Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) and the UAE Ministry of Education have launched a national competition asking university students and recent graduates to develop working prototypes addressing technology challenges set by major UAE organisations.

The Advanced Technology Pioneers competition, launched under the National Science, Technology and Innovation Festival, will initially feature three challenge tracks set by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Emirates Nuclear Energy Company and EDGE Group.

The challenges span artificial intelligence and data science, robotics and sustainability, and communications networks.

DCT Abu Dhabi is asking participants to develop a tool that models how changes in aviation capacity could affect hotel demand in the emirate, linking flight data with visitor and accommodation trends.

ENEC’s challenge focuses on the sustainable management of seasonal jellyfish blooms near coastal infrastructure, while EDGE is seeking solutions that can maintain connectivity as users move between Wi-Fi, 5G, satellite and wired networks.

“The strength of a knowledge-based economy lies in the capabilities of its people,” ATRC DG Shahab Issa Abu Shahab said.

“By challenging emerging talent to deliver working solutions for leading national organisations, we are aiming to strengthen national capabilities, accelerate the transition from education to industry, and support in building the skilled workforce that underpins a competitive knowledge economy.”

Teams of three to four members can apply through ATRC’s ChallengeON platform, with applications closing on October 11.

Participants will receive mentorship from subject-matter experts during the programme.

Finalists are due to present their prototypes at the NSTI Festival in November, with one winning team selected in each of the three challenge tracks.

Each winning team will receive Dhs50,000, alongside additional internship, placement and industry opportunities depending on the participating organisation.

ATRC said the competition forms part of its broader efforts to develop advanced technology skills and connect students with the UAE’s research and innovation ecosystem.

The council said its talent development initiatives have engaged more than 40,000 students to date.

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) plans to expand Al Faya Retreat in Mleiha from five rooms to 20 accommodation units by Q4 2026, the authority said during Arabian Travel Market (ATM).

The expansion will add private desert accommodation while the retreat’s existing five guestrooms will be converted into spa and wellness spaces, Shurooq said.

Al Faya Retreat is located in Mleiha, home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Faya Palaeolandscape, which preserves evidence of human occupation dating from about 210,000 to 6,000 years ago and provides evidence of how people adapted to changing climatic conditions.

Shurooq said the expansion was designed to increase capacity while maintaining the retreat’s low-density character and limiting intervention in the surrounding archaeological and natural landscape.

The new units will be manufactured off-site using a modular construction approach intended to reduce excavation, construction activity and material storage at the site, it said.

The units will be positioned individually across the desert terrain, with the design intended to preserve privacy and open views while reducing their visual impact on the landscape.

Shurooq said work would be carried out in coordination with relevant authorities and in line with heritage protection and site-management requirements.

“Al Faya Retreat has a clear identity and a hospitality experience closely connected to the nature of its setting, while its accommodation capacity has been deliberately limited since its launch to preserve the privacy of the experience and its connection to the site,” Shurooq CEO Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer said.

“The expansion therefore allows us to welcome more visitors and develop the experience we offer them without changing the elements that have given the retreat its distinct character.”

Al Qaseer said the project reflected Shurooq’s approach of balancing tourism development with the protection of natural and archaeological assets.

“For Shurooq, growth does not simply mean making a destination bigger, but allowing it to evolve in a way that suits its setting and identity,” he said.

Shurooq said Al Faya Retreat occupies two restored buildings dating to the 1960s, including a former medical clinic and a shop beside Mleiha’s oldest petrol station. The buildings will be converted into spa and wellness spaces while remaining part of the property.

The additional capacity is expected to support hospitality, transport, guided tours and other visitor-related services in Mleiha, Shurooq said.

Khawla Al Hashimi, Shurooq’s chief projects officer, said the design was intended to keep the surrounding desert as the dominant element of the visitor experience.

“At Al Faya, good design is measured as much by what we choose not to add as by what we build,” she said.

Sharjah Collection

Al Faya Retreat is part of the Sharjah Collection, a portfolio of seven properties that also includes Al Badayer Retreat, Kingfisher Retreat, Moon Retreat, Najd Al Meqsar, Al Rayaheen Retreat and Nomad.

Shurooq said Minor Hotels was scheduled to assume management and operation of the collection from October 2026. Minor Hotels announced in July that it had been appointed to manage and operate the seven-property portfolio.

Amir Golbarg, chief operating officer for the Middle East and Africa at Minor Hotels, said the hotel group would support the collection while retaining the individual character of each destination.

The expansion was announced during ATM 2026, which is being held at Dubai World Trade Centre from September 14 to 17.

Etihad Airways and Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s National Rail Network, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore opportunities to create a seamless air-rail travel experience across the UAE.

The partnership aims to make it easier for residents and visitors to connect between destinations across the country, while supporting tourism growth, economic diversification and sustainable transport, a WAM report said.

The agreement, signed during Arabian Travel Market, brings together two of the UAE’s key transport networks under a shared vision to develop a more integrated mobility ecosystem.

Airport and rail connectivity in focus

Under the MoU, the organisations will explore a range of initiatives aimed at simplifying travel and strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a gateway to the wider UAE.

One key area of focus will be opportunities to improve connectivity between Zayed International Airport and the Mohammed Bin Zayed City Passenger Station through dedicated shuttle services. The initiative would enable smoother transfers between the airport and the national railway network while enhancing multimodal travel integration.

Read more: Dubai to have four Etihad Rail stations across national and high-speed networks

The partnership will also examine the development of integrated air and rail booking experiences and station-based passenger services, with the aim of creating a more seamless end-to-end journey from the point of departure to the final destination.

Focus on tourism and economic growth

Arik De, chief revenue and commercial officer, Etihad Airways, said, “Etihad Airways plays a unique role in bringing millions of visitors to Abu Dhabi each year and our partnership with Etihad Rail reflects a shared ambition to strengthen the emirate’s position as a leading global destination.

“Through this partnership with Etihad Rail, we will explore new opportunities to link air travel with destinations across the UAE, supporting tourism growth, creating greater convenience for travellers and contributing to Abu Dhabi’s long-term economic development.”

Azza AlSuwaidi, chief operating officer, Etihad Rail, said, “The country continues to develop an integrated national transport system that keeps pace with its comprehensive development journey and supports its future ambitions, recognising that the future of transport lies in the integration of different modes of mobility.

“Since the launch of passenger rail services earlier this year, Etihad Rail has continued to strengthen the role of the national railway network in connecting cities and regions across the UAE, while providing a smoother mobility experience for residents and visitors.

“Our partnership with Etihad Airways represents a further step towards strengthening integration between rail and aviation, supporting the growth of the tourism sector, economic diversification and sustainable development across the UAE.”

Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company and India’s Adani Group have signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Odisha to explore 14 projects across sectors including critical minerals, renewable energy, healthcare, tourism and industrial infrastructure, the eastern Indian state said.

The proposed portfolio, valued at around INR2tn, also includes downstream metals, slurry pipelines, rare earths, chemicals and petrochemical derivatives, renewable energy equipment, skills development and sports infrastructure, according to the Odisha government.

The agreement was announced during Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s investment outreach in the UAE, which included meetings with IHC companies, investors and business groups aimed at expanding industrial and trade links.

Majhi held a roundtable with IHC executives and group companies in Abu Dhabi, where discussions focused on investment prospects and industrial cooperation, the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office said.

IHC chief executive and MD Syed Basar Shueb took part in the discussions.

The latest agreement builds on a separate MoU signed in July between Adani Enterprises and International Resources Holding, an IHC Group company through 2PointZero, to develop an integrated aluminium project in Odisha through a 50:50 joint venture.

That proposed project includes a four million metric tonnes per annum alumina refinery, a two million tonnes per annum aluminium smelter, a 4,000-megawatt captive power plant and a one million tonnes per annum downstream manufacturing park, Adani said.

During the latest UAE meetings, discussions also covered potential sites and further development of the aluminium project, according to the Odisha government.

Odisha separately engaged with the Indian Business and Professional Group in Abu Dhabi on strengthening trade, investment and industrial cooperation between the state and UAE-based businesses.

The state said discussions included opportunities to increase exports from Odisha and deepen commercial links with companies in the UAE.

Majhi also met Borouge chief executive Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi to discuss potential investment and downstream development in Odisha’s petrochemicals sector.

Odisha invited Borouge to explore development of a downstream chemicals complex that could potentially be linked to Indian Oil Corporation’s proposed naphtha cracker at Paradip, according to the state government.

Borouge reported revenue of $5.85bn for 2025, according to its full-year results.

The Odisha government also held discussions with UAE-based investment institutions on potential participation in infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships.

The 14-project MoU broadens the scope of Odisha’s engagement with IHC and Adani beyond the aluminium venture into sectors including critical minerals, chemicals, renewable energy, healthcare, tourism and industrial infrastructure.

Aster DM Healthcare has reached an agreement with Al Tawfeeq for Development and Investment (ATDI) to invest in International Modern Hospital (IMH) in Dubai, adding 116 beds and 39 outpatient clinics to its UAE healthcare network.

The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals. It forms part of Aster’s previously announced commitment to invest more than Dhs1bn in the UAE over the next five years as the company expands its primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary care operations.

International Modern Hospital, a multi-specialty facility in Al Mankhool, has operated in Dubai since 2005. The investment will expand Aster’s hospital network while bringing IMH’s existing operations into the group’s wider healthcare platform.

Deal adds capacity to Aster network

The addition of IMH will increase Aster Hospitals’ existing UAE capacity of 399 beds. The company said the transaction would strengthen its ability to serve patients through a broader combination of hospital services, outpatient care and specialist referrals.

Aster currently operates 10 hospitals, 112 clinics and 310 pharmacies in the UAE. Its network also includes technology-enabled healthcare platforms designed to support digital access and coordination between patients and providers.

Read more-Inside Aster’s expansion plan: Healthcare entity targets more than 100 UAE clinics by 2030

The transaction is expected to connect IMH with Aster’s hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and digital health services. The companies said this could improve access to specialists, expand referral pathways and support continuity of care for patients moving between different levels of treatment.

Dr Azad Moopen, founder chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, said the agreement reflected the company’s continued investment in the UAE.

“The UAE has been a key market for Aster, and our journey has been built on a strong commitment to supporting the country’s healthcare ambitions through investments, innovation, and partnerships,” he said.

“The addition of International Modern Hospital strengthens our presence in Dubai and aligns with our vision of expanding access to world-class healthcare while contributing to the UAE’s growing healthcare ecosystem.”

Focus on integration and patient access

IMH provides multidisciplinary medical services and has developed a presence in Dubai’s healthcare market over the past two decades. Under the agreement, Aster plans to combine the hospital’s existing capabilities with its own clinical, operational and digital infrastructure.

The companies said the integration would give patients access to a wider range of specialists and services. It is also expected to support more coordinated referrals between primary care clinics, hospitals and pharmacies.

Aster said the move would complement its broader UAE network and support its plans to build a more connected healthcare system. However, the companies did not disclose the value or financial terms of the transaction.

Alisha Moopen, MD and group CEO – GCC, Aster DM Healthcare, said the investment marked a new stage in the group’s UAE expansion.

“By integrating IMH’s established capabilities with Aster’s integrated healthcare ecosystem, we aim to enhance patient access, expand healthcare services, and create a more connected healthcare experience,” she said.

“This expansion reinforces our commitment to building a future-ready healthcare network driven by clinical excellence, technology, and patient-centric care.”

IMH legacy to continue

Aster said the investment would support the hospital’s existing operations while giving it access to the group’s broader healthcare resources. The company also pointed to the potential for greater use of digital health tools, expanded clinical expertise and stronger links between care providers.

Sherbaz Bichu, CEO – Aster Hospitals & Clinics, UAE, Oman & Bahrain, said the group would focus on maintaining IMH’s established reputation while strengthening its services.

“International Modern Hospital has built a strong reputation for quality healthcare delivery in Dubai,” he said. “As part of the Aster network, we look forward to combining our collective strengths, enhancing clinical capabilities, and ensuring continuity of care while delivering improved healthcare outcomes for patients.”

Mr. Aidroos said the agreement would allow IMH to enter its next phase while retaining its identity and reputation.

“Since its establishment in 2005 and its inauguration by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, International Modern Hospital has built a strong reputation for quality healthcare in Dubai,” he said.

“As we looked towards the next chapter of IMH, it was important for us to safeguard the hospital’s name, legacy and the quality of services we have built over the years.”

He added that ATDI selected Aster because of its regional presence, leadership and healthcare expertise. The investment, he said, would support IMH’s operations and service quality while preserving its legacy and contributing to the objectives of the Dubai Social Agenda 33.

The transaction remains subject to regulatory clearance. Once approved, it will represent one of the first steps in Aster’s planned Dhs1bn-plus investment programme for the UAE healthcare sector over the next five years.