Gulf news

Card fraud hits UAE expatriates hard

Dubai: The next time your phone beeps a $1 credit card transaction you don’t seem to recognise, drop everything you are doing and call the bank immediately. You could be just in time to block your card before someone else runs riot with your stolen plastic money. Indian expat Alex Mani, 32, learn

Ramadan expected to begin on June 29; Eid al-Fitr likely on July 28

The start of the Holy month of Ramadan will fall on Sunday, June 29, 2014, the Sharjah Planetarium has confirmed. Sharjah Planetarium said that the New Moon of Shawwal 1435 AH will be on Sunday, July 27, 2014, at 2:42 (local time) for the UAE. Therefore, Monday, July 28, 2014, will be the start o

Shake your phone to book a taxi in Dubai

Dubai: Booking a taxi in Dubai is now as easy as shaking a mobile phone after the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launched the Smart Taxi app on Tuesday. The new mobile application that went live on the Android platform on Tuesday allows a person to open the app and just shake the phone to

Anti-Islamic’ glasses seized in RAK

Ras Al Khaimah: Authorities have seized 20 glasses from a store after an Emirati woman claimed they were offensive to Islam. The woman took photos of the items to show to the Department of Economic Development. “The department is investigating how these anti-Islamic glasses found their way int

Passenger ferry between Abu Dhabi and other Gulf cities a possibility

Abu Dhabi: A passenger ferry service between Abu Dhabi and other Gulf cities may become a reality soon, providing a relaxing and entertaining travel option to the residents of Gulf countries, a top official told Gulf News. Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC), which manages nine non-oil and gas ports

Dubai to get 30km of bus lanes next year

Dubai: In a massive expansion of the dedicated bus and taxi lanes network in Dubai, 30km of bus and taxi lanes will be added to some of the busiest areas in the city next year, Gulf News has learned. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has earmarked 10 routes inside Central Business Distric

Haramain train trial run in 6 months

Testing of the first line of the multibillion-riyal high-speed Haramain railway system will start in six months, according to local media on Friday. The testing will take place on the line between Madinah and King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh. Khalid Al-Suwaiket, president of the Saudi Railway

Saudi Arabia curbs energy drinks sale

Manama: Shops in the Eastern Province city of Dammam in Saudi Arabia have been warned of a zero-tolerance policy if they fail to comply with strict restrictions on the sale of energy drinks. In March, the Saudi government banned the sale of energy drinks at all cafeterias, eateries and food out

Don’t hold passports, UAE car rental agencies warned

Sharjah: Car rental agencies have been warned against holding the passports or ID cards of their customers, and if they do so, they will be fined or referred to the Public Prosecution. The warning was issued by the Consumer Protection section at Sharjah Economic Development Department after rec

Dubai expats hit by credit card hackers

Abu Dhabi: Two Dubai residents have complained that their credit cards were hacked to make unauthorised online payments to Abu Dhabi Police. The Indian expatriates – both working for the same group of companies – claimed Dh9,525 and Dh20,400 was siphoned off their credit cards in two incidents

Despite MERS fears, 10% rise in pilgrims

There is a 10 percent increase in the number of Umrah pilgrims this year, compared to 2013, despite the fears caused by the MERS coronavirus, said Osama Felali, chairman of the Haj and Umrah Committee. He said Saudi Arabia had not restricted Umrah pilgrims arriving from different countries becaus

BMJ Dubai holds Nawayati mushaira program

June 10, 2014 | Correspondent | Bhatkallys News Dubai: A Nawayati mushaira program was organized here in Al Ras, Dubai by BMJD  in which various poets from Bhatkal, Murudeshwar, and Manki charmed the audience with their recital of Nawayati poems. The poets included Syed Mohiuddin, Faizan Bafqi, F

Unified tourist visa for GCC states likely

DOHA: A committee set up to assess the feasibility of a unified tourist visa for the GCC countries has said the proposal is excellent and would immensely boost tourism in the region. Recommendations of the experts' committee will be tabled at the next GCC leaders' summit in Doha, for review and r

Dubai Police to get tough on beggars

Dubai: Major General Khalil Ebrahim Al Mansouri, Assistant Chief for Criminal Investigation Affairs, on Thursday launched an anti-begging campaign under the title ‘Battle Begging’. The campaign includes a comprehensive awareness programme to continue after Eid Al Fitr under the supervision and

Saudi Arabia recruits 1800 Indian nurses

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia, facing a dearth of trained female nurses, has recruited 2,100 nurses, including 1,800 from India, to work in various government hospitals across the gulf nation. Hired on one year renewable contract, the nurses arriving from India and the Philippines would assume their duties

New petrol stations expected to open in Sharjah in June

Dubai: Hassled motorists will be relieved that the long-standing petrol shortage in Sharjah, resulting from the closure of dozens of petrol stations since early 2012, could soon be a thing of the past. A senior official in Adnoc has told Gulf News that petrol stations purchased by the company i

Expats in Saudi Arabia can make family visit visas permanent

JEDDAH: A visit visa can be converted into a permanent residency permit for a close family member of an expatriate worker under special conditions, a senior Passport Department official said during a phone-in service with Arab News readers on Wednesday. “Yes, this is possible,” said Col. Mohammed

Saudi Arabia to test camels for Mers

Dubai: Saudi Arabia will test camels in the kingdom for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers), its agriculture minister was quoted as saying, a day after a Saudi study reinforced a long-suspected link between the animals and human cases of the deadly virus. There have been 691 confirmed cases o