Latest from Gulf Business
Gulf Business
7 hours ago
- Gulf Business
Expired Saudi visit visa? Kingdom offers one-month extension for exit
Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Passports has launched an initiative to extend all types of expired visit visas for the purpose of final exit, effective from Muharram 1, 1447 AH (June 26), the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The initiative grants a 30-day extension window, subject to the payment of applicable fees and penalties in line with existing regulations, according to the People with expired visit visas should submit requests through Saudi's Tawasul service Applicants seeking to benefit from the initiative must submit their requests via the Tawasul service available on the Ministry of Interior's Absher electronic platform during the designated period. The directorate urged all eligible individuals to take advantage of the initiative before the deadline, SPA said. Read:
Gulf Business
7 hours ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
Saudi Arabia opens airspace to enable smooth flow of air traffic
Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes Saudi Arabia has opened its airspace to support the smooth flow of international air traffic amid recent The kingdom is now handling an average of more than 1,330 daily flights through its airspace, which is nearly double the number recorded before the crisis began. These additional flights were managed safely and efficiently, aided by advanced technologies and stringent security measures in full compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. According to SPA, the General Authority of Civil Aviation ( More than 220 international air carriers transited through Saudi skies during this time, prompting the activation of pre-planned airspace expansion protocols. Saudi reinforces airport and airspace security The kingdom reinforced its airport and airspace security through enhanced surveillance systems, risk management frameworks, and technical infrastructure upgrades. Crisis management teams, equipped with cutting-edge technologies, processed real-time data to provide rapid operational support to local and regional stakeholders. This allowed for seamless traffic flow and strengthened Saudi Arabia's reputation as a safe and reliable aviation hub. Saudi Arabia's air navigation system includes 20 control towers, two regional area control centres with 15 control sectors, 10 approach control centres, and over 1,200 navigation devices across the country, SPA reported. These are operated by a workforce of more than 1,900 aviation specialists, including over 700 male and female air traffic controllers, all working under advanced operational methodologies.
Gulf Business
8 hours ago
- Gulf Business
Missed Messages? WhatsApp's new feature helps you catch up instantly
Image credit: Getty Images WhatsApp has announced a new feature designed to help users quickly catch up on unread conversations. The tool, called Message Summaries, leverages Meta AI to provide concise overviews of unread messages—without compromising user privacy. Whether returning from a Wi-Fi-free flight or juggling multiple chats during a busy day, users can now rely on Message Summaries to get up to speed quickly. The summaries are generated privately using Meta's Private Processing technology, which ensures that neither WhatsApp nor Meta can access message content or the summaries themselves. Read- 'No one else in the chat will know you've used the feature,' the company said in a statement. 'Your privacy is protected at all times.' Message Summaries are entirely optional and turned off by default. Users have full control over the feature, including the ability to enable it only for selected chats via the Advanced Chat Privacy settings. The feature is currently rolling out in English to users in the United States, with plans to expand to more languages and regions later this year. For those interested in how Private Processing works, Meta has published an This announcement follows Unlike traditional calls, starting a voice chat does not notify or ring other members. Instead, users can join and leave the ongoing conversation at their convenience. The voice chat remains pinned to the bottom of the group chat for easy access to call controls and participant visibility. Previously limited to large groups, the feature is now available to all group sizes. Users can start a voice chat by swiping up from the bottom of the chat window and holding for a few seconds. As with all WhatsApp communications, voice chats are protected by end-to-end encryption, ensuring privacy and security.
Gulf Business
8 hours ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
New $205m agreement to boost UAE-GCC power grid interconnection
Image courtesy: WAM/ For illustrative purposes Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has signed a Dhs752m ($205m) financing agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) to support the expansion of the GCC power grid interconnection with the UAE's national electricity network, state news agency WAM reported. The agreement, signed at The infrastructure project forms part of broader efforts to enhance regional energy resilience and enable wider economic and developmental integration, aligning with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050. The strategy aims to create an energy system that is both sustainable and economically efficient. Initiative will increase electricity transmission capacity between UAE and GCC Designed as a strategic grid upgrade, the initiative will significantly increase electricity transmission capacity between the UAE and the GCC network. Technical and economic feasibility studies have supported its design, in line with the GCCIA's vision for a durable, regionally connected power infrastructure. The project includes the construction of a 400kV double-circuit overhead transmission line spanning 96 kilometres, connecting the Al Silaa substation in the UAE with the Salwa substation in Saudi Arabia. It also entails the expansion of three substations — Gonan, Al Silaa, and Salwa — and the installation of advanced 400kV switchgears, circuit breakers, and reactors, along with modern protection and control systems to enhance grid efficiency and reliability. 'This project reflects ADFD's commitment to financing high-impact infrastructure that supports the UAE's development priorities,' said Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, director-general of ADFD. 'Power grid interconnection is a strategic enabler of energy security and a foundation for accelerating the transition to He added that the project would 'increase the efficiency of the power grid, improve emergency preparedness, strengthen connectivity with regional partners, and promote the integration of renewable energy,' supporting the GCC's sustainability and emissions reduction goals. Engineer Ahmed Ali Al Ebrahim, CEO of the GCCIA. called the initiative the first phase of a broader collaboration with ADFD during the current grid expansion and noted parallel efforts to interconnect with Kuwait, Oman, and southern Iraq, representing a total investment exceeding $1bn. 'By leveraging increased transmission capacity, we aim to activate a unified Gulf electricity market to facilitate cross-border power trade,' Al Ebrahim said. 'This could create economic opportunities projected to exceed $20bn over the next 15 years.'
Gulf Business
19 hours ago
- General
- Gulf Business
Traffic alert: Dubai's RTA to implement a 2-month diversion on E311 from June 28
Image: RTA/ X Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced it will implement a two-month traffic diversion at the Al Barari Underpass on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (E311), starting at midnight on June 28. The move is part of a broader infrastructure initiative to improve rainwater and groundwater drainage and resurface roadways. Motorists are being directed to reroute via the Dubai–Al Ain Bridge for U‑turns toward Jebel Ali, or the Global Village Underpass and Umm Suqeim Street intersection for U‑turns toward Sharjah to avoid delays . لتنفيذ أعمال نظام تصريف مياه الأمطار والمياه الجوفية وإعادة رصف الإسفلت، سيتم تطبيق تحويلة مرورية عند معبر الجمال البراري بشارع الشيخ محمد بن زايد، لمدة شهرين متتاليين بدءًا من تاريخ 28 يونيو 2025، مع توفير طرق بديلة، عبر جسر دبي العين الواقع على شارع الشيخ محمد بن زايد حيث سيمسح… — RTA (@rta_dubai) Other traffic diversions across the city Diversions are also planned at other major underpasses city‑wide, including Mudon Underpass on Emirates Road and Umm Al Daman Underpass on the Dubai–Al Ain Road, both starting June 28. All projects are scheduled to last for two months to coincide with peak seasonal rainfall preparation efforts . A traffic diversion will be implemented at Mudon Underpass on Emirates Road for two months starting 28 June 2025. The works include rainwater and groundwater drainage system upgrades along with road resurfacing. Commuters can use the alternative routes via Underpass 7 (U-turn… — RTA (@rta_dubai) تحويلة مرورية عند معبر الجمال أم الدمن بشارع دبي – العين، بدءًا من 28 يونيو 2025 ولمدة شهرين متتالين، بهدف تنفيذ أعمال نظام تصريف مياه الأمطار والمياه الجوفية وإعادة رصف الإسفلت. يمكن للسائقين استخدام الطريق البديل، عبر جسر أم النهد التقاطع 4 على شارع دبي العين حيث سيتاح لهم… — RTA (@rta_dubai) Read: D
