Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is helping customers adopt more sustainable lifestyles by improving the efficiency of their electricity and water consumption while making better use of resources at home.

Through innovative digital services available on its website and smart app, DEWA enables customers to monitor consumption patterns, identify opportunities to reduce waste and make informed decisions. These tools support a more environmentally sustainable community while helping residents maintain high standards of comfort and well-being at home, a WAM report said.

Turning consumption data into action

Supporting Dubai’s vision for a more sustainable future, DEWA continues to promote the responsible and efficient use of resources through its ‘Enjoy Sustainable Vibes This Summer’ campaign. The initiative encourages customers to integrate sustainability into their daily routines by adopting responsible practices that improve consumption efficiency.

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The Smart Living initiative, available through DEWA’s website and smart app, allows customers to view billing details, explore tariff slabs and monitor their usage trends on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. This gives customers access to data that can help them make more informed decisions about their electricity and water consumption.

The journey towards smarter consumption begins with a few simple steps. By accessing the Consumption Assessment Tool through the Smart Living dashboard, customers can answer questions about their consumption habits, property characteristics, number of occupants and electrical appliances used in their homes.

Personalised recommendations for households

The survey helps customers better understand how their daily choices affect electricity and water use. It also identifies opportunities to improve consumption efficiency and adopt more sustainable practices.

After completing the assessment, customers receive a detailed report outlining their household consumption profile, along with tailored recommendations and practical guidelines designed to improve efficiency based on the characteristics of their home.

DEWA developed the Consumption Assessment Tool to turn consumption data into actionable insights, recognising that accurate information is essential for effective decision-making. The tool helps customers understand the factors influencing their electricity and water use while encouraging simple behavioural changes that can contribute to long-term sustainability.

Alerts help detect unusual consumption

DEWA’s High Water Usage Alert service enables customers to quickly detect potential leaks in water connections after the meter. Customers receive instant notifications when unusual increases in consumption are detected, helping them take prompt action to repair leaks and reduce water loss.

For added peace of mind during travel and summer holidays, DEWA also offers the Away Mode feature. The service sends regular consumption reports and alerts via email on a daily or weekly basis, allowing customers to identify unusual consumption patterns while they are away from home.

On-street paid parking is expanding across Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) as PARKONIC extends its parking operations to more areas of the community.

The expansion is being supported by integration with SALIK, allowing drivers to benefit from automatic parking fee payments and a more seamless parking experience.

Drivers are advised to check the parking zone before leaving their vehicles, as operating hours and rates vary depending on the location.

Two zones, different parking hours

Zone P107 operates as a 24-hour paid parking zone.

Parking in Zone P112, meanwhile, is subject to charges from 8:00am to 10:00pm, with parking free from 10:01pm to 7:59am.

Parking rates also vary according to the time of day, while free parking applies on Sundays and public holidays.

Drivers can identify the applicable rules by checking the zone code displayed on the nearest parking sign. The signage provides information on parking hours, rates and payment options for that particular location.

Parking rates at a glance

For Zone P107, which operates as a 24-hour paid parking area, rates are:

• 12am–4pm: Dhs4 per hour
• 4pm–8pm: Dhs6 per hour
• 8 pm –12am: Dhs4 per hour

For Zone P112, which has 14 hours of paid parking, rates are:

• 8am –4pm: Dhs4 per hour
• 4am–8pm: Dhs6 per hour
• 8pm–10pm: Dhs4 per hour
• 10:01pm–7:59am: Free

Free parking is also available on Sundays and public holidays.

Drivers are encouraged to check the signage in their specific zone before parking to ensure they are aware of the applicable hours and rates.

Parkin links parking with local shopping

The latest expansion follows a separate initiative launched by Parkin in April.

Called Spots for Shops, the programme allows drivers to validate their parking fees through the Parkin app by shopping at participating neighbourhood businesses.

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The initiative is designed to turn routine parking stops into opportunities to support local retailers, while helping businesses increase visibility and attract more customers.

What drivers need to know

In Dubai, where nearly 90 per cent of residents rely on private vehicles, parking can play an important role in determining where consumers shop, dine and spend time.

Bringing convenience to neighbourhood businesses

Large retail destinations have traditionally benefited from free and abundant parking, giving shoppers an added incentive to visit malls. Smaller neighbourhood businesses, by comparison, can face the challenge of operating near paid public parking.

Spots for Shops seeks to narrow that gap by allowing customers to offset parking costs through qualifying purchases.

Under the programme, customers park in a paid Parkin space near a participating business, pay the applicable fee and make a qualifying purchase based on the merchant’s minimum spend.

The merchant then validates the parking through the Parkin app using the customer’s mobile number. The customer receives instant cashback credited to the Parkin wallet.

The initiative effectively connects parking with everyday spending, giving customers an added incentive to visit local shops and services while supporting Dubai’s neighbourhood retail ecosystem.

Abu Dhabi has reopened its public parks, recreational facilities and municipal beaches after an improvement in weather conditions, following heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning across parts of the emirate.

Abu Dhabi City Municipality said the facilities had resumed operations after being temporarily closed as a precaution during the unstable weather. Events at affected facilities, which had also been suspended, can now resume.

The closures were imposed on Friday after an unusual spell of summer rain swept across parts of Abu Dhabi, accompanied in some areas by thunder, lightning and strong winds.

The weather marked a sharp change after weeks of intense summer heat, with rain at this time of year relatively uncommon in the capital.

The municipality urged residents and visitors returning to beaches to prioritise safety, swim only at designated locations and follow approved safety instructions.

Designated swimming areas include Corniche Beach and Al Bateen Public Beach.

The municipality said it remained committed to providing a safe environment for visitors to enjoy public beaches while complying with safety measures.

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More UAE rain possible

Despite the improvement in conditions in Abu Dhabi, unsettled weather could continue across parts of the UAE over the coming days.

The National Centre of Meteorology forecast fair to partly cloudy conditions on Saturday, with convective clouds expected to develop over eastern, southern and western areas during the afternoon, bringing a chance of rainfall.

The possibility of rain is expected to continue on Sunday, particularly over eastern areas, while further cloud development is forecast on Monday.

The chance of showers is expected to increase again on Tuesday and Wednesday, with convective clouds and rainfall possible across eastern and southern parts of the country.

Before the closures, weather authorities had issued a yellow alert for parts of Abu Dhabi, including Al Wathba and Al Khatim, warning of thunderstorms, strong winds, blowing dust and reduced visibility.

Residents were advised to limit unnecessary time outdoors and follow official weather updates and instructions.

Motorists urged to take care

Abu Dhabi Police also urged motorists to exercise caution during unstable weather and follow safe-driving measures.

Drivers were advised to observe temporary speed limits when activated, maintain a safe distance between vehicles and avoid sudden braking or sharp manoeuvres.

Police also warned motorists against entering valleys or areas where rainwater had accumulated during periods of heavy rainfall.

The UAE’s National Media Authority has taken legal action against a female resident after she published social media content deemed offensive to Emirati women.

The authority also suspended the advertiser permit issued to the woman for three months.

In a statement, the National Media Authority said the content, published on one of the resident’s social media accounts, violated media content standards stipulated in the Media Regulation Law and its executive regulations.

“The authority stressed that it will not tolerate any content that insults Emirati women or diminishes their status and national contributions,” the NMA said.

It also emphasised that social media users must act responsibly when publishing content and respect the UAE’s societal values and national identity.

According to local media reports, the action followed a social media post in which a woman sought models from other countries who could look and sound Emirati for a photo shoot marking Emirati Women’s Day.

The post reportedly referred to a lack of available Emirati women for the shoot.

The National Media Authority did not identify the resident or provide further details on the nature of the legal action being taken.

The case comes ahead of Emirati Women’s Day, which is marked annually on August 28 and recognises the achievements and contributions of Emirati women to the country’s development.

The UAE regulates advertising and media content published across social media and other digital platforms, with individuals carrying out advertising activities required to comply with the country’s media content standards.

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) has approved a new Resolution governing review fees for higher education institutions and technical and vocational education and training institutions, as the UAE moves to strengthen the regulatory framework underpinning the sector.

The resolution is part of the implementation of the Federal Decree-Law on Higher Education and Scientific Research and supports national efforts to build an efficient and flexible higher education and technical-vocational ecosystem.

The framework is designed to enhance the quality of academic and training institutions and programmes while ensuring they remain aligned with national priorities, a WAM report said.

Focus on quality and competitiveness

Dr. Ahmed Sultan Al Shoaibi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said the resolution forms part of an integrated UAE approach to developing the legislative and regulatory framework for higher education.

He said the measures are intended to strengthen the competitiveness of institutions, build confidence among students and the wider community in educational outcomes, and support the UAE’s ambition to establish a proactive and future-ready higher education system.

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Al Shoaibi added that the quality of the higher education system depends on an efficient, reliable and sustainable framework for institutional and programme licensing and accreditation.

The new resolution, he said, supports that objective by establishing a clear structure that enables the ministry to conduct reviews and evaluations in line with global best practices and approved criteria.

Clearer costs for licensing and accreditation

The resolution sets out the structure for evaluation and review services provided by the ministry in connection with institutional and programme licensing, accreditation and renewals.

It is also designed to provide greater clarity around the financial commitments associated with evaluation and review procedures. The framework regulates the coverage of expenses for external evaluators and experts involved in review and accreditation activities, based on predetermined guidelines and procedures intended to promote fairness, transparency and consistency among institutions.

At its core, the resolution is aimed at supporting the quality and effectiveness of institutional and programme licensing, accreditation and renewal processes. It provides a structured mechanism for covering evaluation and review costs, allowing the Ministry to engage specialised external evaluators and experts through clear and publicly announced procedures.

The review fees are directly linked to specialised technical assessments that form an integral part of the quality assurance and accreditation system. These reviews are intended to help ensure that institutions and programmes continue to meet approved standards and requirements.

Supporting planning and education outcomes

The new framework is also expected to give higher education and technical and vocational institutions greater clarity for financial and administrative planning when seeking licensing, institutional or programme accreditation, or renewals.

This will be achieved through the classification of service types, clearly defined review fee rates and specified collection mechanisms.

The resolution also links fees to structured and systematic reviews designed to assess compliance with approved standards and criteria. The Ministry said this contributes to improving the quality of academic and training programmes and, in turn, learning and training outcomes.

Such measures are expected to strengthen confidence among students, parents, the wider community and the labour market in accredited institutions and programmes across the UAE.

The framework also recognises differences among academic programmes and their individual evaluation requirements, taking into account the technical and organisational resources required to review different types of institutions and programmes.

Review Fund to support evaluation operations

Under the resolution, review fees will be transferred to the Review Fund for Higher Education Institutions and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions.

The Fund was established through a Cabinet resolution to finance and support review operations linked to institutional and programme licensing and accreditation.

It will also finance the engagement of specialised international evaluators, experts and institutions. This is intended to enhance the quality and reliability of evaluation processes while supporting the long-term sustainability and governance of the UAE’s licensing and accreditation system.

The resolution underscores the UAE’s focus on building an efficient, sustainable and future-ready higher education and technical-vocational ecosystem. Through stronger legislative, regulatory and oversight frameworks, the country aims to promote quality across academic and training programmes while encouraging continuous improvement and institutional excellence.