Author: Ra'uf Asim Rahal
A special focus on the specificity of public transport utilization was made for New Year’s Eve of 2025, where the number of riders of public transit, shared mobility, and taxis reached 2,502,474 individuals. This is a higher figure than the 2,288,631 passengers that passed through the airports during the corresponding celebrations last year an increase of 9.3%. Showing the figure of 1,133,251, the Dubai Metro which has the Red and Green line turned out to be the most used mode of transport. On the other hand, the Dubai Tram ensured timely journeys for the 55, 391 commuters. Public buses were…
Over the past few years, Abu Dhabi is all set to further boost the status as one of most sought-after filming hubs globally from January 1 next year with a 50 percent rebate that has been offered on production and post-production expenses. This boost comes as a result of a 35 percent rebate policy that the UAE capital has enjoyed for a decade that sees film behemoths from across the world being drawn to the region. The new structure of rebates was recently announced by the Abu Dhabi Film Commission and it concerns not only feature films but also reality…
Dubai is preparing a new Smart Rental Index to reform the rental market in the country beginning January 2025, according to the Dubai Land Department. This sophisticated system will have a central part in the governmental management of the emirate’s real estate market with reference to rental values, contributing to the building of ‘credibility, clarity, and confidence’ of the landlords, tenants and investors involved. Smart Rental Index will offer customers timely and up to date information and act as the reference point when setting rental prices, renewal and in cases where there are disagreements on the rental prices. The created…
Dubai is preparing for the exotic New Year celebration 2025, 36 firework shows proposed for Burj Khalifa and major landmarks such as Global Villages and Dubai Design Districts. Working under the umbrella of the Events Security Committee with the support of 55 government and private partnerships, detailed plan has been developed envisaging safety, effectiveness and fun at institutions. Strategic Sector Division In Continuation to the successful previous year, Dubai is divided into four operational zones to administer security and service, they are the North Zone, Central Zone, Western Zone, and Maritime Zone. Dubai Police will mobilise 8,530 individuals, 1,145 patrols,…
RTA of Dubai published recently the official statement according to which the much-discussed and long-awaited Dubai Metro Blue Line will be operational on September 9, 2029. Its importance lies in the fact that this year marked the 20 years since Dubai Metro was first introduced to the city as a transport system. The 30-kilometers Blue Line will be dry with fourteen stations where five will be sub-terrain and nine sub-terrain giving a much-needed connectivity to the populous area of Dubai. It will link directly with the Red Line at the Centrepoint Station and the Green Line at the Al Khor…
The following year 2024 holds signs of further growth for the UAE’s tourism industry, since during the first nine months, hotel establishments have already received AED 33.5 billion ($9.1 billion), which is 4% more than in the first nine months of 2023. Exceptional Occupancy Rates The performance showed the UAE, particularity the seven emirates, had registered an average hotel occupancy rate of 77.8% which placed it among the world’s highest. The aggregate of hotel nights was recorded to be approximately 75.5 million from January to September 2024, a 8% year on year increase. These figures portray that the UAE’s popularity…
Dubai Metro has been revamped as per the annual maintenance program launched by the Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Every single train operating through the red and green railway line has been overhauled, and all of them, 79 in total, are well running and offer rounded security to users. The Dubai Metro, since its opening in 2009, has provided more than 1.5 million kilometers of network for the city and its commuters. As part of the maintenance initiative, the rails were grinded with the aim of cleaning debris from them to ensure that the travelling along Sheikh Zayed Road…
The Al Shindagha Corridor Improvement Project which is being implemented by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) shows that phase 4 is now 71% complete. It proposed to begin from Sheikh Rashid Road starting from Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street up to Falcon Interchange on Al Mina Street intending to ease traffic congestion occasioned by the increasing population in the city. Tentative Achievements and Improvements The last phase of the project is worth 4.8 kilometers with three bridges that will be 3.1 kilometers in total. These structures collectively accommodate 19,400 vehicles per hour: First Bridge: A 1,335-meter facility for travelling…
U.K. PM Keir Starmer begins his first official visit to the Middle East since taking office in July visiting UAE and Saudi Arabia today. Its activities are aimed at the ratification of economic cooperation and development of free trade areas, as well as solving such matters of concern in the region. Starmer will be meeting the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday, before flying to Saudi Arabia to brief Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Here, the UK government sees this visit as a means to strengthen relations with two important roles partners in the Gulf in…
The UAE has some rollback on policies that affected the business environment earlier in the year occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dubai is set to reinstate the 30% sales tax on alcoholic beverages starting from January 1, 2025, that will lead to the rise of drink prices in all establishments across the city. This statement has been supported by MMI and African+Eastern beverages distributors as known by Caterer Middle East. Temporary Suspension Ends The use of the sales tax was first put on hold on the 1 ^{st} of January 2023, forming one-year trial to lower expenditure among the residents…