The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) celebrated a landmark achievement after winning three honours at the ICC Development Awards 2025, recognising its outstanding contribution to grassroots cricket and the growth of the women’s game in the UAE.

The awards were presented during the International Cricket Council (ICC) Annual Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, where cricket boards from around the world were recognised for programmes that have helped expand participation and develop the sport.

Initiative of the Year

The ECB’s first award came in the Marriott Bonvoy ICC Development Initiative of the Year category for its pioneering Girls U15 Academy League. The programme, the first of its kind in the region, was recognised for creating new opportunities for young girls to participate in competitive cricket while promoting inclusion and wider access to the sport.

The board also shared the ICC Female Cricket Initiative of the Year award with Türkiye Cricket. The honour recognised the UAE’s efforts to expand girls’ cricket through the Get into Cricket – Girls Only programme and the Interschool Criiio Gulf Cup, initiatives launched following the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 to introduce cricket to schools and communities across the country.

Victory for UAE women’s national team

Completing a memorable evening, the ECB received the ICC Associate Member Women’s Team Performance of the Year award after the UAE women’s national team made history during its tour of Zimbabwe.

Competing in their first-ever 50-over series after gaining ODI status, the UAE secured a 2-2 draw in the One-Day International series before defeating Zimbabwe 2-0 in the subsequent T20 International series. The result marked the UAE’s maiden bilateral series victory over a higher-ranked Full Member nation on foreign soil.

ECB Board Member Zayed Abbas described the awards as a significant milestone for everyone involved in UAE cricket.

“These awards are a massive encouragement for the Emirates Cricket Board management, officials, players and support staff,” Abbas said.

He thanked the ICC for recognising the work of Associate Members and said the honours had strengthened the board’s determination to invest further in cricket development.

Abbas also praised the rapid rise of women’s cricket in the UAE, saying growing media attention and increased participation at grassroots level were creating a strong foundation for the future.

“Thousands of girls are now playing cricket, which means that we have a solid foundation to work on for the years ahead,” he said.

Bright future for women’s team

Looking ahead, Abbas said the Emirates Cricket Board remains committed to providing the national women’s team with greater exposure against leading international sides as preparations continue for the ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2026 and qualification campaigns for future ICC Women’s T20 and ODI World Cups.

The ICC Development Awards recognise outstanding programmes and achievements that contribute to the growth of cricket globally, with winners selected from regional nominees across multiple development categories.

Dubai is investing Dh2 billion in one of its biggest road infrastructure projects to improve connectivity and reduce congestion across the city. The Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor Development Project, announced by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), will create a new 12-kilometre transport corridor linking several of Dubai’s busiest highways.

Scheduled for completion by the end of 2028, the project is expected to make daily commutes faster, improve access between key neighbourhoods, and support the city’s future growth.

Here’s what it means for residents.

A look at the Latifa bint Hamdan corridor?

The project involves building a 12km road corridor that will connect six major roads across Dubai:

• Sheikh Zayed Road
• Al Khail Road
• Al Meydan Street
• Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road
• Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan Street
• Emirates Road

By linking these major routes, the corridor will provide motorists with more direct travel options and reduce pressure on existing roads.

How will it reduce traffic?

One of the biggest advantages of the new corridor is its ability to ease congestion.

The road will have the capacity to handle up to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions, helping distribute traffic more efficiently across Dubai’s road network.

The project also includes:

• Seven new bridges spanning 2.3 kilometres.
• Eight tunnels with a combined length of 900 metres.

These additions will reduce bottlenecks at busy intersections and improve traffic flow during peak hours.

Faster daily commutes

For thousands of residents, the project could significantly shorten travel times.

According to the RTA, the journey between Umm Al Sheif Street and Emirates Road will drop from 33 minutes to just 15 minutes once the project is completed, a reduction of 54%.

Shorter commutes mean less time spent in traffic and more time for work, family, or leisure.

Which areas will benefit?

The new corridor will improve connectivity for several fast-growing communities, including:

• Nad Al Sheba
• Al Barari
• Dubai Hills
• Dubai District One
• Mohammed Bin Rashid Gardens
• Living Legends
• Majan
• Global Village

It will also benefit people travelling through residential, commercial and industrial areas located along Latifa bint Hamdan Street and Al Meydan Street, as well as areas between Al Khail Road and Emirates Road.

Better connections across the city

Instead of relying on a limited number of major highways, drivers will have another direct route connecting the city’s east-west and north-south road network.

This should make it easier to:

• Reach workplaces more quickly.
• Access schools and universities.
• Travel to shopping centres and entertainment destinations.
• Move between residential communities with fewer delays.

More options for cyclists

The project isn’t just for motorists.

The RTA will also build 12.5 kilometres of dedicated cycling tracks, linking the new corridor with Dubai’s existing cycling network.

Once completed, cyclists will be able to travel more easily between Al Qudra and Jumeirah, supporting healthier lifestyles and encouraging sustainable transport.

Supporting growing population

Dubai continues to welcome new residents and businesses every year, increasing demand on its transport infrastructure.

Projects like the Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor are designed to accommodate future growth by expanding road capacity and improving connectivity before congestion becomes a bigger challenge.

The Latifa bint Hamdan Corridor is more than just a new road. It is designed to improve everyday life by making travel faster, reducing traffic congestion, expanding cycling infrastructure, and creating better links between some of Dubai’s fastest-growing communities.

For residents, this means shorter journeys, smoother traffic, and a more connected city as Dubai continues to grow.

The UAE Federal National Council (FNC) has approved a draft law to protect the country’s cultural heritage, with severe penalties for anyone who damages, steals, or illegally trades in protected heritage items.

If enacted, the legislation would introduce fines of up to Dh10 million and prison sentences of up to 10 years for the most serious offences involving archaeological and heritage sites.

Why the new law?

The proposed legislation is designed to preserve the UAE’s rich cultural identity while supporting sustainable development and cultural tourism.

The law aims to:

• Protect, preserve, document, and promote the UAE’s cultural heritage.
• Encourage research and education related to heritage.
• Support cultural exchange and diversity.
• Preserve heritage for future generations.
• Boost heritage tourism across the UAE.
• Integrate cultural heritage into everyday community life.
• Encourage government and private organisations to include heritage in sustainable development plans.

What the law covers

The proposed legislation applies across all seven emirates, including free zones.

It protects a wide range of heritage, including:

• Tangible heritage such as historic buildings and artefacts.
• Intangible heritage, including traditions, customs, and cultural practices.
• Natural heritage.
• Digital heritage, including culturally significant digital records and archives.

The draft law classifies historical buildings as structures built before 1960, while modern heritage includes significant buildings constructed after 1960, such as schools, hospitals, museums, and industrial facilities.

Archaeological sites, shipwrecks, and submerged aircraft located within UAE territory are also protected under the proposed legislation.

Reporting heritage discoveries is mandatory

Anyone who discovers an archaeological object or cultural heritage item must report it within 48 hours to the relevant authority, the Ministry of Culture, or the nearest police station.

People who promptly report discoveries may be eligible for a reward, encouraging public participation in protecting the nation’s heritage.

Major penalties

Fines of Dh500,000 to Dh10 million

The highest penalties apply to offences such as:

• Deliberately damaging or destroying heritage sites or artefacts.
• Stealing or unlawfully taking cultural heritage items.
• Carrying out construction, demolition, or infrastructure work at protected sites without official approval.
• Smuggling cultural or archaeological items into or out of the UAE.

Up to 10 years in prison

Offenders may face prison sentences of up to 10 years, along with fines ranging from Dh300,000 to Dh5 million, for:

• Conducting illegal archaeological excavations.
• Using heritage sites as dumping grounds.
• Submitting false documents to export antiquities.
• Forging heritage artefacts or intentionally creating fake cultural items to deceive others.

Up to three years in prison

The draft law also proposes prison terms of up to three years and fines between Dh100,000 and Dh5 million for offences including:

• Removing or relocating heritage items without approval.
• Trading materials taken from protected heritage sites.
• Displaying advertisements on heritage or archaeological locations.
• Failing to register heritage items in private possession.
• Neglecting the preservation of registered heritage items.
• Obstructing authorised inspectors.
• Organising events involving cultural heritage without the required permits.

Strengthening heritage protection

The proposed legislation reflects the UAE’s commitment to preserving its history and cultural identity while promoting responsible tourism and sustainable development. If implemented, it will establish one of the region’s strongest legal frameworks for safeguarding cultural heritage and ensuring its preservation for future generations.