Dubai Duty Free has once again been named the Best Duty Free Shopping in the Middle East, clinching the title for the 24th consecutive year at the Business Traveller Middle East (BTME) Awards 2025.

The prestigious award was presented during a ceremony held at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City on April 28, coinciding with the opening of the Arabian Travel Market. The annual BTME Awards, launched in 2002 and organised by Motivate Media Group and Ink, celebrate excellence across 40 categories in the airline, airport, and hospitality industries.

Dubai Duty Free earned the top spot based on results from an online readers’ survey conducted by Business Traveller magazine between February 4 and March 7. It faced strong competition from airport retailers in Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Abu Dhabi.

Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, expressed his gratitude for the continued recognition: “We are truly honoured to be recognised as the ‘Best Duty Free Shopping in the Middle East’ for a record 24 consecutive years. Our thanks to everyone who voted for us, it’s incredible to have received this award every single year since its inception.”

The award was presented to Cidambi and Sinead El Sibai, Senior Vice President – Marketing, by Anthony Milne, Chief Commercial Officer of Motivate Media Group, in front of more than 300 guests from across the travel and tourism industry.

Dubai Duty Free continues to be one of the world’s leading airport retailers, serving millions of travellers annually at Dubai International Airport.

(Source: DMO)

The Philippines Department of Transportation (DOTr) has issued a strong warning to airlines following reports that some passengers were barred from boarding due to minor damage in their passports, an issue now dubbed “punit passport” cases.

DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon said on Monday that airlines and their personnel will face sanctions if found tampering with or mishandling a traveller’s passport.

“If anyone does this kind of nonsense, damaging or tearing a passport, there will be sanctions,” Dizon said.

The warning follows a widely publicised incident involving budget carrier Cebu Pacific. A Filipino passenger travelling to Bali, Indonesia, was reportedly denied boarding after airline staff flagged slight passport damage. Cebu Pacific said it was following protocol and had consulted Indonesian immigration authorities, who confirmed that the passenger may have been denied entry upon arrival.

The traveller has since filed a formal complaint with the Civil Aeronautics Board.

The DOTr reminded travellers to check their passports regularly for damage and validity. If in doubt, passengers are advised to consult passport authorities or seek guidance at the airport prior to check-in.

The department reaffirmed that tampering with a passport is a serious offence and that it expects airline personnel to treat travel documents with care and professionalism.

(Source: CDN)

Users holding on to older smartphones will soon have to say goodbye to WhatsApp. Starting May 5, 2025, the messaging app will stop working on several outdated devices due to updated operating system requirements, Meta has confirmed.

The move is part of WhatsApp’s regular security and performance updates to keep the platform functional with newer mobile technology. While the number of users impacted may be relatively small, those still using a smartphone released over a decade ago could be affected.

Which iPhones Are Losing WhatsApp Support?

iPhones that do not support iOS 15.1 or higher will no longer run WhatsApp. This includes:

• iPhone 5s
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus

Although some iPhones can update to newer iOS versions, the above models are capped at iOS 12.5.7 and therefore will lose compatibility.

WhatsApp Dropped Support for These Android Phones in January 2025

WhatsApp previously ended support for Android KitKat (version 4.4) and earlier on January 1, 2025. Users with the following older Android phones can no longer use WhatsApp unless they upgrade to a newer device:

Samsung:

• Galaxy S3
• Galaxy Note 2
• Galaxy Ace 3
• Galaxy S4 Mini

Motorola:

• Moto G (1st Gen)
• Razr HD
• Moto E (2014)

HTC:

• One X
• One X+
• Desire 500
• Desire 601

LG:

• Optimus G
• Nexus 4
• G2 Mini
• L90

Sony:

• Xperia Z
• Xperia SP
• Xperia T
• Xperia V

How to Check Your Phone’s OS Version

iPhone users:
Go to Settings > General > About and check your iOS version.

Android users:
Go to Settings > About Phone > Android Version.

If your device runs on an unsupported version but is eligible for an update, installing the latest software may restore compatibility. However, some phones no longer receive official updates, and attempting unofficial methods could void warranties or render the device unusable.

What You Can Do

If your device is on the list and no longer updatable, you’ll need to switch to a newer model to continue using WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business. Meta recommends regularly updating both your device and the app to maintain security and performance.