Gulf news

UAE weather: Rains across UAE today; chill at 4˚C

UAE residents woke up to a rainy morning today Monday, with light to moderate rains lashing different parts of the country. Residents of Dubai and Sharjah reported rains in the early hours as motorists were seen cruising through cautiously. In Dubai, intermittent rains and dark clouds kept motori

Saudi King Abdullah appoints son Prince Mishaal to head Mecca province

RIYADH: Saudi King Abdullah on Sunday appointed his son Prince Mishaal as governor of Mecca Province, one of the most prominent jobs in the country, the latest move in a rolling reshuffle of senior ruling family members over the past two years. He replaces Prince Khaled al-Faisal, who has been ma

Dubai fixes rent cap on contract renewal

22 December 2013/KhaleejTimes Shaikh Mohammed issues decree on Saturday to regulate rental price increases. Rent paid on Dubai properties that falls drastically under the average market rate could go up as much as 20 per cent under strict new criteria, in a revision to the existing rental cap

Switch mobile network, keep your number from Sunday

Dubai: Consumers are set to see more valued-added features and services from the two telecom operators in the UAE as mobile number portability (MNP) is to be implemented on Sunday. MNP is the actual switching of a mobile operator/mobile service provider without having to change one’s mobile num

Single GCC visa likely by mid-2014

RIYADH: GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN GCC countries are planning to launch a European-style Schengen visa by mid-2014 to allow Gulf-based expats and foreign businessmen to move easily across the borders of the six-member bloc. The GCC interior ministers are working on the details of the project, which many b

Shoura clears 40-hour week for private sector

18 Dec / Arab News Jeddah - The Shoura Council has endorsed a proposal to reduce the weekly working hours for employees in the private sector from 45 to 40 with a two-day weekend. The Shoura members, who met on Monday, adopted a number of amendments to the Labor Law and agreed to reduce total week

Dubai Government hikes employees salary

Dubai Government has increased salaries of its employees, said a statement issued today. According to a Dubai Government Human Resources Department statement, the Government of Dubai employees will receive increment between 30 to 100 per cent of their basic salary. Retroactively as of June 201

Lost your Emirates ID card? Get replacement card within 24 hours

Lost your Emirates ID card, you can now get a replacement card in just 24 hours. Emirates Identity Authority (Eida) offers a premium service, charging Dh150 for issuing a replacement card. “The premium paid service is available at Dh150 per card,” a spokesperson told Emirates 24|7. To avail

Renew your Emirates ID card in just 2 minutes... from your mobile

The Emirates Identity Authority (Eida) has announced the launch of an innovative batch of its services through mobile phones and tablets allowing customers to perform a number of ID card-related transactions anytime and anywhere. First phase will allow Emiratis to renew their ID cards in two minu

Expo 2020 will increase competition for jobs

Dubai’s successful bid to host the World Expo in 2020 will increase competition in the local job market, although a number of employees will benefit from salary increases of up to 25 per cent, industry experts said. The global event, considered the third largest in the world after the Olympics

Abu Dhabi’s National Day Guinness World Records attempt

Excitement and anticipation is building on Yas Island as an array of elaborately decorated cars descend on Abu Dhabi's entertainment destination in an attempt to break the Guinness World records title for the largest number of decorated cars in one location. With hundreds of vehicles expected to

Etisalat offers free calls on National Day

Abu Dhabi: Etisalat has just announced offers that include free national voice minutes and text messages for customers to mark the 42nd National Day. Customers can subscribe to the UAE National Day Pack by sending “UAE42” to 1012 by SMS, and be eligible for 42 free local minutes, and 42 local S

Dubai chosen to host 2020 World Expo trade convention

  Dubai has been chosen to host the World Expo trade convention in 2020 - beating off rival bids from Brazil, Turkey and Russia.Fireworks exploded from the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, following the announcement in Paris. Dubai will be the first Middle Eastern city to hold

Call home for 1fil per second from Etisalat landline

Etisalat is offering residential customers international calls to 162 countries for 1 fil per second as a permanent plan.  The new tariff is available to eLife and any residential landline in the UAE and follows the launch of Etisalat’s free unlimited local and national calls announced earlier th

UAE strives for excellence in Islamic finance: Mohammed

Vice-President inaugurates Global Islamic Economy Summit in Dubai.  A long term view of the UAE’s potential to become a centre of excellence in all fields, including Islamic finance, was laid out by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE a

Health insurance must in Dubai from 2014

Health officials say resident or entry visas will not be processed unless the compulsory health insurance plan is submitted.  Dubai - From early next year, all residents and visitors to Dubai will be required to have a compulsory health insurance cover to be provided by their employers or sponsors.

Madinah to host world conference on Prophet

Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, will inaugurate a world conference on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) at the Islamic University of Madinah on Tuesday. President of the university Abdulrahman Al-Sanad thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Pr

UAE phone rates cut: Etisalat @ 1fil/sec to India, Pak, Philippines, Lanka permanently

Etisalat is offering residential customers international calls to 162 countries for 1 fil per second as a permanent plan. The new tariff is available to eLife clients and any residential landline in the UAE and follows the launch of etisalat’s free unlimited local and national calls earlier this