Category: Middle East

The Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that the road in Industrial Area 3 will be closed for three weeks from March 25 until April 15 Motorists have been advised to use alternative roads heading into Dubai through the industrial area, and can instead use the second industrial street and the fourth industrial street. The road works include putting down new asphalt will affect motorists travelling towards Sharjah Ring Road, reads the official Twitter account of the Sharjah RTA. The temporary road closure is part of a series of works to improve the infrastructure.

Photo Courtesy: KUNA Kuwait’s National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) has discovered tens of cemeteries and engraved items belonged to the Bronze Age from a popular eastern resort on the shores of the Arabian Gulf. The new discoveries are reminiscent of a Bronze Age culture, known as ‘Um Al Nar’, that existed around 2500 BC in the area of modern-day United Arab Emirates and northern Oman. The area was once a vibrant trade zone that linked vast civilisations across eastern Saudi Arabia, said he director of NCCAL’s department of antiquities and museums, Sultan Al Duweish. “The rare findings are ... Read more

The Royal Thai Embassy in Muscat launched SMART Visa aimed at entrepreneurs investing in new businesses, highly skilled professionals and executives. The SMART Visa will be issued from April 1, 2018. “The SMART Visa is offered to foreign executives and entrepreneurs who wish to invest in Thailand’s targeted industries such as medical and wellness tourism, smart electrics, agriculture, etc,” a spokesperson from the Royal Thai Embassy said. Applications for the Thai SMART Visa will only apply to the “S-Curve” targeted industries, including next-generation automotive, smart electronics, medical and wellness tourism, “food for the future”, and agriculture and biotechnology, as well as ... Read more

The Royal Oman Police (ROP) had recently launched new electronic visa system to facilitate the passengers’ journey and to prevent unnecessary queues at the visa on arrival desk at the airport’s counter. But, at present, a temporary counter has opened at the New Muscat International Airport terminal for tourists flying to Oman to get visas on arrival. Visa on arrival counters have been set-up in case of emergencies for eligible tourists who are not aware of the new electronic visa system that was officially launched on March 21. “We are still keeping the visa on arrival option for a short span of time ... Read more

Emotiv has displayed their new technology of mind-controlled drones at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai. The new lightweight plastic headset can read the electrical impulses from the brain though the scalp, record them on a computer and configure the thought patterns into instructions for a small drone. It is now possible to activate a drone and send it flying through the air just by using brainwaves alone. “What is more important than the hardware is the fact that we have this community of people that are sending us the data, and that we’ve got the data scientists and ... Read more

Passport officers have stamped passports with a smiley face as part of Happiness day celebrations. General directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai, surprised those who arrived at the Dubai International Airport today with a unique stamp with a smiley face design and the title ‘Welcome to the Happy UAE’. Around 100 lucky passengers at the Dubai Airport will be getting free taxi rides throughout the day as part of the celebrations.

Travel is expected to peak this weekend for Emirates, as the airline expects yet another busy period with visitors passing through Terminal 3 ahead of the spring break holiday. “The busiest time for departures will be on Friday 23rd March in the morning and continuing all day on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th March,” the airlines said in a statement. With road works and infrastructure enhancements happening around the main airport highways and roads during this time, Emirates urges customers to build in extra time to their journeys to avoid potential delays. “Customers are reminded to arrive at the airport ... Read more

If you are planning to go to Legoland tomorrow, wear yellow and you may win a chance of getting a free entry. The first 20 people who turn up tomorrow will be given complimentary access. The offer is part of the International Day of Happiness. The fun and freebies doesn’t stop there. The staff of the park may surprise you by handing yellow envelopes which contains all sorts of prizes, which range from meal vouchers to Lego gift sets, park tickets and much more. One lucky family will even receive Annual Passes to Legoland Dubai and Legoland Water Park. “There are ... Read more

Ukraine and Kuwait have agreed on bilateral simplification of the visa regime during the meeting of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and the Emir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. “An agreement was reached on simplifying the visa regime on the basis of reciprocity and including Ukraine in the list of countries for which citizens visas will be issued at the international airport of Kuwait or electronically. This step should help to increase business contacts and open additional opportunities for national tourism industries,” said a statement. During the meeting the countries also discussed the possibilities ... Read more

Sub Sea Systems, a world leader in innovative products for the marine tourism industry, will debut its latest creation, Aquaticar, at the 2018 Deal trade show in Dubai this April at the World Trade Center. Aquaticar is the world’s first underwater driving experience. Adventurers age 5 and up can drive futuristic vehicles through an underwater world of wonder that can be themed to fit nearly any experience– from a teeming coral reef to a rugged Mars landscape, or even a dark ride with startling surprises around every corner. Guests are dry from mid-chest up, and wet from mid-chest down, allowing pioneering underwater ... Read more

Abu Dhabi has launched a comprehensive new digital initiative which will act as a ‘one-stop’ reference for all cultural information regarding the destination.  The new initiative will allow users to gain instant access to every possible aspect of cultural life and heritage in the emirate. A website would act as a main hub for information, along with a mobile app (iOS and Android), social media presence as well as podcasts on Soundcloud and iTunes that feature weekly broadcasts of cultural topics and discussions with experts. The initiative was launched as part of the UAE Innovation Month. “Through launching an accessible digital platform ... Read more

Effective 21 March 2018, visas will only be granted electronically via https://evisa.rop.gov.om and there will be no more hand-processed visas at the airport effective that date, informed the Royal Oman Police (ROP). Oman had relaxed its visa rules by granting Visa on arrival for the Citizens of India, China and Russia who reside in or who hold an entry visa to one of these countries – United States of America, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and Schengen States to enter Oman. “The migration to electronic visas is due to its simplicity and effectiveness, its alignment with modern technology and is in line with the e-government ... Read more

The private beach at ­Fairmont The Palm Dubai, located on Palm Jumeirah, is open for children with disabilities. The children can avail the facilities totally free of cost, thanks to a collaboration between Team Angel Wolf, a non-profit association and Fairmont The Palm. The children will be taken on a devise specially designed for the purpose. ­It looks like extended deckchairs with a lengthy seat section suspended on a tubular frame. Floatable armrests are also attached to the frame. The straps fitted at either end will help carers to pull them through the water. The beach will be open for children ... Read more

Dubai’s biggest yoga festival, holistic events and entertainment for yogis and complete beginners alike, will be conducted from 16-17 March.  The two-day event will see yoga sessions and classes running all weekend, from sunrise until sunset, taught by local and international yoga teachers. One of the international yogis taking part will be Tao Porchon-Lynch, who at 97 holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest yoga teacher in the world. Bollywood star and yoga practitioner, Malaika Arora Khan will also be leading the yoga sessions. Visitors will also be able to find healthy food stalls, yoga equipment, entertainment, and more. ... Read more

A new flight route between Dubai and Slovenia is being considered. Discussions about the new air route were conducted by Deputy Director of the Ministry of Infrastructure of the Republic of Slovenia, Arish Kantaruti; Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economic and Technological Development, Bernard Schrainer; Chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Slovenia, and Janez Krasnaya, Head of Aviation Administration, Faraport. A number of topics were discussed, including the Dubai-Slovenia airline. The meeting was part of a series of ongoing meetings conducted by the Authority with all sectors to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and to strengthen relations locally, regionally and ... Read more