Gulf news

Dubai world’s third busiest airport now

Dubai International airport has become the world’s third busiest airport for international passengers on strong 13.2 per cent annual growth in passenger traffic in 2012, its operator said on Monday. The passenger traffic surged to nearly 58 million last year and the airport is expected to cross 65

15 new speed radars on Abu Dhabi roads

[caption id="attachment_24068" align="aligncenter" width="475"] Image Credit: Courtesy: Abu Dhabi PoliceA newly installed radar on the Shaikh Zayed Tunnel in Abu Dhabi.[/caption] Abu Dhabi: Fifteen new speed radars will be activated starting Tuesday, the Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate

Marathon mushaira in Jubail wows Urdu lovers

[caption id="attachment_24062" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Dr. Naeem Hamid Ali Al-Hamid[/caption] DAMMAM: Celebrated Indian and Pakistani poets from different cities in the Kingdom and Bahrain regaled an eclectic gathering of Urdu-speaking expatriates at the Al-Noor Compound in Jubail at the

Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque gets 4.6 mln visitors in 2012

Scores of protesters gathered near India’s Parliament on Tuesday demanding the death penalty for six men accused in the fatal gang rape of a young woman on a bus in New Delhi last month. The protesters carried placards saying, “Give us Justice, Hang the Rapists,” and shouted slogans before con

Queen Mary 2 arrives at Mina Zayed terminal

[caption id="attachment_24052" align="aligncenter" width="635"] Queen Mary 2[/caption] ABU DHABI — The Queen Mary 2 – the world’s largest ocean liner and the luxury flagship of the Cunard Line – made its maiden call to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday at the Mina (Port) Zayed cruise terminal, signalling the

Saudi painter wins in London

[caption id="attachment_24048" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Visitors looks at a piece from Saudi painter Budur bint Abdullah Al-Sudairy’s exhibition titled ‘Al-Ghat Dates: Candy for the rich, Nourishment for the poor’ in London. (SPA)[/caption] LONDON:Saudi painter Budur bint Abdullah Al-Suda

Kingdom ravaged by rain, dust storms

[caption id="attachment_24044" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Rain water cuts off a highway in Tabuk, stranding motorists. (SPA)[/caption] JEDDAH :Torrential rains and dust storms have swept the Kingdom, resulting in evacuations from wadis and other threatened areas of Tabuk and the closure of

UAE set to be region's capital of Facebook world

Facebook users in UAE up by over half a million in last 6 months; However, survey claims many would like to quit as well While the number of Facebook users has declined in the US and UK, in the UAE it has increased by more than half a million during the last six months.  However, the majority

DSF jackpot: Sudanese wins 2 cars, Dh100,000

In the last 14 years, Sudanese national Zaher Al Dein Mohammad Ismail has always participated in the DSF raffle draw. He never won, until January 20, were his name was picked in the Infiniti Mega Raffle, winning him two luxurious Infiniti cars and cash worth Dh100,000. An exporter, Zaher travels reg

Workers in UAE happy without cash

Dubai: When the Wages Protection System (WPS) was launched in the UAE on September 1, 2009, little did people think then that plastic cards would make their way into the lives of an average blue collared worker who barely spoke English. Today, it’s a different story. Hundreds of thousands of wo

Fog disrupts UAE airports; Dubai cancels 20 flights: Click for latest delays, cancellations, diversions

Foggy conditions in the early hours on Thursday and the backlog of delayed flights from Wednesday resulted  in the cancellation of 20 flights at Dubai International Airport. With weather conditions returning to normal by 10am, no flights were diverted on Thursday, according to a statement issued

Unescorted Sheikh Mohammed surprises shoppers in Saudi Arabia

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, surprised shoppers in Saudi Arabia when he took time out of the Arab economic summit and visited malls in the Gulf Kingdom. Sheikh Mohammed made the unscheduled tour of some shoppi

Etihad likely to pay $330m for Jet’s 24% stake

India allowed foreign carriers to buy stakes of up to 49 per cent in local carriers in September 2012, to boost the sector [caption id="attachment_22997" align="alignleft" width="310"] The Gulf carrier could pay up to $330 million for a 24 per cent stake in Jet, a senior govt source said earlier

Khalifa grants Dh50m to victorious squad

Al Ain: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has granted Dh50 million to the UAE national football team for winning the 21st Gulf Cup in Manama, Bahrain on Friday. He received the the victorious team in Al Ain Saturday. After greeting the team members at Al Rawda Palace, Shai

Qatar-based firm to produce $1bn series on Prophet

DOHA:Qatar-based company Alnoor Holding has said it will raise the budget for a planned movie series on the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to $1 billion from the $1.5 million announced three years ago. The biopics will be produced as a series of “seven films — instead of three films

Illegal mobile credit ring smashed

Sharjah: A ten-member Asian gang has been arrested in Sharjah for selling unauthorised mobile credit on the streets. The gang is also accused of fooling people with the promise of cheap credits, police said this week. From fake mobile phones and unauthorised mobile credits to fake mobile bumper dr

Yas, it’s time for big splash

The UAE’s first mega water park is all set to welcome visitors starting Thursday, January 24. Spread across 15 hectares in Yas Island, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi (YWAD) boasts of 43 exciting rides, slides and attractions including five one-of-a-kind rides never seen before in a water park anywhere

Renew visa, re-register SIM, too

Just when you thought the hullabaloo and rush over SIM registrations had died down, here comes another surprise. You must re-register your SIM when you get your visa renewed or change jobs for a new visa. A senior du official confirmed to Khaleej Times that residents will receive an SMS alert from