Pakistani expatriates in the UAE now have a more convenient and affordable way to travel home, as Air Arabia Abu Dhabi announces the launch of direct flights to Sialkot starting July 17.

The new route will operate between Zayed International Airport and Sialkot International Airport, with flights scheduled every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

In a statement on Wednesday, the airline said the addition “offers passengers direct and affordable travel between Abu Dhabi and Sialkot,” reflecting growing demand from both business travellers and the sizable Pakistani expatriate population residing in the UAE.

Sialkot, located in north-eastern Punjab near the foothills of Kashmir and along the banks of the Chenab River, is a key industrial and commercial hub with long-standing trade ties to the Gulf.

The route marks the latest expansion in Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s growing regional network, as the low-cost carrier seeks to bolster connectivity with South Asia and respond to sustained passenger demand across underserved sectors.

Sharjah has achieved a remarkable milestone in public safety, with 99.7 per cent of residents reporting they feel safe across the emirate, according to the latest 2024 data released by Sharjah Police.

Major General Abdullah Mubarak bin Amer, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, announced the results, highlighting the community’s growing trust and satisfaction with the emirate’s security efforts. Public confidence in Sharjah Police now stands at 97 per cent

, reflecting strong institutional performance and community engagement.

Key findings from the report:

• 99.7% feel safe during the day
• 99.3% feel safe at home at night
• 99.3% feel safe in public areas at night
• 98.6% feel safe walking alone at night
• 98.9% feel safe on the road, whether driving or using public transport
• 96.7% trust their local police station

Major General bin Amer credited the achievement to the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, whose support has been instrumental in enhancing the emirate’s safety and quality of life.

He thanked the Executive and Consultative Councils of Sharjah and praised the Department of Statistics and Community Development for its scientific approach in collecting public safety data.

According to Brigadier General Omar Ahmed Boualzoud, Director-General of Criminal Security and Ports, the impressive safety figures reflect the effectiveness of the Sharjah Police’s advanced preventive strategies, which prioritise public well-being at the heart of all operations.

Officials stressed that this success is not just a result of internal policing efforts but also the active cooperation of the public, which continues to play a vital role in maintaining safety and community harmony in Sharjah.

Emirates’ next-generation Airbus A350 is now operating daily flights between Dubai and Muscat, making the Omani capital one of the first regional cities to welcome the airline’s latest wide-body aircraft.

Originally scheduled to begin on July 1, the launch was brought forward by a week to meet growing summer travel demand. The daily A350 service operates as flight EK866, departing Dubai at 2:15am and arriving in Muscat at 3:30am. The return leg, EK867, departs Muscat at 4:40am and lands in Dubai at 5:55am, timed to offer seamless onward connections to Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

The new Airbus A350 features a three-class configuration with 312 seats: 32 lie-flat Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 layout, 21 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 layout, and 259 Economy seats in a 3-3-3 setup. Passengers across all classes benefit from enhanced comfort features, including higher ceilings, wider aisles, upgraded cabin lighting, ergonomic seating, high-speed Wi-Fi, and Emirates’ award-winning in-flight entertainment system.

The move reinforces Emirates’ long-standing commitment to Oman and expands the A350 network across the region.

In response to increased summer travel, Emirates has also added two more weekly flights on the Dubai, Muscat route, operating on Thursdays and Saturdays. Flight EK862 departs Dubai at 7:55am and arrives in Muscat at 9:05am. The return flight, EK863, departs Muscat at 11:25am and arrives in Dubai at 12:30pm.