Middle East

Visit restricted countries? Saudi warns of SR30,000 fine, 2-year ban / Image: file Saudi Arabia introduced new travel regulations for its citizens, imposing financial penalties and travel bans on those who visit restricted countries without official approval. The updated rules fall under the Kingdom’s Travel Documents Law, which was implemented through executive regulations approved by…

Abu Dhabi draw turns Indian expat millionaire with Dh20 million Big Ticket jackpot / Image: file An Indian expatriate based in Oman won the Dh20 million grand prize in the latest Big Ticket draw held in Abu Dhabi, marking one of the month’s biggest wins.Shanthanu Shettigar, a Karnataka native working in the retail sector in…

No church masses until further notice in Dubai amid security concerns during holy week / Image: file Dubai’s Catholic churches suspended all masses and parish activities effective Friday, April 3, 2026, following official safety directives issued amid heightened regional tensions. The decision, confirmed by multiple parishes, comes during Holy Week, the most significant period in…

MoHRE warned unlicensed domestic worker recruitment agencies face shutdowns, heavy fines and legal action/Representative Image A firm warning has been issued in the UAE over the illegal recruitment of domestic workers, with authorities making it clear that unlicensed activity will face immediate and serious consequences. The move is aimed at tightening oversight in the labour…

UAE Eases Healthcare Licensing, Allows Academic Doctors to Treat Patients / Image : file The United Arab Emirates has introduced sweeping new rules aimed at strengthening its healthcare workforce, allowing university medical faculty to practise in hospitals while easing licensing procedures for fresh graduates. Federal and emirate-level health authorities led the decision, which is expected…

UAE warns April fool’s pranks can lead to jail/Image: Getty Images Posting or sharing false information online, even as a joke, can lead to serious legal consequences in the UAE, with authorities warning that humour offers no protection under the law. The Sharjah Public Prosecution has cautioned residents that spreading misinformation online, including April Fool’s…

Saudi Arabia launches special operations rooms for overseas Umrah pilgrims/Representative Image A sharp rise in Umrah arrivals has pushed Saudi authorities to scale up coordination, with a new operations room set up to respond in real time and improve the overall pilgrim experience. Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, announced the launch…

Saudi Arabia detained gym trainers selling unlicensed weight loss, hormonal and peptide drugs after investigation/Image: SPA Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has detained several gym trainers of Arab nationalities for selling and promoting unregistered weight loss medications, hormonal drugs and peptide substances, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency. The action was carried…

UAE prolongs distance learning till April 17 for all schools, universities / Image: file The UAE has officially extended distance learning across all educational institutions until April 17, 2026, keeping millions of students out of classrooms for at least two more weeks.The decision was announced by the UAE Ministry of Education, which confirmed that the…

Abu Dhabi launched international scholarships for Emirati students in social care/Representative Image Abu Dhabi has launched an international scholarship programme for Emirati students to study social work and psychology, aiming to address a growing shortage of qualified professionals in the social care sector.The programme has been introduced by the Department of Community Development in partnership…