The UAE Fuel Price Committee has announced fuel prices for August.

The revised prices, effective August 1, set Super 98 petrol at Dhs3.60 per litre, from Dhs3.40 in July.

Special 95 will cost Dhs3.49 per litre, compared with the current price of Dhs3.29.

E-Plus 91 will cost Dhs3.41 from Dhs3.21.

Diesel will be priced at Dhs3.80 per litre, from Dhs3.60 in July.

The UAE reviews fuel prices monthly under a deregulated pricing mechanism introduced in 2015, linking domestic retail prices to global oil market trends and distribution costs.

Read: UAE cuts fuel prices for July after four months of increases

du Pay, the digital financial services subsidiary of du, has launched Flexi Cash Loan, a new digital lending solution designed to provide eligible customers with quick and convenient access to short-term cash loans of up to AED 5,000 directly through the du Pay application.

The new service is now available on the du Pay app and is being introduced in phases to a portion of registered customers. The phased rollout aims to ensure a smooth application and approval experience before expanding access more widely.

Expanding access to everyday financial services

The launch marks another step in du Pay’s strategy to expand beyond payments and remittances into a broader range of everyday financial services. Flexi Cash Loan is designed to support customers who may have limited access to traditional banking products, including young professionals, blue-collar workers, and expatriate residents seeking faster access to short-term financial support.

Read more-du brings digital-first connectivity to ‘SME in a Box’

As customers continue using du Pay for their regular financial needs, they move closer to potential loan eligibility. Customers can check their eligibility directly through the app and, once approved, receive funds within minutes.

The service has been designed around simplicity and transparency, allowing customers to view pricing details upfront through a fixed one-time fee and a clearly defined repayment period, with no hidden charges.

Supporting financial inclusion through digital innovation

Roberto Mancone, CEO of du Pay, said: “Flexi Cash Loan gives customers access to financial support at the moments that matter most. Designed for customers with limited credit history, such as the UAE’s expatriate workforce and young professionals with a short salary record, the solution removes the traditional barriers to accessing credit. Through the du Pay app, eligible customers can apply for and receive credit instantly with no paperwork. It is a fast, seamless and secure experience that reflects our commitment to building a more inclusive digital financial ecosystem.”

The launch strengthens du Pay’s role in advancing financial inclusion across the UAE by extending its digital wallet ecosystem with instant, paperless access to credit.

By enabling eligible customers to access financing in less than 30 seconds without additional documentation through the du Pay app, Flexi Cash Loan aims to make borrowing more accessible, convenient, and efficient for customers who have historically faced challenges accessing traditional credit options.

Twenty-five commodities vessels passed through the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Thursday, while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained low with only two tankers transiting, according to Kpler shipping data.

Of the 25 vessels that transited the Bab el-Mandeb strait, 18 entered the waterway and seven exited. The traffic included several oil tankers, among them two very large crude carriers (VLCC), one Suezmax tanker and five Aframax tankers.

Meanwhile, only two vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz, both in ballast and entering the waterway.

Some ships could still be sailing with their transponders turned off, which are not considered in the counts.

While Iran and its Houthi allies have targeted tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, a drone strike on gas vessels in Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta signalled a potential new front in the US-Iran war, raising the prospect of threats to navigation through the Suez Canal.

The UAE Capital Market Authority has approved the abolition of 15 fees following a comprehensive review of its fee framework, in a move designed to simplify regulatory processes, reduce costs and improve service efficiency for licensed companies and individuals operating in the country’s capital markets.

The decision follows an extensive assessment of fees linked to a broad range of services and activities under the authority’s supervision. Each fee was reviewed against current regulatory requirements, evolving market conditions and the authority’s service delivery model, resulting in the removal of charges that were no longer considered necessary under the approved framework, a WAM report said.

Periodic review supports evolving market needs

The authority said the latest measures reflect its ongoing commitment to regularly reviewing regulations, procedures and the fee framework governing the UAE’s capital markets. The initiative is intended to ensure the regulatory environment remains aligned with market developments while supporting the needs of industry participants.

Read more-UAE announces grace period, fine exemptions for stranded residents

The review also seeks to strike a balance between maintaining effective regulatory oversight and enhancing transparency around fees associated with services under the authority’s supervision. By eliminating outdated charges, the authority aims to create a more efficient and business-friendly operating environment.

Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi, CEO of the Capital Market Authority, said, “The authority remains committed to continuously reviewing and developing its fee framework to ensure it evolves alongside the capital markets and responds to the needs of licensed companies and individuals.”

He added, “This review forms part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of regulatory services and reduce the burden on market participants, contributing to more resilient capital markets, a more effective business environment, and higher-quality services.”

Resolution available on the authority’s website

The authority confirmed that the abolished fees relate to a variety of services and activities under its regulatory oversight and form part of the broader review of its approved fee framework.

It encouraged licensed companies and individuals to review the Board Resolution published on its website for detailed information on the services covered by the fee abolition, as well as guidance on how the decision will be implemented.

Abu Dhabi has introduced a new policy aimed at encouraging healthier consumer choices by changing how food and beverage products are displayed in supermarkets and on online grocery platforms across the emirate.

Launched by Healthy Living in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA), the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development’s (ADDED) regulatory arm, the initiative will redesign in-store layouts and digital retail interfaces to reduce the visibility of high-fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) food and beverage products, according to a WAM report.

Read more-UAE introduces tiered excise tax model on sweetened drinks from Jan 1

The policy will become mandatory from January 1, 2027 and regulates the placement and promotion of HFSS food and beverage products in both physical and online supermarket environments without restricting their sale.

Developed in collaboration with the Department of Health (DoH), Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC), and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the initiative is designed to promote healthier purchasing decisions while maintaining consumer choice.

High-visibility displays to be restricted

Under the new standards, food and beverage products classified as unhealthy under the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre’s SEHHI classification will no longer be allowed in prominent, high-exposure areas such as store entrances, end-of-aisle displays and checkout counters. Similar restrictions will apply to online supermarket platforms, where these products can no longer be featured prominently on home pages, search results, promotional pop-ups or checkout pages.

The policy applies to physical supermarkets larger than 4,000 square feet.

Consumers will continue to have access to all products, with HFSS items remaining available in their regular aisle locations. The policy focuses on reducing the prominence of less nutritious products rather than limiting their availability.

Mohamed Munif Al Mansoori, Director-General of ADRA, said, “We are working closely with relevant entities to meet the growing demands of consumers, placing their health, safety, and well-being at the top of our priorities. Our collaboration with Healthy Living reflects a shared commitment to making healthier choices easier and accessible for all consumers. In addition to ensuring compliance of commercial entities with regulations and standards, we also deliver awareness campaigns that empower consumers to make more informed decisions and better understand the choices available to them in the market.”

Retailers begin implementation ahead of deadline

Dr Ahmed AlKhazraiji, Executive Director of Healthy Living, said the policy reflects Abu Dhabi’s long-term focus on preventive healthcare and evidence-based public health interventions.

“In Abu Dhabi, our commitment to prevention as the foundation of a healthier society is what Healthy Living was built on, and this policy is a direct reflection of that. Our approach is rooted in behavioural science and real-world evidence, and interventions like this have delivered measurable results globally. When the products consumers encounter first are not the least nutritious options, healthier choices become the natural default – empowering people to make better decisions,” he said.

Officials said the policy was developed in close consultation with retailers across the emirate to ensure the new requirements align with operational realities while incorporating international best practices.

Several retailers have already started implementing the standards ahead of the compliance deadline. Carrefour has become one of the first supermarket chains to complete the rollout across its Abu Dhabi stores.

Ahmed Galal Ismail, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Holding, said, “We are proud to support this ambition and to have achieved compliance with the Responsible Food and Beverage Placement Standards across our Carrefour stores in Abu Dhabi. We remain committed to creating environments that deliver healthier, more convenient shopping experiences for the millions of customers we serve each year.”

The policy marks another step in Abu Dhabi’s broader strategy to strengthen preventive healthcare through practical retail interventions, encouraging healthier purchasing habits while preserving consumer freedom of choice. By reshaping the way products are presented both in-store and online, authorities aim to make healthier options more visible and accessible, supporting long-term public health objectives without limiting product availability.