- Middle East
Saudi Arabia to open Haj package bookings for 2025 via Nusuk
Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj and Umrah announced on Thursday, February 6, that Haj package bookings for the 1446 AH/2025 season will soon open via the Nusuk Haj…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia suspends meningitis vaccine requirement for Umrah pilgrims
Riyadh: The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, February 6, announced the suspension of a previous directive that required Umrah pilgrims to be vaccinated against Neisseria meningitis,…
- Middle East
Hyderabadi activist Zahack Tanvir, imprisoned in Saudi Arabia, released
Hyderabad: A renowned Hyderabad-origin activist Zahack Tanvir has been released from custody in Saudi Arabia after nearly a year of detention. Tanvir, known for his outspoken views on international affairs and counter-extremism, was…
- Middle East
From maternity leave to overtime: Saudi Arabia rolls out changes to labour law
Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MoHRSD) has implemented significant changes to its labour law, effective this month. The initiative aims to strengthen employee rights…
- Middle East
Sheikh Al-Sudais to mark 42 years as Imam of Masjid Al Haram
Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, is set to complete 42 years since his appointment as Imam of Masjid Al Haram, Makkah.…
- Middle East
GCC residents can perform Umrah via multiple visa options
Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj and Umrah has announced that residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries can now perform Umrah rituals through multiple entry visa options. This…
- Middle East
Abu Dhabi BAPS Hindu Mandir to celebrate first anniversary
Abu Dhabi: The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East, is set to celebrate its first ‘Patotsav’ –…
- Middle East
India vs Pakistan in Dubai: Airfares to surge by 50 pc amid last-minute travel rush
As the highly anticipated India-Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match on Sunday, February 23, drawing near, Dubai’s travel sector is gearing up for a last-minute surge in flight bookings. With ticket prices…
- Middle East
Saudi Arabia’s real GDP grows 4.4 pc in Q4 2024
Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024 achieved a growth rate of 4.4 percent compared to the same period in 2023.…
- Middle East
Dubai: Pakistani man jailed for robbing Indian victims at knifepoint
The Dubai Criminal Court has sentenced a 28-year-old Pakistani man to one year in prison and fined Dirham 323,740 after he was found guilty of robbing two Indian victims at knifepoint in…
- Middle East
Telangana man joins Saudi Council of Engineers
In a moment of pride for Telangana, Mirza Zaheer Baig, a geotechnical engineering expert from Nirmal was awarded membership in the prestigious Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE). This honour was conferred on…
- Middle East
Kuwait: Expats over 60 years allowed to transfer to private sector
Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) has introduced new regulations allowing expatriates aged 60 and above, with a secondary school certificate or lower, to transfer their residency from family sponsorship (Article 22)…
- Middle East
Dubai International Airport hits record with 92.3 million passengers in 2024
Dubai International Airport (DXB), the busiest international airport in the world, received 92.3 million passengers in 2024, the highest annual traffic ever recorded in its history. This milestone surpasses the previous record…
- Middle East
Interpol to establish regional office in Saudi Arabia
Interpol, the world’s largest international police organisation, has announced plans to establish a regional office for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in Saudi Arabia. The announcement followed the signing of…
- Middle East
Shaaban crescent sighted: Ramzan 2025 only one month away in UAE
The first day of Shaaban 1446 AH (Anno Hegirae in Latin or “in the year of the Hijra”) – 2025 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will begin on Friday, January 31,…
