The UAE has entered the Eid Al Etihad holiday with a stretch of mild daytime conditions and noticeably cooler early mornings from November 29 to December 3, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). The period is expected to be characterised by partly cloudy skies across the country, with cloud cover increasing intermittently, particularly over northern and coastal regions and the islands, bringing chances of scattered, intermittent rainfall.

A recent NCM update highlighted that an extension of a surface low-pressure system, combined with a weak upper-air trough, continues to influence the country’s atmospheric conditions. The interplay of these systems is supporting cloud formation and driving variability in wind patterns, a WAM report said.

Read more-Weather shift in UAE: Temperatures drop, rain expected through Sunday

Night-time and early-morning humidity levels will rise through the holiday period, contributing to potential light fog or mist over inland areas. Winds will shift gradually from southeasterly to northwesterly, remaining light to moderate but becoming occasionally active during periods of cloud development. Sea conditions are forecast to stay slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and slight in the Gulf of Oman.

Maximum temperatures during the holiday will range from 24–28°C in coastal and island regions, 26–30°C across internal areas and 12–20°C in the mountains. Minimum temperatures are expected between 16–24°C along the coasts and islands, 12–16°C inland and 8–15°C in mountainous zones.

Saturday forecast: Cloudy patches, increasing humidity

Visibility concerns possible overnight

Conditions on Saturday will continue in a partly cloudy to cloudy pattern, especially over the islands, coastal strips and internal regions. Some areas may experience light rainfall as cloudiness builds. The NCM notes a significant rise in humidity overnight and into Sunday morning, increasing the likelihood of fog or mist, with inland regions most susceptible.

Winds will remain light to moderate but could freshen with cloud activity, raising the possibility of blowing dust in exposed areas. Sea conditions will remain slight to moderate in the Arabian Gulf and slight in the Sea of Oman.

Temperatures will vary across the country on Saturday:

• Coastal & island areas: Highs of 26–30°C, lows of 17–23°C
• Internal areas: Highs of 27–31°C, lows of 9–15°C
• Mountain areas: Highs of 17–23°C, lows of 9–14°C

Four-day outlook: Mild trend, cloud development and misty mornings

Sunday, 30 November

The country will continue to see fair to partly cloudy weather, with low clouds forming over western and coastal regions, potentially bringing light rainfall. As humidity peaks again overnight, a fresh chance of morning mist is expected. Winds will shift from southeasterly to northwesterly at 10–25 km/hr, reaching up to 35 km/hr. Seas will remain slight in both the Gulf and the Oman Sea.

Monday, December 1

Conditions will remain fair to partly cloudy, with low clouds forming over coastal areas and islands. Humidity during the night will again raise the probability of fog or mist in inland areas. Winds will follow a southeasterly-to-northwesterly pattern and may freshen at intervals.

Tuesday, December 2

Partly cloudy skies will persist, with low clouds expected over western regions and a slight rise in temperature. Mist may reappear overnight into Wednesday morning. Winds will range between southeasterly and northeasterly at 10–25 km/hr, occasionally reaching 35 km/hr. Seas will remain slight.

Wednesday, December 3

The midweek forecast indicates partly cloudy conditions, with low clouds forming over coastal regions and the islands. High humidity overnight will again generate a chance of Thursday-morning mist. Winds will shift from southeasterly to northeasterly at 10–20 km/hr, reaching up to 30 km/hr.

As the world wraps up another climate conference with high-level pledges and ambitious timelines, food security is no longer a policy theme; it is a test of global resilience. COP30 placed food systems at the centre of climate diplomacy and accountability, yet the UAE is already moving from commitment to implementation.

With rising hunger, escalating waste, and a rapidly changing agricultural landscape, the country has built a model grounded in innovation, collaboration and measurable outcomes.

Few voices sit closer to that work than Khuloud Hassan Al Nowais, chief sustainability officer at Emirates Foundation, secretary general of ne’ma, the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, and judge for the UAE FoodTech Challenge.

In this conversation, she reflects on why food security demands urgent action, how the UAE’s approach is translating into real-world impact, and what lessons the rest of the world can adopt from its approach.

COP30 has put food security in the spotlight. Why is this issue so urgent right now?

When COP began in 1995, it set out to accelerate global climate agreements. Thirty years later, with climate change impacting every aspect of life, COP30 has reinforced the urgency for action.

In 2023, the UAE successfully hosted COP28, a landmark event that concluded the first-ever Global Stocktake of progress towards the Paris Agreement goals, with key declarations focused on agriculture, food & climate, and climate and health.

Food security has been a key focus at this year’s conference. Brazil, the host country, is a global agricultural leader, and COP30 marks the deadline for over 150 countries to deliver on their commitment to integrate agriculture and food systems into climate plans – the commitments we’ve made two years ago at COP28 in Dubai.

This focus couldn’t have come at a more critical time. Today, between 638 and 720 million people, corresponding to 7.8 and 8.8 per cent of the global population, respectively, face hunger in 2024. These staggering figures are made worse by the reality of food waste. And the economic, social, and environmental costs of wasted food run into trillions of dollars.

The UAE has been proactive on food security for years. What makes its approach unique and effective?

Food security has been a concern that the UAE have been acting and innovating around for years. ne’ma, the national food loss and waste initiative, is driving toward the UAE’s target to halve food loss and waste by 2030. And the FoodTech Challenge, led by the International Affairs Office at the UAE Presidential Court and Tamkeen, identifies and scales the world’s most promising agri-tech solutions, moving practical ideas from demo to deployment.

Together, they exemplify the UAE’s model: marrying innovation and collaboration to deliver tangible and measurable impact towards the shared goal.

Tell us more about the FoodTech Challenge – how did it start, and what impact is it having in the UAE and globally?

Launched in 2019 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the FoodTech Challenge began as an initiative to raise awareness and catalyse participation in the UAE’s emerging food tech ecosystem and has since evolved into a global competition attracting leading innovators worldwide.

This year, over 1200 teams from 113 countries submitted their innovative solutions, and nearly 40 per cent of entries leveraged AI and smart logistics to tackle food loss and waste. From demand forecasting to cut over ordering, to sensor-driven storage that extends shelf life, and route optimisation that minimises time-temperature exposure, the ideas were both practical and forward-thinking.

The FoodTech Challenge is sponsored by ne’ma, and I served as a judge for the competition. I was impressed by the ingenuity behind these ventures. It was also a point of pride that two UAE startups made it to the finals with solutions that could redefine agriculture and food production in the country.

We also recognise the need to support talent and new ideas beyond our borders. This year, the finalist teams came from several countries in the Global South, including Kenya, Egypt, and Malaysia. The winners will have the opportunity to become part of an ecosystem of prominent investors and partners to truly globalise their solutions.

Collaboration seems central to the UAE’s strategy. How does ne’ma exemplify this, and what role does it play in achieving national and global goals?

While COP calls for cooperation across governments and businesses, the UAE is already putting this into practice. ne’ma – the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative – is a joint effort with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Emirates Foundation and the Presidential Court. It works to convene and connect all stakeholders across the value chain and align all efforts to achieve the UAE’s national target, directly contributing to the UAE Security Strategy 2051 and UN SDG 12.3.

Looking ahead, what lessons from the UAE’s model can other countries adopt to build resilient food systems?

The UAE’s model works because collaboration accelerates innovation, and innovation strengthens collaboration. An ecosystem that facilitates strong ideas and plans helps guarantee success in a shorter time and larger scale. At the same time, the use of new technologies and research allows collaborating entities to deliver meaningful results.

In the UAE, we used this model successfully beyond food systems; in climate action, technology development, and education – and it reflects in our outcomes. By adopting the same solution-oriented, shared-responsibility approach, other countries can move from commitment to action and help shape a truly food-secure future for all.

Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector is undergoing one of the most accelerated transformations in its history, driven by the ambitions of Vision 2030. For developers, this shift is creating both unprecedented opportunities and heightened expectations. Few understand this evolving landscape better than Eng. Mohammad Alothman, CEO of Kaden, who says the sector’s current trajectory is inseparable from the country’s wider economic overhaul.

Where do you see the real estate development market in Saudi Arabia today, particularly in light of Vision 2030?

“Without a doubt, any major economic transformation across sectors has to be accompanied by a significant rise in the real estate and development sector. This is exactly what we’ve seen since the launch of Vision 2030. Over the past three to four years, we’ve witnessed a strong real estate boom, and we believe this momentum will continue across all asset classes—whether in tourism, commercial, or industrial.

“Each of these sectors, and each asset type within them, requires its own tailored real estate development approach.”

What is Kaden’s role in creating integrated destinations, and what is the development philosophy behind them?

“Kaden’s experience, especially in the context of Vision 2030, is built on a clear principle: any developer must align with the new standards and expectations that come with a real estate renaissance. That’s what we’ve worked on in recent years; delivering differentiated products rather than more of the same.

“The real estate boom has brought many major developers into the market, which naturally raises the bar and creates a need for more diverse offerings.”

Alothman explains that Kaden has focused its recent efforts on two major product lines:

1. Mixed-use destinations
“Our first product line is City Within City or The Front—a fully mixed-use concept that integrates residential, commercial and office, hospitality, retail, and multi-purpose sectors. Under this mixed-use umbrella, we launched two flagship experiences: Riyadh Front, which has now been rebranded as Roshn Front; and Jeddah Front, currently under construction on a one-million-square-metre site, incorporating all of these uses.”

2. Logistics ecosystems
“The second line we’ve been developing is tied to product diversification: the logistics sector. We launched a concept called Logistic Park—a fully fledged logistics community that includes warehouses, warehouse support services, labour accommodation, and light industrial facilities.”

Watch video here:

You are the developer of Riyadh Marché, formerly Euro Marché, one of Riyadh’s oldest shopping centres. How will you redevelop it while preserving its historical legacy?

“Euro Marché, in its time, was one of the most iconic landmarks in Riyadh—a true destination for the city’s residents of that time. The project originally started around 1980 and enjoyed a very special period.

“When we looked at redeveloping it, our goal was to respect that legacy by offering a new product without erasing its identity. This aligns with what is commonly known in the market as adaptive reuse: preserving the identity and symbolism of a project while changing its private uses.”

Alothman says the redevelopment is guided by three principles:

• Retaining the essence of the original name.
  “Previously Euro Marché—Euro for Europe—we changed the name to Riya Marché, with ‘Riya’ derived from Riyadh, so that it reflects the city and aligns with the broader development wave currently reshaping it.”

• Preserving the external character.
  “We will maintain the external character of the project—particularly the outer fence and façade—while completely reworking the interior uses and layout.”

• Honouring the spirit of the original destination.
  “So when visitors come to Riya Marché after completion, they will feel the soul and memory of the original Euro Marché, but expressed through a contemporary design language that fits seamlessly into Riyadh’s current real estate renaissance.”

Note: The above interview was translated from Arabic to English

Al Khayyat Investments (AKI), through its consumer division AKI Consumer, has announced a strategic partnership with CJ Group through CJ Foods to join forces in expanding K-Food across the Middle East. The collaboration reflects the shared ambition of both organisations to broaden the regional presence of authentic Korean food (also known as the ‘K-Food’ category) and deepen long-term commercial cooperation.

The partnership was formalised through the exchange of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Zaid S Al Khayyat, MD of AKI, and Sukjoon Lee, vice chairman of CJ Group, during a ceremony held in Abu Dhabi as part of the state visit of the president of the Republic of Korea to the UAE. The signing took place in the presence of Kim Jung Kwan, minister of trade, industry and energy of the Republic of Korea, and Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE minister of foreign trade, underscoring the importance of strengthening bilateral ties and advancing new avenues of economic collaboration between both nations.

Read more-Al Khayyat Investments signs MoUs with Cainiao, BioBAY to boost cooperation

AKI Consumer and CJ Foods will work together to introduce a wider range of K-Food offerings to consumers across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and neighbouring markets. Both organisations will also explore opportunities for joint product development and future local manufacturing within the UAE, supporting the country’s vision for enhanced local production capabilities, food resilience, and economic diversification.

The Middle East continues to witness a significant rise in demand for K-culture, fuelled by the popularity of Korean entertainment, lifestyle trends, and cuisine among local and expatriate communities. This cultural momentum has driven an increasing appetite for high-quality K-Food products that reflect the authenticity and innovative spirit of Korean culinary traditions.

CJ vice chairman, Sukjoon Lee, stated: “CJ Group, the no1 leader across key pillars of K-Culture, including K-Food, K-Entertainment, and K-Beauty, is actively accelerating its global expansion. The Middle East, in particular, is a strategic priority region for this growth. We look forward to creating meaningful synergies with our partner AKI, especially in K-Food as well as across a wide range of other business areas.”

Zaid S Al Khayyat, MD of AKI, noted: “The demand for K-Food in our region is expanding rapidly, and this partnership positions both our organisations to move with scale, speed, and a shared ambition to serve consumers with the very best offerings. We see this as the beginning of a significant and expanding market opportunity, one that we are ready to explore together, at scale and across multiple categories. By combining our strengths, we are building a commercially powerful platform that broadens market reach, enhances competitiveness, and unlocks new value across key markets in the Middle East.”

By combining AKI’s extensive regional distribution network and strong track record in scaling international brands with CJ’s global leadership in the Korean food industry, the partnership positions both organisations to meet accelerating consumer demand and help shape the future of K-Food in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to delivering authentic, high-quality Korean products while reinforcing the deepening cultural and economic ties between the UAE and the Republic of Korea.

At Cityscape Global 2025, FINTECH.TV founders Vince Molinari (founder and CEO) and Troy McGuire (co-founder, head of programming and news) shared how the global media platform is accelerating its presence in the GCC—particularly Saudi Arabia—amid a surge in digital finance, fintech adoption and investment flows across the region.

Molinari opened the conversation by highlighting the universal relevance of the stories the platform covers. “So many of these conversations that have been underspoken about in the United States… digital assets, stablecoin, certain levels of sustainability… needed to be broadcast and spoken about. What we found is those conversations transcend boundaries.” He added that FINTECH.TV is seeing strong appetite from Saudi and GCC audiences eager to engage with US content—while US audiences increasingly want visibility into the Gulf’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

McGuire echoed this, emphasising the global nature of fintech and digital asset narratives. “These are world stories… the stories that we tell in the US also work perfectly for finding companies in the Gulf that are doing the same thing.”

Aligning with Vision 2030 and deepening local partnerships

According to Molinari, the platform sees deep synergies between its core areas—digital assets, sustainable finance, decentralised technologies—and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 priorities.

“With the vision of 2030, the diversity, opening to foreign investment… sustainability, leisure, entertainment… all fit right in with the content that Troy creates,” he said. He noted that the shift toward a diversified, knowledge-based economy creates an urgent need for cross-border dialogue—something FINTECH.TV aims to facilitate.

McGuire stressed the importance of being present in the country: “We know we have to be local, so we know we have to be on the ground here… we expect to build a studio here at some point for coverage.”
He added that working closely with banks, regulators, fintechs and investment firms is essential: “We need cooperation. We need to know locally and in-country what’s going on.”

Multi-format content built for today’s decision-makers

As audiences shift to on-demand and multi-platform consumption, FINTECH.TV is expanding its production toolkit. McGuire explained: “In this day and age… that piece of content needs to go everywhere. Whether it’s podcasts, short form, or long form… you’ve got to go where they’re watching or listening.”

He emphasised FINTECH.TV’s advantage in delivering deeper dives and expert-driven conversations: “We pride ourselves on telling stories the mainstream media was not doing in blockchain, digital assets, sustainability… we still feel we do deeper dives.”

The company now plans to replicate this model across the Gulf, building a pipeline of regional guests, startups, regulators and institutions to feature.

Watch video here:

A growing collaboration with Gulf Business

The discussion concluded with an update on FINTECH.TV’s partnership with Gulf Business, particularly around the upcoming Abu Dhabi finance magazine.

Molinari described the collaboration as a natural fit: “We couldn’t think of a better partner than Gulf Business… this is just the beginning of this relationship, and we look forward to so many things to come.”

With FINTECH.TV increasing its presence at key UAE and Saudi events, expanding its GCC correspondent network, and planning a future studio in the Kingdom, the partnership signals a broader push to elevate regional fintech narratives on the global stage.