Morning Fog Obscures Suhail Star as Traditional Season Begins Across UAE
Dawn skies across Abu Dhabi and the wider emirates officially marked the arrival of the traditional Suhail season on Monday, August 24, 2026. For generations across the Arabian Peninsula, this date signals the start of summer’s peak heat gradually easing. However, anyone stepping outside 40 minutes before sunrise to catch sight of the famous star has found only heavy low-lying humidity and dense fog banks blocking the south-eastern horizon.
Early Morning Fog Keeps Canopus Hidden While Farm and Coastal Routines Shift
Scientifically named Canopus, or Alpha Carinae, the star sits roughly 310 light-years from Earth, meaning the light obscured by current morning weather left its source over three centuries ago. Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Emirates Astronomy Society and member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, confirmed that while temperatures traditionally begin their subtle downward drift after August 20, high daytime heat and muggy morning mist will remain regular fixtures through the end of September. The star, the second-brightest in the night sky after Sirius, reappears every late August after vanishing below the south-western horizon for about three and a half months in early May.
Despite the star remaining hidden from the naked eye, local agricultural and coastal patterns are already adjusting to the seasonal turn. Dawn ground and water temperatures are beginning to feel cooler, soil watered the night before now retains its moisture until morning, and camels are starting to require less drinking water. The period marks the start of the first 10 days of Al Safri within the traditional Al Drour calendar system, prompting livestock owners to trim sheep hooves and farmers to begin preparing their fields for upcoming planting.
Along the coast and out in open country, natural indicators are following suit as sea temperatures start to decline. Fish are beginning their move closer to shore, samr trees are starting to green on their southern sides, and seabirds like the sallal bird have begun arriving in the region.
The star will remain low on the south-eastern horizon before dawn each morning, becoming easier to spot as morning fog lifts over the coming weeks.
Toyota Building Dubai Set for 2027 Demolition
Toyota Building Dubai: What's Next for the Famous Sign?
For generations of Dubai residents commuting down Sheikh Zayed Road, the 15-storey Nasser Rashid Lootah Building was never just another address. Completed back in 1974, just three years after the UAE formed, the structure earned a permanent spot in the city's collective memory thanks to the giant red-and-white Toyota sign perched on its roof.
That familiar visual anchor is now facing a definitive end. The building is scheduled for demolition in 2027, and around 70 per cent of its tenants have already packed up and moved out.
Before the structure disappears from the skyline entirely, commuters wondering about the fate of its defining feature have received some clarity. Al-Futtaim Toyota has confirmed that the legacy of the landmark sign will live on, even if the exact physical details are still being kept under wraps.
Jacques Brent, managing director of Al-Futtaim Toyota & Lexus, noted that the sign earned its place in Dubai's story long before digital navigation tools and modern road networks made getting around effortless. For years, motorists used the rooftop fixture as a primary navigational waypoint.
Originally installed in 1981 when Sheikh Zayed Road looked entirely different, the billboard was briefly removed in 2018 when its advertising contract expired. Public demand brought it right back in 2022, proving just how deeply woven into the local environment the symbol had become.
While Al-Futtaim Toyota has not yet disclosed whether the existing physical sign will be reinstalled at another site or preserved as heritage, Brent hinted that residents will learn more in the coming months, urging people to keep their eyes up.
UAE September 2026 Events: Dubai & Abu Dhabi Calendar
7 Major Date Clusters Shaping the UAE’s Packed September Calendar
Business tourism spending in the UAE climbed 8.8% last year to hit DHS 44.5 billion, and the Tourism and Travel Economic Report projects that figure to reach DHS 55.6 billion by 2036. To sustain that trajectory, Abu Dhabi and Dubai are gearing up for a heavy-hitting roster of exhibitions, conferences, and cultural events. Here is how the calendar shakes out across the Emirates.
- Middle East Energy Dubai (September 1, 3)
- Property & Crypto Back-to-Back (September 7, 10)
- Dubai Derma & GISEC (September 8, 18)
- Arabian Travel Market (September 14, 17)
- Education Interface & Skills (September 22, 23)
- Culture, Heritage & Global Justice (September 25, October 5)
- GOTECH & AWS Summit (September 29, 30)
Kaziah Liz Mejo Wins Miss Universe India 2026 Crown
UAE-Born Kaziah Liz Mejo Claims Miss Universe India 2026 Title
For anyone who spent their school mornings bouncing between Emirates National School, St Joseph’s School, and Abu Dhabi Indian School, a familiar name just took center stage on the international pageantry map. Nineteen-year-old Kaziah Liz Mejo, whose formative years unfolded right here in the UAE, was crowned Miss Universe India 2026 at a glittering grand finale held at Zee Studios in Jaipur.
Outlasting a crowded field of 53 contestants representing different parts of India on Sunday, August 23, Mejo secured the national title and the heavy responsibility that comes with it. She now packs her bags for Puerto Rico, where she will represent India at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in November. Miss Universe India 2025 Manika Vishwakarma passed on the crown during a finale watched closely by a high-profile jury that featured former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, former titleholders Urvashi Rautela and Celina Jaitly, Miss Universe India 2024 Rhea Singha, and film producer Pragya Kapoor.
Born in 2007 with roots firmly planted in Mavelikkara within Kerala’s Alappuzha district, Mejo’s journey blends her upbringing across Abu Dhabi's multicultural neighborhoods with her current life as a law student in Bengaluru and a working model. She has frequently credited the UAE's diverse environment with shaping her communication skills and personal confidence.
Pageantry is familiar territory for her by now. Her career in competitions started during her teenage years when she grabbed the Miss Teen Diva title in 2024. By 2025, she was representing India at Miss Teen International, where she finished as the first runner-up.
Beyond the runway, her background leans heavily into the performing arts. She is a trained classical dancer with 12 years of study under her belt, plays both the drums and the violin, and even made an acting debut in the Malayalam film *Shylock*. Public speaking and working through personal insecurities regarding appearance have also marked her path toward the crown.
The Jaipur finale also set the stage for other regional representatives. Vaishnavi Ganesh from Tamil Nadu claimed the first runner-up spot and secured her ticket to represent India at Miss International 2026. Gujarat's Anushri Satavlekar finished as second runner-up, while Tejaswini Shrivastava of Maharashtra and Anubha Vashisth Chaudhary of Uttarakhand rounded out the podium as third and fourth runners-up respectively.
Mejo now turns her focus toward the global stage in Puerto Rico, carrying her UAE schooling, Kerala heritage, and growing pageant resume into her toughest challenge yet.
Trump Iran war escalates with global oil revenue blockade
US launches Operation Economic Outcast to block all Iranian oil revenues
The United States launched a comprehensive economic campaign titled Operation Economic Outcast on August 24, 2026, moving to cut off all Iranian state revenue streams, including oil exports. The enforcement push, announced by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent alongside President Donald Trump's pledge to implement crushing measures, targets Tehran's commercial access worldwide while drawing immediate security retaliation threats across the Gulf.
Tehran threatens regional nations as maritime disruptions pressure global markets
Iran's security leadership warned neighboring governments that any participation in Washington's financial blockade will result in those countries being treated as active enemies. Disruptions linked to the confrontation and tension in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed US petrol prices past $4 a gallon. Following Bessent's warning that an economic D-Day is approaching for Tehran, senior Iranian officials issued a nuclear warning, stating that Washington's offensive could fuel a shift in Iran's nuclear policy.
The expanded economic campaign follows months of intense conflict between Washington and Tehran, coming weeks after Oman presented a proposed diplomatic deal on August 6 designed to resolve disputes over shipping control in the region.
Dh999 Tickets for Tony Robbins Dubai Debut
Tony Robbins Dubai Show Brings BREAKTHROUGH to Coca-Cola Arena
If your professional calendar is already filling up for next year, circle April 24, 2027. Tony Robbins is bringing his live transformational experience to the Coca-Cola Arena for the very first time.
Pre-sale registration kicks off this Wednesday, August 26, at 9am GST over at coca-cola-arena.com. This marks the debut of the BREAKTHROUGH format anywhere in the GCC, rolled out in a version designed specifically for the Middle East.
Presented by Locker Room Events, the four-hour immersive arena session zeroes in on leadership, business growth, and personal performance. Robbins will work directly with the room using storytelling, strategic frameworks, and live coaching moments, pushing executives to rethink decision-making and standard-setting.
General ticket pricing scales across three main tiers: Bronze starts at Dh999, Silver runs at Dh2,499, and Gold reaches Dh4,999. A limited number of Royal and VIP packages will also drop during the pre-sale window, packing in premium seating, priority entry, exclusive merchandise, founding attendee recognition, and a meet-and-greet photo with Robbins.
The event is aimed squarely at people who have already hit a level of success and want to know what comes next, founders, C-suite leaders, entrepreneurs, high-net-worth individuals, and real estate and financial decision-makers. Head to the venue's official site this Wednesday morning if you want to lock in access before general sales open.
