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2 days ago
The forthcoming Unified GCC Tourist Visa represents one of the most concrete steps yet toward functional regional integration in the Gulf. While often compared to Europe’s Schengen system, the initiative is best understood as a targeted response to a long-standing structural problem: bureaucratic fragmentation that discourages multi-country travel in a region that increasingly markets itself as interconnected. Under the new framework, visitors would apply once through a unified digital platform and gain access to all six GCC states, namely the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, on a single short-stay visa. Current planning points to a 30-day validity period, with a projected fee in the range of $90–130. The intent is to facilitate multi-destination itineraries that have so far been constrained by separate national visa regimes. This shift aligns directly with the region’s economic diversification strategies, where tourism has emerged as a critical non-oil growth sector. By lowering administrative barriers, the GCC is effectively repositioning itself as a single interlinked tourism space, rather than six adjacent but disconnected markets. Why the launch has taken time The repeated postponements of the unified visa’s rollout reflect not a lack of political commitment, but the complexity of aligning security […]
2 days ago
Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower has introduced a new “multiple-trip exit permit” service for expatriate workers, in a move aimed at simplifying procedures, improving efficiency, and reducing administrative burdens for both employers and employees, local media reported. The initiative forms part of the government’s broader push to digitise public services and modernise labour-related processes. For the first time, the upgraded system allows workers to obtain a permit that covers multiple exits and re-entries within a specified time period, rather than being limited to a single-use permit. Officials said the change would significantly reduce the need for repetitive applications for frequent travellers. The authority said the service is electronically integrated with the Ministry of Interior’s systems, enabling approved permits to be transmitted automatically. Employers and workers can also print the permit at any time once it has been approved. Applications can be submitted through the Ashal portal for companies and manpower services, or via the Sahel app for businesses and individuals. Users can choose between a single-trip or multiple-trip permit, enter the start and end dates of the requested period, and submit their application online. According to the authority, the system instantly displays the transaction number and application status once the […]
3 days ago
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has announced the establishment of a Unified GCC Civil Aviation Authority, marking a major step toward closer cooperation in the region’s aviation sector. The new authority aims to harmonise aviation laws, safety standards, and operational procedures across the six GCC member states: the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. The move is expected to improve safety, efficiency, and connectivity across the region’s air transport network. Under the unified system, pilot licences issued in one GCC country would be recognised across the region, while maintenance and safety standards would follow a single framework. This approach is designed to reduce duplication, cut costs for airlines, and simplify regulatory processes. According to aviation industry leaders, regulatory harmonisation will benefit everyone involved. Passengers can expect smoother journeys, airlines will face fewer administrative burdens, and governments will gain stronger oversight aligned with global best practices. An early example of this cooperation is the “One Stop Travel” programme, launched in December 2025. The initiative allows passengers to complete immigration and security checks at their departure airport only, beginning with flights between the UAE and Bahrain. Looking ahead, officials say the success of the Unified GCC Civil Aviation Authority will […]
6 days ago
Kuwait’s Criminal Court has sentenced Kuwaiti national Salman Al Khalidi to 15 years in prison with hard labour, to be followed by deportation, in a state security case, local media reported. The court convicted Al Khalidi of deliberately undermining the authority of the Emir through posts on the social media platform X, as well as intentionally using social media to insult and offend. He denied the charges, while his lawyer requested additional time to review and copy the case files. In May 2025, the Criminal Court had previously upheld a five-year prison sentence against Al Khalidi after convicting him of insulting the Emir and spreading false news. The court appointed a defence lawyer for Al Khalidi after he was referred for psychiatric assessment. According to media reports, medical officials confirmed that he was mentally competent and fully responsible for his actions. In its ruling, the court stressed that protecting Kuwait’s supreme national interests helps preserve its standing and prestige, reinforces its ability to uphold the rule of law, and requires firm action against violators without leniency. According to a statement issued by Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior in January 2025, Al Khalidi fled the country in December 2023 after 11 enforceable […]
6 days ago
Kuwait’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has issued new regulations restricting leave for imams, muezzins and preachers during the holy month of Ramadan, citing the heightened demand for their presence and services in mosques, local media reported. In an administrative circular released by the Mosques Sector Department, the ministry instructed all religious personnel to suspend their leave throughout Ramadan and to adjust their work schedules accordingly to ensure the smooth and efficient running of mosque activities. The circular stipulates that any leave requests must be signed exclusively by the substitute employee, with no one permitted to sign on behalf of another. Requests must also be formally submitted to the department at least one week in advance. It further states that extensions of leave will only be granted in emergency situations and must be accompanied by a written request submitted to the department director, their representative, or the head of the relevant section. To maintain continuity of religious services, the ministry has also ruled that substitute staff will not be permitted to take leave during this period. The directive underlines the essential role of religious staff during Ramadan, a time marked by increased prayers, sermons and worship activities, and stresses […]
1 week ago
Kuwaiti authorities have uncovered one of the most extensive and carefully concealed nationality forgery schemes in the country’s modern history, a case that stretched across more than five decades and ultimately affected 264 people, including children and grandchildren. At the centre of the case are three men from a Gulf state who are full brothers by birth, sharing the same father, grandfather and family lineage, according to Al Rai newspaper. In Kuwait, however, each brother lived under a completely different identity, registering himself as the son of a different Kuwaiti father and affiliating with unrelated families. On paper, they appeared to be strangers. In reality, they were members of the same family. Investigators later described the arrangement as a deliberate fragmentation of identity, “brothers in the Gulf, strangers in Kuwait”, a strategy that allowed the deception to survive undetected for decades. The case began to unravel in 2006, when one of the sons of the first accused, identified in official records as “A”, became embroiled in a financial and legal dispute in Iran. The matter prompted formal correspondence between Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior regarding a Kuwaiti citizen who had left the country illegally and […]
1 week ago
A criminal court in Kuwait has sentenced two Indian nationals to death after convicting them of trafficking large quantities of narcotics, following their arrest with heroin and methamphetamine intended for distribution inside the country. The two men were earlier detained in the Kaifan and Shuwaikh areas, where authorities seized 14 kilograms of heroin and 8 kilograms of methamphetamine, commonly known as shabu, along with two electronic weighing scales. The ruling was issued by the Criminal Court, presided over by Judge Khaled Al Tahous, after prosecutors proved that the defendants were members of an international drug trafficking network operating from outside Kuwait. The drugs were recovered during coordinated security operations carried out in residential neighbourhoods, according to Al Qabas Arabic daily. The case stemmed from an operation announced earlier by the Ministry of Interior, which said the arrests were part of ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and dismantle transnational criminal networks. The operation was conducted by the General Directorate for Drug Control under the Criminal Security Sector. The ministry said intelligence gathering and close surveillance led investigators to the suspects, who were found in possession of narcotics prepared for commercial distribution. Officials described the seizure as a significant blow to […]
1 week ago
Among the authorities that have warned people against the consumption of popular infant formula by Nestle is Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health and Kuwait’s Public Authority for Food and Nutrition. Sharing the batch numbers and details of the suspected contaminated formula on X, the authorities called for vigilance and quick disposal of the affected food. Batches affected include These batches are suspected to have Bacillus cereus bacteria, which would result in cereulide toxin. Exposure to cereulide toxins can lead to symptoms such as nausea, frequent vomiting, and abdominal pain. The recall comes soon after Nestlé Global launched a worldwide recall of some products that were thought to be contaminated and could cause food poisoning in infants. Other countries in the Gulf that followed suit include the UAE and Saudi Arabia. READ MORE: Saudi Watchdog Warns Of Possible Health Risk From Nestle Baby Formula
2 weeks ago
As the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) enters 2026, economic policy across the region is shifting decisively from ambition to execution. Tighter external conditions, rapid technological change and a more fragmented global trading system are reshaping priorities around trade, artificial intelligence, workforce adaptation and fiscal resilience. According toPwC Middle East, governments across the GCC are increasingly focused on delivery after several years of large-scale capital mobilisation and policy reform. Jing Teow, Partner, Economic Policy and Strategy, PwC Middle East, said: “Having already mobilised capital and policy at scale, GCC governments are now focused on delivery. In 2026, the priority is strengthening economic resilience through more secure trade and investment relationships, effective AI deployment, managed workforce transitions and disciplined fiscal policy in a more challenging and fragmented global environment.” Building broader and more diverse trade bridges GCC economies are accelerating trade diversification to secure access to growth markets and raw materials as global trade becomes increasingly fragmented. Trade negotiations have advanced with China, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand and Mercosur, while talks with the United Kingdom have moved into final drafting and could conclude in 2026. Deeper engagement with Malaysia, Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), alongside progress […]
2 weeks ago
Kuwait’s Civil Service Commission has announced a public holiday on Sunday, January 18, for all ministries, government departments, public authorities and state institutions to observe Isra Wal Miraj. In a statement, the commission said the holiday applies across the public sector, allowing employees to observe the religious occasion. Official working hours will resume on Monday, January 19, 2026, it added. The announcement forms part of the government’s annual holiday calendar and reflects its commitment to recognising religious occasions observed across the country. Isra Wal Miraj, also known as the Night Journey, holds significant importance in Islamic tradition, commemorating Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) miraculous journey and ascension.
7 hours ago
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