Authorities at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport activated full emergency protocols on Friday after receiving a bomb threat email linked to Emirates flight EK526 travelling from Dubai (DXB) to Hyderabad (HYD).

According to GMR officials, the threat email landed in the airport’s customer support inbox around 7.30am on December 5. Despite the alert, the flight continued under strict monitoring and landed safely at 8.30am.

Once on the ground, the aircraft was immediately moved to an isolated bay. Passengers were safely deboarded, and security te

ams carried out standard bomb threat checks. Investigations are currently underway.

Emirates confirmed the incident in a statement to local media, saying authorities had alerted them to a “potential security threat” to EK526.
“All standard security procedures were implemented by the relevant local authorities with full co-operation from Emirates’ ground teams,” the airline said, adding that “the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain the highest priority.”

Authorities say all threats are being investigated, and extra security measures remain in place at the airport.

Abu Dhabi motorists can expect some delays over the next few days, with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) announcing a series of partial road closures across key routes in the capital. Drivers are being urged to plan, allow extra travel time, and follow diversions to avoid congestion.

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street

A major set of phased lane closures will take place near Sheikh Zayed Bridge from Tuesday, December 9 to Monday, December 22, 2025.

• Three left lanes will be closed from 12am on December 9 until 10pm on December 15.
• Two right lanes will then shut from 10pm on December 15 until 6am on December 22.

Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street

Another temporary closure is scheduled on Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street from 5pm on December 5 until 5am on December 8.

Authorities explained that these restrictions are part of ongoing road enhancement projects designed to improve traffic flow and safety across the city. Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes wherever possible during the maintenance period.

Companies in the UAE that fall short of their 2025 Emiratisation requirements will have to pay Dh108,000 for every Emirati they fail to hire, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has confirmed.
The financial penalties will come into effect in January 2026, giving firms just days left in December to meet their quotas.

MoHRE urged private-sector employers to accelerate their hiring efforts by using Nafis, the federal platform that connects companies with qualified Emirati job seekers.

Who must hire Emiratis, and how many?

Under current rules:

• Companies with 50+ employees must raise the number of Emiratis in skilled jobs by 2% by December 31.
• Selected firms with 20–49 employees, operating in high-growth sectors, must hire at least one Emirati and retain any Emiratis hired before January 1, 2025.

Starting in January, MoHRE will verify whether new Emirati hires are properly registered in the national social insurance system and whether contributions are paid regularly.

Any company that misses its target will be required to pay the mandatory Dh108,000 contribution per unfilled role.

Tougher monitoring with AI

MoHRE praised the private sector for strong compliance to date but said it is now using AI-powered monitoring systems to detect fake Emiratisation and any attempts to bypass the hiring requirements.

Penalties include:

• Downgrading a company’s classification
• Requiring firms to correct violations
• Imposing the mandatory financial contributions

Emiratis can report suspected violations confidentially via MoHRE’s hotline, mobile app or website.

Support and rewards for compliant companies

While enforcement is becoming stricter, MoHRE said high-performing companies will continue to receive incentives.

Businesses that exceed their hiring goals may qualify for the Emiratisation Partners Club, which offers:

• Up to 80% discounts on MoHRE service fees
• Priority access to federal procurement
• Added benefits supporting business growth

MoHRE stated that the UAE’s strong labour market performance, combined with a large pool of candidates on Nafis, positions the private sector to meet these national targets.