Creators HQ and Amazon Ads have opened applications for the Amazon Creators Foundry, a new programme designed to help UAE-based content creators launch and scale their own consumer brands through Amazon.ae.

First announced during the 1 Billion Followers Summit in January, the initiative is described as the first programme of its kind in the Middle East, combining e-commerce, digital entrepreneurship and creator economy development.

Applications are open from August 26 to September 9, with 20 creators set to be selected following an evaluation process. Participants will receive support to launch products on Amazon.ae, while also gaining access to Amazon’s international selling programme, enabling them to expand into markets across North America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

The programme forms part of a strategic partnership between Creators HQ, part of Visioneers, and Amazon Ads, aimed at helping creators build sustainable businesses beyond content creation.

Selected creators will receive end-to-end support, including dedicated account management, customised storefronts, search-optimised product listings, Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) onboarding, advertising support and mentorship from Amazon executives.

Participants will also have access to up to $100,000 in Amazon DSP advertising budget and a further $2,000 in Amazon Sponsored Ads incentives per creator, alongside workshops covering digital marketing, brand building and online retail strategies.

HE Alia Al Hammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and CEO of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, said the initiative aligns with the UAE’s ambition to transform the creator economy into a driver of long-term economic growth.

“The Amazon Creators Foundry represents an innovative initiative that establishes an important model for inspiring content creators to expand their businesses and actively contribute to driving digital economic growth,” she said.

Al Hammadi added that the programme supports Creators HQ’s broader vision of positioning the UAE as a global destination for creators by providing the tools, partnerships and investment needed to turn creative talent into scalable businesses.

Rayan Karaky, managing director of Amazon Ads for EMEA and Southeast Asia, said the initiative would help creators build sustainable businesses by leveraging Amazon’s retail ecosystem.

“Creators in the UAE are already shaping culture and driving commerce through their content. Amazon Creators Foundry gives them the infrastructure to turn that influence into lasting success,” he said.

Eligible applicants must be based in the UAE, have an existing retail presence, maintain a minimum audience of 100,000 followers and hold, or be willing to obtain, a Dubai e-commerce trade licence.

The initiative is the latest effort by Creators HQ to strengthen the UAE’s creator economy by encouraging digital entrepreneurs to diversify their income streams and build globally scalable brands.

The famous Toyota sign that has towered over Sheikh Zayed Road for decades will live on in some form even after the building beneath it disappears, Al-Futtaim has revealed.

The company issued a statement following confirmation that the Nasser Rashid Lootah Building, better known to generations of Dubai residents as the “Toyota Building”, is scheduled to be demolished in 2027.

Read more: Dubai’s famous Toyota Building to be demolished in 2027

While Al-Futtaim said it was saddened by the news, it hinted that the landmark’s story is not quite finished.

“This is not the end for the famous Toyota sign; we have plans to carry the legacy forward, which will be revealed in the coming months,” the company said.

Al-Futtaim also teased what it described as “one last surprise” before the final farewell to the building, telling Dubai residents to “keep your eyes up this September”.

The company did not disclose what the September activation will involve or how the Toyota sign’s legacy will ultimately be preserved.

The comments add another chapter to the story of one of Dubai’s most recognisable surviving buildings from the city’s early period of development.

Completed in 1974, the 15-storey Nasser Rashid Lootah Building predates much of the modern skyline that now surrounds it on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Its defining feature arrived in 1981, when the giant red Toyota insignia was installed on its roof. The sign remained there for decades before being removed in 2018 after the advertising agreement expired, only to return in June 2022 following an absence of almost four years.

Al-Futtaim said the Toyota logo had been a visible part of Dubai’s skyline for “almost half a century”, thanking the Nasser Rashid Lootah Group for allowing it to occupy such a prominent position.

The company described news of the building’s impending demolition as “bittersweet”, saying it was sad to see its story come to a close but also excited about what comes next at the prime Sheikh Zayed Road location.

It also reflected on how dramatically Dubai has changed during the building’s lifetime, pointing to the development of landmarks including the Dubai World Trade Centre, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the Dubai International Financial Centre within the decades since it was built.

The building’s real estate management has previously confirmed that demolition is planned for 2027, although no precise date has been given. Existing tenants with valid rental contracts can remain until December 2026.

Five commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, little changed from a day earlier but well below the 10-day average of 15, preliminary shipping data showed on Wednesday.

Two tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas and one tanker carrying bitumen exited the Gulf via the strait, while two empty product tankers entered the waterway from the Gulf of Oman, initial data from shiptracker Kpler showed at 0408 GMT. On Monday, four commodity vessels transited the waterway, the data showed.

The figures could change as some ships typically switch off their location transponders during the voyage.

Transits through the Bab el-Mandeb, another major maritime chokepoint in the Middle East, were also roughly little changed at 31 commodity vessels versus 29 the day before, Kpler data showed, but in line with the 10-day average.

Iran said it had resumed discussions with Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz amid increased economic pressure from US President Donald Trump.

The two sides said on Tuesday they had explored creating a temporary joint shipping corridor and agreed to remove mines from the waterway.

“Any agreement between these two parties does not mean we will see normalisation in oil flows through the key chokepoint,” ING Economics said in a note.

“We would likely need to see the US lift its blockade on Iranian ports and ease sanctions on Iran before we see any move towards normalisation.”

Read more: Dubai’s KHDA to resume school inspections from 2026-27: What schools, parents need to know

According to a report in Emarat Al Youm, the decision aims to reduce the academic burden on children in the foundational stages and provide them with more opportunities to learn through classroom activities and practical exercises.

The new approach is also intended to give students more time after the school day for rest, personal development, family interaction and social activities.

By reducing additional academic tasks at home, education authorities aim to create a healthier balance between learning requirements and the broader developmental needs of children.

Stronger focus on core skills

The policy places the quality of classroom teaching at the center of the learning process. Schools and teachers will have greater responsibility for developing essential skills and knowledge during the school day.

Particular attention will be given to foundational abilities such as reading, writing and arithmetic, helping students build a strong educational base during their early years.

The changes signal a move away from treating homework as a mandatory extension of classroom instruction and towards a model that prioritizes effective teaching and meaningful learning within school hours.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) handled 31.5 million passengers in the first half of 2026, with traffic building steadily through Q2 as airline capacity returned and international connectivity improved following regional airspace constraints earlier in the year.

Passenger traffic reached 13 million in the second quarter, with monthly volumes rising from 3.5 million in April to 4.5 million in May and 5 million in June, pointing to strengthening demand heading into the airport’s traditionally busier second half.

First-half passenger numbers were 31.3 per cent below the same period in 2025, with Dubai Airports saying regional airspace constraints continued to influence traffic during the period.

Dubai Airports said the return of international carriers, improving connectivity and strengthening load factors were supporting the recovery, with load factors approaching 2025 levels by the end of the first half.

“The first half of the year tested every part of the aviation system, and demonstrated our resilience. As capacity steadily returns across the board, demand is responding immediately,” Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths said.

“That is particularly important for DXB, where international transfers account for a significant share of traffic. Strong performance across the airport community in recent months has left us well placed to accommodate returning demand, work closely with our airline partners, and reinforce Dubai’s position as a leading global hub.”

By the end of June, DXB was served by almost 50 international airlines connecting passengers to 217 destinations across 99 countries.

Read: DXB rolls out ‘Dubai Welcome’ experiences for arriving, transit passengers

DXB highlights in H1 2026

Aircraft movements totalled 150,600 in the first six months, including 62,500 during the second quarter. First-half movements were down 32.1 per cent year on year.

Cargo volumes reached 751,340 tonnes during the first half, including 351,716 tonnes in the second quarter, although the six-month total remained 28.7 per cent below the previous year.

Operational performance remained strong despite the challenging first half. DXB processed 30.3 million bags, including 12.7 million during the second quarter, with a mishandled baggage rate of 2.7 per 1,000 passengers.

Dubai Airports said this remained well below the latest global industry benchmark of about 4.9 per 1,000 passengers.

Nearly 99 per cent of passengers also cleared key airport processes within targeted times. Some 98.98 per cent of departing passengers completed passport control in under 10 minutes, 98.95 per cent of arriving passengers cleared passport control in under 15 minutes and 99.34 per cent passed through security in under five minutes.

Dubai Airports is continuing to invest in DXB as airline schedules rebuild, with improvements spanning passenger facilities, a new consolidated remote departures experience, expanded self-service options, biometric systems, passenger flows and targeted capacity enhancements.

The operator expects momentum to strengthen in the second half as airline networks and frequencies recover, international transfer traffic rises and travel advisories ease across key source markets. The winter schedule and Dubai’s calendar of international business, leisure and sporting events are also expected to support demand.

DXB handled a record 95.2 million passengers in 2025, the busiest year in its history.