Local News from Tuesday, December 31st, 2024

The world ushered in 2025 on Tuesday, with huge crowds waving goodbye to the old year that brought Olympic glory, a dramatic Donald Trump return and turmoil in the Middle East and Ukraine.

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inspected the Joint Operations Room of the Events Security Committee comprising 55 government, semi-government, and private entities.

The UAE, as part of 'Operation Chivalrous Knight 3', has sent an emergency aid shipment for the Gaza Strip, which is witnessing a rise in infant mortality due to the extreme cold, malnutrition, and a shortage of basic supplies.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, underscored the vital role of strategic vision, teamwork, and innovation, in driving Dubai's sustainable development journey during a meeting with senior officials. 

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has expressed pride in the UAE and its advancement over the last year, adding 2025 he welcomes "greater determination" for its continued prosperity. 

Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced several bus routes will be suspended from December 31 to January 1.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Petrol prices will remained unchanged heading into the new year, the UAE Fuel Price Committee announced on Tuesday.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday spoke by phone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where they exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of common interest, including developments in the Middle East.

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, discussed bilateral relations on Monday, and ways to enhance ties as part of the two countries' strategic partnership.

The UAE has successfully mediated a new prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, resulting in the release of 150 Russian captives and 150 Ukrainian captives, bringing the total number exchanged through UAE mediation efforts to 2,484.