Students in UAE schools will have just the first two weeks of the new academic year to apply for transfers between academic streams under new rules introduced by the Ministry of Education.

The updated regulations for the 2026-27 school year are designed to ensure students are placed in the academic pathway that best matches their abilities while maintaining stable learning environments.

Under the new framework, all transfer requests will be subject to academic assessments, counselling for students and parents, admission requirements and official approval. Schools will also monitor students after they move to ensure they are adapting well.

Who can transfer?

• Students in the advanced stream can voluntarily move to the general stream at approved grade levels.
• Students in Grades 8 and 9 can transfer from the general stream to the advanced stream only if they scored at least 80% in English, Mathematics and Science during the previous academic year.
• Students in Grades 10 and 11 in the general stream cannot transfer to the advanced stream because of curriculum requirements.
• Transfers from the applied stream to the general stream will not be permitted.

The Ministry of Education has urged schools to make transfer decisions in consultation with students, parents and academic advisers, stressing that ongoing support is essential to help students succeed in their new academic pathway.

Parking at Wafi Mall has gone fully digital.

Parkonic has introduced its ticketless parking system at the popular Dubai mall, allowing motorists to pay parking fees automatically through their Salik accounts or by scanning a QR code before leaving.

When drivers enter the car park, their vehicle’s number plate is automatically scanned, creating a digital parking ticket without the need for paper tickets or parking machines.

Parking charges

• First 3 hours: Free
• 3–4 hours: Dh15
• Each additional hour (or part): Dh10

Parking charges apply Monday to Friday, while parking remains free on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Drivers who leave and return after using their three free hours will be treated as a new entry. However, to receive another three hours of free parking on the same day, there must be a two-hour gap between visits.

There are no cash payment options or parking machines at the site. Visitors without a Salik account, or those with insufficient balance, must pay using an alternative payment method before exiting.

Loading bay vehicles are eligible for one extra hour of free parking once validated.

Parkonic warned that motorists who fail to pay the required parking fees could face fines, blacklisting or legal action.

The operator has been expanding its ticketless parking network across the UAE, with recent rollouts at West Yas Plaza, Yas Bay, Yas Marina, selected Choithrams stores, Discovery Gardens and Palm Jumeirah Crescent.

If your vehicle has been impounded in Sharjah, now is the time to check.

Sharjah City Municipality has given owners of impounded vehicles, machinery, motorcycles and bicycles four days to complete the necessary release procedures or risk having their property sold at a public auction.

The warning applies to vehicles and equipment that have remained impounded for more than six months.

Owners are required to visit the Control and Inspection Department in Industrial Area 5 to resolve the reason for the impoundment and complete the legal procedures needed to recover their property.

After the deadline, any unclaimed vehicles or equipment will be put up for public auction.

To help owners, the municipality has published a list of all affected vehicles on its official website, allowing residents to check whether their vehicle is included before visiting the department.

The move is part of Sharjah Municipality’s ongoing efforts to regulate impounded assets and encourage owners to complete the required procedures within the specified timeframe.