Dubai, UAE, 8 April 2026 –Amid a rapidly shifting global landscape marked by overlapping crises and accelerated digital transformation, the imperative to place individuals at the center of resilience and progress has never been more urgent. As societies navigate uncertainty, knowledge building is emerging as a strategic necessity, one that underpins adaptability, sustainable development, and long-term growth.
Aligning with this, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) continues to contribute to strengthening knowledge-based societies, advancing Dubai’s longstanding vision to establish itself as a global knowledge and innovation hub. This further reflects the noble vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to nurture a strong economy built on the foundations of science and knowledge, transforming challenges into sustainable development opportunities. Among MBRF’s various remarkable initiatives fueling this vision, “My Family is Reading”, in particular, stands out as a practical model for reshaping knowledge dynamics within the family, positioning it as the cornerstone for shaping human and social awareness.
Participating stores including Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Kanz and Kalyan Jewellers now offer private consultations and secure doorstep delivery.
Dubai, UAE – 8April 2026: As interest in gold continues to rise across the UAE, Dubai Gold District — the world’s most trusted gold and jewellery destination — has introduced a personalised delivery service through participating retailers, allowing customers to purchase gold and jewellery through private consultations from the comfort of their homes with secure delivery directly to their doorstep.
Alshaya Group acquires the Starbucks franchise in Greece and Cyprus and becomes the new exclusive owner and operator
KUWAIT – Wednesday 8 April 2026: Alshaya Group has today announced that it has acquired the Starbucks Greece & Cyprus licensed business, becoming the new exclusive owner and operator of the business, which was formerly operated by Marinopoulos family and led by Managing Director, Giannis Marinopoulos, who will return to the family business.
Opening in 2002, Starbucks Greece & Cyprus operates 30 stores in Greece and 18 in Cyprus and employs around 500 people.
As one of Starbucks’ largest and long-standing licensed partners across the world, since it’s first Starbucks in Kuwait in 1999, Alshaya Group now operates over 2,000 stores in 13 countries, offering the unique Starbucks experience to over one million customers every day.
Saleh Alshaya, President of Starbucks at Alshaya Group, said: “With today’s announcement, we are continuing our vision of growth for our licensed Starbucks business, and we look forward to working with our new colleagues to offer even more choice for our customers to experience their favourite Starbucks coffee across Greece and Cyprus. This is an exciting time for our business, and we look forward to a great future.”
Mashreq Becomes First UAE Bank to Offer Instant Digital Cross-Border Accounts for Non-Resident Egyptians — With Free Quick Remit Transfers
Dubai, UAE; 08 April 2026: Mashreq, one of the leading financial institutions in the MENA region, has announced the launch of a new service for its UAE-based Egyptian customers. For the first time, UAE-based customers of Egyptian nationality can open accounts with Mashreq Egypt instantly, fully remotely, and enjoy a single view of their accounts and transfer money in real time – all through the Mashreq UAE mobile app.
Fernando Morillo, Global Head of Retail Banking
This fully digital service is available to Egyptian nationals who hold a NEO, Gold or Private account with Mashreq UAE. It eliminates the need for physical documents or in-person visits to branches in Egypt, replacing the traditional manual process with a seamless, end-to-end digital experience.
UAE News 24/7 