Walking through Dubai’s historic Al Ras district soon could be a very different experience. Shaded paths, murals by local artists, and easy access to metro, bus, and even water transport are all part of a new plan to make the city easier to navigate on foot.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded the contract for Phase I of the Dubai Walk Master Plan in Al Ras.

The phase covers the development of the historic Al Ras Walkway, featuring 12 km of walkways and 5 km of cycling tracks, alongside the rehabilitation of 10 artistic spaces in coordination with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, with the participation of Emirati and local artists.

Key highlights of the ‘walkway’ plan

Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said the project supports Dubai’s wider goal of creating a “20-minute city” under the Dubai Urban Plan 2040, where more than 80 per cent of essential services are accessible within a 20-minute journey.

“The plan enhances pedestrian safety, strengthens connections between districts, and integrates cultural and creative elements into walkways,” Al Tayer said. “It also gives young people a chance to contribute ideas to the design of these public spaces.”
Connecting heritage sites and transport

The walkway will link key landmarks, including Al Ahmadiya School, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, Al Fahidi Fort, and the Al Shindagha Historic District.

It will connect to 11 metro, bus, and marine stations, making it easier for residents and visitors to use public transport.

The design preserves the area’s historic character while improving the pedestrian experience.

Pavements will be widened, shading and seating added, green spaces expanded, and wayfinding systems installed.

Advanced lighting will highlight the district’s heritage, while interactive installations and artwork will make the walk more engaging.

Part of wider master plan to support pedestrian movement

Phase I is part of a wider Dubai Walk Pedestrian Master Plan that aims to create more than 6,000km of walkways across 160 areas by 2040, supported by 110 pedestrian bridges and underpasses.

The goal is to increase walking and soft mobility trips from 16 per cent in 2025 to 25 per cent by 2040.

Planned bridges on Al Ittihad Street, Tripoli Street, Al Khawaneej Street, and Dubai–Al Ain Road will improve connections between key districts.

The walkways will include landscaping, misting systems, digital wayfinding, recreational and fitness equipment, rest areas, and commercial spaces, while maintaining barrier-free access.

The UAE is set to experience unsettled weather conditions starting Sunday, with cloudy skies, a drop in temperatures and chances of rainfall across several areas, according to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM).

In its latest forecast, the NCM said March 23 will be partly cloudy to cloudy, with the formation of convective clouds that may bring rainfall over scattered parts of the country. The change in weather is also expected to lead to a noticeable decrease in temperatures, a WAM report said.

Read more-UAE weather forecast: Rain, thunderstorms and a chance of hail

Winds will be southeasterly to northeasterly, light to moderate in speed, but are expected to become active to strong at times, especially with cloud activity. Wind speeds will range between 10 and 25 km/hr, reaching up to 45 km/hr in stronger gusts. These conditions may cause blowing dust and sand, leading to reduced horizontal visibility in some areas.

Sea conditions are also expected to fluctuate. The Arabian Gulf will see slight to moderate waves, becoming rough at times with cloud activity. Similarly, the Oman Sea will experience slight to moderate waves, with rough conditions developing intermittently.

Intermittent rainfall forecast across the week

The NCM has also indicated that the UAE will be affected by a broader weather system beginning Sunday and continuing through March 27, bringing rainfall of varying intensity at intermittent intervals.

“Rainfall of varying intensity will occur at intermittent intervals, affecting several areas across the country,” the NCM said in a statement.

According to the forecast, rain is expected Sunday afternoon over northeastern areas, Al Ain and southern regions. By nighttime, rainfall may extend to western and southern areas and further into inland regions.

On Monday, scattered rainfall is likely across the country during the daytime, followed by precipitation over northern and eastern regions, including Al Ain, at night. Tuesday’s forecast points to rainfall over northern, eastern and southern areas during the day, with conditions extending at night to western, coastal and island areas.

Midweek changes before gradual easing

Rainfall is expected to continue into Wednesday, occurring at intervals across the UAE during the day. Eastern regions and Al Ain may experience additional rainfall at night, although the chances are expected to gradually decrease later in the night.

On Thursday, the morning is likely to see a lower probability of rainfall. However, conditions may intensify again by the afternoon, particularly over northern and eastern regions and Al Ain, before extending to coastal areas, islands and western regions overnight.

By Friday, rainfall is forecast across scattered areas of the country during the daytime. Showers are expected to begin over islands and coastal regions before moving inland, covering most parts of the UAE.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledged on Sunday to further open up the economy and fully implement national treatment for foreign enterprises, as the country seeks to reassure the outside world amid rising global trade tensions.

China will focus on promoting high-quality development and continue to create a favourable business environment so that companies coming to China can develop with confidence and achieve great success, Li told the China Development Forum in Beijing, state media reported.

The annual two-day forum, which concludes on Monday, serves as a platform for Beijing to promote its economic trajectory and investment opportunities to foreign business leaders, Chinese officials, economists and academics.

This year’s gathering comes as the world’s second-biggest economy faces rising tensions with major trading partners over last year’s record $1.2tn trade surplus.

It also precedes an expected visit from US President Donald Trump, who postponed a trip originally planned for late March due to the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Senior executives attending include those from Apple, Samsung Electronics, Volkswagen, chipmaker Broadcom Inc, industrial conglomerate Siemens, chemical producer BASF and pharmaceuticals firm Novartis.

No Japanese company executives were listed on the guest list on the forum’s website.

China says it’s committed to ‘certainty’ and ‘stability’

Li said China would import more high-quality goods and work with trading partners to promote balanced trade development and expand the global trade pie, describing China as committed to being a “cornerstone of certainty” and “harbour of stability” for the world economy.

He said opening up and technological progress were needed to create new markets.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, led tributes across the UAE on Mother’s Day, announcing a symbolic yet powerful shift in how mothers are recognised in official terminology.

“Mothers are the first school for their children, the place where children learn belonging, responsibility and the values that shape strong nations,” Sheikh Hamdan said in a post on his official X account.

Marking the occasion, he directed the Community Development Authority to adopt the title “Generation Shaper” in place of “housewife,” underscoring the profound societal role mothers play.

“To all our mothers… Thank you. You are the foundation of everything good. Happy Mother’s Day,” he added.

Mothers as pillars of stability and values

Echoing this sentiment, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, widely known as the “Mother of the Nation,” highlighted the enduring influence of mothers in shaping cohesive and resilient societies.

In a statement reported by WAM, she said that the responsible giving of mothers forms “a cornerstone of stability” and reflects deeply rooted values that prepare future generations to take on responsibility with confidence.

“On Mother’s Day, I extend my sincerest feelings of appreciation to every mother in the UAE and around the world,” she said, recognising their vital role in building both families and broader society.

She described mothers as the “foundation upon which tranquility in homes is built” and the starting point for a child’s awareness and sense of belonging.

Health and wellbeing rooted in motherhood

Further reinforcing the central role of mothers, Mansoor Al Mansoori, chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, emphasised their influence on family health and wellbeing.

“Mothers are the first guardians of family health, shaping behaviours, guiding decisions, and building the resilience of future generations,” he said.

He noted that as the UAE marks the Year of the Family, the importance of strong familial foundations, anchored by mothers, has become even more evident.

“In times of uncertainty, this role becomes even more critical,” Al Mansoori added, praising mothers across Abu Dhabi for providing stability, care and reassurance aligned with the nation’s healthcare principles.

He reaffirmed the department’s commitment to equipping mothers with the knowledge and services needed to sustain their essential role within families and communities.

Across official statements, a clear theme emerged: mothers are not only caregivers but nation-builders whose influence extends far beyond the home.

From shaping values and identity to safeguarding health and stability, the UAE’s leadership collectively recognised mothers as the backbone of society, deserving of both gratitude and elevated recognition.

Global trade growth is expected to slow in 2026 after a stronger-than-anticipated expansion in 2025, with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East posing a significant downside risk through higher energy prices and supply chain disruptions, the World Trade Organization said on Wednesday.

In its latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report, the WTO said global merchandise trade growth is projected to ease to 1.9 per cent in 2026, down from 4.6 per cent in 2025, as a surge in demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-related goods fades, and trade flows normalise.

The Geneva-based body warned that sustained increases in energy prices linked to the conflict could further reduce trade growth, with goods trade potentially slowing to as little as 1.4 per cent under a high-energy-price scenario.

AI-led rebound fades

Trade growth in 2025 was driven by strong demand for AI-enabling products, which helped offset the impact of tariffs and policy uncertainty.

According to the WTO, trade in AI-related goods rose 21.9 per cent year-on-year to $4.18tn, accounting for 42 per cent of global trade growth despite representing a relatively small share of overall trade.

This surge, alongside front-loaded imports ahead of tariff increases, pushed global merchandise trade growth above earlier expectations in 2025.

However, economists say these temporary factors are unlikely to persist at the same scale.

Baseline outlook points to moderation

Under the WTO’s baseline scenario, which excludes major energy shocks, merchandise trade growth is forecast at 1.9 per cent in 2026, before picking up to 2.6 per cent in 2027.

Commercial services trade is also expected to moderate, growing 4.8 per cent in 2026 after 5.3 per cent in 2025, before accelerating to 5.1 per cent in 2027.

Combined goods and services trade is projected to grow 2.7 per cent in 2026, compared with 4.7 per cent in 2025, while global GDP growth is expected to edge down slightly from 2.9 per cent in 2025 to 2.8 per cent in 2026 and 2027.

WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the outlook reflects underlying resilience but is increasingly vulnerable to geopolitical shocks.

She cautioned that rising energy costs could increase pressure on consumers and businesses and pose risks to global food security.

Energy and supply chain risks

The WTO said elevated oil and gas prices could reduce global GDP growth by 0.3 percentage points and cut trade growth by 0.5 percentage points, with sharper impacts in energy-importing regions.

The conflict has disrupted critical trade routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy and commodity flows.

Shipping and air transport disruptions have increased costs and added uncertainty for global supply chains.

The report also highlighted risks to fertiliser supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which are critical to global agriculture. Disruptions could affect agricultural production and food prices globally.

Services trade is also under pressure, with transport and travel disruptions weighing on growth. In a high energy price scenario, services trade growth could slow to 4.1 per cent in 2026, down from the baseline projection.

Regional outlook and policy landscape

Regionally, Asia is expected to lead merchandise import growth in 2026 at 3.3 per cent, followed by Africa at 3.2 per cent and South America at 2.5 per cent, while growth in Europe and the Middle East is forecast to remain subdued.

On the export side, Asia and South America are projected to post the strongest gains at 3.5 per cent, while Middle East export growth is expected to slow sharply to 0.6 per cent.

The WTO added that despite policy shifts and tariff adjustments, the multilateral trading system remains largely intact, with 72 per cent of global trade still conducted under most-favoured-nation terms as of early 2026.

Upside potential remains

Despite the weaker outlook, the WTO said there is scope for stronger trade growth if the conflict in the Middle East eases and demand for AI-related goods remains robust.

In such a scenario, merchandise trade growth could be boosted by 0.5 percentage points, reaching as high as 2.4 per cent in 2026.
However, the WTO said these factors were unlikely to continue at the same pace.

Overall, the body said the trajectory for global trade will depend on geopolitical developments, energy market trends and the sustainability of technology-driven demand, urging policymakers to maintain predictable trade policies and strengthen supply chain resilience.