GULF LIFE DAILY

GCC Railway Project: Route, launch date and the exciting updates

A massive GCC railway project connecting Qatar with five nearby nations is set to change holiday plans in the future.
Alongside the railway project, the GCC prepared to launch the pilot phase of highly anticipated GCC Unified Tourist Visa, named the Gulf Grand Tours, in late 2025.
The railway project, first launched in 2009, will link the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council with a 2,117km railway.
It will mean that people in Qatar can travel by train to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and UAE. And eventually, be a great way to see more of the region.
The Gulf Railway Authority announced that current plans are for the project to be completed by December 2030.
Here’s a breakdown of all the progress in the region from each participating nation below.
The GCC Railway Project route
The proposed route will begin in Kuwait before passing through Dammam in Saudi Arabia.
From Dammam, you’ll be able to travel directly to Qatar, via the Salwa port, and Bahrain.
From Saudi Arabia, you’ll also be able to travel to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. And, once you’re in the UAE, you’d then be able to connect with Dubai with Etihad Rail.
Passenger trains are expected to travel at 200 kilometres per hour, while freight trains will run at 80 to 120 kilometres per hour. This means citizens of Qatar could reach Dammam in about an hour.
The railway will then travel from the UAE down to the Omani capital of Muscat via Sohar.
GCC Railway Project: Bahrain
Bahrain will connect to neighbouring Saudi Arabia via the King Hamad Causeway project.
The proposed King Hamad International Station will be located in the Ramli area of Bahrain. This station will connect to Bahrain International Airport and other commercial and residential areas in Bahrain through the proposed Bahrain Metro network.
It will connect to the wider GCC Railway network via Dammam Railway Station across the Arabian Gulf in Saudi Arabia. A dedicated maritime bridge will be constructed to connect the two countries.
The causeway will span approximately 25km and consist of two rail tracks.
GCC Railway Project: KuwaitEscape to Kuwait (Credit: Supplied)
Kuwait will form the northern section of the GCC rail network.
Shadadiya, approximately 25 kilometres south-west of the centre of Kuwait City, being the location for the main central station of the 111km railway line.
Turkish company Proyapo Engineering and Consulting signed on as consultants for the first phase of the infrastructure project earlier in 2025.
Kuwait’s railway will run along the coastline and will be designed to facilitate travel at speeds of up to 200km/h for passenger trains.
GCC Railway Project: OmanMuscat (Credit: Shutterstock)
Oman has been working closely with the UAE on its railway network since 2022.
And in 2024, Oman Rail and Etihad Rail launched the collaborative Hafeet Rail, which will connect the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi with Sohar in Oman.
Hafeet Rail will span 303km and travel at speeds of up to 200km/h. This Hafeet Rail line will help Oman connect with the wider regional network.
It will eventually connect more than 12 passenger stations and cities across both the UAE and Oman.
GCC Railway Project: QatarDoha
In July of 2025, the Qatar Cabinet approved a draft general agreement to connect the GCC through a unified railway project.
From Qatar, it will extend to the United Arab Emirates via Abu Dhabi, ultimately reaching Muscat, Oman.
A dedicated maritime bridge will connect Qatar with Dammam in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Qatar has begun works for a maritime line between Qatar and Bahrain.
The project is expected to connect well with the wider Doha Metro and Lusail Tram.
GCC Railway Project: Saudi ArabiaDammam (Credit: Shutterstock)
Saudi Arabia has a pre-existing national rail network already in place and is key to connecting its neighbouring nations in the wider GCC railway network.
Dammam will act as the focal point for the regional railway, as trains will arrive from Kuwait in the north at the coastal Saudi city.
From Dammam, there will be two maritime bridges constructed connecting Saudi Arabia to Qatar and Bahrain.
Travellers will be able to take trains from Dammam to Riyadh and the rest of the national rail network.
GCC Railway Project: UAE(Credit: Etihad Rail)
The UAE’s Etihad Rail is already in action as a freight service, with a passenger service set to launch in 2026.
Spanning 900km, the passenger train service will connect 11 cities across the seven emirates in the UAE.
The first passenger train station will be built in Sakamkam, Fujairah, at the heart of Fujairah city. It will stretch from Al Sila to Fujairah, including Al Ruwais, Al Mirfa, Dubai, Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

Sunday, 19 October 2025 No Comments

Qatar public holidays in 2026 to know

If you’re already planning your vacation days for the next year, know how to optimise your public holiday in Qatar.

H.H. The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani has approved new official holidays in the country for 2026.

Staying in the country? It’s time to see the best of Doha during Qatar National Day and Eid, or explore beyond the city, it’s never too early to start thinking about your next break.

Here’s all the potential holiday dates you could be looking forward to in 2026.

Qatar National Day celebrations at Katara

Qatar National Day celebrations. Credit: Katara Cultural Club

When are the 2026 public holiday dates?

The Cabinet has announced three official public holiday’s for the country.

The council announced that the second Tuesday of February, corresponding to February 10, for National Sports Day, will be an official holiday in 2026.

Eid Al Fitr will be celebrated on from the 28th day of Ramadan to the end of the 4th day of Shawwal. This potentially corresponds to Tuesday March 17, to Monday March 23.

The Eid Al Adha will be from the 9th day of Dhu al-Hijjah to the end of the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. This long weekend can be predicted to begin from Tuesday May 26 to Saturday May 30.

And Qatar National Day will be a public holiday on Friday December 18.

And if you’re still looking for more possible days off, you’re in luck because any working day falling between two official holidays may also be counted as part of the holiday period.

Additionally, if a weekend falls within this timeframe, it will be included in the official holiday as well.

That applies for Eid Al Fitr, where the weekend (March 20–21) falls within the official Eid period, so it becomes part of the official holiday – no more additional days off.

Qatar flag is all around at some public holidays

Predicted Qatar public holidays in 2026

The likely Qatar public holiday dates are as per the Qatari public holiday law established in May 2025.

These are the predicted public holidays in 2026 in full:

Qatar Sports Day: Tuesday February 10

Eid Al Fitr: Tuesday March 17 – Monday March 23

Eid Al Adha: Tuesday May 26 – Saturday May 30

Qatar National Day: Friday December 18

It should also be noted that the Qatari public holiday law does allow employers to allocate additional public holidays not outlined above if they choose to do so.

And for those working at financial institutions, Governor of the Qatar Central Bank (QCB). HE Governor of Qatar Central Bank determines the start and end date of the public holiday.

Wednesday, 15 October 2025 No Comments

Schengen-style Gulf tourist visa to begin pilot phase in 2025

The highly anticipated GCC unified tourist visa is set to be launched as a trial later this year.

The Schengen-style visa, to be called the “GCC Grand Tours”, will allow freedom of movement between the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Countries included in the system are Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

In an interview in September, Jassim Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, confirmed that the visa is nearing its official rollout, entering its final approval phase after years of planning.

As part of the implementation process, travellers will soon be able to apply online for a unified GCC visa through a digital platform.

The trial phase will come in the final months of this year, before a full implementation of the visa at a later date.

Visa-free travel is already available for citizens of GCC countries across the region, but the GCC Grand Tours Visa will enable the millions of foreign nationals living in the region to travel freely.

It will simplify the process of getting visas and will likely have a longer validity period and lower overall costs compared to obtaining six separate visas.

Plans for the new GCC Unified Tourist Visa were officially approved late in 2023 following a unanimous vote by ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council at a meeting in Oman.

The visa is aimed at encouraging tourism within the region and growing each nation’s tourist economy.

When can we get a GCC Unified Tourist Visa?

GCC Unified Tourist Visa

Doha.

The visa looks set to be launched initially as a trial in 2025 before a wider rollout.

Ministers representing the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries met in Riyadh back in June 2025 to discuss the unified tourist visa project.

The nations are working closely together to keep pace with technological developments across the world and to meet the security requirements of each country.

For now, Qatar residents have different conditions for travelling within the GCC, so the introduction of the new GCC Unified Tourist Visa will allow for more consistency. It’s expected to greatly streamline the process when travelling across the region.

Applicants will likely be able to choose between one-country or six-country access and the validity period of the visa may be between 30 and 90 days.

Current visa rules for GCC travel

Qatar citizens do not need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia and can stay for up to 90 days but people residing in the country do require a eVisa.

In Bahrain, it’s a similar story as Qatar natives don’t require a visa to enter, but passport holders of other countries who reside in the UAE need either an eVisa or a Bahrain on-arrival visa.

Riyadh Saudi Arabia Travel could soon be easier with the introduction of the GCC Unified Tourist Visa

Oman is open to Qatar citizens without the need for a visa, but Qatar residents must obtain an eVisa. Tourists can also apply for the joint tourist visa for 30 days of travel in both countries.

Citizens and residents of all GCC countries can enter Kuwait without a visa by presenting a valid GCC ID card, following an announcement in August 2025.

UAE allows GCC residents and citizens to enter for a period of no longer than 30 days, which can only be extended once with an eVisa.

As the details of the visa have not yet been fully ironed out, the requirements to get your hands on one are also not yet confirmed.

However, it has previously been hinted by the UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri that the visa will apply to residents within the GCC rather than just passport holders.

In November 2023 Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri said: “Hopefully, we are going to see something around a pan-GCC visa which will allow easier mobility of people within the GCC.

Wednesday, 8 October 2025 No Comments

5 travel changes in Qatar you need to know before the travel

Travel season is just around the corner, and with a short break at the end of the month, so many Qatar travellers are gearing up for their next getaway.
With several popular destinations seeing changes, we’ve rounded up all the new travel changes you need to know before heading to the airport.
One major region has introduced a new arrivals system that could affect your plans, while additional restrictions on travel items are now in place for flights to key destinations.
To avoid any holdups at the airport, here’s your guide to the latest travel rules in Qatar this October.
1) New checked baggage restrictions for travellers

Travellers heading to or via the U.S. should note that cordless hair straighteners, flat irons, and curling irons with lithium batteries are not allowed in checked baggage. These devices can only go in carry-on bags and be placed in a safety cover to prevent accidental activation.

Similarly, travellers headed to South Korea should be aware that curling irons with non-removable batteries are also banned unless set to “flight mode” and approved by the airline.

2) European Union introduce a new Entry/Exit System

Credit: Canva Pro
Effective from Sunday October 12, European Union countries will begin introducing a new Entry/Exit System at the borders of Schengen countries.
The new system will replace the manual stamping process, and applies to all non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period in 29 different European countries.
The EES will not apply to EU citizens, Schengen residents or those with long-stay visas or residence permits.
3) Power Bank and Vapes banned on carry on

Qatar Airways has issued a travel advisory prohibiting passengers from carrying certain Anker power banks onboard, including the below.Anker Power Banks (Models: A1647 / A1652 / A1681 / A1689 / A1257) – Recalled in June 2025
Anker PowerCore 10000 – Recalled in June 2025
Anker Power Banks (Models: A1642 / A1647 / A1652) – Recalled in October 2024
If you’re travelling with other power banks, e-cigarettes, or vapes, remember that these items must not be packed in checked-in baggage.
When onboard, the devices should not be charged, and safety caps or covers must be placed over air vents on e-cigarettes or vapes to prevent accidental activation.
4) Travel changes to Qatar Airways flights

International Airlines Group (IAG) partners, Aer Lingus and LEVEL. (Credit: Qatar Airways).
the world’s best airline for the ninth year in a row, Qatar Airways continues to prove exactly why travellers love it — with constant expansion and new routes making travel even easier.
The airline has been steadily rolling out updates to its network, with several flight increases announced for its winter schedule. Starting this October, travellers look forward to even more flights taking off.
This includes 18 U.S. routes, including Boston, Bradley International, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Nashville, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Washington Dulles, plus a soon to be announced new service to Las Vegas. This is with the airline’s new codeshare partnerships with International Airlines Group (IAG) members Aer Lingus and LEVEL.
5) Qatar Airways airport transition in Cambodia

Techo International Airport (KTI).
Qatar Airways has recently announced that all flights to and from Phnom Penh International Airport (PHN), Cambodia, will operate at the newly built Techo International Airport (KTI).
The new airport is bigger and more modern, offering a smoother travel experience. Travellers should start booking flights to explore new destinations down south, and if you’ve already made plans, make sure to double-check your booking details before heading to HIA.

Wednesday, 1 October 2025 No Comments

Fellou, a native AI-powered browser, is rewriting the rules of web browsing in 2025

Fellou, a native AI-powered browser, is rewriting the rules of web browsing in 2025. Its the world’s first “agentic AI” browser designed to automate tasks. Its boldly challenging the dominance of both Google Chrome and Apple's Safari. Welcome to the new browser war in the AI age. It runs on both PC and Macs.So what's the big deal with Fellou? It's the first “agentic AI” browser with features such as "deep action automation", "shadow workspace", and content-aware task handling. Active browsing means Fellou continuously monitors your workflow, multitasking silently in the shadow workspace while keeping you informed through real-time alerts. You can switch tabs or start new tasks without worry, confident that Fellou’s intelligent agents are working behind the scenes. Its like having a personal assistant embedded directly in your browser, tirelessly doing the research, drafting reports, and managing data for you. It also provides actionable intelligence faster than any of its contemporaries or traditional browsers like Chrome.

Explaining its use cases, tech magazine AI Rockstars, cites that Fellou handles complex tasks across 43 platforms at once from LinkedIn to locked-down academic databases. Yes, even the password-protected stuff. This is thanks to its “Deep Action” tech. Its like having a personal assistant embedded directly in your browser, tirelessly doing the research, drafting reports, and managing data for you.

It also provides actionable intelligence faster than any of its contemporaries or traditional browsers like Chrome. Explaining its use cases, tech magazine AI Rockstars, cites that Fellou handles complex tasks across 43 platforms at once — from LinkedIn to locked-down academic databases. Yes, even the password-protected stuff. This is thanks to its “Deep Action” tech. As everything runs locally (unless you choose the cloud), data resides locally. Logins are locked down with AES-256 encryption. It even remembers your progress and stays logged in — hours, not minutes.

Key features that set Fellou apart:

Following are the game-changing features of Fellou that could give it make it stand out against typical search engines.

Deep Action Search | Deep action Automation: Fellou converts your natural language commands into multi-step executable workflows autonomously. Want a detailed research report? Fellou will retrieve data, analyse it, and compile results without you lifting a finger.

Deep Action Search

Generates sharper insights and smarter reports, built on 2,500+ live data signals

Outpaces DeepResearch, Claude, Manus and Perplexity no contest.

Operates silently in the background with Fellou’s shadow workspace.

You stay focused. It does the digging. pic.twitter.com/HBvwVB5Trl

Future Stacked (@FutureStacked) June 30, 2025

Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG): This technology enables Fellou to pull real-time data from 43+ live public and private data sources, including LinkedIn, Reddit, academic databases, and even password-protected membership sites. This gives Fellou an edge in delivering accurate, fresh insights beyond typical search engines.Content-Aware Automation: Fellou understands the context of your task and web pages you visit. For example, if you command it to “collect Q2 sales data,” it figures out the needed logins, finds the data, analyzes spreadsheets, and sends summary emails—all in the background.Shadow Workspace: Fellou runs tasks in a virtual “shadow workspace,” which means all heavy lifting happens discreetly in a background window so you can continue browsing smoothly. This virtual workspace preserves your browsing flow while doing the task unnoticed.Smart Report Generation: Fellou doesn’t just find information — it structures it into clear, visually rich reports, perfect for business presentations or academic summaries. These reports adapt dynamically as Fellou continues research or updates data.Cross-Platform Workflows: Whether it’s filling out forms, drafting emails, posting content, or syncing with local files, Fellou automates multi-step tasks seamlessly across websites and apps.

Thursday, 31 July 2025 No Comments

Study Artificial Intelligence Artficial Inteligency in UAE

AI will undoubtedly have an impact on all industries. Every country should, in my opinion, ensure that AI is incorporated into its national plan. In 2018, Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, stated. AI is a major component of government plans here in the United Arab Emirates, and it is even being utilized to enhance public services.

AI is the way of the future and will transform the labor market. For this reason, a lot of nearby colleges are now offering artificial intelligence (AI) degrees, ranging from bachelor's to doctoral degrees. With computer science degrees, you can even specialize on AI, which will increase the need for your entire skill set in the future.

Here is a list of UAE universities offering them, according to the UAE's Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications

Where to study AI in UAE

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI): This graduate-level research university offers specialised Master's and PhD programmes in Computer Vision, Machine Learning, and Natural Language Processing.

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi: This French and English-speaking university provides a Bachelor's in Mathematics with a specialisation in Data Science for AI.

Abu Dhabi University: The largest private university in the UAE offers a BSc in Computer Engineering with an AI concentration and a BSc in Computer Science.Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai (BSc in Computing Security)

American University of Sharjah (BSc in Computer Engineering, Computer Science and MS in Computer Science)

University of Sharjah (BSc in Computer Engineering, Computer Science and MS in Computer Science)

University of Birmingham Dubai (Offers a dedicated BSc in AI and Computer Science)

University of Wollongong in Dubai (BSc in Computer Science and Engineering Computers)

American University in Dubai (Offers a BSc in Computer Science)

British University in Dubai (Offers a BSc in AI and PhD in Commputer Science)

University of Dubai (BSc in Computer Science)

Al Ain University (BSc in Computer Science and Computing Engineering)

Ajman University (Offers an MSc in AI)

American University in Ras Al Khaimah (Offers BSc degrees in AI, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science)

Canadian University Dubai (BSc in Computer Science)

Al Ghurair University (BSc in Computer Engineering and Science)

American University of the Emirates Dubai (BSc in Computer Science)

Middlesex University Dubai (BSc in Robotics and MS in Robotics)

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYU Abu Dhabi): This university offers a BSc in Computer Engineering and BSc in Computer Science, preparing you for advanced studies or research careers.

Khalifa University: Known for its science and engineering programmes, Khalifa University offers a BSc in Computer Engineering and BSc in Computer Science, along with an MSc in Computer Science.

The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU): The UAE's first comprehensive university provides a BSc in Computer Engineering and BSc in Computer Science, with a minor in Artificial Intelligence available.

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IT is revolutionising the media industry: Streaming, AI, and immersive content

The media sector is still undergoing a significant transformation due to technology, which is changing not just the gadgets we use to consume information but also the content itself. These changes in technology have a profound impact on how media producers tell their tales and how viewers experience them. Viewing patterns have been significantly altered by the move to mobile and digital devices. Nearly 4 billion people worldwide will frequently use smartphones to access media material by the end of 2024, according to new Statista research. In several places, such the United Arab Emirates, where more than 90% of people use smartphones on a regular basis to stream movies, get news, or interact with social media, mobile viewing has surpassed traditional TV viewership.

These changes have been hastened by the rise of streaming services, which are fueled by websites like Netflix and Amazon Prime as well as local services like Shahid and Starzplay in the United Arab Emirates. Personalized content experiences are made possible by streaming thanks to sophisticated artificial intelligence-powered recommendation systems. By using viewer preferences to recommend personalized content, these algorithms increase user engagement and happiness. As an illustration of how technology directly affects media consumption choices, Netflix claims that its recommendation engine makes up around 80% of user picks.

Developments in media technologies have an impact on content production as well. Short-form, user-generated content has replaced long-form, professionally produced video content thanks to new platforms like Instagram Reels and Snapchat. These platforms enable millions of consumers globally to become producers by utilizing basic editing tools, filters, and augmented reality (AR) effects.. TikTok's user base grew by approximately 50% in the UAE between 2022 and 2024, reflecting the rapid shift toward short-form content.

Sunday, 27 July 2025 No Comments

UAE warns against AI apps: Protect biometric data from exploitation

Users' biometric information may be compromised by artificial intelligence programs that turn personal photos into cartoon-like characters or digital avatars, according to a warning from the Abu Dhabi Department of Government Enablement.

The department emphasized the hidden dangers of submitting private facial photos to AI-powered platforms in a public awareness film that was uploaded to its official X account. The video cautioned that once this biometric information is obtained, it may be used to fabricate accounts, commit fraud, or even produce deepfake films. "With a single shot, AI can learn every facial detail," the video said.With the growing popularity of AI-powered applications that transform personal photos into cartoon characters or digital avatars, many users are unknowingly exposing sensitive biometric data.

Uploading such images may seem harmless, but it can pose serious privacy and security… pic.twitter.com/PQQKmhlm30

— دائرة التمكين الحكومي (@dgeabudhabi) July 20, 2025

The department stressed that when users submit photos to AI editing tools, they are inadvertently sharing their unique biometric identity, making themselves vulnerable to misuse.

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Saudi Arabia publishes new law on foreign property ownership

The full text of a comprehensive new legislation governing non-Saudi real estate ownership has been released by Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Gazette reports, signaling a dramatic change in the Kingdom's property laws.The law was formally published in the Umm Al-Qura Gazette on Friday after being approved by the Cabinet earlier this month. It will take effect 180 days after it is published.

The new law gives non-Saudis, including private citizens, businesses, and nonprofit organizations, the ability to purchase or acquire real estate in areas that will be determined by the Cabinet.According to Saudi Gazette, these rights include ownership, usufruct (the right to use and benefit from property), leaseholds, and other real estate interests. However, ownership will remain subject to various restrictions based on location, property type, and intended usage.

Restrictions on Makkah and Madinah remain

Council to define ownership zones and limits

Rules for foreign residents and corporate entities

Diplomatic and international entities covered

Mandatory registration

Violations and penalties

New framework replaces 2000 legislation

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United Arab Emirates Golden Visa

In a recent update on its official website, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) listed eight essential processes for obtaining a 10-year UAE Golden Visa intended especially for real estate investors. Long-term residency is provided by the visa without requiring a local sponsor. The Emirates ID and Golden Visa are issued at the conclusion of the process, which starts with nomination and proceeds via a medical examination, health insurance, and status modifications.

The applicant must be the only owner of the property and it must be worth at least Dh2 million. Only a local bank that has been authorized by the appropriate authority may mortgage it. Off-plan properties worth a minimum of Dh2 million are also eligible, provided they are purchased from approved UAE-based developers, with payment completion evidence.

Steps to obtain the Golden Visa

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process outlined by ICP:

. Eligibility check

Applicants must first submit their information for initial nomination to determine their eligibility.

. Starting the journey

Once eligibility is confirmed, applicants begin the visa journey. ICP provides updates at each stage, ensuring a streamlined process.

. Visa issuance

Applicants are notified once the visa is approved, enabling them to proceed to the next steps.

. Conditional – cancellation of existing residency

If the applicant currently holds a UAE residency visa, it must be cancelled after initial approval to proceed with the Golden Visa.

. Status adjustment

ICP will update the applicant’s visa status automatically unless fines are pending. A payment link is sent if fines exist. Once settled, the applicant receives a stamped visa copy for the medical test.

. Medical examination and health insurance

Applicants aged 18 and above must undergo a medical fitness test and obtain a two-year health insurance plan.

If completed through Ministry of Health-approved centres and registered insurers like Daman, ICP will automatically process the Emirates ID and residency issuance. Otherwise, documents must be uploaded manually.

. Conditional – biometric enrolment

If required, applicants will be prompted to schedule fingerprinting at a designated ICP centre via a provided link.

. Emirates ID delivery

Once all steps are completed, the Emirates ID is delivered to the registered address.

The UAE Golden Visa grants long-term residency to selected categories of foreigners, allowing them to live, work, invest, and study in the UAE without a sponsor. Eligible categories include:

Investors

Entrepreneurs

Exceptional talent

Scientists and professionals

Outstanding students and graduates

Humanitarian pioneers

Frontline heroes

Key benefits of the Golden Visa

Introduced to attract and retain global talent and investors, the Golden Visa offers several advantages:

Multiple-entry visa valid for 6 months to complete the residency process

Renewable 5- or 10-year residence visa

No restriction on time spent outside the UAE

No requirement for a local sponsor

Eligibility to sponsor spouse and children

No limit on the number of domestic workers

Family members can remain in the UAE after the primary visa holder’s death, for the duration of their valid residency

Contact information

For queries or assistance, contact:

Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)

UAE Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence

For Dubai-issued visas, reach out to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA)

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Dubai Police first female brigadier

Colonel Samira Abdullah Al Ali

Police has achieved history with the elevation of Colonel Samira Abdullah Al Ali to the rank of brigadier—the first woman ever to accomplish this milestone since the force was created in 1956.The elevation, announced as part of a wider round of appointments, was issued under the command of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. This award is a proud occasion for every woman in Dubai Police,” said Brigadier Al Ali, dedicating the achievement to the country’s leadership and their unwavering support for women in uniform. With over 31 years of service, Brigadier Al Ali today heads the Insurance Department at Dubai Police—a unit she helped create from start into a benchmark for police agencies across the region.

She is also the first woman to lead an all-male team in the General Department of Transport and Rescue. Brigadier Al Ali began her career in 1994, joining Dubai Police after getting a degree in insurance from UAE University. She first worked in a modest office with just two staff members but eventually transformed the unit into a full-fledged department.

She also became the first woman to serve in the General Department of Transport and Rescue, leading what had been an all-male team.

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Content seems to next big thing for Generative AI

A significant turning point in the relationship between technology and journalism has been reached with Microsoft's OpenAI's recent partnerships with publications like the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal. It is the most recent in a string of deals that OpenAi has made with major news organizations and heritage publishers, such as Prisa Media, Axel Springer, Le Monde, and the Associated Press.

The FT makes it possible for OpenAI to develop Generative AI technology that can produce language that is indistinguishable from human works by licensing its archived content to the company. Millions of people worldwide now have easier access to high-quality news thanks to this collaboration, which also improves the capabilities of AI-driven platforms like ChatGPT.

These partnerships signify a broader shift towards recognising the symbiotic relationship between Big Tech and traditional media, and underscore a strategic move towards securing access to high-quality content repositories.

Founts for credible info

It is becoming more and more clear that Silicon Valley titans rely on traditional media sites for reliable material as they further explore AI and machine learning. This development demonstrates how crucial conventional media is in supplying AI algorithms' ravenous desire for verified knowledge, which in turn shapes the direction of information distribution and AI-powered technology in the future.

The FT's collaboration with OpenAI is a microcosm of the broader pattern of internet firms collaborating with and investing in conventional media assets. Beyond the advancement of AI, tech companies are becoming more aware of the strategic importance of well-known media sites in their content ecosystems.

There are numerous examples, such as Google's News Showcase program, Meta's investments in news efforts, and Apple's acquisition of Texture. These moves reflect a concerted effort by tech companies to diversify content offerings and support quality journalism in an era dominated by digital disruption.

Such partnerships manifest a growing recognition within the tech industry of the importance of transparency, attribution, and compensation to content creators. As AI platforms leverage copyrighted material for training purposes, establishing mutually beneficial agreements with publishers becomes imperative. These partnerships not only ensure fair compensation for content creators but also uphold ethical standards in AI development.

Friday, 25 July 2025 No Comments

AI, Some employees and entities must now declare it

It is now mandatory for all Dubai government entities or those working with the Dubai government to declare the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted content by using the Human-Machine Collaboration Icon Classification System that was launched on Wednesday.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation approved the launch of the global classification system that defines the role of humans and machines in the research, production, and publication of creative, scientific, academic, and intellectual content.

According to the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) that developed the HMC classification system, it is mandatory for all Dubai Government entities or those working with the Dubai Government. The icons in the first such global system are “opt-in and voluntary,” for others.

They [the icons] are meant to encourage honest self-assessment and transparency,” the Foundation said.

Anyone involved in creating content, including researchers, writers, designers, or consultants, can choose to use them,” said DFF.

What are HMC Icons?

The Human-Machine Collaboration (HMC) Icons are the world’s first standardised visual icons to disclose the level of human versus machine involvement in creating content and research.

‘Machine’ refers to digital technologies such as algorithms, automation tools, generative AI and robots and any system that contributes to the research or content production process.

Monday, 21 July 2025 No Comments

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