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First intelligent humanoid robot Sophia arrives in Dubai to participate in conference
The humanoid robot Sophia, the world’s first robot citizen, will arrive in Dubai on Tuesday, March 8, to participate in the largest smart conference for internal auditors, the 20th Annual Regional Audit Conference (ARAC) from March 7 to 9, 2022 at Dubai World Trade Centre.
Sophia, who holds Saudi citizenship, will conduct an interactive session on the future of artificial intelligence titled ‘Artificial Intelligence in the Internal Audit Profession’, on the second day of the annual regional conference on internal auditing, hosted by the Association of Internal Auditors in the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai World Trade Center under the theme “The Revolution and Transformation in Internal Audit”.
The organizers facilitated Sophia’s presence at the smart conference as a symbol of the future of artificial intelligence.
The conference is sponsored by a number of major international companies such as KPMG, Bee’ah, Protiviti and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The conference provides an opportunity for attendees to receive more than 22 CPE credits, in order to enhance their professional development process. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from over 40 international speakers, leaders and authors who will share their experiences, best practices, trends and case studies, through more than 44 sessions moderated by some of the biggest names in the field of internal auditing.
Special attractions are some high-profile speakers such as Terry Cutler, CEO, Cyology Labs Canada and Ethical Hacker, who will conduct a session on ‘Insider Secrets to how hackers are getting in, and why’. Participants will get to learn a lot on Cybersecurity from Terry Cutler as he has been voted Top Influencer in Cybersecurity.
Jordan Belfort, American author, The Real Wolf of Wall Street, motivational speaker and former stockbroker, will talk on ‘Leveraging Risk to Elevate your Business and Life’.
Henrik Stein, Former President of European Confederation of the Institutes of Internal Auditing (ECIIA), will address the participants on ‘Continuation and Innovation: A Challenge to evolve Internal Audit in a strongly regulated environment’.
Panel discussions and workshops will cover topics such as: Digital, Cyber Security and Resilience Trends; Tech Talk: Reimagining Digitization of the Information Security World; Building a Successful Competency Framework for Auditors; ‘Auditing the new world of AI & automation and your place in it’.
The other major topics to be discussed at the conference include: Cracking the Code: Emerging Risks; Re-imagining Risk Management; Building a modern audit function: A Take-to-enterprise Road Map; Cracking the Code: Digital Risk / Cyber Security; Procurement fraud; Balancing product sustainability against business profitability: Sustainability reporting practices and corporate governance; Regulatory compliance; Robotics Risk Monitoring; Audit transformation with data analytics; Audit Department’s Road Map to Success.
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Parents, take note: Dubai Police warn about teens riding motorbikes after Iftar in residential areas
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Foodilicious: A new Dubai-based TV series that brings Ramadan culinary traditions and cultural stories to screen
Commuters using one of Dubai’s busiest corridors just got a major upgrade.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially opened a new 1,000-metre bridge linking Sheikh Zayed Road to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street, slashing journey times from six minutes to just one minute.
And this is only part of a much bigger transformation.
What’s the new bridge?
- It spans 1,000 metres
- Has two lanes
- Handles up to 3,000 vehicles per hour
- Connects traffic from Sheikh Zayed Road towards Al Karama and Deira
It’s the third bridge completed under the wider World Trade Centre Roundabout Development Project.
Two earlier bridges opened in February 2026, improving traffic from 2nd December Street towards Sheikh Rashid Street and Al Majlis Street.
Why this intersection matters
The World Trade Centre Roundabout is one of Dubai’s most critical traffic nodes. It connects five major roads:
- Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street
- Sheikh Rashid Street
- 2nd December Street
- Zabeel Palace Street
- Al Majlis Street
It also serves key destinations like:
- Dubai World Trade Centre
- Dubai International Financial Centre
More than half a million residents and visitors rely on this corridor daily.
From 12 Minutes to 90 Seconds
When the full five-bridge project is completed:
- Average delays will drop from 12 minutes to 90 seconds
- That’s a 92% reduction
- Free-flow traffic will operate in multiple directions
- The existing roundabout will become a signalised junction
Two additional bridges, connecting traffic from Sheikh Rashid Street and Al Majlis Street towards 2nd December Street, are set to open in October.
Who benefits most?
- Daily commuters heading to Deira and Karama
- Residents in Zabeel, Al Satwa, Al Jafiliya and Al Mankhool
- Businesses in DIFC
- Event attendees at Dubai World Trade Centre
For drivers, the impact is immediate. For central Dubai’s traffic grid, the biggest gains are still coming later this year.
If you drive this stretch daily, you’ll likely feel the difference from your very next commute.
Parents, take note: Dubai Police warn about teens riding motorbikes after Iftar in residential areas
Foodilicious: A new Dubai-based TV series that brings Ramadan culinary traditions and cultural stories to screen
