UAE visas, weather, real estate and transport have been making headlines this week.
Storms and heavy rain led to school closures, remote working and cancelled flights in locations across the country.
Elsewhere, the Green Residence Visa – aimed at freelancers and the self-employed – was in focus in the United Arab Emirates. Schengen visas had a major update, with the EU announcing new rules to scrap passport stamps and consulate visits for travellers.
Mohamed Alabbar revealed that the redesigned Emaar Creek Tower is unlikely to be the tallest building in Dubai.
Meanwhile, Dubai Airports boss Paul Griffiths said plans are underway to build a giant new airport in the city, there were calls for more affordable property developments and a new ride-hailing service launched.
Check out 10 must-read stories you may have missed this week, as selected by Arabian Business editors.
EU announces major new Schengen visa rules, scraps consulate visits and passport stamps
The EU has announced new rules for Schengen visas and visitors to certain European countries.
New rules will see all applications for visit visas to Schengen area countries take place online, scrap visa stamps and mean travellers do not need to visit consulates before travelling to the region.
It will be a major change for applications from India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar, Philippines, Kuwait, Sri Lanka and almost 100 countries around the world.
New Emaar Creek Tower unlikely to be tallest in Dubai, says Alabbar
“A lot of work is still going on the redesign, I’m not sure it will be the tallest tower in Dubai. We have to always look at our bottom line and deliver value to our customers and our shareholders,” Alabbar said.
The original cable tied tower was designed to be 100m taller than the Burj Khalifa, and the centre piece to the Dubai Creek Harbour development. However, after foundations were laid in 2017, and following the pandemic, work was paused.
UAE Green Residence Visa: How to apply for the freelance, self-employed visa
This innovative visa category, aimed at attracting and retaining skilled workers and professionals from across the globe, aims to boost the flexibility of the job market and create an environment of enhanced stability for residents and their families in the UAE.
The 5-year Green Residence visa can be issued for employees of both the government and private sector provided that they are freelancers, self-employed or skilled employees.
Dubai plans massive new airport
Quoting Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths, the AFP report said DXB will be replaced by a new airport in the 2030s and the next project would be extended into the middle of the century.
The airport executive said that when Dubai International Airport reaches capacity, Al Maktoum International would need to be developed on an even larger scale.
UAE weather: Heavy rains, thunder, lightning hit Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah
Rain battered large parts of the UAE on Friday, leading to cancelled flights, remote working, closed schools and traffic warnings, after heavy storms, thunder, and lightning.
Areas such as Qusais, Al Barsha, Business Bay, and other nearby regions in the Emirates experienced intense showers.
Oman announces national holiday with 4-day weekend for public and private sector
Oman has announced a public holiday to celebrate the sultanate’s 53rd National Day.
In an official announcement on the state-run news agency ONA, it was declared that Wednesday, November 22 and Thursday, November 23 will be a national holiday.
Workers in the public and private sectors will be given a two-day holiday to mark the occasion.
New Dubai ride-hailing service launches, offers limousines and coffee as residents battle traffic
However, this one plans to differentiate itself by offering heightened levels of personalisation including choosing the level of conversation with the driver, pre-ordering coffee, setting the temperature, customisable interior lighting and more.
The demand for rides and public transport as a whole has faced a significant surge in recent times with demand from both residents and tourists.
GCC unified tourist visa: Tourism, economy to see boost across region, expert says
Comparative to the Schengen regional visa scheme, the unified tourist visa system is expected to be implemented between 2024-2025, aligning closely with the GCC 2030 tourism strategy, a plan aimed at amplifying the tourism sector’s contribution to the GDP.
The GCC 2030 tourism strategy is a visionary plan that seeks to harness the untapped potential of the tourism sector in the Gulf region, this strategy is a vital component of the broader economic diversification efforts in GCC member countries.
Saudia and Riyadh Air announce codeshare deal as Saudi Arabia looks to make major impact on aviation
It is a major milestone moment of collaborative strength for the national flag carriers of Saudi Arabia and sign of the emerging aviation ecosystem in KDA.
The MOU is the first major agreement between the two airlines and it is set to lay the foundation for further cooperation in the future.
Dubai real estate: Not everybody is a millionaire, so UAE needs more mid-market property
ZāZEN Properties says real estate developers must place a greater emphasis on mid-market customers.
The city is the 18th most expensive in the world for expats, but the growing population are not all millionaires and need affordable property, says the real estate firm.
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