The Passport Department has expedited the fingerprint registration of sponsors and residents accompanied by dependents above 15 ahead of the Jan. 21 deadline. “Those who have failed to get their fingerprints registered risk denial of access to all passport department services including the reques

Abu Dhabi: The heat from the morning sun gently embraces the skin as one steps out of the plane after a 30-minute journey to Sir Bani Yas Island. In the distance, cars await as visitors prepare to embark on a journey to witness firsthand the wildlife on the island. Driving at no more t

Dubai: Following the success of its soft launch of the Sky Bus service that offers direct connectivity between Dubai airport and a number of hotels, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has now expanded the service across the city. Launched in May this year as a pilot project with just 26 ho

Jeddah: The Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, who concluded their deliberations in Doha on Tuesday, adopted the GCC Declaration on Human Rights emphasizing their respect for all religions and their readiness to promote freedom of opinion and expression. “The declaration ensures freedom of movement,

The Eastern Province municipality has turned the Dammam Corniche into a work of art with an open gallery featuring paintings which have been inspired by the province’s environment and culture. The municipality has beautified the service stations and erased the graffiti on the walls bordering the

RIYADH: The Ministry of Labor has outlined the conditions of the Ajeer program that enables dependents of expatriate workers in the Kingdom to work in the health and education sectors. There are a number of conditions governing the employment of dependents such as they have to be 18 at the time o

Jeddah: A first of its kind service center has been opened in Jeddah to provide Indian expats with legal guidance on labor issues and health and counseling. Dos Jayakumar, Indian consul for passports, opened on Saturday the “Pravasi Sevana Kendra” in the presence of community leaders representing

JEDDAH (ARAB NEWS): Employers who fail to pay for the medical insurance of expatriate workers and their families would be denied recruitment visas, said the secretary-general of the Health Insurance Council. “The regulations state that it is binding on an employer to subscribe to the insurance pr

Abu Dhabi: The main suspect in the murder of an American kindergarten teacher in the restroom of an Abu Dhabi mall has been arrested and is in police custody, Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, announced at a press conference Thursday. Shaikh Saif sai

MAKKAH (ARAB NEWS): The newly renovated and expanded mataf, the circumambulation area around the Kaaba, will be open on the ground and first floors in Ramadan, and on the top floor for next year’s Haj, a senior official has said. Faisal Fuad Wafa, chairman of the technical committee overseeing th

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said Sunday it had apprehended 392 individuals involved in the sale, promotion and smuggling of narcotics throughout the kingdom over the past two months, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Speaking at a news conference, Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour

JEDDAH: Umrah operators are now ready to receive online applications for visas, Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar has said. Hajjar said they opened up for applications on Nov. 23. He urged companies working in the field to provide the best services for pilgrims, who are their responsibility on arrival in

JEDDAH: In a major concession for hundreds of expats classified as runaway or huroob cases, the government has announced that they can avoid jail and go home provided they have no criminal cases pending, settle outstanding fines, pay for their tickets, and have an undertaking from their consulates t

MAKKAH — The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques has opened 125 gates at the Grand Mosque to facilitate the entry and exit of Umrah pilgrims, who started arriving on Nov. 23 (Safar 1) with the beginning of the Umrah season. Some 475 male and female officers will guard the gates and monitor the mov

RIYADH: All India Majlis-e-Itehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President and MP Asaduddin Owaisi has called on the community to fight for equal rights and political empowerment in India. Addressing an event organized by the Bazm-e-Ittehad at The Ritz Carlton in Riyadh, Owaisi asked: “Why should Muslims al

JEDDAH (Arab News): Foreign investors and guest workers have welcomed the government’s reported plan to issue resident permits (iqamas) for five years instead of one. They said the move would boost the Kingdom’s economic progress. “This is a great step on the part of the government and will have

The proposal for a two percent levy on the billions of rials that expatriates send home every year has been approved by Oman's Majlis al-Shura, or the lower house of the council of Oman, to overcome a budget deficit due to drop in oil prices, a media report said. "The approval to tax expatriate r

RIYADH:  The Ministry of Civil Service has said that there are approximately 6,000 expatriates currently working in government jobs, including the education, health and computer technology (IT) sectors. The ministry used this occasions to reconfirm its commitment to emphasize the employment of ci