The findings highlight how logistics and delivery services are becoming a major attack vector
30 March, 2026
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Group-IB has warned of a sharp rise in fake shipment tracking scams across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), as cybercriminals exploit the rapid growth of parcel deliveries.
The firm’s latest research shows these scams have accelerated through 2025 and early 2026, driven by increasingly sophisticated phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) platforms. With global parcel volumes now exceeding 161 billion annually, attackers are leveraging what researchers describe as “delivery anxiety” to target consumers expecting packages.
The scam typically begins with an SMS claiming a failed delivery or returned parcel, prompting users to update address details or pay a fee via a link. These links redirect victims to highly convincing phishing pages designed to mimic legitimate courier platforms.
Group-IB said attackers are using advanced techniques such as real-time keylogging to capture banking details and one-time passwords as they are entered. In some cases, Sender ID spoofing allows fraudulent messages to appear within legitimate SMS threads from trusted delivery providers.
The campaign infrastructure has also been linked to “Darcula”, a phishing-as-a-service platform offering thousands of fake domains and templates.
The MEA region saw a spike in activity between December 2025 and February 2026, with Egypt and South Africa among the most affected markets.
The findings highlight how logistics and delivery services are becoming a major attack vector, as e-commerce and last-mile delivery become embedded in daily life.
Read: New scam alert: Think twice before lending your phone
Even though prices have fluctuated during the month, it is the monthly average, not daily swings, that determines UAE fuel rates
30 March, 2026
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UAE motorists could face higher fuel prices in April, as a sharp surge in global oil markets during March is expected to feed into the country’s monthly pricing mechanism.
The UAE adjusts petrol and diesel prices monthly in line with international benchmarks. While oil prices have shown volatility in recent weeks, the average price across March remains significantly higher than February, pointing to upward pressure on April retail rates.
Global crude markets have seen an extraordinary spike in March, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Brent crude surged above $110–$116 per barrel in recent days, with some estimates showing a monthly increase of nearly 50–60 per cent, Reuters stated.
Analysts also warn that prices could climb further, with options markets signalling the possibility of oil reaching $150 per barrel by April if supply disruptions persist, Reuters further stated.
Even though prices have fluctuated during the month, it is the monthly average, not daily swings, that determines UAE fuel rates.
Fuel prices in the UAE already rose in March after declining earlier in the year:
This reflects an increase of up to Dhs0.15 per litre for petrol and Dhs0.20 for diesel month-on-month.
The rise was linked to higher oil prices in February, when Brent crude averaged around $68–$73 per barrel, already up from earlier months.
The UAE is preparing to announce new fuel prices for April 2026, effective from the start of the month
Read: ‘Worse than 1970s oil shocks’: IEA chief sounds alarm on Middle East crisis
Most employment contracts in the UAE, particularly those signed before 2022 and not revised after the new labour law came into force, contain force majeure clauses lifted from commercial agreements
30 March, 2026
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Thousands of employees are stuck outside the UAE. Flights are cancelled or rerouted. Offices are open, but part of the workforce is absent physically and functionally. Employers are now facing questions that, until recently, existed only in theory: Do we keep paying? Is this absence treated as unauthorised leave? Does force majeure apply to an employment contract?
And if it does — what does that actually allow?
The answers exist. They sit in the UAE Labour Law, in MOHRE’s subordinate regulations, and in the contracts themselves. Getting to them under pressure is the hard part. This piece is an attempt to do that systematically. In practice, I’ve seen employers try to classify situations like these as unauthorised absence or grounds for suspending salary payments and watched those decisions turn into legal disputes.
The UAE’s current labour statute – Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (the labour law) does not contain a standalone force majeure provision. That matters from the outset: the concept of force majeure in the employment context is assembled from several interconnected provisions, not extracted from a single article.
The broader force majeure doctrine under UAE law is rooted in the Civil Transactions Law, but its application to employment relationships is constrained and requires careful handling.
The key provisions in play for the current situation break down as follows. The employer’s obligation to pay salary on time flows from the general duties set out in the labour law – Article 13 in particular – as well as from the Wage Protection System (WPS) requirements.
The Labour Law does not expressly regulate the temporary suspension of an employment contract, which means such situations are determined in practice by the contract terms, MOHRE guidance, and the specific facts. Article 43 governs termination and requires a lawful basis; absent one, the employer may face liability.
The closure of airspace is not, by itself, an automatic basis for suspending salary or terminating a contract. The legal consequences depend on what the specific contract says and how the situation is characterised.
Most employment contracts in the UAE, particularly those signed before 2022 and not revised after the new labour law came into force, contain force majeure clauses lifted from commercial agreements. That creates a set of practical problems.
First, standard drafting lists “war, natural disasters, epidemics, and acts of governmental authority” as force majeure events, but rarely calls out airspace closure or restrictions on international movement specifically. Whether the clause applies will therefore turn on a broad reading, and UAE courts have historically approached expansive interpretation with caution.
Second, even where force majeure technically applies, employment contracts, unlike commercial ones,s do not give an employer an automatic right to stop paying. In labour law, force majeure typically permits suspension of performance only, and only where the impossibility is complete and temporary, not partial or structural.
Third, there is a meaningful distinction between an employee who cannot physically reach the office and one who is unable to work at all. Where remote work is possible, particularly if the contract contemplates it, or where the employee is in fact working, the force majeure basis for suspending salary is considerably weaker.
The mistake many companies make is applying commercial contract logic to employment relationships, where the level of worker protection is significantly higher.
In practice, the situation facing stranded employees maps onto three recurring scenarios, each with different legal implications.
Scenario one: the employee is working remotely from abroad. The obligation to pay salary remains intact. An employer can raise questions about working hours and output, but not about the level of pay. Attempts to withhold part of the salary on the basis of physical absence are legally exposed in this scenario.
Scenario two: the employee cannot work at all, neither in person nor remotely, due to circumstances directly caused by the airspace restrictions or related disruptions. This is where a force majeure clause has the most traction. Even so, the employer is required to: (a) document the force majeure event; (b) give the employee notice within the timeframe specified in the contract; and (c) continue paying salary up to the point of any formal suspension unless the contract expressly provides otherwise.
Scenario three: the employee is abroad on annual leave and cannot return. This is the most difficult position for the employer. Leave is a period during which salary is paid regardless. The inability to return on time due to circumstances outside the employee’s control is not unauthorised absence. An employer that treats it as such is exposed to a subsequent claim for unlawful withholding or wrongful termination.
Legal uncertainty is not the same as defencelessness. If you are stranded abroad and unsure how your employer intends to classify the situation, the law is on your side – provided you act correctly.
First: document everything. Save confirmation of cancelled or rerouted flights, screenshots of airline notifications, and official communications about airspace restrictions. This is your evidence base. It is what separates involuntary absence from unauthorised absence in the eyes of MOHRE and a court.
Second: notify your employer in writing. Send a formal communication by email, not just a message describing the situation and confirming that the reason for your absence is beyond your control. The absence of such a notification can be used against you later. Keep all responses from your employer.
Third: keep working remotely if you can. The fact that you are continuing to perform your duties is a significant asset to your position. It removes the employer’s argument that you are failing to meet your obligations and makes any attempt to suspend your salary legally vulnerable.
Fourth: if your salary is delayed or withheld, do not wait. The Wage Protection System records all payments, and MOHRE accepts complaints online through the Tasheel platform.
A payment delay beyond the period prescribed by law is a standalone violation separate from any question of whether force majeure applies to the underlying obligation. You have the right to claim payment, and the mechanism to do so.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has historically taken a worker-friendly position on salary disputes. The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 established precedent in analogous situations: MOHRE issued guidance clarifying that the closure of a business or an employee’s inability to be physically present was not an automatic basis for stopping salary payments.
It is also worth noting that UAE courts apply the principle of construing ambiguity in favour of the employee in dubio pro operario when resolving labour disputes. Where a force majeure clause is ambiguous, a court will most likely choose the interpretation that preserves the employer’s salary obligations.
The central question is not whether force majeure has occurred. It is what your contract actually says and how that sits against the current Labour Law.
The most common mistake companies are making right now is treating a force majeure clause as an automatic release from obligations. In the UAE labour law, that approach rarely holds.
The closure of airspace is a logistical crisis. The scale of the disruption does not determine its legal consequences for employers and employees; they are determined by the quality of the contractual documentation, the timeliness of the response, and an accurate understanding of what the law actually says.
UAE labour law does not give employers a blank cheque in a crisis. But it does provide the tools to manage one lawfully if those tools are used correctly and early enough.
The writer is the founder and CEO of Legaline.
For laptops, the Ryzen 9 9955HX30 offers top speed, while the Ryzen 9 9950X30D sets standards for gaming and content creation in the desktop segment
30 March, 2026
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AMD’s flagship products clearly demonstrate why the company is a leader in the processor market.
The 4th generation of AMD EPYC CPUs powers the world’s fastest supercomputer.
1-The Ryzen AI Max is the most powerful AI processor for the next-generation PC.
2-With the EPYC 9005 series, AMD delivers outstanding performance for cloud, enterprise, and AI workloads.
AMD is also at the forefront of gaming: its semi‑custom chips are used in the fastest consoles. For laptops, the Ryzen 9 9955HX30 offers top speed, while the Ryzen 9 9950X30D sets standards for gaming and content creation in the desktop segment.
Together, this clearly shows: AMD is number one in many areas of professional processors.
Since its founding in 1969, AMD has grown from a small semiconductor player in Silicon Valley into a global technology company that continuously expands the boundaries of what is possible in computing. From the early days with its first processor designs to current innovations in high-performance and AI technologies, AMD’s history is one of continual development and creative engineering passion.
The broad product portfolio not only underscores AMD’s leading role in the high-end processor space but also demonstrates how the company purposefully supports professional users and developers. In the mobile professional segment in particular, AMD is setting new standards with the Ryzen AI PRO processors: the specially developed high-performance processors for mobile devices bring advancements in artificial intelligence to a completely new level. The processors combine modern Zen 5 CPU cores with an integrated, powerful Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that delivers up to 55 TOPS (tera-operations per second)
3-For AI workloads, currently one of the highest AI compute capabilities in mobile processors. An NPU is a specialized chip that executes AI-powered tasks directly on the device without requiring cloud services. This enables businesses and professional users to run complex AI models and data-intensive applications locally and efficiently. Because the AI processes run in the background, battery life is preserved and performance dips are avoided: all applications remain smooth and responsive, even under intensive AI use.
In addition to AI performance, the AMD Ryzen AI PRO processors score with comprehensive security features across six layers: the Secure Processor.
4-Protects firmware and BIOS (hardware root of trust), AMD Memory Guard
5-Encrypts the entire system memory, the Shadow Stack defends against code tampering, Microsoft Secured-Core PC provides enhanced OS-level protection, AMD‑V with GMET secures virtual machines, and Supply Chain Security guarantees the authenticity of chips along the supply chain. This ensures optimal security from hardware to software.
The end of support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, highlights the urgency of migrating IT infrastructures to modern, high-performance systems.
After that date, security updates, bug fixes, and technical support for Windows 10 will no longer be provided. This is exactly where AMD’s free “Test Drive” loan program comes in: it enables companies to trial the latest AMD Ryzen™ AI PRO processors risk-free and in real-world conditions, facilitating a well-founded migration to modern technology.
IT teams can thereby evaluate the accelerated performance, industry-leading AI features, comprehensive security capabilities, and long battery life in practice and make an informed decision about the future of their IT infrastructure.
1) https://www.amd.com/en/blogs/2025/amd-maintains-global-supercomputing-leadership.html
2) STX-04a – Based on AMD product specifications and competitor products announced in October 2024, the NPUs of AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 series processors provide up to 50+ peak TOPS. An AI PC is defined as a laptop PC with a processor that includes a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). STX-04a.
3) GD-243 – Tera-operations per second (TOPS) for an AMD Ryzen processor refers to the maximum number of operations per second that can be executed in an optimal scenario and may not be typical. TOPS can vary due to several factors, including the specific system configuration, the AI model, and the software version. GD-243.
4) GD-72 – The AMD Secure Processor is a dedicated security processor on-chip that is integrated into every system-on-chip (SoC) and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) designed by AMD. It enables a secure boot process with a hardware-rooted root of trust, initializes the SoC through a secure boot flow, and establishes an isolated trusted execution environment. GD-72.
5) GD-206 – Full system memory encryption with AMD Memory Guard is available on AMD Ryzen PRO, AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO, and AMD Athlon PRO processors.
The project is designed to seamlessly connect residential communities with major destinations and public transport hubs
30 March, 2026
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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed 13 cycling tracks as part of a sweeping master plan aimed at transforming mobility across the emirate, marking a major step toward a more sustainable and connected urban landscape.
The newly delivered tracks form part of a broader blueprint that includes 15 routes spanning a total of 162 kilometres.
The initiative establishes an integrated cycling network linking key areas across Dubai, from Al Khawaneej to Al Mamzar Beach, Al Warqa’a to Saih Al Salam, and from Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to Jumeirah, according to a WAM report.
The project is designed to seamlessly connect residential communities with major destinations and public transport hubs, encouraging residents and visitors to adopt cycling as a practical mode of transport.
Read more-Here’s how Al Ras Walkway will transform Dubai’s urban landscape
Work is also underway on a number of pedestrian and cycling bridges, set to rank among the largest in the emirate. These include a bridge over Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road connecting Al Khawaneej track to Al Mamzar Beach, as well as another spanning Dubai–Al Ain Road to link Saih Al Salam with Al Warqa’a and Al Khawaneej.
Additional bridges are being constructed over Sheikh Zayed Road to connect Al Sufouh and Jumeirah with the Hessa Street track, and over Al Khail Road to link Dubai Hills with the cycling track along Hessa Street and Mall of the Emirates. All tracks are scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2026.
The expansion is part of a long-term strategy to grow Dubai’s cycling network to 1,000 kilometres by 2030, reinforcing the emirate’s commitment to sustainable urban mobility.
RTA’s efforts have already elevated Dubai’s global profile. The city secured a place among the world’s top 100 cycling-friendly cities in the 2025 Copenhagenize Index, becoming the first city in the Middle East to achieve this milestone. The index evaluates cities based on infrastructure quality, usage rates, corporate support, and mobility policies.
Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the RTA, underscored the significance of the initiative.
“The expansion of pedestrian and cycling tracks and bridges reflects the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership to enhance road safety and provide a safe and sustainable mobility environment for all road users,” Al Tayer said.
“The initiative also supports Dubai’s vision to become a pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly city, while enhancing quality of life and promoting the well-being of residents and visitors.”
Al Tayer highlighted that both existing and planned cycling tracks form a unified network linking residential areas with key destinations and transit stations.
“These tracks encourage the use of bicycles and other sustainable individual mobility modes for first- and last-mile journeys,” he said.
He added that the selection of track locations was based on extensive field studies, factoring in population density, land use integration, proximity to tourism and economic hubs, and connectivity with public transport.
“These elements contribute to improving traffic flow and enabling safe, smooth mobility for pedestrians and cyclists across Dubai’s road network,” Al Tayer noted.
Dubai’s investment in cycling infrastructure is already yielding measurable results. The total length of cycling tracks increased from 560 kilometres at the end of 2024 to 636 kilometres by the end of 2025, while cyclist satisfaction reached 85 per cent.
The number of cycling trips rose sharply from 46.6 million in 2024 to 57.3 million in 2025, representing a 23.5 percent increase. Additionally, 22.3 per cent of Dubai’s population now has access to dedicated cycling infrastructure.
Al Tayer described the emirate’s inclusion in the Copenhagenize Index as a culmination of sustained efforts aligned with the Dubai Bicycle-Friendly Strategy.
“This marks a step change in the concept of sustainable urban mobility,” he said.
The completed works span multiple districts, including Al Khawaneej 2 and Al Barsha 2, where 18.5 kilometres of cycling tracks were delivered under the Model Residential Neighbourhoods Project—8 kilometres in Al Khawaneej 2 and 10.5 kilometres in Al Barsha 2.
A 700-metre cycling track was also developed in Tolerance District, alongside enhancements introduced through the Soft Mobility Project. This initiative focused on improving access around public transport hubs, covering areas such as Al Souk Al Kabeer, Hor Al Anz, and Abu Hail, as well as major stations including BurJuman, Sharaf DG, Palm Deira, Baniyas, and Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall.
The scope of work further included 25 kilometres of dedicated tracks for bicycles and e-scooters, upgrades to pedestrian walkways, and the rollout of the Safe Streets concept across internal roads.
Among the standout developments is a 7-kilometre network of pedestrian, cycling, and micromobility tracks connecting key areas to ONPASSIVE Metro Station and Al Quoz Bus Station. A new pedestrian and cycling bridge over Al Manara Street has also been completed to improve connectivity.
The bridge features an aesthetically designed structure that reflects the character of the surrounding area. Measuring 45 metres in length, 5.5 metres in width, and 6 metres in height, it includes access ramps extending 210 metres on both sides.
Additional projects include 11 kilometres of pedestrian and cycling tracks at the entrances of Al Warqa’a, linking to existing routes, as well as approximately 10 kilometres of cycling tracks delivered under the Al Shindagha Corridor Development Project.
Strong winds of up to 53 km/h and dust alerts sweep parts of the UAE as a regional weather system intensifies
29 March, 2026
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Dubai experienced strong winds on Sunday, with gusts reaching up to 53 km/h, as unstable weather conditions swept across parts of the UAE.
According to weather data, sustained winds of around 35 km/h from the west-north-west were recorded, placing conditions in the “fresh to strong breeze” category on the Beaufort scale, with peak gusts approaching “high wind” levels.
The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) issued dust alerts on Sunday afternoon, warning of reduced visibility in several areas across the country between 13:20 and 17:20.
Maps shared by the authority show affected areas stretching across parts of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the northern emirates, with orange zones indicating more intense conditions.
The alerts come as shifting winds lift sand and dust into the air — a common feature during unstable weather systems in the region.
The current conditions are being driven by a combination of atmospheric factors:
Together, these factors are creating a more dynamic weather pattern than usual for this time of year.
Forecast data suggests that wind speeds are likely to gradually ease into the evening on Sunday, dropping below 20 km/h later in the day.
However, dusty conditions may persist in some areas, particularly where winds remain active.
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