Dubai’s flagship airline Emirates will resume its second daily flight between Dubai and Beirut starting on April 1, 2025. This additional service, operated with a Boeing 777-300ER, will increase weekly passenger capacity by over 5,000 seats in both directions, providing customers with greater flexibility and meeting the growing demand.

Emirates flight EK EK957 will depart from Dubai at 07:30 am and arrive in Beirut at 10:35 am. The return flight, EK EK958, will leave Beirut at 12:05 pm and arrive back in Dubai at 4:55 pm.

This extra daily flight offers travelers from Beirut a second option to visit friends and family in Dubai. Additionally, it provides a convenient and seamless layover for those connecting to other Emirates destinations, including Sydney, Melbourne, Montreal, Toronto, New York, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Mauritius, and other key locations across Asia and the Indian Ocean.

For more information, please visit emirates.com.

For more details, visit emirates.com.

Exciting news for households, restaurants, and eateries across the UAE. Onions, a vital ingredient in countless dishes, are set to become more affordable. Thanks to India’s decision to abolish export duties on onions — its most significant export — this essential kitchen staple will soon be more accessible, making it easier for everyone to enjoy their favourite dishes at a lower cost.

The announcement, made yesterday (March 25 )by India’s Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is expected to bring down onion prices across the GCC, including in the UAE, as well as in Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka.

For months, high export duties — peaking at 40% before being reduced to 20% — had kept onion prices inflated. But with this duty now completely removed, experts predict a significant drop in onion prices, making them more affordable for shoppers across the region.

India, known as the world’s onion powerhouse, is the primary supplier to the Gulf states, where the vegetable is a must-have ingredient in countless dishes. Other major exporters include Pakistan, China, and Egypt, but Indian onions have long dominated the market due to their quality and availability.

Good News for Farmers Too!

While UAE consumers will benefit from lower prices, Indian farmers are also celebrating. The removal of export duties will allow them to sell onions at higher prices globally, boosting their income.

This move is part of India’s broader strategy to ease export restrictions on staple food items, which were previously imposed to control domestic inflation. The Indian government is now progressively revising these policies to support both farmers and international trade.

With onion prices expected to drop in UAE supermarkets in the coming weeks, shoppers can look forward to bigger savings on their grocery bills.

(Source: Wam)

Planning a trip to the UK this summer? Get ready to pay more. The UK government is increasing visa fees across multiple categories, starting April 9, 2025. Whether you’re visiting for tourism, medical treatment, study, or business, your visa will now cost extra.

How Much More Will You Pay?

From April 9, visa fees will rise by 10%, with key changes including:

• 6-month Visit Visa – £127 (up from £115)
• 2-year Visit Visa – £475 (up by £43)
• 5-year Visit Visa – £848 (up by £77)
• 10-year Visit Visa – £1,059 (up by £96)

What About Emirati Travellers?

Good news for Emiratis! They can still apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead of a standard visa. However, the ETA fee is also increasing from £10 to £16. This allows multiple visits of up to six months at a time over two years.

Why Is the UK a Hot Destination for UAE Travellers?

Despite the fee hike, the UK remains a top choice for UAE residents, thanks to easy visa appointments, multiple-entry visas, and strong air connectivity with major cities like London, Glasgow, and Birmingham.