- Middle East
Indian CBSE–Saudi curriculum school to open soon in Madinah
Madinah: In a significant development for expat families, a school offering a combined Indian Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Saudi curriculum is set to open in Madinah from the 2026–2027…
- Middle East
Shaaban moon not seen in Saudi Arabia: When will Ramzan 2026 begin?
Riyadh: The crescent moon, which marks the beginning of Shaaban 1447 AH-2026, was not sighted in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, January 18. As a result, Monday, January 19, will be observed as…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman undergoes medical tests
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz is undergoing medical tests at a hospital in Riyadh. Citing a statement from the Royal Court on Friday, January 16, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the Custodian…
- Middle East
Dubai Court cancels Rs 367 crore fine for Indian businessman Abu Sabah
Dubai: The Dubai Court of Cassation has brought to an end the high-profile money laundering case involving Indian businessman Balvinder Singh Sahni, widely known as ‘Abu Sabah’, after partially overturning a ruling…
- Middle East
General Ahmad Vahidi appointed new deputy commander of Iran’s IRGC
Tehran: Major General Ahmad Vahidi has been appointed as the new Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iranian media reported on…
- Middle East
Israel claims 20,900 strikes across Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen in 2025
The Israeli military has claimed it carried out around 20,900 air strikes and conducted approximately 430 operations across multiple fronts in 2025, according to a statement by its Arabic-language spokesperson. In a…
- Middle East
January travel peak looms: Emirates issues airport advisory
Dubai: Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has alerted passengers to a sharp increase in travel demand during the first week of January, with the busiest period expected between January 2 and…
- Middle East
New Year’s Eve 2026 in Dubai: 48 fireworks shows planned across 40 locations
Dubai: Dubai will welcome the New Year 2026 with its largest-ever fireworks programme, staging 48 displays across 40 locations on Wednesday night, December 31, under a citywide safety and transport operation led…
- Middle East
Kuwait sets six-month overseas stay limit for expats
Kuwait City: Kuwait has introduced new residency regulations limiting the length of time expat residents may remain outside the country to six consecutive months, as part of a comprehensive update to its…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia to roll out four-tier sugar tax on drinks from Jan 1
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has approved amendments to the executive regulations of the excise tax, introducing a sugar-content-based levy on sweetened beverages from January 1, 2026. The…
- Middle East
Saudi-led Coalition clarifies Mukalla weapons shipment after UAE denial
Riyadh: The Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen has issued clarifications regarding the arrival of two vessels at Yemen’s Mukalla port, following a statement by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs…
- Middle East
Saudi Cabinet hopes UAE will halt military, financial support to STC
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet said on Tuesday, December 30, that it hopes the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will halt any military or financial support to Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC). The Cabinet…
- Middle East
Iran warns of ‘harsh’ response after Trump’s nuclear threat
Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, December 30, warned that his country would respond forcefully to any attack, following remarks by United States (US) President Donald Trump linking possible Israeli action…
- Middle East
Indian expat among four killed in Oman road accident
Muscat: An Indian expatriate was among four people killed in a road accident in Oman’s South Al Batinah Governorate on Sunday night, December 28. The incident took place at around 9 pm…
- Middle East
UAE rejects Saudi claims over weapons shipment to Yemen
Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday, December 30, rejected Saudi Arabia’s claims regarding a shipment linked to Yemen’s Port of Mukalla, describing the allegations as containing “fundamental inaccuracies”. In…
