From delivery drivers to service staff, who should you tip - and how much?

From delivery drivers to service staff, who should you tip - and how much?

The Agenda is your go-to programme for news, analysis and comment - a daily digest of local and international stories that matter to you. Broadcasting every weekday, Georgia Tolley goes beyond the headlines to speak to government ministers, decision makers, analysts and local experts to find out how the news will impact those of us living in the UAE.
From Covid-19, to climate change and community issues, The Agenda covers stories from every walk of life, so get in touch with us and tell us your news.

The Agenda is your go-to programme for news, analysis and comment - a daily digest of local and international stories that matter to you. Broadcasting every weekday, Georgia Tolley goes beyond the headlines to speak to government ministers, decision makers, analysts and local experts to find out how the news will impact those of us living in the UAE. From Covid-19, to climate change and community issues, The Agenda covers stories from every walk of life, so get in touch with us and tell us your news.

The Agenda

The big tipping debate

Etihad Rail has finally unveiled seven new passenger stations bringing the total so far to 11. But how transformative could this really be both for residents and the wider economy? How will this impact the property market?

New AI-powered surveillance cameras are being tested to detect and report littering in public spaces in Dubai. So how does the technology actually work, and what are the limits?  

Students in Dubai are back in schools after a long winter break. Now, some school leaders are warning about “learning regression”, the academic dip that happens when students lose key skills during extended breaks, especially in reading, writing and maths. So how serious is it, and what can be done?

And Emirates Airline has issued a fresh travel advisory reminding UAE residents that they’ll now need to apply for a new kind of e-visa before they fly. So what exactly is an ETA, who needs it, and how do you apply? 

 

Etihad Rail has finally unveiled seven new passenger stations bringing the total so far to 11. But how transformative could this really be both for residents and the wider economy? How will this impact the property market?
New AI-powered surveillance cameras are being tested to detect and report littering in public spaces in Dubai. So how does the technology actually work, and what are the limits? &nbsp;
Students in Dubai are back in schools after a long winter break. Now, some school leaders are warning about &ldquo;learning regression&rdquo;, the academic dip that happens when students lose key skills during extended breaks, especially in reading, writing and maths. So how serious is it, and what can be done?
And Emirates Airline has issued a fresh travel advisory reminding UAE residents that they&rsquo;ll now need to apply for a new kind of e-visa before they fly. So what exactly is an ETA, who needs it, and how do you apply?&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Impact of Etihad Rail stations

Tomorrow marks the first Friday under Dubai’s new early finish rule for schools. The change was announced in December, after prayer times were officially moved earlier by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs. We speak with school heads and parents have inundated our text line with comments.

The UAE is rolling out a national salt reduction policy, targeting processed foods, restaurant meals, and improving nutrition labelling, all with the goal of reducing average salt intake across the population. We explore the serious health implications of high salt consumption with Dr Samira Hassan and we also look at how businesses are responding with the changes.

We speak with one drone training company as this week, authorities approved five national drone training hubs, with the goal of creating a world-leading ecosystem for advanced air mobility. 

We analyse a new study suggesting that that airline emissions could be cut by up to 50%, simply by running flights more efficiently— choosing better routes, flying at optimal altitudes, and avoiding unnecessary detours.

And we're talking you skydiving with Cornelia Mihai.

Tomorrow marks the first Friday under Dubai&rsquo;s new early finish rule for schools. The change was announced in December, after prayer times were officially moved earlier by the General Authority of Islamic Affairs. We speak with school heads and parents have inundated our text line with comments. The UAE is rolling out a national salt reduction policy, targeting processed foods, restaurant meals, and improving nutrition labelling, all with the goal of reducing average salt intake across the population. We explore the serious health implications of high salt consumption with Dr Samira Hassan and we also look at how businesses are responding with the changes. We speak with one drone training company as this week, authorities approved five national drone training hubs, with the goal of creating a world-leading ecosystem for advanced air mobility. We analyse a new study suggesting that that airline emissions could be cut by up to 50%, simply by running flights more efficiently&mdash; choosing better routes, flying at optimal altitudes, and avoiding unnecessary detours. And we're talking you skydiving with Cornelia Mihai.

Early Friday finishes in Dubai schools

That's what exactly happened to one Dubai community not once, but twice, and the recent one is on New Year's Eve. We hear the story from resident Ruth Dance.

We also speak with Ateis Middle East's Phil Witts to learn about alarm units connections and obligations.

From this week, the country's ban on single-use plastics has expanded dramatically. We ask, are businesses ready for this ban? What alternatives are available?

We also discuss big news out of CES 2026 in Las Vegas: humanoid robots and Nvidia's Alpamayo

And do you miss the old Blackberry phone? There's something similar to it... 

That's what exactly happened to one Dubai community not once, but twice, and the recent one is on New Year's Eve. We hear the story from resident Ruth Dance.
We also speak with Ateis Middle East's Phil Witts to learn about alarm units connections and obligations.
From this week, the country's ban on single-use plastics has expanded dramatically. We ask, are businesses ready for this ban? What alternatives are available?
We also discuss big news out of CES 2026 in Las Vegas: humanoid robots and Nvidia's Alpamayo
And do you miss the old Blackberry phone? There's something similar to it...&nbsp;

The big tipping debate

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