Saudi Arabia has introduced a major new visa update, the UAE has confirmed public holidays and the Qatar World Cup came to an end.
It has been another busy week in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia clarified rules on citizens inviting visitors to the Kingdom on personal visit visas and banned the wearing of abayas in examination halls.
In the week that saw Argentina win the World Cup there has been plenty of off-the-pitch football fallout. From Lionel Messi’s bisht and Salt Bae facing a backlash for his antics to Cristiano Ronaldo moving closer to a Saudi Arabia move the sporting news continued.
Meanwhile the UAE issued a tax warning to residents and revealed holiday dates for 2023.
Check out the Arabian Business pick of the 10 biggest stories of the week.
Major Saudi visit visa update
As part of its Vision 2030 and plans to increase the number of foreign visitors, Saudi Arabia’s citizens can invite visitors on a personal visa.
Saudi citizens can submit a request for a personal visit on the official visa platform and apply for a visit request by logging in through the eVisa platform and filling out the data for the invitees.
Saudi Arabia bans abaya in exam halls
Female students will no longer be allowed to wear the abaya in exam halls, the Saudi Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) announced.
ETEC, which is responsible for accrediting educational and training systems, along with the Ministry of Education, said that female students must wear school uniforms inside exam halls, which adhere to the kingdom’s public decency regulations.
Women wear an abaya or cloak in parts of the Muslim world including North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and most of the Middle East. In 2018, Saudi Arabia also announced that the abaya would no longer be legally enforced.
Salt Bae breaks FIFA rules: Touches, poses, bites World Cup trophy
What the French defence could not do in 120 minutes of the final at Doha’s Lusail Stadium, Salt Bae managed to do in seconds – he stole the limelight from Lionel Messi and his Argentinian teammates.
Gokce reportedly made his way onto the pitch and held the World Cup trophy alongside a few Argentina players. He reportedly also bit into one of the winner’s medals.
Saudi Arabia announces new passport rules
Saudi Arabia has announced the new phase of issuing e-passport in the country, with the opening up of an online passport facility to citizens aged 21 and above.
The new category of eligible applicants can now use Absher – the ministry of interior’s online platform – for renewing their passports.
Applicants can update their electronic passports through their accounts on the platform and visit their respective local passport offices without an appointment to have the old passport examined.
UAE Golden Visa drives Dubai to top spot in global citizenship ranking: Report
Dubai has retained itself as the leading hub for residence and citizenship by investment (RCBI) for the second year, as over 150,000 Golden Visas have been issued, according to a report by Swiss boutique firm Passport Legacy.
The UAE leads the world with 35 international RCBI specialists in 2022, climbing up from 30 in the previous year, the report said, adding that the nation will be able to “sustain its growth with the the minimum investment required recently having been reduced and access being opened up to talented individuals across multiple industries”.
The UAE Golden Visa, is surging in popularity with over 150,000 people now having secured it. This has helped the country maintain its grip as the top hub for RCBI, the report said.
Lionel Messi’s bisht cost only $2,000, Qatar-based tailor says
Following Argentina’s win at the FIFA World Cup Qatar final, team captain Lionel Messi was wrapped in a traditional ceremonial robe, called a bisht which cost just $2,000 to make, the robe’s maker said.
The robe, valued at QAR 8,000, was made by Qatar-based tailor Muhammad Abdullah Al-Salem. Made with the Japanese najafi fabric, the bisht was hand-embroidered and goes through seven different stages until it is fully delivered.
UAE begins passport-free travel trials
The UAE has started trials of biometric technology at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Undertaken by Abu Dhabi-based technology company NEXT50 the project sees cutting-edge AI solutions speed up airport check-ins and remove the need for passports and manual check-ins.
Next-generation biometric solutions are being tested at select self-service baggage touchpoints, immigration e-gates, and boarding gates before the technology is implemented across all passenger touchpoints in the airport.
Cristiano Ronaldo joins Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr football club: Reports
Portuguese football icon Cristiano Ronaldo will play for the Saudi club Al Nassr from January 1, 2023, the Saudi Gazette reported citing news from Spanish media.
The 37-year-old striker, who ended his relationship with Manchester United a few days ahead of the Qatar World Cup, will agree to a $217 million yearly contract.
UAE issues tax warning, tells violators to complete process or pay higher fees
The FTA has set a deadline for the same, and said that eligible taxpayers must complete all related procedures through the EmaraTax platform, before December 31.
The move is part of the cabinet’s decision to support registrants in the tax system to “fulfil their obligations, providing a great opportunity to assist businesses in re-determining administrative penalties to be equal to 30 percent of total unpaid fines.”
UAE public holiday 2023: Over two weeks of holiday announced
The UAE Cabinet released in November, the approved holiday dates for public and private sectors in 2023.
Eid-al-Fitr 2023 will see a four-day weekend in the UAE, as the nation marks the beginning of the Islamic month Shawwal.
Follow us on
