Dubai just made testing your gold and jewellery a whole lot easier. The Dubai Central Laboratory, part of Dubai Municipality, has launched the Smart Gold and Jewellery Testing Lab, the first-ever fully automated device that can check the purity of gold, silver, and platinum, all without human help. And the best part? Results come back in under 60 seconds.

Unveiled at GITEX Global 2025, this cutting-edge innovation uses AI, X-ray tech, and advanced spectroscopy to deliver highly accurate readings. It’s designed to make life simpler for traders, buyers, and jewellery enthusiasts, reinforcing Dubai’s reputation as a global hub for precious metals.

How It Works – Quick, Smart, and Totally Hands-Free

The device is entirely autonomous. That means no staff intervention, no waiting around, and minimal room for error. It’s smart enough to self-calibrate, monitor its own performance remotely, and respond instantly to any issues. According to Dr Naseem Mohammed Rafi, Acting CEO of Dubai Municipality’s Environment, Health, and Safety Agency, this is a “game-changer” for precision, speed, and reliability in the precious metals sector.

Where You Can Try It First

The first device will be installed at the iconic Gold Souk in Deira, with plans to roll it out across other key locations in Dubai. This move is part of Dubai Municipality’s push to create a fully integrated testing ecosystem for gold and jewellery, ensuring quality, compliance, and peace of mind for everyone, from traders to shoppers.

Whether you’re a collector, a trader, or just curious about the purity of your jewellery, this smart lab makes checking your gold fast, easy, and reliable.

The Brampton Blitz were crowned the first-ever champions of the Canada Super 60 at BC Place, cruising past the Montreal Royal Tigers by eight wickets in a dominant final.

The Blitz showcased their supremacy with the ball, as Dillon Heyliger (4/9), David Wiese (3/6), and Chris Greaves (3/16) bundled out the Tigers for a mere 69 in eight overs. Shakib Al Hasan (29 off 12) and Dilpreet Bajwa (18 off 8) were the only batters to reach double figures for Montreal.

Chasing a modest total of 70, the Blitz wrapped up the victory in just 5.5 overs. James Vince top-scored with a blistering 34 off 16 deliveries, while Martin Guptill contributed a quick 23*. Alex Davies finished proceedings with a six to seal the championship.

Blitz Storm into Final with Nine-Wicket Semi-Final Win Over Mississauga Masters

Earlier in the day, the Brampton Blitz displayed their firepower in the semi-final, demolishing the Mississauga Masters by nine wickets. Chasing 148, Martin Guptill (79 off 25) and Will Smeed (63 off 21) shared a record-breaking 141-run stand in just 6.5 overs. Guptill smashed 11 sixes, while Smeed hit eight, taking the Blitz comfortably past the target in eight overs.

Leus de Plooy (43 off 20) and Sikandar Raza (29 off 13) had provided the Masters with a quick start, supported by Shubham Ranjane (25 off 9) and Rayyan Pathan (19 off 7). Piyush Chawla’s three-wicket haul (3/23) was the highlight for the Blitz bowlers.

Montreal Royal Tigers Overcome Vancouver Kings to Reach Final

In the first semi-final, the Montreal Royal Tigers defeated the Vancouver Kings by 24 runs. Nick Hobson’s 50 off 23 balls rescued the Tigers after an early collapse, lifting them to 100/6 in 10 overs. Baltej Singh (3/21) was the pick of the Kings’ bowlers, while Jaskaran Singh, Dwayne Pretorius, and Tajinder Singh shared three wickets.

During the chase, Shakib Al Hasan (2/5) and Ryan Higgins (2/16) restricted the Kings to 76/7, despite efforts from Max Chu (25 off 10), Obus Pienaar (20 off 11), and Jaskarandeep Singh (16 off 13).

End-of-Season Awards

• Most Valuable Player: David Wiese – 149 runs at a strike rate of 213+, plus nine wickets.
• Top Scorer: Leus de Plooy (Mississauga Masters) – 238 runs in six innings at a strike rate over 231.
• Top Wicket-Taker: Dillon Heyliger (Brampton Blitz) – 13 wickets in seven matches at an average of 11.76.

The inaugural Canada Super 60 concluded with the Brampton Blitz leaving an indelible mark on the tournament, blending explosive batting and lethal bowling to lift the trophy.

Every UAE resident needs to verify their visa status immediately. AI-powered inspection cars that automatically detect visa and residency violations are rolling out across Dubai in early 2026, before expanding nationwide.

The technology

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security (ICP) has unveiled electric smart cars equipped with six cameras providing 360-degree coverage. These vehicles capture facial images of everyone within a 10-meter radius, instantly cross-referencing faces against immigration databases.

The AI system flags overstays, expired visas, illegal employment, and unauthorised residency status in real-time. When violations are detected, officers immediately verify documents and initiate legal proceedings.

Why you must act now

In the first half of 2025 alone, ICP identified over 32,000 visa violations using traditional methods. The AI cars will dramatically increase detection rates and speed.

Unlike manual inspections, you might avoid, these patrol vehicles operate continuously and unpredictably across public spaces, residential areas, and commercial zones. The moment you’re within 10 meters, facial recognition runs automatically.

Who’s at risk

High-risk categories must verify status immediately:

• Visit visa holders who’ve overstayed
• Workers on tourist visas (unauthorised employment)
• Residents with expired visas
• Dependent visa holders working without permits
• Anyone between jobs whose grace period has lapsed

Even technical violations from administrative errors or processing delays will be flagged.

Consequences of violations

Detection leads to immediate consequences:

• Heavy fines proportional to the overstay duration
• Deportation with associated costs
• Entry bans (sometimes permanent)
• Criminal records affecting future travel
• Employer penalties for illegal workers

“I didn’t know” provides no protection. Detection is automatic, enforcement is immediate.

What to do immediately

Verify your status: Check Emirates ID and visa expiry dates, confirm grace period calculations, and ensure renewals are processed.

Address irregularities now: If overstaying, exit or regularise immediately. If working illegally, obtain a proper employment visa. If expired, renew before 2026.

Maintain documentation: Keep Emirates ID and visa documents accessible always.

Understand grace periods: Tourist visa (10 days), employment visa (30 days after cancellation), visit visa (no grace period). Confirm YOUR specific situation.

The bottom line

By early 2026, walking down a Dubai street means potentially being scanned and flagged within seconds from 10 meters away. The UAE’s position is clear: visa compliance is mandatory, and AI will enforce what manual systems couldn’t.

You have enough time to regularise your status. Once the AI cars deploy, it’s too late. Don’t wait for facial recognition to find you.