Middle East

Dubai, Mar 10: Saudi Arabia's cabinet has approved electronic visas for foreign visitors to attend sporting events and concerts, local media reported, as the world's top oil exporter tries to diversify its economy and open up its society. The country has previously restricted visas to resident workers, business travellers, and Muslim pilgrims who are given special visas to travel to holy sites.

Mar 7: Jet Airways, the Indian airline part-owned by Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, on Thursday cancelled some of its flights from Dubai to Delhi and Mumbai, due to large-scale grounding of its aircrafts. Three Jet flights departing Dubai – two to Delhi and one to Mumbai – are among the flights cancelled. Jet Airways’ official spokesperson told Arabian Business that while some of these

Ras Al Khaimah, Mar 7: The Ministry of Infrastructure Development has entered the Guinness World Records with the longest steel arch bridge in the world that stands at Dh18 million. The 32.37 metres Shamal Bridge is part of the Ras Al Khaimah ring road the ministry has recently accomplished, according to Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, ministry of infrastructure development. The Shamal bridge in

Dubai, Mar 6: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has removed the popular cough syrup Sedofan from the UAE market for not complying with product specifications. Sedofan syrup is used in the treatment of cough and upper respiratory ailments. After a sample analysis of the product, authorities found that the proportion of the active ingredient Triprolidine hydrochloride was lower than the

Abu Dhabi, Mar 4: An Indian expat won Dh12 million in Big Ticket Abu Dhabi raffle on Sunday. Rogy George is based in Kuwait and hails from Alappuzha district of Kerala. "I cannot believe this," an emotional George said when Richard, who conducted the raffle, called from the Abu Dhabi International Airport. Two hours later after the unexpected call, George still found it hard to believe that he has

Abu Dhabi, Mar 3: With the world's eyes on South Asia with the ongoing escalation between India and Pakistan - world leaders have contacted Prime Ministers of both countries to avoid conflict and maintain peace and stability in the region through dialogue - and the UAE leadership was one of the first countries to make efforts to ease tensions. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown

Mar 3: The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) could make changes to its oversight procedures following last year’s collapse of private equity group Abraaj, its chief executive said in a report published on Sunday. Dubai-based Abraaj was the largest buyout fund in the Middle East and North Africa until it collapsed last year in the aftermath of a row with investors, including the Gates

Riyadh, Mar 2: Saudi Arabia has stripped citizenship from Hamza bin Laden, the son of dead Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden, who is thought to be about 30, had his citizenship removed on Feb. 22, the official gazette Umm Al-Qura said on Friday. The US State Department offered a reward of up to $1 million on Thursday for information leading “to the identification or location in any

UAE, Mar 2: Food ingredients, mostly spices, come from India, which makes the Emirati cuisine taste almost similar to the Indian cuisine, shared Khulood Atiq Saeed, the first female chef from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Attending an international food festival hosted by the Embassy of UAE in New Delhi in collaboration with multiple Embassies of other countries, including France, Tunisia, Czech

Riyadh, Mar 2: Tourists will be offered special “event” visas to visit Saudi Arabia as part of plans by the Kingdom to become a major global entertainment destination. The new one-off visas will allow foreign visitors to choose from the growing number of sporting, entertainment and business attractions available in the country. Announcing the new visa category on Thursday, the Saudi Cabinet said