Flying to Saudi? You can now book your train and flight together
Dubai: Saudi Arabia is moving towards a more integrated travel experience, with national carrier Saudia and Saudi Arabia Railways signing an agreement to combine air and rail ticketing systems. The deal, announced at the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum 2026 in Madinah, will allow travellers to issue boardi»»»
Saudis to travel visa-free to Russia from May 11
Dubai: A visa-free travel agreement between Russia and Saudi Arabia will come into effect on May 11, allowing citizens of both countries to enter without a visa, according to a statement issued by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The agreement enables nationals of Russia and the Kingdom of »»»
Sharaf DG leads UAE e-waste drive, collects 10,000kg of old electronics through schools
Sharaf DG is leading its National E-Waste Drive by taking it closer to where habits form. By extending the initiative into schools across the UAE, the retailer is engaging students and families, widening participation while cultivating responsible disposal and circular environmental practices as pa»»»
UAE braces for rain, dust and rough seas
Dubai: The National Centre of Meteorology has forecast unsettled weather across the UAE, with scattered rainfall expected from Thursday through to Monday. In a statement, the centre said conditions on Tuesday and during the daytime on Wednesday would be fair to partly cloudy and occasionally dusty,»»»
Dubai Police set two Guinness World Records at Dubai Marathon 2026
Dubai: Dubai Police has added another global milestone to its record, securing two new Guinness World Records during the Dubai Marathon 2026, reinforcing its reputation for excellence in sports and institutional performance. Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai »»»
RTA opens new Al Mutakamela Vehicle Testing and Registration Centre
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has opened a new vehicle testing and registration centre, operated by Al Mutakamela in Al Qusais. The new centre features seven lanes for light vehicles and one lane for motorcycles, all equipped with the latest technologies. It is also staffed with a qua»»»
Why NASA approved iPhone 17 Pro Max for Artemis II Moon Mission: Inside the 4-phase testing process
NASA’s Artemis II mission is a milestone moment on multiple fronts. For the first time in over 50 years, the agency has sent a crewed spacecraft into deep space, marking its return to human lunar exploration in the 21st century. But alongside that historic leap comes a surprisingly modern twist: as»»»
OPF rolls out scholarships for overseas Pakistanis’ students
Duba: The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) has announced a nationwide scholarship programme for the families of expatriates studying in Pakistan. The move aims at strengthening educational support for Pakistanis living abroad, Launched under the Overseas Pakistanis Education Fund (OPEF), the in»»»
Sofia Municipality Focuses on Better Use of Open Data and Digital Services
Sofia Municipality is stepping up efforts to improve the use of open data and digital services, Mayor Vassil Terziev said during a ceremony honouring Sofia students who won medals at international science Olympiads over the past year. Addressing the awardees, Terziev congratulated them and highligh»»»
UAE extends Nafis Emiratisation programme to 2040
Abu Dhabi: The UAE will extend its flagship Emiratisation programme Nafis until 2040 and introduce new family-focused benefits aimed at strengthening social stability and supporting Emirati participation in the private sector The move, made in implementation of directives from President His Highnes»»»
UAE air defences intercept twelve ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 19 UAVs
Dubai: The UAE air defence systems on Monday (April 6, 2026) intercepted twelve ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and 19 drones, launched from Iran. Since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have intercepted 519 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missiles and 2,210 UAVs. »»»
Salt Bank celebrates 2 years and launches Saving Challenge with bonuses for daily savings
This is where the Saving Challenge, the initiative launched by Salt Bank, began: not with large sums, but with the goal of building a saving habit. The challenge encourages customers to set aside the equivalent of a cup of coffee or more every day, not as an effort, but as a routine. The mechanism »»»
UAE air defences intercept twelve ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, 19 UAVs
Dubai: The UAE air defence systems on Monday (April 6, 2026) intercepted twelve ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and 19 drones, launched from Iran. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air d»»»
Artemis mission approaches lunar loop for first flyby since 1972
Houston: The Artemis astronauts entered the final phase of their run-up to a lunar loop on Monday, a tipping point of sorts that means the Moon's gravity is now having a stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth's. The Orion capsule will now whip around the Moon, setting the crew up to travel fart»»»
Polymarket apologizes for allowing bets on US pilots downed in Iran after backlash
Prediction platform Polymarket has apologized for allowing users to place bets on whether American airmen from a downed US fighter jet would be rescued from Iran after facing backlash over questionable ethics. On Friday, a two-seater F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran, prompting the US to l»»»
Israel Says to Boost Production of Arrow Missile Interceptors
Israel's defense ministry on Monday said it plans to accelerate production of Arrow missile interceptors, as it fights a war with Iran. The announcement came after questions emerged in the international media over how long Israel's interceptor stocks would last, with some analysts pointing to short»»»
Media Review: April 6
POLITICS With early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria two weeks away, the possibility of a coalition between two of the highest-ranked political entities in public opinion polls, Progressive Bulgaria and Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB), is discussed in a comment by political ana»»»
'I have two Outlooks and neither one is working': How Artemis II Crew battled tech glitches in space
Houston, we have trouble with Outlook. It turns out that even when you’re hurtling toward the moon at thousands of miles per hour, you still can’t escape Outlook. The 'oh same' moment Bluesky user Niki Grayson caught it: A clip of Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman dealing with the kind of tech supp»»»
AirAsia X to raise fares, cut capacity over Mideast war
Kuala Lumpur: Southeast Asia's largest low-cost carrier AirAsia X said Monday it was raising ticket prices and cutting routes to cushion the impact of the war on Iran, but stressed demand for flights remained high. The Malaysia-based no-frills airline said about 10 percent of its overall flights ha»»»
Dubai firms are offering rent cuts, cash allowances, free exposure for small businesses– How to apply
Dubai: Dubai’s business community is stepping in to support smaller enterprises amid the war. Businesses are navigating a difficult operating environment marked by rising oil prices, a slowdown in tourism flows, supply chain disruptions, and softer consumer demand. While activity in areas such as t»»»
Fire breaks out at clothing warehouse in Sharjah’s industrial area; emergency teams respond
Sharjah Civil Defence teams, supported by specialised units from Sharjah Police General Headquarters, are tackling an accidental fire that broke out in a clothing warehouse in Industrial Area 10 on Monday. Authorities said the incident was reported at 12.51pm, prompting an immediate response from e»»»
UAE workforce to grow 12% with 1 million new jobs by 2030
Dubai: The UAE will need to add around one million new workers by 2030 as economic expansion, digital transformation and artificial intelligence adoption accelerate, according to a new report by ServiceNow and Pearson, with experts saying the shift will significantly reshape investment priorities, »»»
Bollywood ensemble comedy 'Welcome To The Jungle' to be shot in Dubai this summer
Dubai: Parts of the upcoming Bollywood ensemble comedy Welcome to the Jungle will be filmed in Dubai soon, Gulf News can exclusively reveal. According to a statement from production team led by Firoz A Nadiadwala, a key sequence featuring actors Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Arshad Warsi, and Rajpal»»»
Defiant Iran ramps up attacks after Trump warning
Iran launched fresh attacks across the Middle East on Monday and threatened "devastating" retaliation, after U.S. President Donald Trump's expletive-laced warning that Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Israel, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reported a barrage of missile and drone strike»»»
UAE reviews Dh6 billion highway and mass transit plans linking Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman
Dubai: The UAE Infrastructure and Housing Council has reviewed major transport and infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening connectivity between emirates and supporting future urban growth, during its first meeting of 2026 chaired by Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Inf»»»
Kyrgyzstan undergoes AFC inspection as candidate to host U23 Asian Cup - | 24.KG
The Kyrgyz Football Union (KFU) has officially submitted its candidacy to host the 2028 Asian Cup for Olympic teams (U23). As part of this process, representatives of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) visited the Kyrgyz Republic to assess the country’s readiness for a tournament of this leve»»»
Oil pares gains as shares rise in Tokyo, Seoul
Tokyo: Oil prices pared gains Monday after a spike following fresh threats in the war in the Middle East, while Tokyo and Seoul shares closed higher. Many markets in Asia and Europe were closed for holidays on Easter Monday, which coincides with China's Qingming Festival. Crude oil contracts had su»»»
Abu Dhabi reinforces supply chain resilience and business continuity at Traders–Decision Makers Forum
Government officials reaffirmed, during the Traders–Decision Makers Forum recently organized by the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the emirate’s ongoing efforts to support business continuity, strengthen supply chains and the flow of goods, and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s ability to navigate»»»
War’s widening cost: How conflict is reshaping the global economy
The US-Israel-Iran war has now entered its second month of reciprocal attacks, alongside Iranian strikes on neighboring Gulf states. Its trajectory remains uncertain, caught between a fragile de-escalation that appears difficult to achieve and a new, unpredictable phase. Against this backdrop, the »»»
UAE private schools move enrolment fully online for next academic year
Dubai: Private schools across the UAE have confirmed that enrolment for the upcoming academic year is continuing smoothly through fully digital registration systems, allowing parents to complete applications, assessments and seat reservations online. School administrators said registration is being»»»
Bulgarian Prosecutors Warn of Rising Synthetic Drug Threat Amid Legislative Gaps
A worrying trend is being observed in the spread of new synthetic substances, along with a lack of up-to-date legislation to address them, the Sofia Regional Prosecution Office (SRPO) said here on Monday. Following the first court case involving possession of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), prosecutor»»»
Vassilev Calls for “Decisive Battle” Against Borissov and Peevski, Targets Radev in Sharp Political Attack
Asen Vassilev, leader of “We Continue the Change,” stated in an interview with Nova TV that the upcoming elections present a rare opportunity for a political shift, arguing that voters could significantly reduce the parliamentary influence of Boyko Borissov and Delyan Peevski. He claimed that for t»»»
CC Chair in Istanbul: It Is Painful to Live Far from Home, Good Hospitals, Schools, Roads and Wages Will Make Bulgarians Return
Continue the Change (CC) Chair Assen Vassilev, the party's Deputy Chair Nikolay Denkov, as well as Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) top-of-the-list candidates in Shumen and Kardzhali Aylin Pehlivanova and Sebahattin Gyokche, met with Bulgarian expatriates in Istanbul, Turkiye, CC's»»»
LIVE UPDATES: Hostile missile, drone attacks from Iran continues across GCC
Doha, Qatar: While tensions escalate with threats being traded by US and Iran, countries in the GCC were targeted with missile and drone attacks, that left six injured in Kuwait and one in UAE from falling debris. Stay tuned for more updates: 10:45am Doha Time Six injured in Iranian attack on north»»»
Why did Janhvi Kapoor slam Indian paparazzi and why she claims she has never sought their attention
Dubai: Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor, in a recent podcast, called out the constant over-sexualisation she faces by the Indian paparazzi. She says it's invasive and there's never any consent in how images of women are captured and circulated. In a candid conversation on the Raj Shamani Podcast, Ka»»»
Abu Dhabi draws 26.6m visitors in 2025; hotel revenues climb to Dh9.1 billion
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi welcomed 26.6 million visitors in 2025, with hotel revenues rising to Dh9.1 billion, according to the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. The figures, released as part of the emirate’s 2025 performance review, show a 19.5 per cent year-on-year increase in hotel reven»»»
AICPA & CIMA and PLM Financial Advisory launch Finance Emiratisation Think Tank to support Emirati Finance Academy
AICPA & CIMA and UAE-based PLM Financial Advisory have announced the formation of the Finance Emiratisation Think Tank, a practitioner-led advisory board established to direct and govern the rollout of the Emirati Finance Academy Powered by CIMA across the UAE. The Think Tank held its inaugural boa»»»
Iran, US Receive Pakistan-Brokered Plan for Immediate Ceasefire: Reuters
Iran and the United States have received a plan to end hostilities that could come into effect on Monday and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters quoted a source aware of the proposals as saying on Monday. A framework to end hostilities has been put together by Pakistan and exchanged with Iran an»»»
Pessimism Grows over Iraq’s Prospects for Resuming Oil Exports
A growing number of Iraqi oil and economic experts are voicing pessimism about the country’s ability to resume crude exports via the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, despite Iran’s announcement of an “exception” allowing Iraqi shipments to pass as those of a “friendly country”. Iraq has suffered a sh»»»
New tourism boost coming soon, UAE minister says
Dubai: Support for the UAE’s tourism sector is being stepped up, with authorities preparing a fresh package aimed at easing pressure on an industry facing disruption from regional tensions. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.“We are supporting the tourism sector, we are s»»»
Drive EV launches the UAE’s first AI-powered buyer intelligence platform for EVs
Dubai: UAE-based platform designed to simplify one of the most complex decisions in today’s automotive market – buying an electric vehicle – has officially launched. Drive EV uses artificial intelligence and structured decision logic to match prospective buyers with the right electric or hybrid veh»»»
Turkic Forensic Science Network established in Baku - | 24.KG
In Baku, Azerbaijan, representatives of the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of forensic science and announced the establishment of the Turkic Forensic Science Network, the press service of the Forensic Service under the Minist»»»
Qatari Society of Al Gannas participates in 8th Ethnosport Forum in Turkiye
Ankara: The Qatari Society of Al Gannas participated in the 8th Ethnosport Forum, held in Antalya, the Republic of Turkey, from April 3 to 5, under the theme "Ethnosports 2027: Local to Globe." The Society was represented by Ali bin Khatem Al Mahshadi, President of the Qatari Society of Al Gannas a»»»
Bulgaria Hit by Fuel Shock as Diesel Prices Surge 37% Since Iran War Began
Bulgaria’s fuel market has recorded a sharp upward shift since the outbreak of the war in Iran, with diesel and petrol prices rising significantly across the country. According to National Revenue Agency data, diesel has increased by around 3 euro cents in a single day and by roughly 0.45 euro cent»»»
Dubai South announces rent relief, payment flexibility and waived fees for SMEs
Dubai South has announced a new support package for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating at its Business Park, introducing a set of flexible measures designed to ease financial pressures and support business continuity. The initiative aligns with the UAE government’s broader efforts to saf»»»
Germany Works to Clarify New Rules on Fighting-Age Men Leaving Country
Germany's armed forces are working on clarifying a provision in a recently updated military service law that requires fighting-age men to gain permission to leave the country for more than three months, the defense ministry said. The law went into effect in January, but the requirement - which the»»»
Central bank governor: A prolonged Middle East conflict could have a severe impact on the economy
A prolongation of the conflict in the Middle East could have a severe impact on the economy, said Mugur Isarescu, Governor of the National Bank of Romania, on Monday at the high-level regional conference 'The Economist Romania Government Roundtable', organised by The Economist Group.'As Governor of»»»
IEA Hails Saudi Arabia’s ‘Rapid Response’ to Strait of Hormuz Crisis
Countries must resist the urge to hoard oil and fuel during the energy crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran, head of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol warned on Sunday, with supplies expected to dwindle further if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Birol praised Saudi Arabia f»»»
Qatar’s banks post 7.9% growth in total assets with highest NPL provision coverage ratio
Doha, Qatar: KPMG in Qatar has unveiled the 11th edition of its Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) listed banks’ results, offering a comprehensive analysis of financial outcomes and key performance indicators for leading commercial banks across the GCC, compared to the previous year. Titled ‘Resilience»»»