News

Dubai launches Phase II of bike rental service with 95 additional stations and 950 e-bikes

Published

4 years ago

March 7, 2022

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Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Careem have rolled out Phase II of its bike rental service (bike-share) programme. It has added 950 pedal-assisted e-bikes (bikes operated by pedals and kinetic energy), and 95 stations.

The total number of these bikes in Dubai will double to 1,750 bikes spread across 175 stations. The multi-stage initiative aims to deploy 3,500 bikes at 350 docking stations across Dubai.

The launch of Phase II of the service makes it the first completely pedal-assisted docked bike-share initiative in the world.

The new stations will be introduced at key areas which will include the new cycling track at Jumeirah Beach, Al Safa, Dubai Canal, Dubai Marina, Al Mamzar, Al Satwa, Jumeirah 1, Al Khwaneej, Al Jaffliya, Business Bay, Dubai Internet City, and Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
More stations will come up.

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Careem Bikes has reportedly completed 1,592 million trips as of February 2022, according to Dubai Media Office.
Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said he was happy with the “growing habit of cycling as a sport and using bikes as an alternative and sustainable mean of mobility”.

He pointed out that Dubai is home to cycling tracks that total 527km. It helps support the RTA’s efforts in “boosting the integration of mass transit means by promoting flexible car-free mobility trips, and safely integrating them with daily means of transportation”.
“Thus, it serves the overall objective of reducing the use of private vehicles and switching to the use of other more sustainable means of transportation. The step will support the Dubai Government’s efforts to reduce the consumption of energy and pollution, and provide a healthier and happier environment as well as short-haul services (first- and last-mile) that help public transport riders reach their final destinations,” said Al Tayer.

Bassel Al Nahlaoui, managing director of Mobility, Careem, said the service is being expanded due to the “incredible demand we have seen for micro-mobility transport across the UAE”.
“More and more people are choosing to travel by bike, for work or leisure, and we are incredibly proud that Careem
BIKE is doubling in size to become the first completely pedal-assisted docked bike-share initiative in the world.”

The RTA intends to further extend the total length of cycling tracks in the emirate to 739km by 2026. RTA has set a speed limit of 30kph for tracks dedicated to cyclists. Tracks in urban areas dedicated to cyclists or shared with pedestrians have a speed limit of 20kph

Health

UAE to India travellers face new mandatory health declaration

Published

3 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Michael Gomes

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If you’re travelling from the UAE to India, there’s a new travel requirement you shouldn’t miss.

India has introduced Air Suvidha 2.0, a mandatory online health declaration system for all international arrivals. The form must be completed within 24 hours before your flight and is required before passengers are allowed to board.

The new system was introduced by India’s civil aviation authorities as a precautionary measure in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

What is Air Suvidha 2.0?

Air Suvidha 2.0 is an online self-declaration portal where travellers must provide their recent travel and health information before flying to India.

Passengers will be asked to submit details including:

Their travel history over the past 21 days
Any possible exposure to infectious diseases
Whether they are experiencing any related symptoms

Once the form is submitted, it is automatically shared with the Airport Health Organisation (APHO) under India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Is the form mandatory?

Yes. All international passengers travelling to India are required to complete the Air Suvidha Self Declaration Form before boarding their flight.

Airlines may ask passengers to show proof that the form has been submitted before allowing them to travel.

Do you need a printed copy?

No. After submitting the form, travellers will receive a confirmation by email, which can simply be shown on a mobile phone upon arrival in India. There’s no need to carry a printed copy.

Completing the form in advance also helps speed up the arrival process by reducing paperwork at the airport.

Announcements

Good news for businesses: Sharjah slashes fees and fines

Published

3 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Businesses in Sharjah can now benefit from a range of temporary fee reductions after Sharjah Police unveiled a new package of incentives aimed at easing costs and supporting the emirate’s business community.

The measures, introduced in line with a decision by the Sharjah Executive Council, include 50% discounts on several security-related fees, along with reduced fines and lower training costs for companies.

What discounts are available?

Under the new initiative, eligible businesses will receive:

50% off security permit renewal fees for commercial activities
50% off security system subscription fees
50% reduction on eligible violations and fines
20% off mandatory training programme fees for companies

Sharjah Police said the initiative is designed to support commercial establishments, encourage business sustainability and further strengthen the emirate’s position as an attractive destination for investment.

How long will the discounts last?

The incentives will be available for three months from the date the decision comes into effect.

Businesses seeking more information about the discounts and eligibility can contact the Sharjah Police Call Centre on 901.

India

Waiting for Indian passport services in the UAE? Here’s the latest update

Published

4 hours ago

June 30, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Indian nationals in the UAE will have to wait a little longer for regular passport, visa and attestation services to resume.

The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai have announced that they will continue offering only emergency consular services until July 1, extending the temporary suspension of routine services by an additional day.

In a post on the missions’ official X account, the embassy said emergency requests for passports, visas, attestation and other consular services will continue to be processed during the transition period.

Why the delay?

The extension comes as the Indian missions complete the handover of outsourced passport, visa and attestation services to Alhind Tours and Travel LLC, which is set to begin operations in the UAE from July 1.

Under the transition plan, previous service providers BLS International and SGIVS Global stopped accepting new applications after June 25, while regular appointments were suspended from June 26.

The missions said the extension is due to administrative reasons.

Need urgent assistance?

Applicants with emergency requirements can contact the Indian missions through:

Toll-free: 800 46342 (800 INDIA)
WhatsApp: +971 54 309 0571
Email: pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in

The embassy said details about the resumption of normal services from July 2 onwards will be announced separately and advised applicants to follow its official social media channels for updates.