Dubai Taxi Company (DTC), a leading provider of mobility solutions in the UAE, and its strategic partner Bolt have signed a partnership agreement with Arabia Taxi, a subsidiary of Economic Group Holdings, to integrate the company’s fleet into the Bolt platform.

The agreement marks another step in DTC’s strategy to expand smart mobility services and deliver a more seamless ride-hailing experience across Dubai.

Read more-Dubai Taxi Company adds 600 taxis, pushes market share to 47%

Under the agreement, Arabia Taxi’s fleet of 1,607 taxis will join the Bolt platform, expanding the pool of available vehicles while improving fleet utilisation and service reliability. The integration is expected to boost vehicle availability during periods of high demand, reduce estimated arrival times (ETAs) and give customers a faster, more convenient booking experience.

The partnership also strengthens Bolt’s presence in Dubai’s mobility ecosystem while supporting DTC’s ambition to develop a more connected, technology-enabled transportation network for residents and visitors.

Leaders highlight customer focus

Commenting on the partnership, Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi, Group CEO of Dubai Taxi Company, said: “At Dubai Taxi Company, every expansion of our mobility network is ultimately about delivering a better experience for our customers. By integrating Arabia Taxi’s fleet onto the Bolt platform, we are supporting this foundation. As demand for app-based mobility continues to grow, partnerships such as this reinforce our ability to scale efficiently while supporting Dubai’s vision of becoming one of the world’s smartest and most connected cities.”

Rawoof Ali, executive director of Arabia Taxi, added: “Joining the Bolt platform through this partnership with Dubai Taxi Company marks an important milestone for Arabia Taxi. It enables our fleet and drivers to connect with a broader customer base through a leading digital mobility platform while enhancing the efficiency of our operations. We look forward to working closely with DTC and Bolt to deliver a high-quality, reliable service that meets the expectations of passengers across Dubai.”

Expanding Dubai’s mobility network

The agreement marks another step in DTC’s strategy to strengthen its network across the emirate and expand partnerships with private taxi operators. The move further reinforces DTC’s position as a major mobility provider while supporting Bolt’s continued growth in Dubai’s competitive ride-hailing market.

The addition of Arabia Taxi’s fleet is expected to give Bolt greater capacity to respond to customer demand, particularly during busy periods, while helping create a more efficient and connected urban transport network.

The UAE has halted all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice amid heightened regional tensions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement overnight.

Afra Al Hameli, Director of the Strategic Communications Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), announced the move while rejecting what she described as allegations concerning the status of economic relations between the UAE and Iran.

Al Hameli said the decision comes against the backdrop of regional escalations that are undermining peace and security in the Middle East and internationally.

“All trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran have been halted until further notice,” the ministry said.

Despite the suspension of economic ties, Al Hameli reiterated the UAE’s commitment to dialogue, cooperation and greater regional integration, describing them as essential tools for promoting peace, stability and prosperity.

The announcement marks a significant development in economic relations between the neighbouring countries, which have historically maintained substantial commercial links despite political tensions in the region.

Al Hameli also stressed that the UAE remains committed to protecting the integrity of the international financial system and ensuring its policies comply with international law and the highest global standards.

The statement comes amid a sharp deterioration in regional security and growing tensions between the UAE and Iran. On Tuesday, the UAE issued missile alerts to residents and citizens following what authorities said were two projectiles aimed at the country from Iran.

Read more: UPDATE: UAE issues alert for missile threats after NCEMA detects threat

UAE residents received an emergency alert on Tuesday asking them to seek shelter in a safe place amid “potential missile threats.”

NCEMA said that UAE air defence forces detected a missile threat targeting the country. A few minutes later, a safety alert was issued indicating the situation has returned to normal again.

Later on Tuesday, the UAE Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems detected two ballistic missiles fired from Iran towards the country.

According to the ministry, the first missile landed outside UAE territorial waters, while the second came down within the country’s territorial waters.

There have been several key developments following this event. Follow our coverage here:

• Read more: UAE halts all trade with Iran until further notice
• Read more: Anwar Gargash slams false rumours over Iran financial aid, UAE residency visa cancellations

du, the leading telecom and digital services provider, has announced the launch of a large-scale Agentic AI upskilling initiative under its du Business portfolio, aimed at empowering 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UAE.

The programme will give SME business owners and their teams free access to the knowledge, tools and practical capabilities needed to adopt Agentic AI and accelerate their digital transformation and AI adoption journeys.

Turning AI knowledge into practical skills

The initiative is built around a “learning by doing” philosophy, moving beyond theoretical awareness to deliver immersive, hands-on training grounded in real-world AI applications and business use cases.

Read more-New boost for entrepreneurs in UAE: du brings digital-first connectivity to ‘SME in a Box’

Designed around the principle that Agentic AI should be practical and usable for businesses regardless of their technical background, the program aims to remove the complexity often associated with AI adoption. It will make the technology more accessible to SMEs of different sizes and sectors, while helping them build the capabilities needed to compete in a digital-first economy.

For many participants, the initiative will represent their first practical exposure to Agentic AI tools and workflows. By bridging the gap between AI awareness and actual adoption, the program will equip SMEs with skills they can apply from day one to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, enhance customer engagement and strengthen their competitiveness.

Phased rollout to expand SME access

The training program will be delivered in phases to support the continued onboarding of SMEs over time. du Business also plans to expand delivery online and to additional venues to maximise accessibility and reach across the UAE.

The company will provide specialist trainers, curated training modules and Agentic AI expertise aligned with global best practices in SME digital enablement. The approach is intended to help business owners and their teams move from understanding AI concepts to applying them to everyday business challenges.

Karim Benkirane, chief commercial officer at du, said: “We believe Agentic AI has the power to transform SMEs, and we want every business in the UAE to have the tools and confidence to make that transformation a reality. Through du Business, this initiative reflects our commitment to being a hands-on digital transformation partner, offering 10,000 SMEs free, practical AI training that goes into real application. We are making Agentic AI accessible, actionable, and achievable for businesses of every size across the UAE.”

Supporting the UAE’s AI ambitions

By building tangible, future-ready capabilities within the SME community, du Business aims to contribute to a more resilient, innovative and competitive business ecosystem equipped to harness the potential of an AI-driven economy.

The initiative further strengthens du’s role in the UAE’s AI and innovation ecosystem, supporting the UAE’s vision of becoming a global leader in AI and digital innovation, while reinforcing du Business’s position as a partner for SMEs at every stage of their digital transformation journey.

Abu Dhabi’s Offlimits music festival has postponed its 2026 edition, with organisers confirming the event will return next year.

The festival announced the decision in a notice posted on its social media channels, saying all ticket holders would receive automatic refunds through the original platforms used to make their purchases.

No reason was provided for the postponement.

“We look forward to welcoming you to next edition of Offlimits in 2027,” the statement added, with organisers saying further details would be announced at a later date.

This year’s festival had been scheduled to take place at Etihad Park on Yas Island on November 21, with Colombian superstar Shakira set to headline.

The line-up also included Jonas Brothers, NE-YO, Biffy Clyro, KALEO, Myles Smith, Scouting for Girls and Toploader.

Regional artists Bayou, Yara Mustafa and YAZ had also been due to perform.

The postponement marks the second major change to the festival’s 2026 plans.

Offlimits was initially scheduled for April 4, before organisers moved it to November amid heightened regional tensions.

At the time, the festival said the postponement was intended to ensure the event could be staged safely and successfully.

Offlimits made its debut in Abu Dhabi on April 26, 2025, with British singer Ed Sheeran topping the bill.

The inaugural event also featured OneRepublic, Faithless, Kaiser Chiefs and Artbat.

Staged at Etihad Park with a capacity of around 32,000 people, Offlimits was billed as the UAE’s first open-format music festival, bringing together artists from pop, rock, electronic and other genres on a single bill.

Organisers also described it as the UAE’s largest single-day music event.

Details on dates, performers and ticketing for the 2027 edition have yet to be announced.