Iranian pilgrims did not attend this year’s Haj due to an escalating row between Tehran and Riyadh
Culture & Society
Dubai to employ team of 717 to clean up NYE celebrations
Dubai Municipality says main areas of clean-up will include Burj Khalifa, Business Bay, Downtown and Dubai Water Canal
Muhammad Ali’s daughter visits Qatar exhibition dedicated to late boxer
Jamillah Ali attended the temporary exhibition ‘Muhammad Ali: Tribute to a Legend’
Second day of dense fog disrupts airports, roads in UAE
Dubai Police says 119 road accidents reported early on Wednesday morning
Bahraini activist Rajab freed on bail but immediately re-arrested
Nabeel Rajab, founder of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, faces trial over series of critical tweets
Heavy fog disrupts airport operations in GCC
Fog causes delays at Dubai Airport, Bahrain closes runway, motorists report ‘long tailbacks’
Mid-East employers told to foster loyalty for higher productivity
Research by Bayt.com claims only 11 percent of employees believe loyalty equates to staying at same company for many years
Revealed: Dubai to bring in 2017 with Expo 2020 fireworks display
Fireworks sequence will recreate the design of the global event’s logo, inspired by the 4,000-year-old ring discovered by Sheikh Mohammed
Saudi Arabia launches campaign to collect funds for Syrians displaced by war
More than 11 million Syrians – around half of the population – have been displaced by the fighting, which began in 2011
Dubai Police launches new software to predict future crimes
‘Crime Prediction’ was developed to support the UAE’s Smart Governance initiative
UAE’s Year of Giving will bring ‘spirit of co-operation’, says Dubai Ruler
Sheikh Mohammed publishes New Year address to the nation, says 2017 will usher in positive change
No survivors reported after Russian military jet crashes on way to Syria
Most likely causes seen as technical or pilot error
UAE’s President declares 2017 as the ‘Year of Giving’
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan launches campaign to promote the culture of volunteering and loyalty to the UAE
Berlin market attack suspect killed in shootout in northern Italy
Italy’s interior minister says Anis Amri, who is suspected of driving the truck that smashed through a Berlin market, has been killed
Dubai named the world’s most expensive city to celebrate NYE
Travelex report says average cost per person for New Year celebrations exceeds $600, three times that of Edinburgh
Two arrested for trying to ‘illegally’ enter UAE
Immigrants were hiding in spare tyre compartment of a truck – report
Thousands stuck as Aleppo evacuation deal hits last-minute hitch
Convoy of 60 buses carrying people desperate to leave the last rebel-held enclave of Aleppo is held up in freezing temperatures