News

While it’s safe to say the global COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been easy on anyone, in many ways it has brought people closer together.
It’s something HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has seen throughout the last few months and has praised the Dubai community, which also includes citizens and residents, for coming together during the pandemic.

In a recent statement, the Crown Prince of Dubai said he has been in awe of the “remarkable cohesiveness” that has emerged.
“The solidarity displayed by various social stakeholders in Dubai in the face of the COVID-19 crisis will be remembered by generations to come,” he said. “The remarkable cohesiveness demonstrated by the community and their commitment to meet their social responsibilities is something the world will recognise as an example of how a progressive society should respond to a crisis like this.”

.@HamdanMohammed: The remarkable cohesiveness demonstrated by the community and their commitment to meet their social responsibilities is something the world will recognize as an example of how a progressive society should respond to a crisis like this.
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 14, 2020

Along with this, Sheikh Hamdan also gave thanks to those who took part in the Community Solidarity Fund Against COVID-19 which, according to WAM, has channelled more than Dhs343 million into humanitarian efforts to support those most affected by the pandemic in Dubai, whether that be socially, economically or for health reasons.
“We thank all those who contributed to this collective effort including individuals, corporates, charities and various other organisations that helped weather the challenges brought by the crisis,” he said.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Images: Sheikh Hamdan Twitter More

As she prepares to become a grandmother for the first time, it appears Yolanda Hadid is getting nostalgic.
The Dutch-American TV personality recently took to Instagram to share an adorable throwback photo with her three supermodel children – Gigi, 25, Bella, 23, and Anwar, 21.

In the sweet photograph, the mum-of-three is seen holding a baby Anwar on her lap with a young Gigi and a young Bella on either side of her.

Hadid also sweetly captioned the photo saying that motherhood was her “greatest accomplishment in life”.
The 56-year-old is set to become a grandmother for the first time in a matter of months as her eldest child Gigi is expecting her first child with boyfriend Zayn Malik.
Back in April, Hadid told Dutch broadcaster RTL she was “thrilled” about becoming a grandmother.
“I can’t wait to become a grandmother,” she told the outlet, and also added her supermodel daughter was due to give birth in September.
“It is quite special, since I lost my own mother so recently,” she added. “That is the beauty of life: one soul is leaving us and another is coming. We feel very blessed.”
The news about Gigi’s pregnancy was leaked by the press. During an appearance The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon a couple of months ago, the supermodel admitted she would have liked to reveal the news on her “own terms”, but also thanked everyone for their congratulations.
“Obviously, we wish we could’ve announced it on our own terms, but we’re very excited and happy and grateful for everyone’s well wishes and support,” the 25-year-old said.
It’s been reported Gigi and Zayn, 27, are expecting a girl, but neither of them has officially confirmed the gender.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Image: Yolanda Hadid Instagram, Feature Image: Getty More

As the world of travel has been largely frozen for the last few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, things for the industry beginning to pick up not only here in the UAE, but around the globe.
Many countries in Europe including Spain and Italy have opened their borders and regularly scheduled flights are also increasing.

In another sign of good news for travel in the UAE, it appears there’s plenty of people around the globe keen to visit the region.
According to new data which was analysed by luxury travel group Kuoni Travel, which is based in the UK, the UAE ranked number one on the most-searched-for destinations around the world.

“To uncover 2021’s most dreamed of destinations, we reviewed data for 131 countries around the world, including the UK, to discover which countries travellers are searching for on Google for next year,” the travel group stated.

The #UAE is 1st on a ranking of the world’s most searched-for destinations globally, showing the most popular holiday destinations for 2021, according to worldwide data analysed by UK-based luxury travel group @KuoniTravelUK. pic.twitter.com/fuLPrOP58k
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 12, 2020

While the UAE came out on top, it was followed by Canada, the USA and Qatar which all ranked joint second in the google search rankings analysed by the luxury travel group. Completing the top five most searched countries was Egypt.
In perfect timing with the UAE’s top-ranking, Dubai recently opened its borders to tourists.
Dubai is welcoming tourists with open arms as borders reopen, with visitors receiving a new sticker on their passports was unveiled reading, “A warm welcome to your second home.”
Speaking on borders reopening to visitors, Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA-Dubai, said tourists were “always welcome”.
“We welcome all tourists and visitors to the country through Dubai Airports,” he said. “They are always welcome in their second country and we are ready to facilitate their procedures based on the highest levels of safety.”
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: Visit Dubai Instagram More

There’s nothing better than seeing incredible women coming together for an incredible cause, especially if it includes powerhouse women like Priyanka Chopra, Meghan Markle and Michelle Obama.
The trio, along with other notable names, are set to take part in Girl Up Leadership Summit, set to take place from July 13 to 15.

Obama is set to open the event on behalf of the Girls Opportunity Alliance with a message to young female leaders and gender equality activists, two things the former First Lady is incredibly passionate about.

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex, who is currently residing in Los Angeles with husband Prince Harry, is set to deliver a keynote speech.
Other notable names who will also be speaking throughout the digital summit includes Chopra, Nadia Murad, an Iraqi human rights activist and the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer and Mlambo-Ngcuka, director of UN Women.
With all these amazing women speaking, it’s certainly something you’re going to want to tune into.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: Getty More

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, joined Twitter 11 years ago, and for the first time since joining the social media platform the Ruler of Dubai has changed his profile photo and it’s for a very important reason.
Leading the charge ahead of the launch of the Hope Probe on Wednesday, July 15, Sheikh Mohammed changed his profile photo, along with many other senior officials and government entities, to promote what will be a history-making moment for the region.

The profile photo which His Highness’ 10.3 million followers will now see is of the Hope Probe 2020 logo, along with the tagline ‘Arabs to Mars’.
Following suit from Sheikh Mohammed, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, also changed their profile photos.

#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/5glJSk8Q1y
— Hope Mars Mission (@HopeMarsMission) July 11, 2020

Other government entities also followed suit in changing their photos to support the promotion of the Hope Probe including the Dubai Media Office, Dubai Police, Ministry of Education,  General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai, the Dubai Road and Transport Authority and more.

The Hope Probe is being spearheaded by the UAE in order to gain a full picture on what the atmosphere of Mars is like. Once the probe reaches the planet some time in 2021, data will be collected over a two-year period, but this could be extended by another two years meaning the Hope Probe has the potential to be in space until 2025.
Speaking ahead of the launch of the probe yesterday, Emirati engineer Hamad Al Hazmi explained to Gulf News the Mars Mission has opened a “new horizon” for the United Arab Emirates.
“No one would have thought that an Arab or Islamic country would reach this level,” he said. “The UAE has opened a new horizon and we are proud of this achievement.”
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: Sheikh Mohammed Twitter  More

Gigi Hadid has been keeping her pregnancy private since the news broke back in April, and it appears her father, Mohamed Hadid, is also helping her uphold her privacy.
In a recent photo the Palestinian-born real estate mogul posted to Instagram, Hadid cleverly hid his daughter’s baby bump.

The supermodel was seen enjoying a picnic in the sunshine to celebrate her friend Leah McCarty’s birthday along with her siblings Bella and Anwar, as well as his girlfriend Dua Lipa.
However, it’s likely you’d have had to a double-take upon inspecting the photo as Mohamed covered up his daughter’s bump with a fairy emoji, which upon first glance could be easily mistaken for a birthday decoration.

Ironically, Gigi recently clarified that she isn’t trying to disguise her baby bump.
Responding to a story posted by British Vogue last week, titled ‘Gigi Hadid Reveals How She Disguises Her Pregnancy’, the supermodel took to Twitter to clarify some things.
“Disguise ….? I said in a baggy jumpsuit the front and side views are visually different stories- not that that was intentional or I was trying to hide anything,” the 25-year-old said.
She also added she will be sharing “insight” to her pregnancy on her own terms and when she “feels like it”.

Disguise ….? 🤨 I said in a baggy jumpsuit the front and side views are visually different stories- not that that was intentional or I was trying to hide anything. Will be proud and happy to share “insight” when I feel like it, thanks.
— Gigi Hadid (@GiGiHadid) July 5, 2020

“For now, I am proudly experiencing and sharing this time with my family and loved ones,” she concluded.
The model, who is expecting her first child with boyfriend Zayn Malik, first spoke of her pregnancy during a video call appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, admitting they would have liked to reveal the news on their “own terms”, but also thanked everyone for their congratulations.
“Obviously, we wish we could’ve announced it on our own terms, but we’re very excited and happy and grateful for everyone’s well wishes and support,” she said.
It’s been reported Gigi and Zayn are expecting a girl, but neither of them has officially confirmed the gender. The couple are expecting to welcome their first child together around September time.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: Gigi Hadid Instagram More

As the UAE gears up for a history-making moment on Wednesday July 15 with the launch of the Hope Probe, the nation is looking to the words of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The founding father of the nation’s words have been immortalised in a video posted to the Ministry of Defence’s Twitter page.

In the video, Sheikh Zayed discusses “hope”, which is perfectly fitting ahead of the launch of the probe to Mars.
“History records, eyes of people see and minds know the difference,” he says. “Work for hope, because hope is the actual value of humans.”

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, also appears in the video, he is seen inspecting the probe which will take off on July 15. His Highness also discusses the late Sheikh Zayed’s “ambitions to reach space”.

مسبار الأمل | HOPE PROBE pic.twitter.com/0b7Fj4C4rq
— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) July 12, 2020

“Sheikh Zayed used to invite astronauts to Abu Dhabi, to ask them questions and talk to them,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “He had ambitions to reach space, and thank God, his sons and our brothers reached the skies, among the stars.
“We don’t recognise the word ‘impossible’, and that is why we chose the name Hope Probe.”
The probe, which is set to take off from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Centre, was signed by Sheikh Mohammed and HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, earlier this year.
The probe is being spearheaded by the UAE in order to gain a full picture on what the atmosphere of Mars is like. Once the probe reaches the planet some time in 2021, data will be collected over a two-year period, but this could be extended by another two years meaning the Hope Probe has the potential to be in space until 2025.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram.
Feature Image: Getty More

It was announced over the weekend the rules regarding expired visas and Emirates IDs had changed.
Back in April when the coronavirus pandemic started to greatly affect travel worldwide, UAE authorities announced all residency visas and Emirates IDs that expired after March 1 would be valid until the end of the year.

However, this has now been changed by the Federal Authority of Citizenship and Identity (ICA) which announced that all expired visas and Emirates IDs will need to be renewed.
From today, July 12, the standard fees will be applied for the renewal of visas and Emirates IDs.

The UAE Cabinet issued a number of amendments to the decisions isuued recently in their Identity and citizenship sector#ICAUAE #IdentityandCitizenship #UAE pic.twitter.com/MLNSMQBAJE
— Identity and Citizenship- UAE (@ICAUAE) July 10, 2020

For those who have been stuck outside the country for less than six months, whether you’re a UAE citizen, GCC citizen or a UAE resident, a one month grace period for the renewal of visas and Emirates IDs will be given upon entry to the UAE.
For those who have been inside the UAE since the outbreak of the pandemic, a three-month grace period will be given to Emiratis, GCC citizens and UAE residents to renew their documents.
Fines will begin to apply once the above grace periods end.
Depending on when your visa expired, whether it was in March or April, May, June or July, there are different dates for when you can apply to renew your visa.
For those whose documents expired in March and April, you can apply to renew your visas and Emirates IDs today, July 12. For later dates refer to the table published by the ICA on their official Twitter page.
– For more about Dubai’s lifestyle, news and fashion scene follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
Feature Image: Unsplash More