Gulf news

Temperature nears 50 degrees in UAE

Al Ain: The weather has taken a turn for the worse with sizzling hot conditions nearing 50 degrees Celsius in some UAE cities as forecasters on Sunday advised people to protect themselves by cutting down on activities in the open. The pre-summer heat has reached extreme levels in the Western Re

Chip to chip: Fuelling up made easy in Dubai

Dubai: Fuelling up has been made easy in Dubai with a new scheme that allows drivers to fill up in a breeze and fleet owners to keep track of costs. The fuel management solution has grown in popularity such that thousands of vehicles use it today a few weeks into the launch. The Vehicle Identif

Fake degree racket in UAE exposed

Dubai: Couldn’t get an MBA degree? Don’t despair. You could buy it here in the UAE. For the right price you could also become a civil or mechanical engineer – even a “certified” finance professional – all in a matter of days. No HR department would suspect a thing as the certificates would be d

Use your Emirates ID card for banking soon

Abu Dhabi: UAE residents will soon have the option of using their national ID cards as bank cards in financial transactions. A pilot project to use the ID card in financial transactions has been successful, a top official told Gulf News in an interview on Tuesday. The trials have prove

Jeddah will become a ‘city of bridges and tunnels’

Jeddah will soon become a city connected by bridges and tunnels, said Mohammed Al-Buqami, Jeddah Municipality spokesman. “The city is in the process of implementing several infrastructure projects to construct more new bridges and tunnels in various areas in order to smooth traffic flow,” he said

8-year expat cap plan under review in Saudi Arabia

Jeddah: The Labor Ministry announced Sunday that it has finalized seven new regulations, including a law that allows expats to transfer their sponsorship onto new employers without the permission of their current sponsors. Ahmed Al-Humaidan, deputy minister for labor policies, said a working team

Money remittances to India: All you need to know

Many of us have a myopic view of transferring money, looking only at the currency exchange rate. We don’t bother with the bigger picture: how to make the most of the transfer to get the biggest bang for your buck. Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to remember when sending remittances home.

Bachelors in Dubai warned not to rent bed space

Dubai: The civic body is urging bachelors not to fall into the trap of renting bed space as it is illegal and if caught, they will be evicted. Residents have said that although they do look for apartments, the affordable ones in their budget is one where landlords rent out rooms. “I kn

Celestial treat: Don’t miss meteor shower tonight

An unprecedented meteor shower will light up Saudi skies late Friday night, going into the wee hours of Saturday. The meteor shower will be visible across the Gulf states. “As many as 200 celestial bodies may be rushing to the earth’s surface per hour, making it an utterly unique sight for peo

Dubai Police to use Google Glass

Dubai: Dubai Police will soon use Google Glass to issue fines to errant motorists as well as identify wanted cars, said a senior police official. The smart eyewear is currently under trial by Dubai Police Smart Services Department, for use by traffic police. Google Glass is a small com

Home rental rates just keep rising in Sharjah

Dubai: The sudden and sharp hike in rental demands is starting to fray tenant nerves in Sharjah. The issue is becoming exacerbated by the limited availability of residential stock in the emirate. Average residential rents were up by 4.5 per cent during the first quarter of 2014, and 19 per cent

Young Einsteins unleash the power of science

Muaz Shabandri (Reporting from Los Angeles) / 20 May 2014 As Emirati students make a mark at the world’s largest scientific fair, Khaleej Times looks at the potential of the new generation to create an amazing future Meet Shamma Al Bastaki and Hayat Al Hassan, the first Emirati students to wi

Some medicines may become cheaper in UAE

Abu Dhabi: Residents from across the UAE and the Gulf region may soon benefit from access to cheaper medicines, following the signing of a long-term partnership agreement on Monday between UAE-based pharmaceutical company Neopharma and American firm Pfizer. The agreement will allow for the prod

Anti-MERS trial vaccine raises hopes

The University of Maryland, in partnership with the US-based Novavax pharmaceutical company, has developed a vaccine that appears to effectively fight the MERS coronavirus in mice. Meanwhile, four deaths and six new cases of MERS were reported on Monday, bringing the death toll to 173 since Septemb

UAE credit bureau launched

Dubai -- The UAE has approved the bylaws for the creation of a nationwide credit bureau that would help create a more robust credit environment in the country by allowing lenders to better establish the credit standing of borrowers. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice P

What drives heavy vehicle accidents in UAE?

Dubai: The horrific crash of a minibus on Emirates Road on May 10 which left 13 workers dead and 15 injured puts the focus back on the many accidents involving heavy vehicles and buses. Are these drivers sufficiently trained? How tough are the training methods? Or are many of them are overworke

Airports step up alert to keep MERS away

This image, provided by Denver International Airport, shows newly-erected signs warning travellers about the danger of the MERS virus. (AP) Riyadh: Health authorities on Thursday announced the deaths of another three people from the MERS respiratory virus, taking the country's toll to 160. The

Windy and cloudy weekend predicted in UAE

Al Ain: The weather is likely to be rough this weekend with strong winds, cloudy conditions, a dip in temperature and light rain in some areas. Forecasters have warned motorists, fishermen and joyriders to be extra cautious as strong winds are likely to hit the UAE on Thursday night. Motorists