The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) have announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind Personalised Weight Management Programme in the region.
Combining digital monitoring, a unique reimbursement model, and tailored clinical support, the initiative promotes sustainable weight management and active living. It aims to significantly reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers—ultimately enhancing quality of life and health longevity.
Innovative model for long-term health impact
The programme is open to eligible Thiqa members aged 18 and above who are clinically identified as overweight or obese. It features an innovative reimbursement model designed to encourage sustained engagement, personal accountability, and continuous participation.
“Our focus is on health—not just weight. This programme supports our vision of an active, health-conscious community by empowering individuals through personalised, science-driven solutions. Weight management requires customised approaches, not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model, and this programme ensures that each participant receives the support they need to succeed,” said Dr Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH.
Bridging gaps in preventive healthcare
“We know that even modest weight loss and small increases in physical activity can significantly lower the risk of chronic disease. Traditionally, healthcare systems have lacked clear pathways for doctors to support patients in becoming more physically active or in connecting them with relevant services. Our programme addresses this gap by providing structured guidance, personalised activity plans, and continuous monitoring through digital tools and clinical oversight — empowering our community to proactively manage their health and improve their quality of life,” said Dr. Rashid Obaid Al Suwaidi, Director-General of ADPHC.
Tthe Los Angeles Lakers (LA Lakers) are set to change hands in a landmark deal, with minority owner Mark Walter reportedly acquiring the family’s majority stake for $10bn, according to ESPN and multiple reports, making it the most expensive sale of a US professional sports franchise ever.
The Buss family, owners since 1979 when Jerry Buss purchased the team for $67.5m, agreed to the sale in a move approved by the NBA’s board of governors.
Post-sale, Jeanie Buss is expected to remain as team governor and the family will retain just over 15 per cent of shares for a period. Walter, already a 27 per cent stakeholder since a 2021 investment, will take majority control, it is reported.
Walter is CEO and chairman of TWG Global, co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sparks, Chelsea FC, and the Cadillac Formula 1 team.
His purchase follows earlier buys of a 26–27 per cent stake in the LA Lakers for approximately $1.35bn, secured with first refusal rights on the majority share.
Celebratory reaction at the sale
Magic Johnson, former Lakers star and Dodgers co-owner, posted on X: “Laker fans should be ecstatic. A few things I can tell you about Mark … he is driven by winning, excellence, and doing everything the right way.”
He added Walter will “put in the resources needed to win,” praising Jeanie Buss for choosing a successor aligned with the Lakers legacy.
LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also tweeted that Walter is competitive and prepared to build a championship-calibre Lakers team.
The valuation eclipses recent high-profile NBA team sales: Mavericks (circa$3.5 bn), Celtics ($6.1 bn), and Suns/Mercury ($4bn). It also tops other major US sports deals.
What comes next for the LA Lakers
The NBA’s board of governors is expected to review the transaction. The LA Lakers have not yet issued an official statement. Walter’s track record with the Dodgers and Sparks suggests continued emphasis on investment in player talent, facilities, and franchise growth.
Dubai Summer Surprises 2025 to start soon: 11 unmissable experiences
From June 27 to August 31, DSS 2025 promises a summer well spent with endless ways for residents and visitors to enjoy incredible value for 66 non-stop days
Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) is back for its 28th edition, running from June 27 to August 31.
Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), this year’s festival is packed with more than two months of unbeatable shopping, dining, entertainment, and family fun across the city.
From exclusive retail promotions and world-class concerts to raffles, hotel deals, and pop-up food experiences, here’s everything you need to know to make the most of DSS 2025.
The festival is sponsored by Commercial Bank of Dubai with major partners including Al Futtaim Malls, Majid Al Futtaim, Emirates Airline, ENOC, talabat and many more.
June 27–29: Family-focused activities and free concerts at major venues.
Dubai Festival City Mall: Regional acts (Abri & Band, Sabrina, Reina Khoury, Noel Kharman)
City Centre Mirdif: Live music by Jadal and Al Shami, plus roaming entertainment
Headline shows: Miami Band and Mutref Al Mutref, Tribute to Adele, Adnan Sami, and more.
3. Mall Raffles and big wins
Immediate chances to win big: Polestar 4 car, SUVs, electronics, jewellery, and Skyward Miles through retailer loyalty programmes (Mercato, Majid Al Futtaim, Festival Plaza, Dubai Outlet Mall).
4. Dubai Summer Restaurant Week (July 4–13)
Enjoy set-menu dining across 50+ family and international restaurants at exclusive value. Reserve via OpenTable.
5. DSS Gahwa Beats
Weekend café pop-ups on July 26, and August 2, 9, 16, 23: enjoy live music, coffee culture, and vibrant vibes at city hotspots. Locations TBC soon.
6. 10 Dirham Dish (August 1–31 )
Discover affordable eats across Dubai — restaurants offer a special dish for just Dhs10.
Individual concerts: Adonis (July 3), TJ Monterde (July 13), Shreya Ghoshal (July 19), Sufi maestro Sagar Bhatia (August 16), Natalie Imbruglia (August 23), Made in Kuwaiti theatre (August 29–30)
8. Shop and save citywide
Nine weeks of retail excitement: themed flash sales, “Cool Off at The Beach, JBR”, “Win Your School Fees”, loyalty promos: Amber Millionaire, AURA draw, Win 1 Million Skywards Miles, and more.
9. Staycations and family fun
Exclusive deals at 100+ hotels and 15 attractions, plus the DSS Entertainer BOGO offer (Dhs 195) unlocking 7,500+ discounts—covering theme parks, dining, gyms, spas.
10. Fitness events
Get moving at mall-based runs:
Courtyard run at Dubai Hills Mall (June 28, in partnership with Skechers)
RX Run series at City Centre Mirdif (July 6) & Mall of Emirates (August 3)
Fun runs at Ibn Battuta Mall (July 13) and Festival City Mall (August 31)
Messi Experience at Festival City Mall until August 31— interactive football fun for all ages.
11. Modesh and Dana mascot moments
Keep an eye out for Dubai’s most-loved mascots making surprise appearances at malls, schools, attractions, and interactive pop-ups. Enjoy themed décor, meet-ups, and new merchandise across the city.
In a bold move to enhance the travel experience, Emirates and Uber have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at redefining how passengers move between destinations. This partnership seeks to offer a more seamless, rewarding, and technologically integrated journey for travelers around the world.
The MoU was signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, and Anabel Diaz Calderon, Vice President and Head of EMEA Mobility at Uber. The agreement will focus on creating a smoother transition from home to airport to final destination, an Emirates media centre report conveyed.
Among the initiatives under consideration is the integration of Uber ride vouchers into Emirates’ booking system, enabling customers to arrange ground transportation at the time of flight booking.
Select Emirates flyers may soon enjoy complimentary Uber rides to and from the airport—ushering in a true door-to-destination travel experience. These initiatives are designed to remove friction points in the travel journey and bring more convenience to passengers in key Emirates markets.
Rewards, rides and Skywards miles
Loyalty program members will see expanded benefits. Emirates Skywards members in the UAE and select markets will soon be able to earn miles for Uber rides and redeem them for ride credits or vouchers within the Uber app. This strategic move blends Emirates’ world-class loyalty platform with Uber’s expansive ground mobility network, offering passengers an innovative way to enhance both their travel and everyday transportation.
Additionally, both brands are exploring exclusive offers, bonus earning opportunities, and targeted promotions as part of the rollout.
Exploring last-mile logistics
The partnership also opens doors beyond passenger services. Emirates and Uber plan to explore last-mile delivery solutions, potentially integrating Uber’s advanced delivery logistics into Emirates Courier Express. This could dramatically improve the speed and reach of package deliveries, especially in urban markets where Uber’s infrastructure is well established.
Adnan Kazim expressed optimism: “We’re excited to work with Uber to innovate new ways to connect people and enhance convenience. This partnership marks a new chapter in how travel should feel—effortless and rewarding.”
“By combining aviation excellence with mobility innovation, we’re setting a new standard for global travel,” Anabel Diaz Calderon added.
Apple is expanding its suite of parental controls and privacy features to offer families new tools for managing children’s digital experiences across its platforms. The company announced updates on June 11, aimed at helping parents protect kids and teens online, part of its upcoming software releases including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, visionOS 26, and tvOS 26.
The features, many of which were previously previewed, are designed to support age-appropriate usage from the moment a child sets up their device—without compromising privacy or security. These enhancements build on existing features such as Screen Time and App Store age controls, reinforcing Apple’s commitment to a safer and more private digital environment for young users, an Apple newsroom report conveyed.
Image credit: Apple/Website
Simplifying child account setup
Apple has long supported Child Accounts—Apple IDs designed for children under 13 and available for users up to age 18 when managed by a parent or guardian within a Family Sharing group.
With the latest updates, the setup process for Child Accounts has been streamlined. Parents can now defer parts of the setup process while ensuring that age-appropriate settings are automatically enabled from the start. These features are already available on iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4.
Additionally, Apple is making it easier for parents to confirm the age associated with their child’s account. If the child is under 13, the system prompts parents to connect the account to their Family Sharing group. Once verified, the account is converted into a Child Account, unlocking Apple’s full suite of parental control tools with default safety settings already in place.
New age range sharing with apps
A major privacy-forward update allows parents to share only their child’s age range—not full birthdates—with apps, enabling developers to tailor experiences without collecting sensitive data.
Using Apple’s new Declared Age Range API, developers can request access to a user’s age range in order to offer age-appropriate experiences. Parents can control how this information is shared: always, per request, or never. By default, children cannot alter these settings, but parents can grant them the ability to do so via Content & Privacy Restrictions.
Apple emphasizes that this approach allows apps like weather or sports apps to function for children without requiring developers to gather unnecessary personal data, helping protect kids’ identities while still enabling relevant functionality.
Extending protections to teens
Until now, Apple required that children under 13 use Child Accounts, which automatically include safety features like web content filters and app restrictions. With the upcoming OS updates, similar protections will also be applied automatically to users aged 13 to 17, regardless of their account type.
These protections include Communication Safety features and web filters, all powered by enhanced age categorisation in the App Store. These changes ensure that teens receive more consistent protections, even if their Apple Account was set up independently of Family Sharing.
Granular age ratings coming to App Store
Apple is also refining its App Store age rating system. While developers have long self-assigned age ratings for apps, a more detailed system is being introduced by year’s end. The revised framework includes five categories, adding three new distinctions for adolescents: 13+, 16+, and 18+.
This change gives users and parents clearer insight into app appropriateness and allows developers to fine-tune how their apps are rated for various age groups. The new system will also integrate tightly with parental control settings such as Ask to Buy and Screen Time.
Communication limits expanded with PermissionKit
Apple’s existing Communication Limits feature, which manages how and when kids can communicate via Phone, FaceTime, Messages, and iCloud, is being expanded to give parents more oversight.
With the upcoming update, children will need to send a request to their parent before initiating contact with a new phone number. Parents can approve or deny these requests directly within Messages.
In addition, Apple is introducing a new PermissionKit framework for developers. This allows kids to request parental approval to initiate chats, follows, or friend requests inside third-party apps. When implemented by developers, the framework offers another layer of control and safety for online interactions.
App Store updates for transparency and control
Apple is enhancing App Store transparency by updating product pages to show whether an app contains user-generated content, messaging capabilities, or in-app advertisements. It will also indicate whether the app includes built-in parental controls or age-assurance features.
When content restrictions are in place, apps that exceed a child’s allowed age range will no longer appear in areas like the Today tab, Games, or editorial content, minimizing exposure to inappropriate content.
The Ask to Buy feature is also gaining flexibility. Parents can now approve one-time exceptions for apps that exceed a child’s set age range, and just as easily revoke access through Screen Time if needed.
Communication safety now extends to FaceTime and Photos
Building on its existing Communication Safety tools, which warn children when sending or receiving explicit content, Apple is adding new capabilities:
FaceTime calls: The system will now intervene if nudity is detected during a video call.
Shared Albums in Photos: Nudity in shared images will be automatically blurred, and children will be warned before viewing.
These additions further Apple’s mission to prevent unwanted exposure to explicit content while maintaining user privacy and device control.
Enhanced tools for parents and developers
The new updates are backed by a robust ecosystem of tools Apple already offers to safeguard children:
Screen Time & Ask to Buy: Allow parents to manage screen usage and approve purchases.
Find My: Helps locate family members.
Made for Kids section: A curated set of age-appropriate apps held to Apple’s highest privacy standards.
Limits on Apple Ads: Blocks ads for children under 13 and restricts personalized ads for teens.
No ad tracking: Developers cannot track or request tracking of child user behavior.
In addition, developers have access to several powerful frameworks:
ScreenTime Framework: Enables supervision of a child’s app usage.
Device Activity & Family Controls APIs: Help customize parental control experiences.
SensitiveContentAnalysis: Identifies and blurs sensitive imagery in apps.
Media Ratings: Allow developers to incorporate parents’ film/TV restrictions.
Looking ahead
With the launch of iOS 26 and its accompanying OS updates this fall, Apple is aiming to deliver a safer, more controlled digital experience for families—without compromising its strict privacy standards. By giving parents smarter tools and giving developers better ways to engage responsibly with young users, the tech giant continues to position itself as a leader in digital wellbeing.
Here are the top 6 UAE property hotspots to invest in 2025
Based on market performance, pricing trends and rental yields, the Whitewills’ findings cover both established and developing areas across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah
Dubai’s real estate market has maintained solid momentum into 2025, buoyed by steady population growth, economic diversification and robust investor demand. In Q1 alone, over 42,000 transactions worth around Dhs114bn were recorded — up roughly 23 percent year-on-year — while average residential prices rose about 5-6 per cent annually and villa prices nearly 8 per cent.
Despite increasing new stock deliveries, rental rates have remained firm and foreign investment strong, reinforced by Dubai’s no-income-tax policy and Golden Visa incentives.
This stable backdrop sets the stage for the six key investment areas highlighted by real estate consultancy Whitewill for 2025.
Based on market performance, pricing trends and rental yields, the consultancy’s findings cover both established and developing areas across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.
Dubai’s key property hotspots
Dubai Creek Harbour
Dubai Creek Harbour remains in demand due to its proximity to Downtown Dubai, waterfront location, and planned green spaces. Apartments start from Dhs1.45m, with villas priced above Dhs5m. Yields range between 6 per cent and 6.8 per cent.
Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah
Interest in Al Marjan Island continues to rise, driven in part by the upcoming Wynn Resort and beachfront access. Apartments begin at Dhs585,000, with high-end properties exceeding Dhs30m. Annual rental yields are between 8 per cent and 9 per cent, and some areas have seen over 20 percent yearly appreciation.
Business Bay remains popular for investors focused on short-term rentals. The area is close to DIFC and Downtown Dubai, with the Dubai Canal running through it. Studios and one- to two-bedroom apartments average Dhs1.4m, with returns of 6 per cent to 7 per cent.
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Yas Island is attracting buyers for its combination of leisure attractions and residential options. Villas average Dhs4.5m, and apartments range from Dhs1.2m to Dhs3.8m. Rental yields are steady at 6.5 per cent to 7 per cent.
Dubai South
Dubai South appeals to buyers looking for long-term growth and lower entry prices. The area is near Al Maktoum International Airport and Expo 2020 infrastructure. Off-plan units start at Dhs800,000, with yields of 6 per cent to 8 per cent. Prices are expected to rise by 15 pe rcent to 25 per cent by 2030.
Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC)
JVC continues to attract investors looking for affordable units with rental potential. Apartments start at Dhs650,000 and villas at Dhs1.6m. Rental yields are between 7 per cent and 8.6 per cent.
