Gulf news
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
Bangalore becomes Etihad's eighth destination in India
Dubai, Jan 3 (PTI): UAE-based Etihad Airways has launched flights to Bangalore, its eighth destination in India, a company official said today.Etihad operates four return flights a week to Bangalore and will increase to a daily service on the route from March 25, at the commencement of its summer sc
Partial solar eclipse from 12.11pm today
At 12:11pm today, residents in the UAE will experience one of nature's great events - a partial solar eclipse, where part of the sun will be covered by the passing moon.Hasan Ahmad Al Hariri, CEO of the Dubai Astronomy Group said there is a lot of talk about the phenomenon. This will be the last sol
Doha: Qatar's Largest Mosque to Open Soon
The state mosque here is all set to open its doors to worshippers in early 2011. This state mosque is all set to be Qatar's largest mosque and can accommodate 10,000 worshippers at a time.The mosque incorporates traditional Islamic architectural elements and with its distinctive doomed roof it will
'Muslim majority North Cyprus seeks support'
Dubai, Jan 3,2011:'OIC should Push for Reconciliation between North and South Cyprus', writes Aftab H Kola in a cover story in the latest edition of Radiance Viewsweekly. Aftab Kola, who was among the 51 journalists who were flown in the Turkish (read Muslim) side of Cyprus, writes, 'I had an opport
Saudi announces new Internet publishing law
JEDDAH, Jan 2: Online newspapers, blogs and forums will now need to register with the Ministry of Information and Culture for licenses to operate, according to new regulations that the ministry announced Saturday it is to introduce.The new system, which will be introduced in a month's time, has been
International call charges 'too high', say UAE residents
ABU DHABI - The cost of international calls in the UAE is too high, consumers have told the country's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.Consumers are unhappy with the prices of fixed-line and mobile overseas call charges, according to a survey conducted by the agency.The poll revealed that 42