UAE Cabinet unveils biggest visa overhaul since 2019, adds four specialist visit-visa categories
Five-day national weather watch threatens flight delays at Dubai and Abu Dhabi through 29 December
Sharjah Airport tells passengers to arrive three hours early ahead of New-Year rush
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Two new Indian carriers to enter India–UAE corridor, promising cheaper fares and more frequency
Start-ups Al Hind Air and FlyExpress will launch services between secondary Indian cities and the UAE in early 2026, adding seat capacity and pushing fares down by an estimated 10–15 per cent. The move benefits the UAE’s large Indian expatriate community and companies moving staff and cargo across the corridor.
Saudi leads deportations of Indians in 2025, but UAE still ranks third with 2,965 removals
Official figures show the UAE deported nearly 3,000 Indian nationals in 2025, mostly for visa overstays and unauthorised work. Employers should tighten compliance as penalties for hiring irregular workers remain steep and enforcement is intensifying.
UAE’s 2026 regulatory reset introduces income tax and mandatory social-media permits for residents
From 1 January 2026 the UAE will levy a 5 per cent personal income tax, require paid social-media users to obtain permits and introduce other lifestyle regulations. Firms must revisit compensation packages, tax-equalisation policies and influencer contracts before the new rules take effect.
UAE unveils biggest visa shake-up since 2019, adding AI-Specialist, Entertainment, Events and Maritime Tourism permits
A Cabinet resolution dated 27 Dec 2025 introduces four new visit-visa categories—Specialist (AI), Entertainment, Events and Maritime Tourism—while increasing salary thresholds for residents who wish to sponsor friends or distant relatives. The move strengthens the UAE’s bid to lure high-skill workers and big-ticket events, but also forces employers to revisit compliance checklists and budget for higher sponsorship costs.
Five-day national weather watch could slow holiday flights and freight through 29 December
A five-day weather watch issued on 27 Dec predicts rain and dense fog that will trigger low-visibility procedures at DXB and AUH, delaying flights by up to an hour and slowing road traffic with 80 km/h speed caps. Cargo operators, express couriers and business travellers are urged to build in buffers and use digital channels for real-time updates and emergency visa extensions.
Red fog alert forces speed reductions and could cause flight diversions across Abu Dhabi
NCM’s red-level fog warning on 27 Dec triggers 80 km/h speed caps on major Abu Dhabi highways and poses a risk of flight diversions at AUH during peak holiday traffic. Employers should build extra travel time into airport transfers and alert staff to the possibility of US Pre-clearance suspension and fines for speed-limit violations.
Emirates cancels and reschedules New York services as US snowstorm ripples into UAE itineraries
Emirates has advanced two JFK-Dubai departures and cancelled Newark sectors after a severe snowstorm hit New York, an action bulletin dated 27 Dec shows. The adjustments create knock-on scheduling and visa-validity challenges for UAE-bound executives and risk delaying holiday-season cargo.