Residents in Sharjah now have a new outdoor fitness destination after Sharjah City Municipality officially opened the Green Belt Park walkway, featuring a modern 1.8-km rubber track designed for walking, jogging and recreational activities.

The newly completed facility was opened to the public on Monday following the successful completion of construction and finishing works. The project aims to encourage healthier lifestyles by providing a safe, comfortable and visually appealing environment for exercise and relaxation.

Specifically designed running track

Built around the perimeter of Green Belt Park, the track is constructed from high-quality rubber materials that meet international safety and durability standards. Officials said the surface was specifically designed to provide flexibility and comfort for users while resisting wear, heavy usage and colour fading caused by changing weather conditions.

The municipality also introduced environmentally friendly lighting systems across the walkway to improve visibility and safety during evening hours. Landscaped greenery and planted areas surrounding the track have been added to create a calm and welcoming atmosphere for visitors.

Dedicated seating areas

As part of the park upgrades, dedicated seating areas will also be introduced for visitors and families, creating additional spaces for relaxation and community gatherings.

Municipality officials said the Green Belt Park walkway forms part of Sharjah’s broader development plans aimed at enhancing public facilities and supporting the emirate’s rapid urban, tourism and population growth.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) has officially announced its operational schedule for the Eid Al Adha holiday period, ensuring uninterrupted support for residents, visitors, and travellers across the emirate.

According to the authority, the holiday working schedule will begin on Monday, May 25, and continue through Friday, May 29, with several customer service centres maintaining extended operations during the festive period.

24/7 Customer Happiness Centre

One of the key highlights is the continued 24/7 operation of the Customer Happiness Centre located at Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 arrivals area. The round-the-clock service is aimed at assisting passengers and handling urgent immigration and residency-related transactions throughout the Eid holidays.

Meanwhile, customers visiting the Al Manara and Al Twar centres will be able to access services from Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 1:00pm.

The Al Awir Public Services Centre will continue functioning daily from 7:00am until 8:00pm, including weekends, providing additional flexibility for those requiring in-person support during the holiday season.

GDRFA Dubai also highlighted the availability of its digital platforms, which remain fully active 24 hours a day. Customers can complete a wide range of services online without visiting service centres, as part of Dubai’s ongoing push toward smarter and faster government services.

Call centre assistance

Residents and visitors can also contact the Amer call centre at 8005111 for assistance and transaction updates at any time during the Eid break.

In addition to physical service centres, users can access immigration and residency services through the official GDRFA Dubai website and the DubaiNow smart application.

Chicken shopping in the UAE is about to change, with a new government-backed Premium Mark set to appear on selected locally produced poultry products from June.

The initiative, launched by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC), aims to help shoppers quickly identify chilled chicken products that meet higher standards for food safety, quality, sustainability and production practices.

Retailers say UAE consumers are becoming far more selective about what they buy, especially when it comes to fresh poultry.

The certification will apply to producers that meet advanced standards across the poultry supply chain, including farming methods, feed quality, inspections and final product quality.

The rollout will begin in phases from June with selected Abu Dhabi poultry producers. Participation is voluntary, but industry players believe the label could strengthen consumer confidence in UAE-made products and help local brands compete more strongly against imported premium poultry.

Officials also said the framework could later expand to include eggs, dairy and red meat products.