Legaline has launched in the UAE as the country’s first full-cycle, artificial intelligence (AI)-native LegalTech platform, introducing an integrated digital workflow designed to streamline legal services from task creation to payment.

The platform combines multiple capabilities within a single system, including a public AI information tool, an AI research assistant for licensed lawyers, automated document drafting, in-chat communication, real-time translation across English, Russian and Arabic, in-chat signing, and secure payment handling.

Designed specifically for the UAE’s complex legal environment, Legaline enables clients to publish legal tasks with a defined budget, while licensed lawyers bid through a closed auction model. Negotiation, contracting, and execution take place within the platform, with payments released only upon completion of the work.

The launch comes as the UAE’s legal services sector continues to expand rapidly. According to Grand View Research, the market is projected to grow from $5 billion in 2024 to $7.6 billion by 2030, making it the fastest-growing legal market in the Middle East and Africa (MEA).

Legaline’s architecture is tailored to the UAE’s multi-layered regulatory landscape, which spans federal law, emirate-level regulations, financial free zones such as Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), as well as more than 40 additional free zones.

The platform is built on a proprietary AI stack developed in-house, with a curated legal database covering federal decree-laws, emirate regulations, free zone rules, Federal Tax Authority (FTA) guidance, and DIFC and ADGM statutes. This database is indexed into more than 60,000 searchable passages across 33 jurisdictions, with inline citations.

“Most of the legal tools in the UAE were built for other jurisdictions and another century,” said Dmitry Grinik, founder and chief executive officer of Legaline Platform. “We built Legaline specifically for this market—trained on primary UAE legal sources, mapped across 33 jurisdictions, and orchestrated through our own AI layer. This is what it means to build for a market, not to translate into one.”

Unlike enterprise-focused legal AI platforms, Legaline is designed for the operational needs of solo practitioners, mid-sized firms, and advisory teams serving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and corporate clients across the UAE.

“The traditional model of legal services—episodic, high-friction and English-centric—is ill-matched to a business environment that now operates across time zones, jurisdictions and regulatory cycles that can shift overnight,” Grinik commented.

“For decades, the size of a lawyer’s team was bounded by the size of their budget,” Grinik added. “With Legaline, a solo practitioner now has access to the same analytical infrastructure as a senior partner at a global firm. We start in the UAE—our home, our regulatory base and the natural proving ground for this model—and from here, we build regionally.”

Legaline is inviting UAE-licensed lawyers and advisory firms to join as founding partners, with registration opening on May 6, 2026. Founding partners will receive permanent free access to the platform, ahead of a broader regional expansion strategy.

FIX Dessert Chocolatier, the UAE-born brand behind ‘The Original Dubai Chocolate,’ is launching an immersive community activation at Kite Beach on May 9 and 10, in partnership with Careem, blending brand engagement with user-generated design.

The initiative, titled ‘Messages from the UAE,’ invites residents to share messages of kindness, unity, and positivity, which will be curated into artwork for a limited-edition FIX Hero Box set to launch later this year.

At the centre of the activation is a large interactive FIX Hero Box installation, where visitors can contribute messages via a digital word cloud using on-site tablets. Participants effectively take on the role of “Chief Packaging Designer,” with their contributions shaping the final product design.

The activation also brings together a wide network of UAE-based brands, with participants receiving curated goodie bags featuring products and vouchers from companies including Careem, Humantra, Parker’s, BRED, Karen Wazen, Salt, Bake My Day, Public, Somewhere, Kumo, Shalwa, The Reborn Society, The Scent Library, Polished, House of Habanero, and Fracs. The company is expecting to giveaway over 5,000 goodie bags.

Sarah Hamouda, Co-Founder of FIX Dessert Chocolatier, stated: “Some of the most meaningful moments are often the smallest ones: a handwritten note or a simple ‘thinking of you’ message. That is really what inspired this initiative. We wanted to create a space where people could pause, share a few words, and feel part of something bigger.

“The UAE has always been a place where homegrown ideas, stories, and businesses are given room to grow, and that is something we never take for granted. Through this initiative, we’ll bring together incredible homegrown brands and celebrate the people, passion, and hard work behind them.

“With ‘Messages from the UAE’, we hope to create something warm, human, and lasting. The messages shared through this installation at Kite Beach will live on through our future FIX Hero Box, becoming a small reminder of the connections, kindness, and community spirit that make the UAE feel like home,” concludes Sarah.

Messages will be displayed in real time across both days, transforming the installation into a dynamic, community-driven artwork. The final curated design will be featured on a limited-edition FIX Hero Box, which will be sold via Careem and at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

The activation runs from 4pm to midnight across both days, reflecting a growing trend of experiential marketing campaigns that combine physical installations with digital participation and product co-creation.

Iran will only accept “a fair and comprehensive agreement” in its negotiations with the US on ending the war in the Middle East, its foreign minister said on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump cited “great progress” in the process.

“We will do our best to protect our legitimate rights and interests in the negotiations,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in Beijing after a meeting with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, Iranian media reported. “We only accept a fair and comprehensive agreement.”

Read more-Donald Trump pauses Hormuz escort mission amid Iran talks

He did not directly address Trump’s offer of a pause in the US operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, offered earlier as an incentive to help reach an agreement between the two sides.

The strait has been virtually shut since the conflict began on February 28 with air attacks on Iran by the US and Israel, blocking about 20 per cent of world oil supplies and igniting a global energy crisis.

“We have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom … will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalised and signed,” Trump wrote on social media.

Following Trump’s post, Brent crude oil futures fell 1.2 per cent, to $108.60 a barrel, after dropping 4 per cent in the previous session. US West Texas Intermediate futures eased 1.2 per cent to $101.06 a barrel, after settling down 3.9 per cent the day before.

The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment on what progress had been made, or how long the pause would last.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior administration officials said earlier on Tuesday that Iran could not be allowed to control traffic through the strait.

Iran has effectively sealed off the strait by threatening to deploy mines, drones, missiles and fast-attack craft. The US has countered by blockading Iranian ports and mounting escorted transits for commercial vessels.

The US military said on Monday it had destroyed several small Iranian boats, as well as cruise missiles and drones.

However, a fragile ceasefire agreed four weeks ago is holding.

Trump says Iran wants peace

The war has killed thousands as it has spread beyond Iran to Lebanon and the Gulf, and roiled the global economy. The head of the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday that even if the conflict ended immediately, it would take three to four months to deal with the consequences.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Iran’s military had been reduced to firing “peashooters” and Tehran wanted peace, despite public sabre-rattling.

“Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran,” he said on his Truth Social platform.

The conflict is also pressuring Trump’s administration ahead of crucial midterm elections in November, as rising gas prices hit voters’ pockets.

Trump has said the US-Israeli attacks aimed to eliminate what he called imminent threats from Iran, citing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and its support for the Hamas and Hezbollah militias.

Iran has called the attacks a violation of its sovereignty and said that it has the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have yet to yield results. US and Iranian officials have held one round of face-to-face peace talks, but attempts to set up further meetings have failed.

Saudi Arabia has announced a strict vaccination timeline for Hajj pilgrims, requiring immunisations to be completed no more than 10 days before the start of the pilgrimage season.

The Saudi Ministry of Health said the move is aimed at strengthening preventive measures during one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. “Immunisation is the first line of defense to ensure pilgrims perform rituals safely and in good health,” the ministry said, emphasising the importance of achieving an adequate immune response while minimising disease risks.

Key vaccines recommended

Authorities have highlighted three essential vaccines for pilgrims: meningococcal (meningitis), COVID-19, and seasonal influenza. These vaccines play a critical role in limiting the spread of infections, particularly during Hajj, when millions gather in densely populated areas, a Saudi Gazette report said.

Read more-Hajj 2026: Digital IDs ease travel in Saudi, 10-year re-entry ban for violators

Health officials noted that the high concentration of people increases the likelihood of disease transmission, making timely vaccination a priority. “These vaccines are vital in protecting both individual and public health during the Hajj season,” the ministry added.

Pilgrims can schedule their vaccinations through the Sehhaty app, which offers streamlined booking within adult immunization clinic services. The ministry said this digital approach is designed to improve accessibility and efficiency for all participants.

Safety assured for all groups

The ministry reassured pilgrims that vaccines can be administered either together or separately, depending on a specialist’s assessment. Officials also stressed that all approved vaccines meet stringent safety standards and are safe for various groups, including pregnant women.

“Vaccines provided adhere to the highest safety standards,” the ministry said, underscoring confidence in the immunisation process.

The vaccination requirement forms part of broader efforts to reduce health risks and ensure a safe pilgrimage experience. Officials say the measures are essential to safeguarding the millions of pilgrims expected to participate this year.

A fire incident was reported early on Wednesday morning at an under-construction building in Dubai Marina, in close proximity to the Al Habtoor Grand.

Initial observations from the area indicated that smoke became visible at approximately 7:30am, drawing attention from nearby residents and commuters.

According to media reports, multiple emergency sirens were heard shortly after the outbreak, prompting a swift response from local authorities. Visual evidence from the scene showed dense smoke billowing into the sky, with the plume visible across several parts of the marina district.

The affected structure is located only a few hundred metres from the Al Marsa Civil Defence, which serves as the primary emergency response unit for the area. Firefighting teams arrived promptly and initiated containment measures. Police authorities also implemented road closures along the access route adjacent to the hotel to ensure public safety and facilitate emergency operations.

By approximately 9:00am, the fire appeared to have been brought under control. Fire crews remained on-site, continuing cooling operations and assessing the affected sections of the building. Further details regarding the cause and extent of damage are awaited.