Gulf news

Indian income tax cell in Abu Dhabi soon

Income Tax office to be set up in Abu Dhabi to check investments made by wealthy IndiansDubai, Jan 17,2010 (Xpress): New Delhi will soon set up an Income Tax office in Abu Dhabi to keep an eye on investments made by wealthy Indians in the emirates, XPRESS can exclusively reveal. The UAE is among sev

Kuwaiti ruler grants $4 bn, free food to citizens

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 17,2010 (AFP): Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah on Monday ordered the distribution of $4 billion and free food for 14 months to citizens as the oil-rich emirate prepares to mark national occasions.Each of the 1.12 million native citizens will get 1,000 dinars ($3,572) in

Dubai Taxi fare rises by 11 fils per km

Dubai,16 January 2011 (Khaleejtimes) :A kilometer ride on taxis from Friday would cost 11 fils more than it does now in Dubai, as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) decides to hike fare to 'offset rising operation costs.'From January 21 (Friday) the tariff for all taxis operating from Dubai wou

Heavy rains pound Jeddah

JEDDAH (Arab news) : Heavy rains pounded Jeddah and surrounding villages Friday evening and early Saturday morning, but Civil Defense officials said that no deaths had been reported by Saturday evening.Education officials ordered schools closed on Saturday to calm traffic and check structures for fl

World's largest floating book fair to dock in UAE

Dubai: The UAE's literature stock is due to increase by more than 7,000 titles, on what is slated as the world's largest floating book fair, when the Logos Hope ship docks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi next week.The Logos Hope is run by GBA Ships (previously Good Books for All), which was established almo

Minimum AED12,000 salary for graduates a myth

Abu Dhabi, Jan 13,2011 (ArabianBusiness): Firms must only pay skilled workers a base salary of AED12,000 if they want to be rated as a 'category A' company under a new Ministry of Labour ratings system, an official has said.Local media reports had said graduates would be paid a minimum monthly wage

Dubai's showpiece DSF events from Jan 20

DUBAI, 13 January 2011 (Khaleejtimes):Spectacular fireworks at Burj Khalifa Boulevard and Dubai Creek Park will herald the opening of Dubai Shopping Festival 2011 (DSF) on January 20.The 16th DSF, which is sure to attract residents and visitors to 32 days of festivities, shopping and surprises, will

New theory test for driving licence in Dubai

Dubai, January 12,2010 (Gulf News): The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Tuesday launched a new theory test for prospective drivers which will replace the traffic sign test.The new test includes 35 questions and prospective drivers will have to pass it as a first step to acquiring a driving l

Online booking for driving tests

Dubai, Jan 12,2011, (Khaleejtimes): A candidate for a driving licence can now choose the date and place of his/her driving theory or practical test and book appointments online, RTA announced on Tuesday.The transport authority is also planning to offer the booking services through its toll free call

Sultan to lay stone for KAIA project

JEDDAH,Jan 10, 2011 (Arab News): Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, will lay the foundation stone for the new high-tech King Abdulaziz International Airport here on Tuesday. The project will increase the airport's annual capacity from 17 to 30 million passenger

Passengers to be compensated for flight delays

JEDDAH, Jan 10, 2011 (Arab News): Passengers traveling through Saudi airports will get a compensation of SR300 per hour if there is a delay in their flights, according to a new bylaw issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation.Article 19 of the new law, which comes into effect after 10 days.S

Qatari restaurants asked to use Arabic on bills

Authorities also asked 80 hotels to stop adding service charges in their billsManama, Jan 10,2011 (Gulf News): Qatar's authorities have ordered the use of Arabic on all restaurant bills and asked 80 hotels to stop adding service charges in their bills.The business and trade ministry told the hotels

UAE leader suffers broken arm, cancels Clinton meet

ABU DHABI, JAn 10,2010 (Reuters):The president of the United Arab Emirates has cancelled a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a U.S. official said on Monday, following a report that he had broken his arm.The official did not give a reason for the cancellation.The UAE's state news

Dubai court: the 'finger' can get you the boot

DUBAI, Jan 09, 2011 (AP): Dubai's highest court says authorities can deport foreigners for hand gestures considered indecent under local laws.Dubai's Court of Cassation has ruled that the United Arab Emirates' strict indecency codes cover gestures such as the widely known insult of a raised middle f

Gulf businessman to raise NRI issues at Pravasi meet

DUBAI, Jan 4, 2011 (PTI): Leading Indian businessman in the Gulf region, Dr Ram Buxani, said he intends to raise some of the major concerns related to the NRI community in the region.Prior to leaving for New Delhi, where he is scheduled to address the 9th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Saturd

Workers violating rules still face one-year ban

New job only after completion of penalty Dubai, Jan 7,2010: Workers in the private sector, who have a one-year ban imposed on them by the Labour Ministry for violating labour or residency laws, need to complete the ban before being able to apply for a new job, ministry officials have said.Officials

First triplets of the new year in UAE

Dubai, 7 Jan,2010 (Khaleejtimes)Rehan Sami and Ayesha Ali could hardly believe when the doctors told them about the triplets coming into their family. Perhaps, the UAE's first triplets in the new year.The two girls and the boy were born on Sunday. The boy is in intensive care unit as he has breathin

Saudi Arabia to build world's largest gold factory

Riyadh, Jan 5 (IANS): Saudi Arabia, one of the top global oil exporters, is planning to build the world's largest gold factory by the end of 2011.The 22,000-square metre factory, located in the kingdom's Red Sea port city of Jeddah, will bring in between 500 to 800 jobs. "The factory will become a r