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Oman opens up with Israel and Vatican in wave of reforms

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Oman is opening up its borders and minds for some welcome change, given the developments since yesterday. Thursday proved to be a red-letter day for the EMEA region on two fronts with Oman announcing some changes to the hitherto conventions.

The Vatican and Oman have established diplomatic relations, a joint statement said, three months after a visit by Pope Francis to the Gulf.

Earlier in the day, the nation’s flying restrictions for Israel airlines were removed to free up the air corridor for the latter’s smooth passage to the east.

While Israel has thanked Oman for taking the flight to freedom, the Sultanate has initiated the discourse with the church for its largely expatriate population.

There are currently 12 Catholic priests working in four parishes in Oman and the local population includes a “significant number of foreign workers,” the joint statement said.

Oman’s parishes are part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, which is based in Abu Dhabi. Most of the country’s Catholics are foreign workers from elsewhere in the Middle East and the Philippines, India and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Oman’s civil aviation authority said the Sultanate’s airspace will be open for all carriers that meet the authority’s requirements for overflying – effectively ending the ban on El Al, Israir and Arkia, Israel’s three airlines. The move could cut Israeli carriers’ flight times to Asia by up to three hours.

El Al shared a graphic on social media to give an idea on the flight route pre- and post-restrictions over the airspace above Oman.

When the airline was banned from Saudi airspace, El Al flights from Tel Aviv to Mumbai took seven hours 45 minutes. That flight time was then slashed to five hours 15 minutes, before the route was put on hold. As the announcement was made, El Al swiftly posted a map of their old and new routes to Southeast Asia on Instagram.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a day of great news for Israeli aviation” in a statement yesterday.

He added: “The Far East is not so far away and the skies are no longer the limit. We have worked to open the airspace, first over Saudi Arabia, and from 2018 when I visited Oman, to add Oman as well, so that we can fly directly to India and on to Australia. This was achieved today, after considerable effort, including in recent months. Here is good news – Israel is opening up to the east on an unprecedented scale.”

Appreciation for the gesture has started coming in from all parts of the world, including the United States. Earlier this month, El Al announced it is starting a frequent-flier partnership with UAE carrier Etihad Airways. The two had started code-sharing on flights in 2021.

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Mosaic opens in Dubai, promising smarter marketing decisions for UAE businesses

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Mosaic, an integrated marketing agency, was officially launched in Dubai recently promising a new, more intentional approach to business growth for companies in the UAE. Led by Agency Director Shubhang Bhattacharya and Head of Digital Prasanna Venkat, Mosaic aims to buck a common market trend: businesses that start strong but struggle to scale.

Bhattacharya and Venkat have spent the last decade in the business setup space in Dubai, launching campaigns that helped countless businesses start. This experience has given them a clear vision for Mosaic. 

“So many businesses, no matter how long they’ve been around, try to handle marketing on their own and miss out on huge opportunities,” says Bhattacharya. “Making the right decisions at the right time is a make-or-break moment for any business. We give businesses the expertise to make marketing a cornerstone of their success, not just an afterthought.”

Mosaic’s philosophy centres on making “better decisions” rather than simply chasing bigger budgets. “We’ve seen too many businesses struggle with direction,” adds Venkat. “At Mosaic, our starting point is always the same: what actually creates value for the client, and how do we get there without overcomplicating it?”

Mosaic isn’t waiting around to make an impact. Since its soft launch in February 2025, the agency has already delivered serious results. That includes the “Employee to Entrepreneur” campaign, which pulled in over 23 million impressions, and the launch of the UAE’s first-ever mobile business setup initiative, the “Startup Wagon.” The team also proved its ability to tap into the culture with a simple, silly reel on the Coldplay concert trend that went on to get over 14 million views on Instagram.

The name “Mosaic” is a core tenet of the agency’s operational philosophy. It represents how the team works: bringing distinct, diverse perspectives together to create a result that is greater than the sum of its parts. 

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Early warning: UAE scientists develop AI model that could protect your phone, TV signal and GPS

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Imagine a solar storm so powerful it could disrupt our GPS, knock out satellite signals, and even cause blackouts. While this may sound like science fiction, it’s a very real threat. But now, thanks to scientists in the UAE, we have a powerful new line of defence.

Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have developed a revolutionary AI model that can forecast solar wind speeds up to four days in advance. This groundbreaking system is a significant leap for space science, proving to be 45 per cent more accurate than existing methods.

So, how does it work? Instead of analysing complex data, this AI “reads” high-quality images of the sun captured by NASA satellites. By spotting subtle patterns in these images, it can predict when solar activity will increase, giving us a crucial head start.

This early warning system is vital for protecting the technology we rely on every day. It helps safeguard everything from our satellite TV and phone signals to global navigation systems and power grids.

The development of this technology highlights the UAE’s growing role as a leader in scientific innovation, showing that the next big breakthrough in space and technology might just come from right here in Abu Dhabi.

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Indian expats in UAE, your UPI app just got a major upgrade, no need of separate phone for digital payments

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Big news for the millions of Indians in the UAE: Your UPI app just became a financial powerhouse. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) supercharged daily transaction limits for high-value payments, effective September 15. This is a game-changer for managing your money, from investments to big purchases.

What’s New? The Limits Have Been Boosted

  • Capital Markets & Insurance: You can now make single payments up to Rs5 lakh, with a new daily limit of Rs10 lakh (Rs1 lakh=Dh 4,170).
  • Credit Card Bills: Pay off a single bill up to Rs500,000, with a daily cap of Rs6 lakh.
  • Travel & Loan Repayments: A new daily ceiling of Rs10 lakh makes paying for flights, holidays, and EMIs faster than ever.
  • Jewellery Purchases: A single transaction can now be up to Rs2 lakh, with a Rs6 lakh daily limit.
  • Hospital & Education Fees: The daily cap remains a high Rs1 million, with a per-transaction limit of Rs5 lakh.

Why This Matters for You in the UAE

This update means you can now handle serious financial transactions with the speed and convenience of UPI, without the hassle of cheques or slower bank transfers. Sending money home for investments, paying large insurance premiums, or settling EMIs has never been easier.

A Record-Breaking Era for UPI

These changes come as UPI continues to break records. In August 2025 alone, it processed a staggering 20 billion transactions, a 34% increase year-on-year, with a total value of Rs24.85 trillion. It’s the go-to payment method for millions, and now it’s even more powerful.

Important Security Update

To combat fraud, NPCI is discontinuing the “P2P collect request” feature from October 1. This is a proactive step to protect users from scams, ensuring that only verified merchants can request payments. Your personal transfers (P2P) will remain secure with the existing daily cap of Rs100,000.

The Bottom Line: UPI is no longer just for small, day-to-day payments. It’s a must-have tool for serious financial management, giving you more control and security over your money from the UAE.

No Indian mobile number required 

NRIs in the UAE can now access UPI using their UAE mobile numbers.

Instant, hassle-free payments 

Transfers can be made 24/7 by scanning a QR code or entering a UPI ID/phone number, without needing bank details.

Eligibility

 Users must hold an NRE (Non-Resident External) or NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) account with a participating bank in India.

Registration requirement 

The international number must be linked to the account, with KYC completed.

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