Good morning from The National on February 6, 2026.
Here is your digest of what is making headlines in the Emirates.
A prisoner exchange took place between Russia and Ukraine as talks between the warring nations concluded in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
“Today's exchange came after a long pause, and it is critical that we were able to make it happen,” the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X.
"I thank everyone who works to make these exchanges possible, as well as everyone on the front line who contributes to expanding Ukraine's exchange fund. Without the determination of our warriors, such exchanges would be impossible.”
“The exchange involved 314 captives – 157 from each side – bringing the total number exchanged through UAE-mediated efforts to 4,955,” reported the state news agency Wam on Thursday evening.
"While significant work remains, steps like this demonstrate that sustained diplomatic engagement is delivering tangible results and advancing efforts to end the war in Ukraine," the US special envoy Steve Witkoff said on X. "Discussions will continue, with additional progress anticipated in the coming weeks."
Mr Witkoff thanked the UAE for hosting the talks and praised US President Donald Trump "for his leadership in making this agreement possible".
Read more here
Going underground: Can the Dubai Loop help solve traffic congestion?
The success of the Dubai Loop underground transport system will depend on how well it integrates with other public transport options in the emirate, experts said.
The project will feature bookable electric Tesla vehicles travelling through underground tunnels, with four initial stations in the pilot stage planned at Burj Khalifa, DIFC 2, Zabeel Dubai Mall Parking, and ICD Brookfield Place.
“The value of the Loop lies in its ability to provide fast, reliable connections between specific destinations and, in doing so, remove some car trips from the surface road network,” said Martin Tillman, a transport consultant in the UAE.
“Its ultimate measure of success, however, will be how effectively it integrates into Dubai’s wider mobility ecosystem, particularly the Metro and bus networks, rather than how it performs in isolation.”
Read the full story here
UAE leading the way in global AI race, says Deputy Prime Minister
The UAE is renowned for advancements in AI and is leading the way globally when it comes to adoption of AI, said the country's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed made his comments while addressing the final day of the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
“By competing globally across all pillars of AI, the UAE has become the world's leading country in the AI adoption index,” Sheikh Saif said.
An index on AI adoption that ranks countries on the share of people who have used a generative AI product was recently released by Microsoft.
Read the full story from Ali Al Shouk here
Fact of the day
Dubai Municipality has launched a Dh4 billion ($1.08 billion) project to create more green spaces in the city and make it more sustainable. Read more about it here
Today's must-reads
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