PublisHer and Motivate Media Group have partnered to launch PublisHer Pathways, a four-week immersive internship programme aimed at bridging the gap between academic preparation and the realities of working inside a media company.

The agreement was signed at the House of Wisdom in Sharjah by HH Sheikha Boudor Al Qasimi, founder of PublisHer, and Ian Fairservice, managing partner and group editor-in-chief of Motivate Media Group.

The initiative will run as a one-year programme comprising up to two cycles annually at Motivate Media Group’s Dubai offices, with each intake accommodating five women residents in the UAE.

Designed to provide hands-on industry exposure, the programme will place participants within Motivate’s day-to-day operations through structured rotations, live projects, mentorship and direct interaction with senior leadership teams.

The programme will immerse participants across four operational areas:

• Editorial and Content Development
• Marketing, Public Relations (PR) and Audience Engagement
• Advertising, Sales and Revenue Models
• Product, Digital Platforms and Business Strategy

Participants will also attend masterclasses with senior industry leaders, visit printing press facilities, receive one-on-one mentorship from Motivate employees, and collaborate on a capstone project to be presented to company leadership.

Graduates of the programme will receive a joint certificate from PublisHer and Motivate Media Group and become part of the PublisHer Alumnae Network.

HH Sheikha Boudor Al Qasimi said: “PublisHer Pathways is a direct response to something we hear consistently from women across the industry – that the transition from education into professional publishing is harder than it should be and that access to real experience, inside real organisations, remains sporadic and uneven. I’m grateful to Ian and the whole Motivate team for having confidence in our mission and becoming the first to say yes.”

Fairservice added: “At Motivate, we believe the best way to understand publishing is to be part of it and to see how editorial, commercial and digital teams work together in real time. PublisHer Pathways gives participants that exposure, and in doing so, helps strengthen the next generation of talent coming into the industry.”

Applications for the programme are now open through PublisHer website and will close on June 30, 2026. Shortlisted applicants will be notified on July 15, 2026, with the first cohort scheduled to begin on August 3, 2026.

The programme is open to women in the UAE at an early or mid-career stage with backgrounds or strong interest in publishing, media, literature or the creative arts.

According to the organisations, the inaugural cohort will operate as a pilot, with longer-term plans to expand the model through PublisHer’s wider network of publishing partners across different regions.

Food lovers in Dubai have even more time to explore the city’s flagship culinary showcase as Dubai Restaurant Week has been extended until May 31, aligning with the upcoming Eid Al Adha holiday period and boosting demand across the hospitality sector.

The extension gives diners additional opportunities to experience a wide range of cuisines across the city, from relaxed Australian-inspired beachfront dining and classic French brasserie fare to bold Central American flavours.

The timing of the extension is expected to significantly amplify footfall across participating venues, as residents and tourists take advantage of the holiday window to explore curated dining experiences at fixed price points.

Over 125 restaurants and Michelin-recognised names join lineup

This year’s edition brings together more than 125 restaurants, spanning fine dining, premium casual, and homegrown concepts, including venues recognised by MICHELIN, Gault&Millau, and MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants.

Diners can access set menus priced at Dhs125 for a two-course lunch and Dhs250 for a three-course dinner, unlocking signature dishes from some of Dubai’s most in-demand kitchens. The lineup includes over 30 MICHELIN Guide-listed restaurants, featuring one Michelin-starred venue, alongside globally recognised chefs such as Nobu Matsuhisa, Gordon Ramsay, Izu Ani, Alvin Leung, Akira Back, Kelvin Cheung, and Hadrien Villedieu.

Homegrown concepts also play a central role, including Girl & The Goose – Restaurante Centroamericano by Gabriela Chamorro, reflecting Dubai’s increasingly diverse culinary identity.

Careem DineOut becomes exclusive booking platform

A major operational shift this year is the full integration of bookings through Careem DineOut, which serves as the exclusive digital reservation partner for the festival. The platform now acts as the single gateway for accessing all participating restaurants, streamlining discovery and reservations for diners.

Careem said its role extends beyond bookings. “Dubai Restaurant Week is one of the most anticipated moments in the city’s dining calendar, and we’re proud to be the platform that makes it accessible to everyone,” said Bassel Alnahlaoui, chief business officer at Careem.

He added that the partnership helps build “the digital infrastructure that connects the people of Dubai to the experiences that make this city extraordinary.”

Dubai strengthens its global gastronomy positioning

Officials from the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) highlighted the event’s growth and impact on the city’s hospitality landscape. “This year’s Dubai Restaurant Week demonstrates how much Dubai’s culinary scene has grown and the role it plays in shaping its future,” said Ahmad Al Khaja, CEO of DFRE.

He noted that participation has expanded from just 30 restaurants at launch to more than 125 today, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global dining hub.

From Japanese and Italian to Latin American, Middle Eastern, and Indian cuisines, the festival reflects the breadth of Dubai’s food scene. Organisers say the extension encourages residents and visitors alike to “explore the city one dining table at a time,” reinforcing Dubai Restaurant Week as both a cultural and economic driver for the emirate’s hospitality sector.

Dubai-based parking operator Parkin Company said on Wednesday it had begun rolling out AI-powered smart parking cameras across key areas of the emirate as part of efforts to support Dubai’s smart mobility strategy.

The company, which operates Dubai’s paid public parking network, said more than 500 curbside and pole-mounted cameras were being installed in Trade Centre 1, Burj Khalifa and Al Corniche during the first phase of deployment.

First-of-its-kind-smart parking systems in the region, according to Parkin

It added that the curbside cameras were the first of their kind in the region.

Parkin also said it had deployed parking lot cameras in controlled parking areas across Dubai, with 200 additional cameras planned.

The systems use artificial intelligence to capture vehicle images, read licence plates and automatically calculate parking duration and payments, while also identifying violations, the company said. The cameras will be solar-powered and integrated with the Parkin mobile application to enable automatic payments through the Parkin Wallet feature.

Aimed at improving customer access to parking services

Chief executive Mohamed Abdulla Al Ali said the rollout formed part of the company’s strategy to expand smart parking infrastructure and improve customer access to parking services across Dubai.

CTO Talal Al Ajmi said the deployment would support more connected parking operations through real-time data and app integration.

Parkin said the technology would improve parking turnover, reduce congestion caused by drivers searching for parking spaces and support Dubai’s wider urban mobility ambitions.

The company operates around 229,000 paid parking spaces across Dubai, including public on-street and off-street parking under a 49-year concession agreement with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority.

Parkin was established in 2023 and completed its initial public offering on the Dubai Financial Market in March 2024.

Read: Dubai’s Parkin posts 41% rise in Q1 revenue as parking portfolio expands

Dubai Retail, one of the region’s largest groups of malls and retail destinations under Dubai Holding Asset Management, has announced the launch of the Dubai Retail Gift Card, a new multi-destination offering designed to give residents and visitors greater flexibility in how they shop, dine, and experience leisure across the city.

The new card can be used across 40 malls, lifestyle destinations, and retail centres, covering more than 5,000 participating stores and venues. Positioned as a flexible gifting solution, it allows recipients to choose their own experiences, from fashion and dining to entertainment and wellness, across Dubai’s diverse retail landscape.

The Dubai Retail Gift Card has been introduced as a seamless and practical gifting option, allowing users to curate their own experiences rather than being tied to a single location or brand. Accepted across Dubai Retail destinations citywide, the card offers recipients the freedom to decide how and when they want to use their balance.

Read more-Up to 50% off at Dubai Duty Free: What travellers can expect this May

Whether it is a relaxed day at a beach club, a spa treatment, a family outing, or a shopping trip, the card is designed to reflect the diversity of experiences available across Dubai. It aims to cater to both everyday gifting and special occasions, making it a versatile option for residents, tourists, and corporate users alike.

Dubai Retail said the concept is built around flexibility and choice, enabling recipients to create personalised moments across multiple visits and destinations rather than a single transaction experience.

From beachfront dining to retail landmarks

The card unlocks access to some of Dubai’s most recognisable destinations. These include dining at Palm West Beach and shopping at Palm Jumeirah Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, and Nad Al Sheba Mall, as well as fashion and lifestyle retail at The Outlet Village.

It also extends to local dining and cultural experiences at Al Khawaneej Walk, extensive retail options at Dragon Mart, family entertainment at Bluewaters, and leisure experiences along JBR. The wide network of participating destinations is intended to mirror the city’s evolving lifestyle ecosystem.

With such a broad range of options, the card positions itself as a city-wide pass to retail and leisure rather than a traditional single-mall gift card.

How the Dubai Retail Gift Card works

Powered by Visa, the Dubai Retail Gift Card is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. It supports multiple and partial redemptions, allowing users to spend their balance gradually across different locations and occasions.

Balances and card security can be managed through the official website, offering users a straightforward way to track and control usage. The card is available in load values ranging from Dhs50 to Dhs3,500, making it suitable for both personal gifting and corporate incentive programmes.

Dubai Retail emphasised that the card is designed to be both secure and convenient, with a focus on flexibility and long-term usability across its destination network.

More information and purchases are available at giftcard.dubairetail.ae, where users can also manage card details and explore participating venues.

Availability across Dubai Retail destinations

The Dubai Retail Gift Card can be purchased at customer service desks across participating malls and retail centres. It is also available online through giftcard.dubairetail.ae, with customers given the option to convert digital purchases into physical cards at selected locations.

Dubai Retail’s portfolio includes major destinations such as Palm Jumeirah Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, The Outlet Village, Circle Mall, Bluewaters, Al Khawaneej Walk, JBR, and Souk Madinat Jumeirah, along with a wider network of community retail centres serving residential neighbourhoods across Dubai.

Collectively, the group’s assets form one of the most extensive retail and lifestyle networks in the emirate, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global destination for shopping and leisure.

Separately, Fazaa expands community support for resident families

In a separate community-focused initiative, Fazaa, in cooperation with the Ministry of Family, announced in March 2026 the launch of a programme granting free Fazaa discount memberships to resident families in the UAE, as part of the “Year of the Family 2026”.

The initiative reflects the UAE’s broader commitment to strengthening family stability, enhancing quality of life, and fostering social cohesion. It also underscores the government’s vision of integrating resident families into the country’s long-term development journey, a WAM report said.

Officials described the programme as a gesture of appreciation to families who have chosen the UAE as their home, highlighting the country’s emphasis on inclusivity, cooperation, and shared prosperity.

The membership provides access to a wide range of benefits, including:

• Discounts and offers at more than 34,000 retail outlets inside and outside the UAE
• Savings on over 28,000 food and consumer products through Fazaa Stores
• Discounts on accommodation and travel packages across more than 500,000 hotels worldwide via Fazaa Amakin
• Up to 70 per cent discounts on entertainment and tickets through the Fazaa mobile application
• Exclusive offers on selected products and services

To simplify access, Fazaa has enabled online registration through its official website, allowing resident families to apply and activate memberships directly.

As the UAE’s climate law shifts from policy ambition to enforceable regulation, businesses are facing a hard deadline, and potentially steep penalties for failing to comply.

With mandatory emissions reporting due by May 30, and fines of up to Dhs2m for violations, companies across mainland UAE and free zones are being forced to move quickly from broad ESG promises to measurable action.

Here, Anand Balasubramanian, senior partner Grant Thornton UAE, discusses why many firms are still unprepared, the biggest compliance blind spots, and why forward-thinking businesses are treating climate reporting as more than a box-ticking exercise.

He also explains why companies that act early could gain a strategic edge as the UAE moves closer to its net-zero ambitions.

With the UAE Climate Law now moving from policy to enforceable regulation ahead of the May 30 compliance deadline, what are the most common gaps you are seeing among organisations preparing for compliance?

We are seeing a disconnect between intent and infrastructure. Many organisations have announced ESG commitments but haven’t yet built robust internal reporting systems to back them.

Organisations need to understand that it is mandatory for all entities across the UAE mainland and free zones, with no explicit minimum emissions threshold specified.

While the larger entities and heavy emitters are better prepared, others need to enhance their level of preparedness to collect and validate data and prepare for registration and submission through the IQET tool from MOCCAE.

Another gap we see is that this agenda is primarily resting with sustainability teams in organisations and the level of senior management and board oversight around this requires enhancement.

Do you see UAE businesses treating climate compliance primarily as a regulatory obligation, or are forward-looking organisations already starting to use it as a strategic advantage?

Many companies initially treat the new climate law like any compliance duty, focusing on meeting the May 2026 reporting deadline and avoiding fines. But more are starting to view this as a business imperative by embedding emissions data into their governance frameworks with the same rigour as financial data.

Organisations with this mindset will begin to gain something useful: a future ready perspective, a clearer picture of operational risk, cost exposure, and a view on where efficiency gains are hiding. They will be better positioned when tougher requirements arrive, such as Scope 3 reporting.

With penalties of up to Dhs2m and no exemptions across sectors or free zones, what level of urgency do you think exists in the market right now, and where is the biggest risk of delay?

This should be a high priority for all organisations.

Penalties of up to Dhs2m, doubled for repeat violations, apply across sectors and free zones without exception. It is imperative that organisations start implementing the necessary governance and strategic plans now instead of waiting for perfect regulatory clarity.

This will ensure they have sufficient time to restructure their systems, retrain their teams, and verify their data properly.

The MRV platform requires discipline and familiarity, not a rushed login in the final weeks.

How can companies realistically shift from a compliance mindset to embedding sustainability into core business strategy without it becoming a cost-heavy exercise?

Organisations need to keep in mind that the ultimate objective of the reporting is to start them thinking about a path towards decarbonisation to support the National Net Zero Initiative.

The key is not to treat this as a separate workstream focused on reporting as a compliance requirement. Organisations that bolt sustainability reporting on as an add-on will always find it expensive and disruptive.

The ones doing it efficiently are integrating climate metrics into existing governance and reporting cycles, not building parallel systems. Start with what you have.

Map your Scope 1 and 2 sources, close the data gaps, and make MRV part of how your organisation already operates.

The cost of getting this right early is a fraction of what reactive restructuring will look like in 2027 when Scope 3 comes into scope.

Read: Deloitte’s Daniel Gribbin on what Gulf executives must get right on sustainability in 2026