GCC News

1 week ago

Bahrain: Invalid Power Of Attorney Sinks Fraud Appeal

A forgery and fraud convict has exhausted his legal options after the Court of Cassation dismissed his final appeal on procedural grounds, leaving his prison sentence, fine and deportation order intact. The court ruled that the cassation challenge was inadmissible because the lawyer who filed it lacked the necessary legal authority due to an invalid power of attorney. The defendant had been convicted of forging a document falsely attributed to a bank and using it to deceive a victim into handing over money. He was sentenced to two years in prison, fined BD1,000, ordered to be deported after completing his sentence, and the forged document was confiscated. The conviction and penalties had already been upheld during earlier appeal proceedings. With the final appeal rejected, the judgment has become definitive, bringing the case to a close.

1 week ago

Woman Gets Jail Term, Fine For Using Another Person’s Bank Card In Dubai

A Dubai misdemeanours court has sentenced a European woman to one month in jail for using another person’s bank card without authorisation to make digital payments and obtain money. The court also issued a fine of Dh18,750 (equal to the amount she illegally earned), ordered the seizing of her mobile phone used in the offence, and ordered her to leave the country after serving her prison sentence. The woman was convicted under the UAE’s cybercrime law, which punishes the unauthorised use of credit cards, debit cards, electronic payment methods, or payment data to obtain money, property, or services without the owner’s approval. Authorities raised their caution to people not to exchange bank card information, PINs, or one-time passwords (OTPs), and asked them to report suspicious transactions to their banks right away.

1 week ago

Smart Camera Network Expands

Intelligent surveillance system targets phone use, seatbelt violations, and reckless lane changes Bahrain is stepping up road safety enforcement with an expanded network of smart cameras capable of automatically detecting a wide range of traffic offences, a senior official announced at the Bahrain Smart Cities Summit 2026. Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Mubarak Bu Qais, Director of the Traffic Culture Directorate, said the system goes beyond simply recording violations—it aims to deter dangerous behaviour before it leads to tragedy. “A moment of distraction behind the wheel can change a life in seconds,” he warned, adding that a single wrong decision on the road can cause injuries that affect victims for years. The system uses AI-powered algorithms to identify offences including illegal overtaking through emergency lanes or pavements, running red lights, speeding, mobile phone use while driving, and unsafe lane changes. It also flags seatbelt violations, illegal U-turns, driving against traffic, ignoring road signs, failure to keep right, and children seated in the front seat. Once a camera captures an incident, the system conducts an automatic analysis and prepares photographic evidence for human review. Each case is verified for accuracy before a violation is confirmed or rejected. Motorists retain the right to appeal […]

1 week ago

Accountant Cleared in Missing Funds Case

A company accountant has been acquitted of allegations that he stole company funds after the court found insufficient evidence linking him to the missing money. The Public Prosecution had accused him of taking company cash in 2025 through his work duties. The defence argued there was no direct proof that the funds had ever been in the accountant’s possession and challenged documents and signatures presented in the case. The court also noted that the company’s cash handling procedures were unclear. After reviewing expert reports and financial records, the court found that other employees had handled some deposits and that no documents proved the accountant received or misused the funds. The court ruled that doubts remained and acquitted the defendant.

1 week ago

New U-Turn Opens in Bahrain

The Ministry of Works has opened a new two-lane U-turn at the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway and Zallaq Highway junction to improve traffic movement and reduce congestion. The 1.3-kilometre route provides easier access to nearby communities, including Al Raffa, while reducing travel distances and improving road efficiency. The project also included expanding the right-turn connection from Zallaq Highway and upgrading related infrastructure works.

1 week ago

Saudi Arabia Arrests 130 In Sweeping Corruption Crackdown As Nazaha Targets Bribery And Abuse Of Office

Arrests include employees of five ministries as Nazaha investigates 385 suspects Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) have arrested 130 Saudi citizens and expatriate residents on suspicion of corruption-related offences following a series of inspections and investigations carried out during June. Nazaha said it conducted 1,585 oversight inspections and investigated 385 suspects as part of its ongoing campaign to combat corruption and safeguard public funds. Those arrested include employees of the Ministries of Interior, Defence, Health, Municipalities and Housing, and Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, the authority said. The suspects are accused of offences including bribery and abuse of public office. Some have been released on bail while investigations continue. Nazaha said legal procedures were being completed ahead of referring the cases to the competent courts. The authority reiterated its commitment to pursuing financial and administrative corruption and urged the public to report suspected violations through its designated reporting channels, saying public cooperation remains essential to protecting public funds and promoting integrity.

1 week ago

Oman To Subsidise India-Oman Food Shipping Route To Boost National Food Security And Cut Logistics Costs

Government to cover 50% of fuel and insurance costs for six months Dubai: Oman will subsidise 50% of the fuel and insurance costs for food shipments transported by Asyad Shipping, the maritime arm of Asyad Group, on the maritime route between India and the Sultanate for up to six months, as part of government measures to strengthen food security and reduce logistics costs. The support, which takes effect today, implements directives issued by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik during a Cabinet meeting last month, aimed at safeguarding supplies of essential food commodities, improving supply chain resilience and easing the impact of rising global logistics costs. State-owned Asyad said in a disclosure to the Muscat Stock Exchange that it would pass the full value of the government subsidy directly to customers shipping eligible food cargoes under the initiative, helping to lower the cost of importing essential food products into Oman. The company currently operates one container vessel on the India-Oman trade route and said it expects the support programme to have a positive impact on its container shipping business during the subsidy period. It added that the financial impact is being assessed and will be reflected in future financial statements where applicable. […]

1 week ago

Kuwait shuts seven healthcare facilities over serious violations, and unlicensed treatments uncovered

They include medical centre, a clinic, physiotherapy centres, home healthcare service Dubai: Seven private healthcare facilities in Kuwait have been shut over serious violations. Health Minister Ahmad Al Awadhi ordered the closure of the seven healthcare facilities and referred a medical centre to the Medical Liability Authority after a joint inspection uncovered serious violations of health regulations, the Ministry of Health said in a statement. The ministry said the closures cover a medical centre, a clinic, physiotherapy centres and home healthcare service providers after inspectors identified breaches of licensing requirements, professional practice rules and technical and administrative regulations. The medical centre in Salmiya was referred to the Medical Liability Authority for investigation following a joint inspection involving the Ministry of Health’s Health Licensing Department, the Drug Inspection Department, the Public Authority for Manpower and the General Department of Criminal Investigation. Inspectors found several people practising healthcare professions without the required licences. Among them was an individual registered on his civil identity card as a sales representative who was found treating patients, providing medical consultations and administering Botox and dermal filler injections. A receptionist was also found carrying out pre-treatment medical procedures. The inspection also uncovered pharmaceutical violations, including the possession […]

1 week ago

Saudi Arabia extends work permit status correction deadline for expatriate workers until year-end

Employers and workers urged to renew or issue permits before grace period expires Dubai: Saudi Arabia has extended until the end of this year the deadline for correcting the status of work permits for some expatriate workers, giving employers and employees more time to complete regulatory procedures. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development said the extension applies to expatriate workers whose work permits expired more than 12 months ago, as well as workers who have not been issued work permits more than six months after joining an establishment. The ministry said the move was part of efforts to strengthen compliance with labour regulations, protect the rights of all parties to employment contracts and enable establishments and workers to regularise their status within the approved timeframe. It urged employers and workers to renew or issue work permits before the deadline expires, warning that failure to correct violations during the grace period would lead to the enforcement of prescribed legal measures. Saudi Arabia scraps 7,200 visas in labour crackdown 17 recruitment offices penalised over violating rules

1 week ago

Two Expats Jailed Over Fake Degrees

Court Issues Six-Month Sentences with Deportation Orders The Lower Criminal Court has sentenced two foreign defendants to six months in prison in separate cases involving the use of forged university degrees to secure employment in private schools. The court also ordered the confiscation of the fake documents and the permanent deportation of both individuals after serving their sentences. According to the Deputy Chief of the Cybercrime Prosecution, the defendants submitted falsified academic certificates to private educational institutions and to relevant authorities responsible for verifying and accrediting qualifications. They intended to use these documents to secure approval for teaching positions. The case came to light after the Ministry of Education flagged suspicious certificates through routine inspection and verification procedures conducted in coordination with a specialised company. The process is designed to ensure the authenticity of academic qualifications required for teaching roles.

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Search Here

Bahrain: Invalid Power Of Attorney Sinks Fraud Appeal

Woman Gets Jail Term, Fine For Using Another Person’s Bank Card In Dubai

Smart Camera Network Expands

Accountant Cleared in Missing Funds Case

New U-Turn Opens in Bahrain

Saudi Arabia Arrests 130 In Sweeping Corruption Crackdown As Nazaha Targets Bribery And Abuse Of Office

Oman To Subsidise India-Oman Food Shipping Route To Boost National Food Security And Cut Logistics Costs

Kuwait shuts seven healthcare facilities over serious violations, and unlicensed treatments uncovered

Saudi Arabia extends work permit status correction deadline for expatriate workers until year-end

Two Expats Jailed Over Fake Degrees

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