Author: Arabian Media staff

Kuwait has announced new visa on arrival rules for expat residents living in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. The new visa was announced by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al Yousef Al Sabah. The tourist visit visa is offered to residents of GCC countries and is designed to boost  tourism from neighbouring countries. Kuwait visa on arrival Ministerial Decision No. 1386 of 2025 was published in the official gazette Kuwait Al Youm and is effective immediately. Further details were shared of the major new visa offering: Applicants must have a valid residence…

PRYPCO Mortgage has completed one of the largest single-ticket retail mortgages ever recorded in Dubai — valued at AED94.5m ($25.7m). The record-breaking deal ranks among the top three mortgage transactions in Dubai over the past five years, underlining investor confidence and the rising scale of property financing in the UAE. Since its inception, PRYPCO Mortgage has facilitated a total of AED9.67bn ($2.6bn) in transactions up to June 2025, cementing its reputation as one of the fastest-growing mortgage platforms in the region. PRYPCO Mortgage in Dubai Amira Sajwani, Founder and CEO of PRYPCO, said: “This transaction reflects the trust investors are…

Dubai’s real estate sector continued its strong momentum in the first half of 2025, with 4,049 new activities recorded — a clear sign of the emirate’s growing status as a global property investment hub. According to the Dubai Land Department (DLD), the surge reflects both rising investor appetite and the wide scope of opportunities available for brokers, developers, and service providers. The growth is underpinned by Dubai’s advanced regulatory framework, which ensures transparency and smooth operations across the property market. Dubai real estate activity Central to this is the ‘Trakheesi System’, the official platform for registering and activating core real…

Dubai real estate investors are looking for off-plan properties, high rental yields, and long-term lifestyle investments, according to analysis by brokerage and development firm Asico. Asico has identified key trends shaping GCC buyer preferences for the second half of 2025 based on detailed market analysis and direct client feedback. Wail Abualhamail, Director of Real Estate at Asico, said: “We’ve seen a significant increase in enquiries from GCC clients, especially those seeking a blend of capital appreciation and lifestyle value. Our clients are not just looking for property, they’re making long-term decisions tied to family life, income generation, and future stability…

Image: Abu Dhabi Media Office/ WAM The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (SZGM) in Abu Dhabi has moved up two places (from its 2024 ranking) to rank 8th among 25 key global landmarks in TripAdvisor’s 2025 Top Attractions category in its global report. The mosque also retained its position as the number one attraction in the Middle East in this category, topping a list of the region’s 10 most iconic sites. The ranking, based on reviews of more than eight million landmarks worldwide, places the mosque in the top one per cent globally. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah also…

Image: Supplied In today’s volatile, complex, and ambiguous world, traditional leadership models have been fundamentally reshaped by forces that few could have anticipated. The rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence, shifts in workforce expectations, global economic uncertainty, and pressing environmental concerns have combined to create a demand for a new kind of leadership. Organisations that want to scale efficiently can no longer rely on the comfort of consistency; success now depends on disruption and innovation, not only in products and services, but also in how an organisation is led. Innovation as a leadership imperative When we think about business innovation, it…

Saudi Arabia arrested more than 22,000 people in the past week as it looks to stop residency, labour and security breaches. The inspection campaigns carried out between July 31 and August 6 in all regions of the Kingdom, to check compliance with residency, work and border security regulations, saw 22,072 violations recorded, including: 13,833 of residency 4,624 of border security 3,615 of labour laws Saudi residency, labour and security arrests 1,640 individuals were apprehended attempting to cross the border into the Kingdom illegally, of whom 35 per cent were Yemenis and 64 per cent Ethiopians. 48 people were arrested for…

The UAE and Russia have signed a Trade in Services and Investment Agreement (TISIA), marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral economic ties and expanding foreign direct investment (FDI) flows between the two nations. The signing took place in Moscow during the visit of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ways of deepening cooperation across areas of mutual interest. The agreement was signed by Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, and Maxim Reshetnikov, Russian Minister of Economic Development. UAE-Russia trade While the…

Mandarin Oriental is expanding its footprint in Dubai with the launch of its second property, Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai, set to open in October 2025. Located within Wasl Tower, a striking new addition to the Sheikh Zayed Road skyline, the hotel will feature 259 rooms and suites and 224 private residences. A rooftop helipad will provide seamless VIP arrivals. The tower itself is set to become a design landmark, boasting the region’s tallest ceramic façade and a distinctive twisting form. Mandarin Oriental Downtown, Dubai Its innovative architectural fins are engineered to optimise airflow for natural cooling, and advanced energy-efficient technologies…

Kleindienst Group, developer of The Heart of Europe megaproject on Dubai’s World Islands, aims to have all remaining hotels under construction by the end of 2025, founder and chairman Josef Kleindienst told Arabian Business in an exclusive interview. The $6 billion tourism and hospitality development spans six man-made islands and will feature 20 hotels with more than 5,000 keys, along with themed resorts, floating villas, climate-controlled streets, underwater experiences and coral regeneration zones. The Heart of Europe is the first major development to gain traction on the World Islands following years of inactivity after the 2008 financial crisis. Fifteen hotels…