UAE News - Gulf Insider

1 year ago

UAE Becomes Top Global Destination for Winter Tourism: Report

The UAE has advanced to 18th position globally in the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Travel & Tourism Development Index, whilst maintaining its regional leadership. The nation’s Tourism Strategy 2031 targets AED100 billion in investments and 40 million hotel guests. The World Travel & Tourism Council reports that the UAE received 29.2 million international tourists in 2024, marking a 15.5 percent increase from 2023. The council projects visitor numbers to reach 45.5 million by 2033, WAM said in a statement. UAE tourism sector projects 45.5 million visitors by 2033 The UAE stands as the sole Middle Eastern nation among the top 10 countries for international tourism revenue, with winter emerging as the peak tourism period. The nation has launched its fifth ‘World’s Coolest Winter’ campaign, which showcases the country’s destinations through tourism experiences. The initiative targets domestic and international visitors, marking 53 years of the UAE’s development as a tourism hub. The campaign highlights the UAE’s winter offerings, from desert safaris and mountain adventures to camping and wadi exploration. Visitors can access mountains, deserts, coastlines, and nature reserves, alongside activities including paragliding, rock climbing, and rappelling. The nation’s infrastructure developments continue to strengthen its position as a winter tourism destination, offering experiences from traditional desert camping and […]

1 year ago

One 21-Year-Old Who Worked A “Mass Scamming Call Center” In Dubai Blows The Whistle

Ever wonder who the sociopaths are you see in Netflix documentaries, catfishing people from the internet using dating apps? Well, look no further. Australia’s News.com.au profiled one such person this week, a young worker inside of a “mass scamming call center”. The person, named “Beard”, said that he “fled war-torn Syria for Dubai” and was desperately looking for work. Thinking he landed an advertising role, he told news.com.au he found himself at a “bizarre office location in the middle of the Dubai desert where those inside tried to confiscate his passport”. He was eventually held captive and forced to scam people for a living, the report says. Then he became part of a large-scale “pig butchering” romance scam operation, designed to swindle unsuspecting victims out of their money. News.com.au said this type of fraud devastates thousands of Australians annually. Beard worked night shifts, 12 hours a day, six days a week, pretending to be a woman named Annie to deceive victims. The scam center housed over 1,000 workers, mostly foreign migrants from Africa and India, all controlled by a Chinese-run syndicate. Workers were confined to the premises, only leaving to buy food from vendors serving the scammers. Victims, already catfished on dating apps, […]

1 year ago

Dubai’s Emirates Named As UAE’s Best Brand Of 2025: YouGov

Emirates has been ranked the best brand in the UAE for 2025, according to YouGov’s latest Best Brand Rankings. The airline secured the top position with a score of 60.4. YouGov’s rankings are based on the Index score from YouGov BrandIndex, which measures overall brand health in the UAE. The score is calculated by averaging six attributes: Impression, Quality, Value, Satisfaction, Recommend, and Reputation. Samsung, Almarai follow Emirates in UAE’s Best Brand rankings Samsung ranked second with a score of 56.7, followed by Almarai in third place with 56.0. adidas secured fourth place with 53.9, while WhatsApp rounded out the top five with 52.6. The list also included Samsung Galaxy (51.3), Apple (51.1), YouTube (51.0), and iPhone (50.1). Nike completed the top ten with a score of 49.5. YouGov also identified brands that showed the most improvement over the past year. Louvre Abu Dhabi recorded the highest increase in score with a +7.5 change. Noon Food ranked second among the top improvers with a +7.4 increase, followed by Al Baik at +6.7. Sea World Yas Island (+5.7) and Careem (+5.4) were also among the top five. Other brands in the top ten improvers included TikTok (+5.0), Vimto (+5.0), Talabat (+4.9), […]

1 year ago

Dubai Real Estate Market Headed For Another Record Year In 2025

Sustained investor confidence, an expanding luxury segment, and continuing commercial demand are set to drive Dubai’s real estate market’s upward trajectory and turn 2025 into another record-breaking year. An Engel & Volkers Middle East report said strong economic fundamentals, population growth, and strategic government initiatives has helped Dubai to reinforce its position as one of the world’s most attractive real estate investment destinations. The luxury sector sales remained robust, with sales of properties (exceeding AED10 million) rising by 20.5 per cent year-on-year. Fourth-quarter sales narrowly surpassed the record-breaking performance of the same quarter last year. A demand-supply imbalance in commercial space led to double-digit rental growth, with office rents rising by 11 per cent, retail rents by 9.7 per cent, and warehouse prices surging by 21.1 per cent. Total residential real estate transactions surged by 40.3 per cent to 170,992 units, more than five times the number recorded in 2020. With investors seeking high-potential opportunities amid a tightening secondary market, off-plan transactions dominated and accounted for 63 per cent of total sales, up from 54 per cent in 2023. Dubai’s real estate market thrives Apartment sales played a critical role in this expansion, with transactions increasing by 47.6 per cent, contributing to 89.6 per cent of […]

1 year ago

Dubai World Trade Centre Announces February 2025 Events

Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has announced its February events calendar, featuring 12 high profile events at its world-class venues, including the Dubai International Conference and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) and Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) in Expo City. Additionally, Ai Everything GLOBAL will take place at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi and DEC respectively, while the Dubai International Boat Show will be hosted at Dubai Harbour. DWTC highlights for February 2025, include World of Coffee and Gulfood. Medlab Exhibitions & Conference: February 3-6 A premier event for the medical laboratory industry, Medlab Middle East 2025 spotlights the latest advancements in laboratory medicine. With this year’s edition bringing together industry leaders under the theme “Building businesses. Bridging gaps. Fostering connections”, the exhibition features eight dedicated product categories, while the Medlab Middle East Congress delivers 12 CME-accredited conferences covering essential industry topics such as laboratory management, haematology, clinical chemistry, and immunology. UAE International Dental Conference and Arab Dental Exhibition – AEEDC Dubai: February 4-6 The world’s largest annual scientific dental conference and exhibition, AEEDC Dubai 2025, continues its legacy of advancing education and innovation in dentistry. Bringing together leading experts, academics, and professionals from across the globe the event […]

1 year ago

UAE Receives First Batch Of Rafale Fighter Jets

The Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates has received the first batch of 80 Rafale fighter jets from France during an official ceremony in Paris. In a statement issued today, the ministry confirmed that this step is part of a “historic deal” signed with France’s Dassault Aviation, reflecting the deep strategic partnership between the UAE and France. According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the acquisition of these aircraft is part of a comprehensive plan to modernise the country’s defence capabilities, including upgrading the Air Force fleet with the latest military equipment to address regional and international security challenges. Brigadier General Pilot Mohamed Salem Ali Al Hameli from the UAE Air Force and Air Defence, stated that the Rafale jets are equipped with advanced technologies that enable them to carry out multiple missions, including reconnaissance and striking land and sea targets with high precision, making them a significant addition to the UAE Air Force. He also noted that the agreement includes a comprehensive training programme to qualify pilots and technicians, enhancing the readiness of national personnel. The Rafale deal is valued at €16.6 billion and includes the production of 80 fighter jets equipped with advanced defence technologies.

1 year ago

New Luxury Mall In Dubai To Open April 2025

Dubai Holding Asset Management has announced the highly anticipated opening of Nad Al Sheba Mall. The group is the owner and operator of one of Dubai’s most extensive retail portfolios encompassing 15 destinations, 10 malls, and 18 centres. The 500,000sq ft mixed-use retail destination in the heart of Nad Al Sheba is set to open in April 2025. Nad Al Sheba Mall in Dubai Featuring more than 100 carefully curated stores across fitness, retail, entertainment, F&B, and healthcare, the mall promises a seamless blend of convenience, lifestyle, and leisure. Nad Al Sheba Mall features a premium wellness facilities, including a rooftop gym, swimming pool, and padel courts, delivering a dynamic environment for recreation and relaxation. Additionally, the mall provides more than 900 parking spaces to ensure seamless accessibility. Its proximity to schools and residential communities further enhances foot traffic, creating a vibrant and dynamic environment. Key tenants include: The mall’s spacious layout integrates indoor and outdoor areas, creating a vibrant environment for shopping, dining, and leisure. The mall enhances Dubai Holding Asset Management’s impressive collection of retail destinations, which includes iconic landmark destinations such as Bluewaters, JBR, and West Beach; world-class shopping malls including Nakheel Mall, The Outlet Village, Ibn […]

1 year ago

UAE Receives First Batch Of French Rafale Fighter Jets In ‘Historic Deal’ Worth Dh63.5 Billion

The first batch of 80 Rafale fighter jets from France has been handed over to the UAE as part of a “historic deal” that reflects the strategic partnership between the countries, it was announced on Thursday. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) received the jets — which are among the most advanced in the world — from French company Dassault Aviation. This historic Rafale deal, worth 16.6 billion euros (about Dh63.5 billion), is one of the most prominent defence deals in the history of UAE-French relations. It includes the production of 80 fighter jets equipped with the latest defence technologies. The acquisition of this type of aircraft comes as part of a comprehensive plan to modernise the UAE’s defence capabilities, in line with security changes and challenges at the regional and international levels, the MOD said. The aircraft were received during an official ceremony in Paris, attended by Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, along with other top Emirati and French officials. “Our armed forces, thanks to the unlimited support of President Sheikh Mohamed, have achieved a qualitative leap in terms of equipment and modernisation, making them among the most efficient and prepared forces in the region and the world,” […]

1 year ago

UAE Central Bank Follows Fed’s Decision, Holds Interest Rates

The UAE Central Bank followed the Fed’s decision to keep the base rate applicable to its overnight deposit facility at 4.4 per cent. The UAE follows the US monetary policy as the dirham is pegged to the US dollar. Earlier, after three interest rate cuts in a row, the US Federal Reserve left its rates unchanged. The US central bank left its target range between 4.25 to 4.5 per cent.

1 year ago

Dubai: Dh150 Fine For Unpaid Parking As 3 Popular Malls Roll Out Barrierless System

As the barrierless parking rollout begins at three popular malls in Dubai, motorists are warned that a Dh150 fine applies if the fee is not paid three days after leaving the shopping centres. The new parking system has already been activated at City Centre Deira and it will be introduced at Mall of the Emirates (MOE) early next month, Majid Al Futtaim confirmed to Khaleej Times. Without barriers, motorists can freely drive through the malls’ parking lots, not having to stop for tickets. Vehicles’ licence plates are automatically tracked by cameras as they enter and exit the car park. An SMS with a payment link is sent to drivers for any charges. Parking fees have to be paid within three days; otherwise, a fine of Dh150 will apply, based on the information available on the MOE website. “If you don’t pay within two days of leaving the mall, you’ll receive an SMS reminder and a phone call the next day,” said the statement. “If you still haven’t paid after three days, you’ll be fined Dh150 as per the UAE’s standard parking fine.” Those who leave their cars in spaces where parking is not permitted will be fined Dh1,000. “If you park in spaces […]

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UAE Becomes Top Global Destination for Winter Tourism: Report

One 21-Year-Old Who Worked A “Mass Scamming Call Center” In Dubai Blows The Whistle

Dubai’s Emirates Named As UAE’s Best Brand Of 2025: YouGov

Dubai Real Estate Market Headed For Another Record Year In 2025

Dubai World Trade Centre Announces February 2025 Events

UAE Receives First Batch Of Rafale Fighter Jets

New Luxury Mall In Dubai To Open April 2025

UAE Receives First Batch Of French Rafale Fighter Jets In ‘Historic Deal’ Worth Dh63.5 Billion

UAE Central Bank Follows Fed’s Decision, Holds Interest Rates

Dubai: Dh150 Fine For Unpaid Parking As 3 Popular Malls Roll Out Barrierless System

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