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Emirati Women’s Day 2026 arrives on 28 August with a change of format, as the UAE extends a single date into a month of national programming that ends on 28 September. The country fixed the date in 2015, choosing 28 August because the General Women’s Union was founded that day in 1975. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, who chairs the union, announced the extension in July.
State news agency WAM gives this year’s Emirati Women’s Day theme as “We Emerge Stronger and Better”. The office of the Mother of the Nation renders the same Arabic slogan as “Together, We Rise Stronger and Better”. Either wording points the same way. Both readings treat achievement as collective rather than exceptional.
What Emirati Women’s Month 2026 changes
Format matters more here than it might appear. A single day produces ceremonies. Emirati Women’s Month 2026 hands federal bodies, emirate authorities and private employers a four-week window to launch programmes and report against them. WAM describes the extended period as a platform for action, recognition and new initiatives. Emirati Women’s Day 2026 therefore opens the season rather than containing it.
The record in numbers
Public claims around Emirati Women’s Day 2026 rest on published indicators. Women hold 50 percent of seats in the Federal National Council and about 63 percent of leadership positions across the government sector. Participation by women in the labour market rose 101.92 percent between 2021 and 2025. Nafis, the federal programme placing Emiratis in private-sector work, counted women as 74 percent of its beneficiaries. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025 ranked the UAE first in the region. IMD’s 2026 World Competitiveness Ranking placed the country second globally on women’s representation in parliament.
Where Emirati businesswomen sit
WAM’s 2025 data counts more than 25,000 Emirati businesswomen holding over 50,000 commercial licences, with combined investment above AED 60 billion. Ministry of Economy and Tourism figures put the number of small and medium enterprises owned or co-owned by Emirati women at 114,050 by the end of February 2026, alongside 48,257 women entrepreneurs. The two sets measure different things, which is worth stating rather than blending. Scale gives them weight either way. Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri has put the UAE’s SME count at roughly 1.33 million, close to 95 percent of operating companies and more than 85 percent of private-sector jobs.
Science, technology and the next brief
Women make up around 50 percent of employees in the UAE National Space Programme and close to 80 percent of the Hope Probe’s scientific team. More than 46 percent of STEM graduates are women, as are roughly 70 percent of all university graduates. Current programmes include the Cyber Pulse Initiative for Women and Family and the Empowering Women Farmers initiative, alongside training in artificial intelligence and programming. The Mother of the Nation 50:50 Vision sets a longer horizon, pointing at technology, artificial intelligence and renewable energy.
Emirati Women’s Day 2026
Emirati Women’s Day 2026 lands at a point where the UAE can cite outcomes rather than intentions. Federal law already covers equal pay. Half the seats in the Federal National Council go to women by rule, not by trend. What the month-long format has yet to prove is whether it delivers follow-through or a longer season of announcements. That answer comes after 28 September. For a country that has built its standing on published indicators, the benchmark it set for itself is the one that applies.
- By Mariam Al-Yazidi
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- Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo and Georgina wedding: what happened at the private Cascais ceremony
The Ronaldo and Georgina wedding finally happened, and it looked nothing like the spectacle fans expected. Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez married in a private civil ceremony in Cascais, a coastal town west of Lisbon, on Tuesday, 11 August. Ronaldo’s management team confirmed the news. The couple kept it small. Only their five children were there.
They told the world in one image. Both posted a wedding photo on social media showing their rings. No press. No staged reveal. The picture did the talking, and it drew millions of reactions within hours.
A date with meaning
The timing was not random. The wedding fell exactly one year after Georgina announced their engagement. On 11 August 2025, she shared a photo of her engagement ring on Instagram and confirmed that Ronaldo had proposed. Twelve months later, they made it official. Fans had waited a long time for this. For years, people wondered whether the couple would marry at all.
Their story started in Madrid in 2016. Georgina was working at a Gucci store when the two met. The relationship went public the following year, and they have built a family since. Georgina became a public figure in her own right during those years, known to a wide audience beyond football. The Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez wedding closes a chapter fans have followed for almost a decade.
The venue mix-up
The Ronaldo-Georgina civil ceremony stayed short and personal. Their two daughters, Alana Martina, born in 2017, and Bella Esmeralda, born in 2022, were present. Ronaldo is also father to Cristiano Jr. and twins Eva and Mateo. All five children stood with the couple.
The family has known loss too. In April 2022, while Georgina was expecting twins, the couple lost their baby son. Bella, his twin sister, survived. That history sits behind the quiet tone of the day.
The Ronaldo and Georgina wedding had fed speculation across Portugal for weeks. Days before the real event, hundreds of people gathered outside Funchal Cathedral in Madeira. Rumours had spread that the pair would marry there. The ceremony at the cathedral belonged to a different Portuguese couple. If you followed the chatter, you were probably watching Madeira. The couple were somewhere else.
Cascais gave them the privacy they wanted. The Ronaldo wedding in Cascais, Portugal, stayed secret until the photo appeared. The town sits about 20 miles from Lisbon and draws visitors for its beaches and quiet streets. It suited a couple who kept the guest list to their own children.
Where Ronaldo stands now
Ronaldo, 41, plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. He joined after leaving Manchester United at the end of 2022. He has won the Ballon d’Or five times and has worn the shirts of Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.
Now Cristiano Ronaldo is married to Georgina, and the two begin their next stage as husband and wife. The Ronaldo and Georgina wedding stayed their own, quiet and close, in a life lived mostly in public.
- Myriam Fares
Myriam Fares first concert in the Netherlands arrives at Amsterdam hall
Myriam Fares’ first concert in the Netherlands is scheduled for Friday, October 2, 2026, at Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The Lebanese singer will share the stage with her full live band. SOUK Amsterdam Arabic Festival presents the show, and an afterparty follows the performance. This date is her Dutch debut after more than two decades on stage.
Who is Myriam Fares
Fares is known across the Arab world as The Queen of Stage. Her career began in 2003 and has spanned more than twenty years. Live shows blend Arabic musical traditions and instruments with modern pop, choreography and dance. She works as a singer, performer and songwriter, drawing on influences from several parts of the Arab world. Beyond music, she has also worked as an actress, producer and entrepreneur.
The venue sits at the center of the plan. Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam ranks among the city’s best-known concert halls, and it has hosted the SOUK festival in past years. This edition places Fares in the Main Hall with her own band. The concert brings the performer to Dutch audiences for the first time. Arabic pop, dance and live music fill the evening inside the historic building. Myriam Fares’ first concert in the Netherlands caps a run of high-profile appearances abroad.
Recent releases and tour dates
Fares performed during the Qatar Formula 1 Grand Prix. She reached a wider global audience with Tukoh Taka, the official FIFA Fan Festival anthem for the 2022 World Cup, recorded with Nicki Minaj and Maluma. Her track Goumi became a global dance hit, with millions of people joining its challenge on TikTok. A Netflix documentary, Myriam Fares: The Journey, gave viewers a closer look at her personal life and creative work. Recent Myriam Fares tour dates and stage shows have carried her across the region and further afield. In 2025, she released La Habibi. Her latest single, Ma Btaarefne, arrived in June 2026 through her own label, Myriam Music.
How to attend the concert in the Netherlands
Planning for the first concert in the Netherlands starts with the ticket date. Myriam Fares concert tickets go on sale on Friday, August 7, 2026. SOUK Amsterdam Arabic Festival organizes the event, so ticket details run through the festival and the venue. The Main Hall seating and the planned afterparty give attendees a full evening rather than a short set. For fans across Europe, Myriam Fares’ first concert in the Netherlands offers a rare chance to see the performer live in the region. The date falls on a Friday, which suits travel plans for visitors from nearby countries.
- Movies
Marvel’s star Sebastian Stan welcomes first child with Annabelle Wallis, reports say
Sebastian Stan welcomes first child with partner Annabelle Wallis, several entertainment outlets reported this week. TMZ, People, and Us Weekly said the couple became parents in July. Neither Stan nor Wallis has confirmed the birth in public. The reports rely on sources described as having direct knowledge of the couple.
Stan is 43. Wallis is 41. The two have kept their private life quiet for years, and the baby news arrived the same way, through unnamed sources rather than a formal statement. Reporters have not learned the baby’s name, sex or exact birth date.
Reports say Sebastian Stan welcomes first child
Word that Sebastian Stan welcomes first child spread across entertainment sites within hours. Each outlet placed the birth last month. The reporting leaned on people described as close to the pair, not on any statement from the couple. That silence fits a pattern. Stan told Vanity Fair in 2025 that real privacy is hard to hold onto now, and he and Wallis have guarded theirs closely.
The pregnancy itself became public earlier this year. Stan confirmed it in a May 2026 interview with Deadline, and Annabelle Wallis, pregnant at the time, showed her baby bump on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival soon after. Before that, photographers had caught the couple on a walk in New York, where the bump was visible.
Sebastian Stan and Annabelle Wallis, a quiet couple
The pair were first linked in May 2022. They appeared together at Robert Pattinson’s birthday party in New York, and a since-deleted photo seemed to show them kissing. Wallis had ended a four-year relationship with actor Chris Pine not long before. For years, fans typed “Sebastian Stan girlfriend” into search bars, since the couple rarely appeared in public together.
They broke that habit once. At the 2025 Golden Globes, they made their red carpet debut as a couple. Stan won Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, for A Different Man. He closed his acceptance speech by pointing toward Wallis and saying, “Annabelle, I love you.” The two shared a kiss after the win.
Careers on either side of the birth
Stan built his name in Marvel films. Known to fans as the Winter Soldier, the Sebastian Stan Marvel run includes Avengers: Endgame and Thunderbolts, with Avengers: Doomsday still ahead. He also earned an Oscar nomination for playing Donald Trump in The Apprentice.
Wallis has her own slate. The Peaky Blinders actress Annabelle Wallis has appeared in The Mummy, The Tudors and the horror film Annabelle. She stars next in the action film Mutiny alongside Jason Statham, and she is set to appear in Netflix’s Unabomb.
Stan on becoming a father
Long before the phrase “Sebastian Stan welcomes first child” ran as a headline, the actor spoke about the role ahead. In a May interview with Deadline, he was plain about it. He said, “I want to be a good dad. I’m feeling the responsibility of being a good father. And not to mention a good man.” Age, he added, had shifted how he saw those roles. “I’m 43, and I feel, in a lot of ways, I’m just starting to learn now. It’s just crazy to me.”
He tied that view to his stepfather, whom he credited with a “quiet integrity” and “quiet strength.” Stan described a model of steady presence: “You’ve got to provide and protect.” With the birth now reported, the news that Sebastian Stan welcomes first child closes a chapter the couple had kept mostly to themselves.
- Travel
Top 10 Countries for a High Quality of Life and Longevity
What truly makes a nation one of the best in the world? Is it breathtaking natural beauty, exceptional quality of life, or unrivaled personal safety?
From the stunning fjords of New Zealand to the tech-forward streets of Japan, these nine destinations set the global gold standard. Each offers a unique blend of vibrant culture, world-class infrastructure, and inspiring landscapes that draw travelers and dreamers alike.
Which of these incredible nations is at the very top of your personal travel bucket list? Let us know below!
🇳🇿 New Zealand – #10
New Zealand captivates with its surreal landscapes, where dramatic fjords, towering snow-capped peaks, and lush rainforests sit just moments apart. Famous for its high quality of life, commitment to environmental conservation, and outdoor lifestyle, it remains a dream destination for adventurers and peace-seekers alike. The country’s rich Māori heritage adds deep cultural meaning to its natural wonders.
Whether you are exploring the serene waters of Milford Sound, trekking through untouched wilderness, or enjoying the warmth of its friendly communities, New Zealand continually sets the benchmark for living in harmony with nature and prioritizing well-being above all else.
🇦🇺 Australia – #09
Australia effortlessly combines vibrant, world-class cities with vast, ancient wilderness. Home to iconic architecture like the Sydney Opera House, golden surf beaches, and the Great Barrier Reef, life here revolves around sunshine, coastal living, and outdoor exploration. Beyond the bustling harbors and laid-back urban centers, the vast Outback offers deep connection to Indigenous history and unique biodiversity found nowhere else on Earth.
With its strong economy, thriving culture, and breezy balance of modern efficiency and relaxed lifestyle, Australia consistently ranks as one of the most desirable, dynamic, and breathtaking nations to live in or visit.
🇳🇱 Netherlands – #08
The Netherlands is a global model of progressive design, exceptional infrastructure, and an enviable work-life balance. Famous for its historic canal networks, endless tulip fields, and world-renowned cycling culture, living here centers around sustainability and effortless connectivity. From the iconic, gable-roofed architecture of Amsterdam to the modern innovation hub of Rotterdam, the country seamlessly pairs rich heritage with forward-thinking urban living.
Celebrated for its open, inclusive society, world-class healthcare, and top-ranked quality of life, the Dutch lifestyle offers a vibrant blend of cultural sophistication, eco-friendly travel, and timeless European charm.
🇨🇦 Canada – #07
Canada stands as a global beacon of natural grandeur, safety, and inclusive community values. Spanning six time zones, its territory encompasses majestic Rocky Mountain ranges, pristine glacial lakes, and sweeping boreal forests alongside cosmopolitan cities like Vancouver and Toronto. Known for its welcoming multicultural ethos, world-class healthcare, and exceptional standard of living, Canada offers dynamic seasonal beauty year-round. From quiet moments beside crystal-clear turquoise waters to the cozy charm of alpine villages, the Canadian way of life is centered around respect for nature, personal freedom, and creating warm, thriving communities despite the cold winter air.
🇫🇮 Finland – #06
Consistently crowned the world’s happiest nation, Finland showcases how simplicity, nature, and modern innovation create an extraordinary quality of life. Famous for its vast pine forests, thousands of serene lakes, and magical Nordic winters lit by the Northern Lights, Finnish living prioritizes balance, wellness, and trust. Exceptional public education, high social equality, and a deep-rooted tradition of sauna culture define daily life. Whether cozying up in a glass igloo under dancing auroras or exploring vibrant, design-forward Scandinavian cities like Helsinki, Finland offers a tranquil, forward-thinking sanctuary that inspires the rest of the world.
🇩🇰 Denmark – #05
Denmark seamlessly blends historic charm with groundbreaking modern design, defining the art of cozy, high-quality living known around the world as hygge. From the grand, fairytale-like architecture of Frederiksborg Castle to the bike-friendly streets of Copenhagen, the nation emphasizes sustainability, social well-being, and architectural elegance.
Denmark routinely ranks near the top for global happiness, work-life balance, and civic trust. Its manicured royal gardens, picturesque canals, and innovative culinary scene reflect a society built on community, comfort, and functional beauty. It stands as a shining example of how tradition and modern progress thrive together.
🇳🇴 Norway – #04
Norway is a land of raw, majestic beauty where deep coastal fjords meet soaring mountain peaks and vibrant Arctic heritage. Known for its picturesque coastal fishing villages with bright red wooden cabins like those in Reine, Norway offers an unmatched connection to the outdoors. Powered by sustainability, exceptional social welfare, and a high standard of living, Norwegian culture embraces the spirit of friluftsliv—living outdoors in all seasons. From watching winter snow fall over icy waters to witnessing the summer midnight sun, Norway delivers a tranquil, highly prosperous, and visually unforgettable living experience.
🇸🇪 Sweden – #03
Sweden represents a masterclass in modern Nordic living, perfectly balancing historic architecture, cutting-edge innovation, and sweeping natural beauty. From the historic cobblestone streets of Visby filled with summer roses to the grand water views and lush green parks of Stockholm, Sweden embodies the concept of lagom—just the right amount. Highly regarded for its social equality, environmental leadership, and rich design culture, life here is orderly yet deeply creative. Sweeping forests, archipelagos, and thriving urban centers make Sweden an inspiring, progressive nation where quality of life and stunning aesthetics go hand in hand.
🇨🇭 Switzerland – #02
Switzerland is synonymous with precision, prosperity, and alpine perfection. Nestled in the heart of Europe, its iconic snow-dusted peaks, pristine mountain lakes, and historic cities offer a picture-perfect setting that feels straight out of a storybook. World-renowned for its financial stability, exceptional infrastructure, safety, and neutrality, Switzerland delivers an unmatched quality of life. Whether enjoying world-class winter sports, tasting fine chocolates, or riding scenic mountain railways through dramatic valleys, the Swiss lifestyle blends timeless tradition with flawless modern efficiency, making it one of the most admired and prosperous nations on Earth.
🇯🇵 Japan – #01
Japan is an extraordinary country where thousands of years of deep tradition harmoniously coexist with ultra-modern innovation. From serene bamboo groves, ancient shrines, and snow-capped Mount Fuji to the neon-lit streets and high-speed rail systems of Tokyo, Japan offers a uniquely captivating cultural tapestry. Renowned globally for its safety, exquisite cuisine, incredible cleanliness, and unmatched hospitality (omotenashi), life here is crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Japan continually fascinates the world by preserving its rich historical arts and tranquil gardens while remaining at the absolute forefront of global technology, architecture, and futuristic design.
Thank you for exploring the world’s most incredible destinations with us! Whether you are seeking travel inspiration, lifestyle trends, or top-tier digital media, we are dedicated to curating moments that elevate your everyday feed.
Museum of the Future closure begins September 1 before 2027 Dubai relaunch
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