Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that it will implement Variable Road Toll Pricing (Salik) and Variable Parking Tariff Policies, including event-specific parking tariffs, as part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance traffic flow in the city.

The Variable Road Toll Pricing (Salik) system, set to launch at the end of January 2025, will offer motorists toll-free passage between 1am and 6am. During weekdays, the toll will be Dh6 during morning peak hours (6am to 10am) and evening peak hours (4pm to 8pm). For off-peak hours, between 10am and 4pm, and from 8pm to 1am, the toll will be Dh4. On Sundays, excluding public holidays, special occasions, or major events, the toll will be Dh4 throughout the day and free from 1am to 6am.

The Variable Parking Tariff Policy, scheduled for implementation by the end of March 2025, sets parking fees at Dh6 per hour for premium parking spaces and Dh4 per hour for other public paid parking spaces during morning peak hours (8am to 10am) and evening peak hours (4pm to 8pm). The tariffs will remain unchanged during off-peak hours, from 10am to 4pm, and from 8 pm to 10pm. Parking will be free at night, from 10pm to 8am, and all day on Sundays.

Congestion pricing policy :
The Congestion Pricing Policy for event areas introduces a fee of Dh25 per hour for public paid parking spaces near event zones. This policy will be rolled out initially around the Dubai World Trade Centre during major events, starting in February 2025.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, announced the launch of ten new destinations starting in 2025.

The new destinations are Algiers, Atlanta, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Krabi, Medan, Phnom Penh, Taipei and Tunis. They will complement Etihad’s previously revealed new destinations for 2025: Prague, Warsaw, and Al Alamein.

Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Launching ten new destinations in a single day underscores our unwavering commitment to growing our airline with a fantastic route network and world-class, customer-focused service. This incredible milestone would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of our team and the ongoing support of our guests.”

Etihad’s expansion is set to bring tens of thousands of new visitors directly to Abu Dhabi, boosting its position as a premier destination for leisure, business, and cultural tourism. The move aligns with the UAE capital’s efforts to attract international travellers and reinforces its reputation as a hub of connectivity, innovation, and hospitality.

“The launch of these ten destinations is supported by our impressive hub, Zayed International Airport, which boasts the ‘wow’ factor and ample space to accommodate our rapid growth, further enhancing the exceptional guest experience,” said Neves. “2025 marks a pivotal year for Etihad, with more than 90 destinations in over 50 countries, a fleet of more than 110 aircraft – including our amazing new A321LRs – welcoming over 20 million guests onboard. Most importantly, it will support us in bringing over a million visitors to Abu Dhabi to enjoy our home.”

The IPL 2025 Auction saw several of the Abu Dhabi T10 players bagging lucrative contracts with various IPL franchises, reflecting the significance and impact of the tournament on the global cricket scenario. The fast-paced nature of the T10 competition has helped the players handle and perform well in situations of high pressure, a quality necessary and appreciated for IPL.

From veterans like Jos Buttler and Trent Boult to budding youngsters such as Noor Ahmad and AM Ghazanfar, multiple Abu Dhabi T10 players were able to gain the trust of the IPL franchises. This will further help in increasing the popularity of T10 cricket while also giving a boost to the UAE as a growing hub of the sport.

Here is the complete list of Abu Dhabi T10 players who were signed by IPL franchises:

Jos Buttler (Deccan Gladiators) – Rs. 15.75 crore (AED 7.02 million) – bought by Gujarat Titans
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (UP Nawabs) – Rs. 2 crore (AED 892,000) – bought by Kolkata Knight Riders
Marcus Stoinis (Deccan Gladiators) – Rs. 11 crore (AED 4.91 million) – bought by Punjab Kings
Liam Livingstone (Bangla Tigers) – Rs. 8.75 crore (AED 3.81 million) – bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore
Phil Salt (Team Abu Dhabi) – Rs. 11.5 crore (AED 5.14 million) – bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Trent Boult (Northern Warriors) – Rs. 12.5 crore (AED 5.59 million) – bought by Mumbai Indians
Maheesh Theekshana (Deccan Gladiators) – Rs. 4.4 crore (AED 1.96 million) – bought by Rajasthan Royals
Noor Ahmad (Team Abu Dhabi) – Rs. 10 crore (AED 4.46 million) – bought by Chennai Super Kings
Anrich Nortje (Deccan Gladiators) – Rs. 6.5 crore – (AED 2.9 million)- bought by Kolkata Knight Riders
Faf du Plessis (Morrisville Samp Army) – Rs. 2 crore (AED 892,000) – bought by Delhi Capitals
Sherfane Rutherford (Northern Warriors) – Rs. 2.6 crore (AED 1.16 million) – Bought by Gujarat Titans
Rovman Powell (Delhi Bulls) – Rs. 1.5 crore (AED 669,000) – Bought by Kolkata Knight Riders
AM Ghazanfar (Team Abu Dhabi) – Rs. 4.8 crore (AED 2.14 million) – Bought by Mumbai Indians
Reece Topley (New York Strikers) – Rs. 75 Lakhs (AED 335,000) – Bought by Mumbai Indians
Azmatullah Omarzai (Northern Warriors) – Rs. 2.4 crore (AED 1.04 million) – Bought by Punjab Kings
Fazalhaq Farooqi (Delhi Bulls) – Rs. 2 crore (AED 892,000) – Bought by Rajasthan Royals
Tim David (Delhi Bulls) – Rs. 3 crore (AED 1.34 million) – Bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore
Nuwan Thushara (Chennai Jaguar Braves) – Rs. 1.6 crore (AED 713,000) – Bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore
Donovan Ferreira (New York Strikers) – Rs. 75 Lakh (AED 335,000) – Bought by Delhi Capitals