Gulf news
It's time to change, says Saudi prince

Saudi Arabia is poised for a Thatcherite revolution, according to the young prince in charge of its economy, who outlined plans to slash energy subsidies and invite private investors into industries, including the world's biggest oil company. In an interview with The Economist magazine, Mohammed
New speed, radar limits on Dubai roads

Dubai: Dubai Traffic Police announces a revision in speed limits on some streets in the emirate. Colonel Saif Mohair Al Mazrouie, Director, General Directorate of Traffic Police, Dubai Police, said the changes have been made in respect to Dubai Police’s strategic aim of reducing road fatalities i
Life-saving mobile app for Indian workers in GCC: MigCall

Around 200 Indian blue collar workers in Oman have welcomed the New Year with a new hope by downloading a new multi-lingual mobile application that will help them in times of difficulties. Indian Ambassador to Oman Indra Mani Pandey launched a mobile app ‘MigCall’ for the benefit of Indian worker
UAE MoI app has instant messaging

The Smart Government Program at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has launched an Instant Messaging Service as a part of a new design of its MoI UAE App for smart phones. This aims to further promote effective communication with customers by answering their inquiries and receiving their suggestions,
WhatsApp admins beware!

RIYADH: Lawyer Omar Al-Jahni, a legal adviser, warned WhatsApp group administrators against going easy on violations committed by their members which might harm the nation or general morals. He said they are responsible for what goes on in their groups Al-Jahni called on administrators to report an
Aramco stops bus service

JEDDAH: Saudi Aramco has decided to stop transporting its staff to work from Qatif after one of its busses was attacked by four armed men and set alight on Tuesday in Qatif. A letter was sent to the staff by the company stating the following: "This is to inform you the company will stop providing t
Etihad Rail: Transporting cargo today; passengers next

UAE’s national railway developer Etihad Rail has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ceva Logistics to offer a cost-effective and reliable mode of transport to one of the world’s leading supply chain management companies. The multi-modal connectivity offered by Etihad Rail will eventu
Indian returning home after 32 years, dies at Abu Dhabi airport

An Indian businessman who had been running cafeterias in the UAE for more than three decades was going home after saying good bye to his friends and relatives, but did not reach, as he died of a heart attack at the airport. Shahul Hameed, 58, had been living in the UAE for more than 35 years and
Motorists speeding after passing radars to be monitored and fined: Police

Drivers who reduce their speed near radars and increase it after passing are being monitored and will be fined, Abu Dhabi Police said. Brigadier Khalifa Mohamed Al Khaili, Deputy Director of the Traffic and Patrols Directorate at the Directorate General of Central Operations at the Abu Dhabi Poli
Businessmen call for Iranian goods’ boycott

RIYADH: Several businesspeople across the country have called on consumers and traders to boycott all goods from Iran in the wake of the attacks on Saudi missions in Iran. Omar Bahlaiwa, secretary-general of the international trade committee of the Council of Saudi Chambers, urged businesspeople an
Saudi Arabia to halt flights, trade with Iran

Saudi Arabia widened its rift with Iran on Monday, saying it would end air traffic and trade links with the Islamic republic and demanding that Tehran must "act like a normal country" before it would restore severed diplomatic relations. Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told Reuters in an intervie
Saudi Arabia severs Iran ties

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Sunday officially severed ties with Iran over the storming of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, following the execution of Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr Al-Nimr. Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir told a news conference Iran’s diplomatic mission and related entities in Saudi Arabia had be
Thousands of Yemenis get visitor cards by post

JEDDAH: Saudi Post in the Makkah region has distributed 120,000 visitor cards to Yemenis directly through the “national address” system in one year. “Saudi Post determines the address through a special icon or with the help of the nearest post office to check the address, which is very important. T
74,000 found violating social insurance terms
RIYADH: During the past Hijri year, 21,000 beggars were identified and arrested. Of these, 9 percent were Saudi nationals. Up to 74,000 people were found violating and manipulating social insurance conditions, said the Minister of Social Affairs Majed Al-Qusbi. During the 6th session of the Shoura
Dubai seeks cause of massive hotel fire at New Year

The authorities in Dubai are trying to find out what caused a spectacular fire to engulf a 63-storey luxury hotel in the city centre on New Year's Eve. After battling for more than 20 hours, firefighters appear to have extinguished most of the blaze at the Address Downtown Hotel. An eyewitness
New set of services to be launched through Absher

JEDDAH: The National Information Center of the Ministry of Interior has plans to launch a number of new electronic services via the "Absher" gateway for citizens and residents. These services are being launched in coordination with a number of wings of the ministry. The new Absher services will inv
Emirates expects 'all-time high' rush of New Year revellers

Excluding transit passengers, over 174,000 people were expected to reach Dubai from December 28 until just after New Year's Day. Number of travellers are expected to reach an all-time high for Emirates, as the airline expects yet another busy period with visitors flocking to Dubai for New Y
Saudi Arabia unveils SR840 billion budget

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia on Monday unveiled a SR840 billion budget, launching a phase in which the Kingdom hopes to further diversify its revenues in an era of low oil prices. “Our economy has the potential to meet challenges,” Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman said in his speech. The go