its commitment to supporting visitors and residents during unforeseen disruptions.

Support teams deployed across airports

The authority also confirmed that specialised teams are continuing to operate across airports and Customer Happiness Centres nationwide.

These teams are working under emergency and business continuity plans in coordination with relevant authorities to assist travellers affected by delayed or rescheduled flights.

Officials said the teams are helping facilitate procedures and provide necessary support to passengers facing travel complications.

Commitment to traveller welfare

“The UAE, guided by its deeply rooted humanitarian values and an approach based on tolerance and solidarity, remains committed to providing all forms of support to travellers and visitors during exceptional circumstances,” the Authority said.

The move, officials noted, highlights the country’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination capable of managing challenges efficiently while prioritising the well-being of those within its borders.

Authorities also urged affected individuals to follow official channels for updates and any regulatory measures related to the situation.

They reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining high levels of readiness to ensure service continuity and continued support for travellers under all conditions.

Salik Company reported a 35.1 per cent rise in full-year 2025 revenue, driven by the addition of new toll gates, the rollout of variable pricing and continued economic growth in Dubai.

The company said revenue for the year ended December 31 reached Dhs3.10bn, while fourth-quarter revenue rose 26.3 per cent year-on-year.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) climbed 35.8 per cent to Dhs2.14bn, with a margin of 69.2 per cent.

Total chargeable trips reached 639.1 million in 2025, including 168.6 million in the fourth quarter, reflecting the full-year contribution of two toll gates launched in November 2024 and the introduction of variable pricing in January 2025.

Chairman Mattar Al Tayer said the results reflected the resilience of the company’s business model and the emirate’s expanding economy.

A strong year for Salik, execs say

“FY 2025 was a year in which Salik went above and beyond in delivering against its strategic priorities, achieving meaningful strategic progress alongside a strong set of financial results,” Al Tayer said.

Total trips, including discounted journeys, rose 33.6 per cent to 852.7 m during the year, supported by population growth, strong tourism and expanding commercial activity in Dubai.

Toll usage fees, the company’s main revenue source, rose 37.3 per cent to Dhs2.74bn in 2025, including a 27.0 per cent increase in the fourth quarter to Dhs724m.

Revenue from fines reached Dhs280.6m, accounting for 9.1 per cent of total revenue, while tag activation fees increased 14.8 per cent to Dhs46.9m as the number of active registered vehicles grew.

Ancillary revenue rose sharply to Dhs24m, driven by parking payment partnerships with Emaar Malls and Parkonic, as well as insurance-related services through Liva Group.

Chief executive officer Ibrahim Sultan Al Haddad said the results showed the strength of Salik’s operating model and expansion strategy. “Total trips rose by 33.6 per cent year-on-year, while toll revenues increased by 37.3 per cent, reflecting the commissioning of two additional toll gates and the sustained benefit of the variable pricing framework,” he said.

Salik reported net profit before tax of Dhs1.71bn for 2025, up 33.4 per cent, while net profit after tax rose to Dhs1.55bn, also up 33.4 per cent. Fourth-quarter net profit after tax reached Dhs409.6m.

The company said its board had proposed a dividend of Dhs890.3m to be paid in the first half of 2026, including a cash dividend of Dhs782.5m representing a 100 per cent payout of second-half 2025 net profit, along with a special dividend of Dhs107.8m.

AD Ports Group said on Wednesday that operations across its ports, logistics and maritime clusters remain fully operational despite regional developments, while DP World said terminals at Jebel Ali Port are functioning normally.

AD Ports Group said it had activated crisis management and business continuity protocols in coordination with UAE authorities as a precautionary step to safeguard its workforce and partners while maintaining uninterrupted services.

“All UAE ports and terminals managed and operated by the group’s Ports Cluster, in addition to related services, remain fully operational,” the company said in a statement.

The operator added that while vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has declined, leading to an expected drop in ship calls at Khalifa Port, services at the facility will continue without disruption.

The group said most of the 122 vessels in its Maritime and Shipping Cluster, including container, bulk and roll-on/roll-off ships, are operating outside the strait, while those within the Gulf are continuing intra-regional services. It expects the overall impact on operations to remain limited and anticipates potential increases in volumes across its global maritime network as trade routes shift.

“Global trade has historically demonstrated resilience during periods of geopolitical tension,” said Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, MD and group CEO of AD Ports Group. “Through disciplined execution, operational excellence and proactive risk management, AD Ports Group remains well positioned to support supply chain stability and uphold its commitments to customers across its global network.”

The group continues to closely monitor geopolitical developments and assess any potential implications for maritime routes, supply chains, and global trade flows, it stated.

DP World terminals at Jebel Ali port are operating normally

Separately, terminals at Jebel Ali Port in Dubai are operating normally, DP World said, according to a report published by the state news agency Emirates News Agency (WAM).

“We continue to monitor developments closely and remain in close coordination with the relevant authorities. Enhanced safety and security measures remain in place across the port.

The safety and well-being of our people, customers and partners remain our top priority,” the company said in a statement.

Jebel Ali is the largest port in the Middle East and a major gateway for trade linking Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas.

The port’s four terminals handle more than 15 million twenty-foot equivalent units of container cargo annually, along with significant volumes of bulk, breakbulk and roll-on/roll-off shipments.