UAE tightens anti-drug law, introduces automatic deportation for foreign offenders
Eleven visa rule changes every UAE traveller and employer must know for 2025
Chaos at DXB as 1,310 flights delayed across Middle-East hubs; corporate travellers urged to review itineraries
Latest News
Etihad cancels Abu Dhabi–Lisbon service as Portuguese airport strike hits UAE travellers
A nationwide strike in Portugal forced Etihad to cancel its Abu Dhabi–Lisbon rotation on 11 December, underscoring how overseas labour disputes can quickly disrupt UAE business and leisure itineraries.
UAE Raises Fines to Dh5 Million and Adds Jail Time for Serious Visa and Residency Violations
A new federal amendment lifts maximum fines for visa and residency abuse to Dh5 million and introduces mandatory jail sentences. The law targets tourist-visa workers, unlicensed recruiters and trafficking networks, and applies the same penalties to employers and landlords who enable violations. Mobility teams must tighten compliance processes immediately or risk severe financial and reputational harm.
UAE Issues Immediate Travel Ban on Mali, Tells Citizens Abroad to Return
Abu Dhabi has banned UAE citizens from travelling to Mali and urged those already there to leave immediately due to worsening security. Companies must halt trips, activate evacuation plans and update booking systems, illustrating how political risk directly affects corporate mobility programmes.
UAE Passport Climbs to 8th in Henley Index, Offering Visa-Free Access to 184 Destinations
The 2025 Henley Passport Index ranks the UAE passport 8th worldwide, granting holders visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 184 destinations. The achievement—driven by an aggressive campaign of bilateral agreements—reduces travel friction for Emirati business travellers and boosts the country’s economic soft power.
Dubai Tops List as 1,310 Flight Delays Hit Middle-East Hubs in a Single Day
More than 1,300 flights were delayed across Middle-East airports on 10 December, with Dubai International accounting for nearly a quarter of the total. The disruption hit business travellers hard and highlights capacity and weather vulnerabilities as Gulf hubs enter peak season.
Pakistani Workers Told to Strictly Observe UAE’s Tougher Immigration Rules
Pakistani media are sounding the alarm after the UAE introduced fines of up to Dh5 million for residency violations. With over a million Pakistanis working in the Emirates, employers and workers are scrambling to ensure full compliance, underscoring the corporate risk of relying on improperly sponsored labour.