Flights operated by Air India Express to and from Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah are continuing as scheduled despite disruptions affecting services to Dubai.

The airline confirmed that its ad-hoc operations on these routes remain unaffected, even as flights to and from Dubai were cancelled after a temporary suspension of operations at Dubai International Airport earlier on Monday.

The disruption came after airport authorities halted flight operations at Dubai International Airport as a precautionary measure following an incident near the airport. Operations have since begun gradually resuming, with Emirates indicating it expects to operate a limited schedule.

Due to the earlier suspension, both Air India and Air India Express cancelled their Dubai services for the day. Passengers affected by the cancellations have been offered flexible travel options at no additional cost.

Oman Air flights

Meanwhile, Oman Air announced that several of its routes will remain suspended until March 31 due to ongoing regional airspace closures affecting flight operations.

The airline, however, confirmed that flights to and from destinations including Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait City, Copenhagen, Baghdad, and Khasab will remain cancelled during this period.

Oman Air said most of its network continues to operate normally, while advising passengers affected by the disruptions to manage their bookings through the airline’s digital platforms.

Airlines across the region have been adjusting schedules and routes as regional airspace restrictions continue to impact operations.

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has issued a silver commemorative coin to mark Emirati Children’s Day, celebrated annually on March 15.

The coin carries a nominal value of Dh15 dirhams, symbolically reflecting the date of the occasion. On the obverse side, the denomination is displayed alongside the inscription “Central Bank of the UAE” in both Arabic and English.

The reverse side features the official theme of this year’s Emirati Children’s Day:  “The Right to Identity and National Culture.” The design includes an artistic illustration of a traditional fort, highlighting Emirati heritage and reinforcing children’s connection to their national identity and cultural values.

Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services at the CBUAE, said the commemorative issuance reflects the bank’s support for national initiatives that promote Emirati identity and strengthen values of belonging and citizenship within society.

A total of 2,000 coins have been issued, each weighing 28 grams of silver. The CBUAE said the coins will be made available for purchase, with details on the release date and purchasing mechanism to be announced later through its official website and social media platforms.

Dubai Municipality has introduced an advanced beach safety system that combines aquatic rescue robots with aerial water-rescue drones, marking a first for the Middle East.

The technology-driven initiative aims to strengthen coastal safety, improve emergency response times, and enhance protection for beachgoers across Dubai’s public beaches.

At the centre of the system is a remote-controlled aquatic rescue robot capable of travelling up to five times faster than a traditional lifeguard swimming rescue. The device operates within a range of up to one kilometre and can tow up to 500kg, enabling lifeguards to reach swimmers in distress quickly while reducing physical risk during rescue operations.

Water rescue drone

Supporting the system is a water rescue drone, often described as a “flying lifebuoy”. The drone can deploy rapidly over water, land on the sea surface, and provide immediate buoyancy support to individuals in distress.

Equipped with a live-feed camera, the drone also sends real-time visuals to lifeguard teams, helping improve incident detection, risk assessment, and coordination during emergencies.

Dubai Municipality said the aquatic robot and aerial drone operate within an integrated safety framework that includes trained lifeguards, continuous monitoring, and centralised control systems to strengthen rescue response across Dubai’s coastline.

Dubai Municipality manages public beaches across the emirate, including Umm Suqeim 1 Night Beach, Jumeirah 3 Night Beach, Jumeirah 1 Beach, Jumeirah 2 Beach, and Al Mamzar beaches.