Students in Dubai can save up to 50 per cent on public transport fares under a new all-in-one student card that also provides access to discounts and benefits across the UAE and more than 130 countries.

The New Dubai Student Card has been launched by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in partnership with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai International Academic City, Dubai Knowledge Park and the International Student Identity Card Association (ISIC).

The card combines three functions: student identification, nol public transport services and internationally recognised ISIC student status. It is designed to make everyday travel and student life more convenient while extending access to local and international offers.

Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of the RTA’s Corporate Technology Services Sector, said the initiative had been developed in partnership with educational institutions across Dubai to support students throughout their academic journey.

He outlined four areas of benefits available through the card:

• On campus: Student identification through participating educational institutions.
• Around Dubai: Access to RTA public transport services with student fare discounts of up to 50 per cent.
• Every day: Student discounts, offers and benefits across the UAE.
• While travelling: Access to more than 150,000 ISIC benefits across over 130 countries.

Through its ISIC affiliation, the card offers access to deals covering travel, accommodation, dining, entertainment, shopping and education.

The New Dubai Student Card will be introduced in phases. Educational institutions interested in participating can apply through the official website, www.dubaistudentcard.ae.

Dr Saeed Mubarak Kharbash, CEO of Policies, Research and Programmes at KHDA, said the initiative would make everyday experiences more seamless while expanding students’ access to opportunities.

He added that the card would support a more connected and enriching student journey while strengthening Dubai’s position as a global destination for education and talent.

Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Senior Vice President of Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, part of TECOM Group, said the integrated solution would bring together student identification, mobility and exclusive benefits in Dubai and internationally.

The initiative aims to simplify access to transport services and student discounts, offering learners a more connected experience while studying in the emirate.

Alireza Firouzja, Fabiano Caruana, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave emerged as the respective group leaders after the opening day of the Fast Classic stage of the Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot in Budapest.

The 24-player field contested two games each across four groups on Wednesday, producing 10 decisive results from 24 encounters. The opening day also showcased the impact of the tournament’s three-points-for-a-win scoring system, with players earning three points for a victory and one for a draw.

Each player faced the same opponent twice, with colours reversed in the return encounter.

Firouzja and Jan-Krzysztof Duda share the lead in Group A with four points each. Caruana and Liem Le are level at the top of Group B, while Nepomniachtchi and Vachier-Lagrave hold outright leads in Groups C and D respectively. The pre-event Blitz rankings separate players tied on points, placing Firouzja and Caruana first in their groups.

Firouzja and Duda lead Group A

Firouzja began his campaign with a hard-fought victory over Nodirbek Abdusattorov. The French grandmaster capitalised on a critical error to convert a promising position into a win.

Abdusattorov fought back in their second encounter and generated opportunities, at one stage gaining an advantage. However, Firouzja defended successfully, and the game ended in a draw, taking his tally to four points.

Duda matched that total after drawing his opening game against Andrew Hong before winning their return encounter with White. The Polish grandmaster gradually took control and converted his advantage to claim three points.

Levon Aronian and Jorden van Foreest shared the points evenly across their two games, with both players winning once with the black pieces. They finished the day on three points apiece.

Caruana and Le share Group B lead

Caruana opened his campaign with a significant victory over local favourite Richard Rapport. Playing Black, the American grandmaster came through a tense contest to claim three points. Their return game ended in a draw, taking Caruana to four points and placing him first in the group on the pre-event Blitz ranking.

Liem Le also collected four points against Vladislav Artemiev. The pair drew their first encounter before Le secured victory in the return game.

India’s Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa and Germany’s Vincent Keymer drew both their games, finishing the opening day with two points each.

Nepomniachtchi leads as Carlsen and Giri draw

Group C featured two-time encounters between some of the tournament’s biggest names, including world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and Dutch No. 1 Anish Giri.

Neither player managed to gain a decisive advantage in either game, with both encounters ending in draws. Carlsen and Giri therefore finished the day on two points apiece.

Nepomniachtchi took the outright lead after defeating Abhimanyu Mishra in their first game. Mishra held the Russian grandmaster to a draw in the return encounter, leaving Nepomniachtchi with four points.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Haik Martirosyan split their two games, with Black winning on both occasions. Mamedyarov claimed the opening victory before Martirosyan responded in the return game, capitalising on an error. Both players ended the day on three points.

Vachier-Lagrave takes sole lead in Group D

Vachier-Lagrave was the only player in Group D to register a win on the opening day, giving him sole possession of the lead with four points.

The French grandmaster faced Vaishali Rameshbabu with Black in their first encounter. After a balanced endgame, a late mistake from Vaishali allowed Vachier-Lagrave to seize the advantage and convert it into a victory. Their return game ended in a draw.

All the other encounters in Group D finished level, leaving Vachier-Lagrave as the group’s only player with a win after the opening two rounds.

The Fast Classic group stage continues in Budapest on Thursday, with each player scheduled to contest another two games as the battle for places in the knockout brackets gathers pace.

Yas Lions captain Jason Holder delivered a decisive all-round performance to guide his side to a 29-run victory over Arabian Aces in the 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, securing their second consecutive win.

Holder struck an explosive 21 off just seven balls before returning to claim three wickets for 11 runs in his two overs as the Lions defended their total of 132 for five, restricting the Aces to 103 for seven in 10 overs.

Chasing 133, Arabian Aces suffered an early collapse as Holder struck twice in the second over. He dismissed Paul Walter, who made 10 off seven balls, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who managed just one off three deliveries, with Tom Moores and Ansh Tandon taking the catches respectively.

David Willey compounded the Aces’ problems in the following over, removing Liam Livingstone for a duck with Holder completing the catch. The Aces were reduced to 14 for three before Fazalhaq Farooqi dismissed skipper Moeen Ali for 15 off 11 balls, caught by Khuzaima Tanveer.

Andre Russell attempted to revive the chase with a quickfire 29 off 14 deliveries, combining with Sam Billings to add 36 runs in just 14 balls. However, Willey broke the partnership by having Billings, who scored 12 off seven balls, caught behind by Andries Gous.

Holder then returned to dismiss Russell and leave the Aces needing 58 runs from the final 14 deliveries. Alishan Sharafu contributed 22 off 10 balls, but Akeal Hosein removed him, with Ansh Tandon taking the catch. Arabian Aces eventually finished on 103 for seven, 29 runs short of the target.

Earlier, Yas Lions had posted 132 for five after a strong middle-order partnership between Dasun Shanaka and Tom Moores transformed their innings.

The Lions lost James Vince, who scored 14 off eight balls, to Russell before Alzarri Joseph dismissed Andries Gous for 16 off 10 deliveries inside the first four overs.

Shanaka and Moores then took charge, adding 66 runs from just 25 balls. Shanaka remained unbeaten on 38 off 17 deliveries, while Moores made 35 off 16. Both batters struck four sixes apiece to put the Lions in a commanding position.

Richard Gleeson provided a late breakthrough for the Aces, taking two wickets in the eighth over by dismissing Moores and Karim Janat, who scored two off three balls.

Holder joined Shanaka for the closing stages and helped add 32 runs in the final two overs. The Lions skipper smashed 21 off just seven deliveries, including two sixes, before being run out off the final ball of the innings as Yas Lions finished on 132 for five.

Holder’s contribution in both innings proved decisive, giving the Lions their second win in as many days and keeping their campaign on an upward trajectory.