GCC News

9 minutes ago

UAE To Restore Umayyad Mosque In Damascus

The UAE has announced the restoration of the historic Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. The move was suppored by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (Mother of the Nation), Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation. Sheikha Fatima affirmed the humanitarian approach of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his commitment to the values of giving and development. This is a hallmark of the UAE community and is carried forward by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose inspiring vision for development, prosperity, and the preservation of heritage drives the country’s aid ecosystem. An integral part of that vision is the preservation of Arab heritage and Islamic culture. Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President, said: “The UAE initiative, generously supported by Her Highness Fatima bint Mubarak, to restore the Umayyad Mosque is an inspiring step that reflects the civilisational values of our nation. It represents a bridge of connection with modern Syria and with a shared Arab and Islamic heritage and civilisation that we proudly cherish as a vital part of our identity, present […]

14 minutes ago

Kuwait Cuts Government Working Hours To Six Hours During Summer

Kuwait has officially announced a reduction in working hours across government entities to six hours a day during the summer months as part of efforts to reduce electricity consumption and support the stability of the national power grid. The decision came after the Civil Service Council approved a proposal to cut official working hours in government agencies from seven hours to six hours daily during the summer period. According to informed sources, the measure is part of a wider government plan aimed at easing pressure on electricity networks during peak summer demand, particularly between 11am and 5pm, when temperatures and energy consumption typically rise sharply. The sources added that factories have also begun reducing production operations during peak periods as part of efforts to lower electricity loads and maintain service stability. The reduced working hours are expected to remain in effect for three months during the summer season, while the Civil Service Commission is set to announce implementation procedures and operational mechanisms in the coming period. Under the proposal, the flexible morning attendance window will be limited to one hour, from 7am to 8am, while evening shifts will begin at 5pm. Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy […]

25 minutes ago

Saudi Arabia Revokes Licences Of Several Private Schools Over Safety, Regulatory Breaches

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education has revoked the licences of several private schools for failing to comply with regulatory and safety requirements, prompting concern among parents, school owners and education specialists over the impact on students and staff. According to Okaz Arabic daily, the ministry said the closures form part of a graduated regulatory process aimed at ensuring student safety and maintaining educational standards, stressing that affected students would be able to transfer directly to public schools or enrol in other private institutions. “The ministry continuously monitors the compliance of private education institutions with educational and regulatory requirements in coordination with relevant authorities to ensure the safety of operations and the stability of the educational process”, Mona Al Ajmi, the ministry’s spokesperson, said. She said the measures were implemented through a phased regulatory approach that granted schools sufficient opportunities to rectify violations without disrupting students’ education. “The ministry works with families to ensure students can transfer smoothly to suitable alternative schools, while also monitoring the situation of educational staff, particularly Saudi teachers, in support of stability in the education sector,” she added. Al Ajmi said the ministry would deal firmly with any violations affecting student safety or breaching licensing conditions, […]

32 minutes ago

UAE Commits Dh44 Billion To Mars, Asteroid And Space Economy Goals

More than Dh44 billion in investments is driving the UAE’s accelerating push to expand its space economy, deepen its Mars and asteroid exploration missions and strengthen its position among the world’s leading space nations under the National Space Strategy 2031. The UAE continues to advance its presence in the global space sector through a series of scientific and technological projects aimed at supporting innovation, economic diversification and national talent development. Salem Al Qubaisi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, said the country achieved several major milestones during the first quarter of the year that reinforced its international standing in the fields of space technology, innovation and the knowledge economy. In statements to the Emirates News Agency, Al Qubaisi highlighted the launch of the National Space Strategy 2031, the extension of the Emirates Mars Mission “Hope Probe” until 2028 following its scientific and operational success, and the UAE’s leadership in establishing the Space Situational Awareness Expert Group under the United Nations framework to support global space sustainability and security. He said the strategy is built around three core pillars: developing a resilient and investment-attractive space ecosystem, strengthening international partnerships and market access, and expanding advanced infrastructure and facilities to support sector readiness […]

41 minutes ago

Abu Dhabi-Developed Cryptographic AI Goes Global After Us Acquisition

A technology developed in Abu Dhabi to help organisations use their most sensitive data in AI systems without exposing it is now being deployed globally through a San Francisco-based company. There is a category of data that every major institution holds, and almost none can use for AI: patient records too sensitive to share, financial transactions too regulated to expose, classified intelligence too valuable to risk exposing. The problem is not the data. It is the absence of a technology that can run AI on it without compromising it. TII, the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council, developed advanced cryptographic AI technologies that allow AI systems to train, fine-tune, and run inference on highly sensitive data without exposing it. The techniques were developed for real production environments, enabling organisations to use AI on sensitive data securely rather than limiting the work to laboratory testing. On May 4, OPAQUE, a San Francisco-based confidential AI company founded by researchers from UC Berkeley’s RISELab and backed by a $24 million Series B at a $300 million valuation, acquired those technologies. It is the first time a cryptographic AI developed in the UAE has been acquired and deployed at a […]

2 hours ago

Saudi Arabia Announces Hajj Season Calendar; When Will Umrah Visas Resume?

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on May 16, 2025, released the Hajj calendar for the Islamic year of 1448 AH, outlining key dates and procedures for the upcoming season. The announcement comes as the Kingdom focuses on preparations for the Hajj season, with the crescent moon sighting for Dhul Hijjah set to take place on Sunday, May 17, to determine the dates of Eid Al Adha. The ministry said, in the new calendar, that May 31 will be the date for issuance of Umrah visas and allowing pilgrims to enter the Kingdom. From June 1, entry into Makkah and the issuance of Umrah permits through the Nusuk app will resume. The calendar also states that September 1, 2026, will be the final date for issuing Umrah visas for the new season, while September 23 will mark the final date for Umrah pilgrims to enter Saudi Arabia. The final deadline for Umrah pilgrims to leave the Kingdom will be April 7, 2027. Meanwhile, May 11 marked the launch of services enabling foreign agents and the completion of final electronic agreements with Umrah companies through the online platform. The electronic launch of contracting services between Umrah companies and beneficiaries, including disability and […]

2 hours ago

Eight Face Trial Over BD800,000 Gold Theft

Court issues ruling in case involving Rolex watches and gold bars stolen from Juffair home. The Fourth Lower Criminal Court issued its ruling in a case involving eight defendants accused of stealing gold bullion, luxury watches and other valuables worth more than BD800,000 from a residence in the Juffair area. According to court files, the victim reported leaving his home on February 28 and returning on March 6 to discover the property had been burgled. Stolen items included 22 Rolex watches, around 1.5 kilograms of gold and nine small gold bars weighing nine grams each, which had been stored inside a steel safe in a bedroom. Investigators from the Capital Governorate Police Directorate reviewed surveillance footage from the surrounding area and identified a vehicle parked near the residence on the morning of March 2. Authorities also found that internal security cameras inside the house had been covered during the incident. Police later identified and questioned the vehicle’s owner, who denied direct involvement in the theft. He claimed he had been with friends on the rooftop of a nearby building watching what he described as shelling linked to the Iranian aggression against Bahrain. He later admitted that some acquaintances had shown […]

2 hours ago

Supreme Council Of Health Opens Applications For 2026-2027 Residency Programme

The Supreme Council of Health has announced the opening of applications for the 2026-2027 academic year residency programme for doctors, with submissions accepted through its official website until June 30. The council said Bahraini doctors holding a bachelor’s degree in medicine are eligible to apply, provided they submit an academic transcript certified by the Ministry of Education, along with a valid medical practice licence issued by the National Health Regulatory Authority. Applicants will be required to pass a competitive examination and personal interview, submit all required documents, and meet the approved admission criteria, the council said.It added that applications from doctors currently enrolled or previously registered in any healthcare training programme within Bahrain will not be accepted. The residency programme covers 14 medical specialities, including internal medicine, pathology, adult intensive care, obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthesia and intensive care, general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, paediatrics, emergency medicine, radiology, plastic surgery, neurology and family medicine. The council said the registration process includes several stages, beginning with creating an account on the official website, followed by submitting the application, reviewing documents, sitting the competitive examination, attending interviews and finally announcing the results. Required documents include a curriculum vitae, certificates of training and work […]

2 hours ago

Bahraini Jobs Outpace Expat Hiring

Expat worker numbers barely moved in Bahrain’s private sector between 2022 and 2024, rising about 0.6pc, while Bahraini employment grew by just over 4pc. Labour Ministry figures drawn from Social Insurance Organisation subscriber data show Bahraini workers in the private sector rose from 99,945 in 2022 to 103,986 in 2024. Over the same span, expat workers increased from 464,304 to 467,267. The figures came in a written reply to MP Dr Munir Seroor, in which the ministry said every sector was subject to Bahrainisation rates, with the level changing by field and by Bahraini demand for the jobs available. The ministry said these rates were monitored automatically through electronic systems. Firms that fall short are charged an extra BD500 for each expat work permit. Meeting Bahrainisation rates is also a condition for bidding for government tenders, the ministry said. The rates are reviewed as labour market needs change. The ministry said Bahraini workers had shown they could compete in the private sector, adding that many firms now rely on Bahraini staff. In some firms, it said, Bahrainisation had reached between 80pc and 90pc. For small and micro firms with no more than five expat workers, Bahrainisation rules apply when they […]

2 hours ago

Saudi Customs Report 915 Contraband Seizures At Ports Last Week

Customs at Saudi land, sea, and air ports recorded 915 seizures of contraband last week. The seized items include 62 types of narcotics, such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, and Captagon pills, in addition to 395 other prohibited substances. Customs ports also foiled attempts to smuggle 1,942 units of tobacco and its derivatives, along with 12 types of cash, and two types of weapons and related equipment. The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) affirmed its commitment to strengthening customs control over the Kingdom’s imports and exports to ensure the security and protection of society, through continuous cooperation and coordination with all relevant partners. ZATCA urged the public to contribute to combating smuggling to protect society and the national economy by contacting it via the dedicated security reporting hotline (1910), email (1910@zatca.gov.sa), or the international number (009661910). The authority confirmed that it receives reports related to smuggling crimes and violations of the provisions of the Unified Customs Law through these channels, with complete confidentiality, and grants a financial reward to the whistleblower if the information in the provided report is correct. READ MORE: Saudi Arabia Deports 11,272 Illegal Residents In A Week

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Recent Posts

UAE To Restore Umayyad Mosque In Damascus

Kuwait Cuts Government Working Hours To Six Hours During Summer

Saudi Arabia Revokes Licences Of Several Private Schools Over Safety, Regulatory Breaches

UAE Commits Dh44 Billion To Mars, Asteroid And Space Economy Goals

Search Here

UAE To Restore Umayyad Mosque In Damascus

Kuwait Cuts Government Working Hours To Six Hours During Summer

Saudi Arabia Revokes Licences Of Several Private Schools Over Safety, Regulatory Breaches

UAE Commits Dh44 Billion To Mars, Asteroid And Space Economy Goals

Abu Dhabi-Developed Cryptographic AI Goes Global After Us Acquisition

Saudi Arabia Announces Hajj Season Calendar; When Will Umrah Visas Resume?

Eight Face Trial Over BD800,000 Gold Theft

Supreme Council Of Health Opens Applications For 2026-2027 Residency Programme

Bahraini Jobs Outpace Expat Hiring

Saudi Customs Report 915 Contraband Seizures At Ports Last Week

Recent Posts

UAE To Restore Umayyad Mosque In Damascus

Kuwait Cuts Government Working Hours To Six Hours During Summer

Saudi Arabia Revokes Licences Of Several Private Schools Over Safety, Regulatory Breaches

UAE Commits Dh44 Billion To Mars, Asteroid And Space Economy Goals

Abu Dhabi-Developed Cryptographic AI Goes Global After Us Acquisition

Saudi Arabia Announces Hajj Season Calendar; When Will Umrah Visas Resume?

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