A serious traffic accident in Dubai’s Majan area has prompted Dubai Police to renew warnings against driving in the wrong direction, a violation authorities say continues to pose a major threat to road safety.

The incident involved a motorcycle and a vehicle on an internal road. Initial findings indicate the motorcyclist was travelling against the flow of traffic before the collision occurred. The rider sustained severe injuries and was transported to the hospital for medical treatment.

Brigadier Juma Salem bin Suwaidan, Director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, said wrong-way driving remains among the most dangerous traffic violations and is frequently linked to fatal road accidents.

Emergency response teams and traffic patrols were dispatched immediately after authorities received reports of the crash, ensuring swift assistance at the scene.

Dubai Police highlighted that driving against traffic dramatically increases the likelihood of head-on collisions, placing motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians at serious risk. The violation can also disrupt traffic movement, cause extensive property damage and result in tragic loss of life.

Authorities urged all road users to remain in designated lanes, follow road signs and strictly adhere to traffic regulations to help maintain safer roads across the emirate.

Drivers caught travelling against traffic face a Dh600 fine, four black points and a seven-day vehicle impoundment. In certain cases, an additional Dh500 penalty may be imposed under Article 98 of the Traffic Law for causing traffic obstruction.

Dubai Police will continue to intensify awareness campaigns and enforcement measures aimed at reducing dangerous violations and enhancing community safety.

The UAE has officially declared Monday, June 15, 2026, a public holiday for both public and private sector employees to mark the Islamic New Year 1448.

The announcement was made by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, confirming a paid day off for workers across the country.

Normal working hours will resume on Tuesday, June 16.

As the holiday falls on a Monday, most employees who enjoy a Saturday-Sunday weekend will benefit from a three-day break.

For government employees in Sharjah, the holiday will create an even longer weekend. With the emirate’s four-day workweek already providing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays off, the additional Monday holiday means a four-day break.

The Islamic New Year, also known as the Hijri New Year, marks the beginning of a new year in the Islamic lunar calendar. It falls on the first day of Muharram, the opening month of the Hijri calendar, and is traditionally confirmed through official moon-sighting procedures.

The occasion is one of the UAE’s official public holidays and is observed by both government entities and private sector companies.

The announcement comes shortly after residents enjoyed the longest holiday period of the year during Eid Al Adha.

Earlier this month, government employees benefited from an extended nine-day break, while many private sector workers received up to six days off.

With June 15 now confirmed as a public holiday, UAE residents have another long weekend to look forward to before the summer holiday season gets underway.

Dubai’s private schools will face short-notice inspections from the 2026-27 academic year under a revamped quality assurance framework announced by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).

Under the new approach, schools will receive no more than 24 hours’ notice before inspectors arrive, marking a significant shift in how education quality is monitored across the emirate.

KHDA said the updated system will include two types of visits. Full inspections will be carried out by teams of specialist education experts, while shorter monitoring visits will focus on specific areas of school performance and quality assurance.

Return of formal inspection

The move signals the return of formal inspection activity after KHDA paused inspections during the 2025-26 academic year. At the time, the authority said the break would allow for greater collaboration with schools and a review of how educational quality is assessed and supported.

The new model aims to provide a more responsive and differentiated approach to evaluating schools, with visits designed to offer a clearer picture of day-to-day operations and educational standards.

Dubai’s private school sector serves hundreds of thousands of students across a wide range of international curricula, making quality assurance a key part of maintaining educational standards and supporting continuous improvement.

Further details on how the inspection and monitoring framework will operate are expected ahead of the 2026-27 academic year.