GCC ‘Grand Tours’ Visa enters pilot phase, promising Schengen-style travel across six Gulf states
Abu Dhabi Dialogue sets AI-driven roadmap for smarter labour mobility between Asia and the Gulf
UAE warns against ‘shortcut’ Golden Visa offers and reiterates official application channels
Latest News
Dubai activates 122 biometric smart gates, cutting passport control to five seconds
GDRFA has switched on 122 face- and iris-recognition smart gates at Dubai’s airports, allowing enrolled passengers to clear immigration in five seconds and increasing peak-hour capacity by 30 per cent. The biometric roll-out supports the UAE’s vision of paperless borders and offers significant time savings for business travellers and resident commuters.
Ministers at Abu Dhabi Dialogue adopt ‘Future-of-Work’ agenda to upgrade skills and protect Gulf migrant workers
Meeting in Dubai, ministers at the 8th Abu Dhabi Dialogue endorsed a roadmap to digitise recruitment, standardise skills certification and improve worker protection along the Asia–GCC migration corridor. The initiatives promise more transparent, skills-driven visas but still require national legislation before they take effect.
Dubai rolls out 122 biometric smart gates, cutting passport control to five seconds
GDRFA has activated 122 face- and iris-recognition smart gates at Dubai’s airports, enabling enrolled travellers to finish passport control in about five seconds. The upgrade boosts capacity and promises smoother connections but makes biometric enrolment effectively essential for frequent business travellers.
UAE enforces Advertiser Permit for all social-media promotions starting today
The UAE Media Council now requires every person or company posting promotional content online to hold an Advertiser Permit, effective 1 February 2026. Fines of up to AED 1 million await violators. Expat influencers and global brands must therefore add the permit to their compliance checklists, alongside visas and trade licences, when operating in the UAE.
UAE pardons 267 Nepali nationals in National-Day amnesty, clearing path for repatriation
Marking its 54th National Day, the UAE has pardoned 267 Nepali prisoners, allowing them to return home once paperwork is complete. The move relieves prison congestion, boosts Nepali remittance flows and may smooth future labour-mobility talks between the two countries.
Odisha commits ₹26.8 crore subsidy to keep Bhubaneswar–Dubai flight alive
Odisha’s cabinet has authorised a ₹26.8 crore subsidy to IndiGo to keep the Bhubaneswar–Dubai flight running through March 2026. The move safeguards a vital corridor for Odia migrant workers and UAE-based employers but leaves the route’s post-March future uncertain.