• International Edition
  • UAE Edition
  • My Profile
  • Saved articles
  • Newsletters
  • Sign out
Sign in
  • Register
  • Sign in

News
UAE
Gulf
MENA
US
UK
Europe
Asia
Business
Aviation
Economy
Energy
Money
Property
Banking
Markets
Opinion
Comment
Editorial
Obituaries
Cartoon
Feedback
Future
Science
Space
Technology
Climate
Environment
Road to Net Zero
Health
Culture
Art & Design
Books
Film & TV
Music & On-stage
Pop Culture
Lifestyle
Travel
Fashion & Beauty
Food
Motoring
Luxury
Home & Garden
Wellbeing
Things to do
Sport
Football
Cricket
F1
Tennis
Combat Sports
Cycling
TN Magazine
Special reports
Weekend

  • International Edition
  • UAE Edition
Podcasts Newsletters Follow us App Video
TN MagazineSpecial reportsWeekend
News
UAE
Gulf
MENA
US
UK
Europe
Asia
Business
Aviation
Economy
Energy
Money
Property
Banking
Markets
Opinion
Comment
Editorial
Obituaries
Cartoon
Feedback
Future
Science
Space
Technology
Climate
Environment
Road to Net Zero
Health
Culture
Art & Design
Books
Film & TV
Music & On-stage
Pop Culture
Lifestyle
Travel
Fashion & Beauty
Food
Motoring
Luxury
Home & Garden
Wellbeing
Things to do
Sport
Football
Cricket
F1
Tennis
Combat Sports
Cycling
News
UAE
Gulf
MENA
US
UK
Europe
Asia
Business
Aviation
Economy
Energy
Money
Property
Banking
Markets
Opinion
Comment
Editorial
Obituaries
Cartoon
Feedback
Future
Science
Space
Technology
Climate
Environment
Road to Net Zero
Health
Culture
Art & Design
Books
Film & TV
Music & On-stage
Pop Culture
Lifestyle
Travel
Fashion & Beauty
Food
Motoring
Luxury
Home & Garden
Wellbeing
Things to do
Sport
Football
Cricket
F1
Tennis
Combat Sports
Cycling

  • The UAE celebrates the humanitarian values of Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan at home and abroad. Wam

    How UAE has carried Sheikh Zayed's legacy around the world - from Antarctica to China

  • A festive Christmas scene in Al Qaniya, Idlib. AFP

    Christmas joy returns to Syria's Idlib after years of civil war

  • Cem Yoldas is far-left candidate at next year's municipal elections in Strasbourg. Sunniva Rose / The National

    French city caught between dreams of Mamdani and the taint of Muslim Brotherhood

  • Narin Guran was eight years old when she was murdered in her home village of Tavsantepe in south-eastern Turkey's Diyarbakir province last year. Lizzie Porter/ The National

    Special investigationA village traumatised, a nation stunned: Who killed Narin?

  • Guy Norman's house in Al Barari, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

    My Own HomeBritish lawyer transforms Dh13.8 million Dubai villa

  • A band plays during the lighting ceremony of a Christmas tree at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus, months after it was the site of a deadly attack. AP

    EditorialResilience is at the heart of the Christmas message

  • People enjoy their time at the beach outside the port city of Bandar Anzali in Iran on Tuesday. AP

    CommentFor Iran, 2026 is going to be the year of the unknown

  • Left: A teenage criminal who was part of the Foxtrot network. Right: Rawa Majid. The National / Swedish Police

    How I survived Europe's deadliest Kurdish gangs


Dubai hospital aims to be 'global hub' for new spinal muscular atrophy treatment

Dr Vivek Mundada, a consultant paediatric neurologist at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital, with young patient, Mirha. photo: Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital.

Dubai hospital aims to be 'global hub' for new spinal muscular atrophy treatment

  • UAE approves use of 'world's most expensive drug' to give sick children hope
  • UAE-approved drug offers lifeline to older children with spinal muscular atrophy
Syria's internal security forces and military have stepped up anti-smuggling efforts but illegal traders continue to try to find ways to operate. Lizzie Porter / The National

Dispatch‘Huge returns’ draw smugglers to rugged Syria-Lebanon border

Forces in former Hezbollah stronghold put up tough front but admit criminals still active

MENA

Germany, UK and 12 other countries denounce Israel’s approval of more settlements

MENA

ISIS leader for Damascus arrested in operation supported by US-led coalition

MENA
President Sheikh Mohamed called for Christmas Day to bring peace, joy, and harmony. UAE Presidential Court

'May this day bring peace': President Sheikh Mohamed sends Christmas wishes

UAE

ExclusiveEgypt increases pressure on Ethiopia through Eritrea and Djibouti port deals

MENA

Bethlehem’s midnight mass places Gaza at centre of Christmas prayers

MENA
Rawa Majid founded the Foxtrot crime network in Sweden

Iran sanctuary for Foxtrot crime boss angers critics of 'silent Sweden'

Europe


2025: Year in review

  • Liverpool's Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah with the Premier League trophy at the end of the 2024/25 season. AFP

    Premier League 2025: Salah hits headlines at Liverpool, Arsenal dream of title

  • The year in culture: top reads, movies and moments of 2025

    Culture BitesThe year in culture: top reads, movies and moments of 2025

  • Final Fantasy VII Rebirth expands the world of the game series significantly. Photo: Square Enix

    The 10 best PC games of 2025 include new titles and stylish sequels

  • Delegates fly flags as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivers his keynote address on the third day of the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool in September. AFP

    CommentChallenges for Keir Starmer grew in 2025 – much like for the rest of Europe

  • Chris Martin of Coldplay in Abu Dhabi in January. Photo: Live Nation

    From Coldplay and Metallica to Tyla and JLo, the UAE’s best live shows of 2025

  • Labubus were a popular search trend in the UAE. AFP

    Googling googlies: Cricket beats Labubu and Dubai Chocolate in UAE top searches

  • Models present creations from Matthieu Blazy's spring-summer 2026 collection for Chanel during Paris Fashion Week in October. EPA

    Biggest fashion moments of 2025: from Lamar's jeans to Blazy's Chanel debut

  • Bahraini rapper Flipperachi says Khaleeji hip-hop thrives on local dialects and cultural references. Photo: Outlaw Productions

    The 50 best Arabic songs of 2025, from Nancy Ajram to Flipperachi


Video


In focus

  • David Harbour, left, as Jim Hopper and Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in Stranger Things. Photo: Netflix

    What time is season five, volume two of Stranger Things coming out worldwide?

  • Australia's Jhye Richardson bowls during a nets session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. PA

    Ashes 2025: Australia opt for all-pace attack with Richardson recalled

  • People take part in a Christmas solidarity dinner called 'No Families Without Christmas', organized to support those affected by poverty, in front of the National Congress, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 24, 2025. REUTERS / Mariana Nedelcu

    Best photos of the dayA charitable haircut in Buenos Aires to "Ice Floating" in Mongolia

  • Unsettled weather is unlikely to dampen the festive spirit across the Emirates. The National

    UAE weather: What is the Christmas forecast and will there be rain?

  • SpongeBob SquarePants, right, voiced by Tom Kenny, and Patrick Star, voiced by Bill Fagerbakke. Photo: Paramount

    Tom Kenny reveals surprising origins of SpongeBob’s voice

  • Each villa has an expansive backyard, closed in on three sides with shrubbery and leading to a private beach from the fourth. Photo: Ritz-Carlton RAK Al Hamra Beach

    Ritz-Carlton RAK Al Hamra Beach review: 32-villa property ensures privacy is key

  • Lebanese composer Marcel Khalife's Ya Maryam pays tribute to the Virgin Mary. Leslie Pableo for The National

    Arabic version of Jingle Bells and other regional Christmas songs

  • TOPSHOT - Young ballet students warm up with stretching exercises before taking the stage during Project Elimu’s annual Christmas ballet performance in the Kibera informal settlement of Nairobi, on December 23, 2025. At Project Elimu’s Kibera Ballet School in Nairobi, young dancers engage with classical ballet as part of a community-led arts programme that fosters discipline, creativity and confidence. Founded by Kenyan dancer Mike Wamaya, the free classes form part of a wider initiative supporting artistic expression, learning and personal growth. (Photo by Luis TATO / AFP)

    Best photos of the dayChristmas ballet in Nairobi to prayers in Bethlehem


Headlines

Thousands gather for a Christmas morning service at St Mary's Catholic Church in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

UAE's Christians mark Christmas Day with services in several languages

Festive sermons across the nation spread message of hope 'in world of turmoil'

UAE

Jordanian strikes target drug traffickers and factories in Syria, state media says

MENA
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, at the inauguration of Mleiha Dairy Factory and Farm. Wam

Sharjah Ruler says launch of dairy farm and factory fulfils 65-year dream

UAE

Trump-backed politician of Palestinian descent becomes Honduras president

US
Algeria's Riyad Mahrez, right, celebrates scoring the team's second goal against Sudan at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on December 24, 2025. AFP

Afcon 2025: Mahrez warns Algeria 'not to get carried away' after beating Sudan

Football

Sudan's civilian anti-war activists detained in crackdown

MENA

Model culture of care at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Advertorial

UAE helps treat more than 75,000 Gazan patients under Dh9.4 billion aid effort

UAE

Discover Brouq – Qatar’s winter desert experience

Advertorial


TN Magazine

  • Single-breasted cotton canvas coat; leather belt; Galleria leather bag; Robot Saffiano leather key ring charm; and leather pumps, all from Prada. All photos: Ben Cope for TN Magazine

    Cover storySarah Taibah is trying to live in the moment

  • Kasseem Daoud Dean, aka Swizz Beatz, pictured in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Saudi Brox

    Why the Gulf has become central to Swizz Beatz’s creative vision

  • One of the students at the Prada Academy in Scandicci. Photo: Prada

    Why Prada is betting on craftsmanship: Inside the Scandicci leather atelier

  • Conway Stewart is one of a growing crop of brands revitalising the fountain pen. Photo: Conway Stewart

    How the fountain pen is rewriting its fate

  • With its slim case, leather strap and silvered dial, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is an apt dress watch for the season. Photo: Jaeger-LeCoultre

    Winter watches: Four designs that settle naturally into the season’s palette

  • 3Fils serves Japanese-inspired dishes, including gyu grab, a beef dish meant to be eaten by hand. Photo: 3Fils

    Japanese restaurant grows from tiny Dubai gem to sprawling Abu Dhabi hotspot

  • New 4K Blu-ray of Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure arrives in packaging as considered as the film itself. Photo: Criterion Collection

    December physical media gift guide: Blu-ray, vinyl, art books and more

  • The first generation of the modern GranTurismo was launched in 2007. Photo: Maserati

    Why the new Maserati GranTurismo is the best it's been in years


Special investigation

Kurdish Foxtrot gang recruits Swedish teenagers to kill

The National meets a teenage gang member who describes how Foxtrot lures young people into the world of crime


Business

Culture

The question for businesses is no longer which AI model is best, but what benefits AI is bringing. Reuters

Business Insights Next phase of AI race being decided in boardrooms, not research labs

Business

Abu Dhabi’s ADQ closes $5bn financing deal with Asian investors

Economy

Gold prices in 2026 will need new catalysts to keep up record-breaking rally

Money

Culture

Timothee Chalamet climbs Sphere Vegas for Marty Supreme

Film & TV

Year in reviewTop Indian TV shows, from funnyman Kapil Sharma to Family Man Manoj Bajpayee

Film & TV

The year in culture: top reads, movies and moments of 2025

Culture BitesThe year in culture: top reads, movies and moments of 2025

Culture Bites


Podcasts
Beyond the Headlines

Beyond the Headlines

Delve deeper into the biggest stories from the Middle East and around the world


Culture Bites

Culture Bites

Your guide to the arts and culture scene in the UAE


Business Extra

Business Extra

The stories, companies, trends, tech, Innovation and leaders shaping your world


Tarab

Tarab

Explore the creative worlds of the Middle East’s most compelling musicians


More podcasts

Data Explained

How silver outshone gold and Bitcoin over the past 12 months

Bitcoin had an 8% drop, gold rose over the year and silver outstripped both


How silver outshone gold and Bitcoin over the past 12 months

Most popular today

1

What time is season five, volume 2 of Stranger Things coming out around the world?

2

Egypt increases pressure on Ethiopia through port deals with Eritrea and Djibouti

3

Cartoon for December 25, 2025

4

UAE will need to add 1 million workers by 2030 for tech and AI push, report says

5

My Own Home: British lawyer transforms Dh13.8 million Dubai villa


Opinion

Middle East airlines are booming. Their next steps will be critical

Linus Benjamin
Bauer

For Iran, 2026 is going to be the year of the unknown

Arash Azizi

'Treedom for Palestine' is fighting the good fight, one olive tree at a time

Sholto Byrnes

ISIS attacks in the West could signal a dangerous new phase

Damien McElroy

The US won the Cold War decades ago. It is paying the price for it today

Hussein Ibish

Challenges for Keir Starmer grew in 2025 – much like for the rest of Europe

Gavin Esler
The National

Today's cartoonShadi's take on hope for world peace


Newsletters

  • Middle East Today

    Middle East Today

    Expert insight, analysis, exclusive reports plus all the latest news from the region, about the region

    PreviewSign up
  • The UAE Today

    The UAE Today

    Your essential source for must-read news from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the rest of the Emirates

    PreviewSign up
  • Energy This Week

    Energy This Week

    Your insight into the latest trends in oil, clean energy and more in the UAE and beyond

    PreviewSign up
  • Beshara

    Beshara

    Your weekly dose of good news and inspiration, delivered to your inbox

    PreviewSign up
  • The Arts Edit

    The Arts Edit

    Your guide to Middle Eastern arts and culture from the region, and about the region

    PreviewSign up
  • Future Beat

    Future Beat

    A round-up of stories shaping the world, from AI and green tech to science and medicine

    PreviewSign up
  • Checking In

    Checking In

    Expert travel advice on destinations, getting there, and what to do on arrival

    PreviewSign up
  • View From London

    View From London

    The stories that matter to you from across Europe, brought to you directly by our London bureau

    PreviewSign up
  • Weekender

    Weekender

    Make the most of your weekend with long reads, features and our quiz of the week

    PreviewSign up
  • On The Money

    On The Money

    Stay ahead in personal finance with expert tips on investing, saving and spending

    PreviewSign up
  • View From DC

    View From DC

    Insight from The National's Washington DC team on US politics and its impact on the Mena region

    PreviewSign up
  • Emirati

    Emirati

    UAE Chief Reporter Shireena Al Nowais explores stories shaping the Emirates and its people

    PreviewSign up
  • The Climate Edit

    The Climate Edit

    Stay updated on climate change, sustainability and innovations shaping the Mena region’s future

    PreviewSign up
IPSO regulated

News
UAE
Gulf
MENA
US
UK
Europe
Asia
Business
Aviation
Economy
Energy
Money
Property
Banking
Markets
Opinion
Comment
Editorial
Obituaries
Cartoon
Feedback
Future
Science
Space
Technology
Climate
Environment
Road to Net Zero
Health
Culture
Art & Design
Books
Film & TV
Music & On-stage
Pop Culture
Lifestyle
Travel
Fashion & Beauty
Food
Motoring
Luxury
Home & Garden
Wellbeing
Things to do
Sport
Football
Cricket
Olympics
F1
Tennis
Combat Sports
Cycling
Weekend
Living in the UAE
TN Magazine
Podcasts Newsletters Read E-Paper Print Subscriptions Video App
About UsContact UsWork With UsAdvertise With UsTerms & ConditionsPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicySitemapArchiveRegistration FAQsRosalynn Carter Fellowship
IPSO regulated
Follow us
Get news alerts from
The National logo
You can manage notifications at any time by clicking the notifications icon.