Dubai Police have intensified efforts to safeguard the community, issuing a series of warnings highlighting the growing risks emerging from social media misuse. The advisories, aimed at families, young people, and residents, underline how online platforms are increasingly being exploited in ways that threaten both personal safety and financial security.

As digital engagement continues to surge, authorities say vigilance and awareness are now essential to maintaining public safety.

Dubai Police have issued a strong warning to parents, teenagers, and young people about the growing spread of so-called deadly challenges on social media platforms, which pose a serious threat to lives.

Deadly social media challenges raise alarm

These challenges, often promoted as online trends, involve extremely dangerous behaviours among children and adolescents. They include acts such as skull breaking, choking, breath holding, and other reckless practices that can lead to severe injuries or death, a Dubai Police Media report said.

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Dubai Police explained that these challenges often attract teenagers seeking excitement or online attention, without fully understanding the serious consequences. Similar challenges in other countries have already resulted in critical injuries and fatalities.

The force stressed that parents and guardians play a vital role in protecting their children by raising awareness and closely monitoring online activity. Families are urged to speak openly with their children about the dangers of imitating harmful content shared on social media and to help them resist peer pressure or the desire for online popularity.

Dubai Police also called on the community to report any dangerous or inappropriate behaviour. Reports can be made by calling the Dubai Police Contact Centre on 901 or through the ‘Police Eye’ service available on the Dubai Police smart application.

Fraudulent recruitment ads target residents

In a separate but related warning, Dubai Police also cautioned residents against fraudulent recruitment advertisements circulating on social media platforms. The Anti-Fraud Centre, within the General Department of Criminal Investigation, said scammers are increasingly posing as recruitment and placement services for domestic workers and auxiliary staff in an effort to illicitly obtain money.

The Anti-Fraud Centre urged residents seeking domestic help to deal exclusively with licensed and accredited recruitment offices within the UAE. Authorities strongly advised against transferring funds to individuals or entities promoting recruitment services outside official legal channels.

According to Dubai Police, adhering to approved procedures is the only way to ensure the legal rights of all parties involved, the employer, the worker, and the agency, are fully protected.

#BewareofFraud campaign intensifies

The warning forms part of the ongoing #BewareofFraud campaign, which aims to strengthen public awareness and vigilance against evolving criminal tactics. Dubai Police reiterated the importance of verifying the legitimacy of service providers before sharing personal information or making payments.

To help maintain a safe and secure community, the Anti-Fraud Centre encouraged residents to report suspicious online activity immediately. Reports can be made through official channels, including the Dubai Police smart application, the eCrime platform dedicated to cybercrime reporting, or by contacting the police call centre on 901 for non-emergency inquiries.

General Motors (GM) Africa and Middle East has announced a series of leadership appointments across its finance and communications functions, reinforcing the company’s focus on long-term growth, transformation and closer engagement with customers and partners across the region.

Effective 1 March, Azam Akhtar will assume the role of chief financial officer (CFO), succeeding Chad Wellman. Wellman will transition to a global position as finance director of Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, Financial Planning and Analysis, and Logistics.

Separately, from January 19, GM Africa and Middle East will welcome Monica Barten as head of communications. She succeeds Ronald Balit, who has moved into a new role within GM Middle East Product Marketing.

Commenting on the leadership changes, Jack Uppal, president and managing director of General Motors Africa and Middle East, said: “Strong leadership is central to delivering our regional ambitions. These appointments further strengthen our leadership team, combining regional insight with global expertise. They position us to support growth, transformation, and innovation across Africa and the Middle East.”

Akhtar brings more than a decade of experience at GM, having worked across Global Product Programs, Advanced Vehicle Development, Global Manufacturing, Treasury, and Commercial Financial Planning and Analysis.

“I’m honored and at the same time excited to take on this role as a new challenge. Africa and the Middle East is a strategically important region for GM, and I look forward to supporting sustainable growth, financial strength, and the company’s transformation journey,” said Akhtar.

As head of communications, Barten will oversee the region’s communications strategy, aligning it closely with business priorities while strengthening both corporate and brand reputation. She brings more than a decade of Middle East experience and a global career that includes leadership roles at Visa, Standard Chartered Bank, and Philip Morris International.

“I’m excited to join General Motors at such a pivotal time for the company. GM’s legacy, innovation leadership, and bold ambitions for the future present a unique opportunity. The team has built tremendous momentum in recent years, and I look forward to helping shape the next chapter of the GM story in the region.” said Barten.

As GM marks more than 100 years of automotive operations across Africa and the Middle East, the company continues to advance personal autonomous technologies and digital services through its vehicle brands, including Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac.

Abu Dhabi has retained its position as the world’s safest city for the tenth consecutive year since 2017, according to an international report released by Numbeo, one of the world’s largest cost of living databases and a crowdsourced global resource for quality of life data.

The sustained top ranking underscores Abu Dhabi’s global leadership in consolidating security, stability, and quality of life. It further reinforces the emirate’s standing as a premier international destination for living, working, and investment, a WAM report said.

The recognition reflects Abu Dhabi’s consistent focus on building a secure and resilient urban environment. Safety and stability have increasingly become key indicators for international investors and businesses when assessing new markets, and Abu Dhabi’s decade-long performance highlights the effectiveness of its long-term strategies.

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Lieutenant General Ahmed Saif bin Zaitoon Al Muhairi, commander-in-chief of Abu Dhabi Police, said the achievement is the result of a wise leadership vision and the continued support of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He attributed the ranking to an integrated institutional approach and the dedicated, round-the-clock efforts of Abu Dhabi Police personnel.

He noted that these efforts are reinforced by advanced proactive strategies, the smart deployment of modern technologies and artificial intelligence, and a strong community partnership that serves as the first line of defence in safeguarding societal security and stability.

Technology, partnerships drive long-term results

Al Muhairi stressed that the strategy reflects a comprehensive approach focused on developing human capabilities, strengthening institutional partnerships, and empowering the community through awareness and participation. This is supported by sustained investment in advanced technologies and smart systems that enhance decision-making and public safety, aligning with global best practices and delivering high levels of community reassurance.

Major General Sheikh Mohammed bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, director general of Abu Dhabi Police, said the global ranking embodies the success of a leadership vision that places human security at the core of sustainable development.

He added that this vision has contributed to building a safe and attractive environment for living, working, and investment, firmly positioning Abu Dhabi as a leading global model in urban security and quality of life.

The recognition, he said, reflects Abu Dhabi Police’s commitment to continued development and innovation, strengthening confidence among residents and visitors in the emirate’s advanced security systems and policing services.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has received the first batch of 250 buses under a wider contract to procure 735 multi-size buses compliant with the Euro 6 low-carbon emissions standard, marking a significant expansion of the emirate’s public transport fleet.

The initial delivery includes 40 electric buses, the largest such procurement in the UAE to date and the first time electric buses will be deployed on Dubai’s urban routes.

The remaining buses under the contract are scheduled for delivery later in 2026, the RTA said.

RTA DG and chairman Mattar Al Tayer inspected the Zhongtong electric bus, which has been customised for Dubai’s operating conditions.

Electric buses: Capacity and range

The 12-metre bus has a range of up to 280 kilometres on a single charge, allowing it to complete daily operations without returning to depots for recharging. It is equipped with a 434 kilowatt-hour battery and uses a 360 kilowatt ABB charging system.

The bus can carry up to 70 passengers and is fitted with a 360-degree camera system. It has undergone more than three months of testing in Dubai, during which trials showed stable electric propulsion performance, efficient energy consumption and reliable operation of safety-critical systems including battery cooling, braking and air conditioning.

The RTA said the trials resulted in a 95 per cent satisfaction rate among drivers and passengers.

Al Tayer said the procurement supports Dubai’s broader strategy to expand sustainable public transport and accommodate rising ridership, in line with the Dubai Urban Plan 2040 and national climate objectives.

He said the number of electric buses operating across the emirate would increase gradually as part of the UAE’s goal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33, which aims to strengthen the emirate’s position as a global urban economy.

The procurement also supports the RTA’s Zero-Emission Public Transport Strategy 2050, which targets the conversion of all buses, taxis and limousine vehicles to zero-emission operations, with public transport buses transitioning fully to electric and hydrogen power by mid-century.

Beyond the electric fleet, the contract includes 549 city-service buses, comprising 400 MAN buses and 149 Zhongtong buses, all fitted with Euro 6 engines.

It also covers 76 Volvo double-decker buses and 70 articulated Isuzu Anadolu buses, aimed at serving high-density routes and newly developed areas.

New buses to have high-tech systems to track drivers’ behaviour

Most of the new buses are equipped with driver behaviour monitoring systems, automated passenger counting, and driver identity authentication technology, the RTA said.

The vehicles feature low-floor access for passengers with disabilities, dedicated seating for children, bicycle spaces, Wi-Fi, mobile phone charging points and interior layouts designed to improve accessibility and comfort.

The authority said it has also adopted a standardised fuel-consumption testing protocol, the first of its kind in the Gulf region, to improve operational efficiency and environmental performance.

President Donald Trump on Saturday vowed to implement a wave of increasing tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to buy Greenland, escalating a row over the future of Denmark’s vast Arctic island.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said additional 10 per cent import tariffs would take effect on February 1 on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Great Britain — all already subject to tariffs imposed by Trump.

Those tariffs would increase to 25 per cent on June 1 and would continue until a deal was reached for the US to purchase Greenland, Trump wrote.

Trump has repeatedly insisted he will settle for nothing less than ownership of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. Leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have insisted the island is not for sale and does not want to be part of the United States.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll of US residents this week found that less than one in five respondents support the idea of acquiring Greenland.

Trump wants greenland for security, minerals

The president has repeatedly said Greenland is vital to US security because of its strategic location and large mineral deposits, and has not ruled out using force to take it. European nations this week sent military personnel to the island at Denmark’s request.

“These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable,” Trump wrote.

Protesters in Denmark and Greenland demonstrated on Saturday against Trump’s demands and called for the territory to be left to determine its own future.

The countries named by Trump on Saturday have backed Denmark, warning that the US military seizure of a territory in NATO could collapse the military alliance that Washington leads.

“The president’s announcement comes as a surprise,” Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in a statement.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was unusually blunt in condemning Trump’s threat, saying on X that his country would raise the issue directly with Washington.

“Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong,” Starmer said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said in separate but identical posts on X that the European Union stood in “full solidarity” with Denmark and Greenland.

“Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty,” they said.

Officials from Norway, Sweden, France and Germany reiterated support for Denmark on Saturday and said tariffs should not be part of Greenland discussions.

Cyprus, which currently holds the EU presidency, said it has called for an emergency meeting of ambassadors from the union’s 27 countries on Sunday.

Trade deals under threat?

Saturday’s threat could derail tentative deals Trump struck last year with the European Union and Great Britain. The deals included baseline levies of 15 per cent on imports from Europe and 10 per cent on most British goods.

“The biggest danger, it seems to me, is his decision to treat some EU countries different from others,” said William Reinsch, a trade expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “I’m not surprised … It may well convince the European Parliament that it is pointless to approve the trade agreement with the US, since Trump is already bypassing it.”

Trump floated the general idea of tariffs over Greenland on Friday, without citing a legal basis for doing so. Tariffs have become his weapon of choice in seeking to compel American adversaries and allies alike to meet his demands.

He said this week he would put 25 per cent tariffs on any country trading with Iran as that country suppressed anti-government protests, though there has been no official documentation from the White House of the policy on its website, nor information about the legal authority Trump would use.

The US Supreme Court has heard arguments on the legality of Trump’s sweeping tariffs, and any decision by the top US judicial body would have major implications on the global economy and US presidential powers.

The encroaching presence of China and Russia makes Greenland vital to US security interests, Trump has said. Danish and other European officials have pointed out that Greenland is already covered by NATO’s collective security pact.

A US military base, Pituffik Space Base, is already in Greenland, with around 200 personnel, and a 1951 agreement allows the United States to deploy as many forces as it wants in the Danish territory.

That has led many European officials to conclude that Trump is motivated more by a desire to expand US territory than by security concerns.

“China and Russia must be having a field day. They are the ones who benefit from divisions among allies,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X in response to Trump’s threat.

Some US senators also pushed back. “Continuing down this path is bad for America, bad for American businesses and bad for America’s allies,” Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, bipartisan co-chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group, said in a statement.

Europeans should not react hastily to Trump’s tariff threat, said Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING Research.

“Just ignore it and wait and see,” Brzeski told Reuters. “Europe has shown that it will not accept everything, and so the tariffs are actually already a step forward compared to the threatened military invasion.”

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