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One visa, 6 countries: UAE confirms game-changing Schengen style GCC tourist pass

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Pack your bags, jet-setters. The Gulf is about to become your next ultimate multi-stop getaway, no extra paperwork needed.  A UAE minister has officially confirmed that a Schengen-style unified tourist visa for all six GCC countries is finally happening.

“The single GCC visa has been approved and should be rolled out soon,” revealed UAE’s Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri at a press event.

That means with one visa, you’ll be able to hop between Dubai’s skyscrapers, Oman’s mountains, Qatar’s museums, Bahrain’s beaches, Saudi Arabia’s mega projects, and Kuwait’s culture scene, all in a single trip.

Say Hello to the GCC Grand Tours Visa!

Nicknamed the “GCC Grand Tours Visa”, the new system is being compared to Europe’s Schengen visa, and yes, it’s that big of a deal.

Forget applying separately for each country. This new visa will give you free rein across the Gulf, making travel cheaper, faster, and way more fun.

Work Hard, Play Harder

Experts say the visa could spark a leisure boom, where business travellers stay longer to explore the region. Think quick meetings in Riyadh, followed by a weekend in Dubai or Muscat.

Plus, it’s expected to supercharge:

  • Tourism across all six countries
  • Job creation in hotels and travel
  • Billions in tourism spending
  • New resorts and attractions on the way!

Gulf Tourism Is Already on Fire

The Gulf isn’t just bouncing back from the pandemic — it’s booming:

  • 68.1 million visitors in 2023
  • $110.4 billion in tourism revenue
  • 42.8% increase in arrivals vs pre-Covid

In the UAE, tourism supported 833,000 jobs in 2022, and this number is expected to reach 1 million by 2030.

Dubai’s Still the Star of the Show

Dubai is leading the regional tourism charge with 7.15 million visitors in just the first four months of 2025, up 7% from last year. And once the unified visa kicks in, expect those numbers to skyrocket.

When Can You Use the Visa?

While there’s no official launch date yet, the visa has cleared its biggest hurdle, government approval. It’s now in the hands of the Ministry of Interior and key stakeholders.

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

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Paid parking around mosques in Dubai begins in August 

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Worshippers in Dubai will soon see a new parking system rolled out around 59 mosques across the city, and while the move introduces 24-hour paid parking, there’s good news too: It remains free during prayer times.

Starting in August, Parkin Company, Dubai’s largest public parking provider, will manage around 2,100 parking spaces in partnership with the Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department (IACAD). The spaces, located around mosques, will be free to use for one hour during each prayer, helping ensure convenient access for worshippers.

Outside of those times, however, the same parking spots will operate as regular paid zones – either Zone M (standard) or Zone MP (premium), and will be chargeable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • Zone M (Standard): Dh2 for 30 minutes, Dh4 for an hour.
  • Zone MP (Premium):
    • Off-peak: Dh2 (30 min), Dh4 (1 hour)
    • Peak: Dh3 (30 min), Dh6 (1 hour)

Of the 59 mosques involved, 41 will be in Zone M, while 18 fall under the premium MP category.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how this collaboration improves the worshipper experience,” said Eng. Mohamed Abdulla Al Ali, CEO of Parkin.

For now, this initiative is focused on the current 59 mosques, but both Parkin and IACAD say there’s potential to expand the programme in future.

Parkin already manages around 209,000 paid parking spaces across Dubai, including developer-owned areas and barrierless systems at malls like City Centre Deira and Mirdif. This partnership adds to their growing footprint and introduces a structured approach to mosque parking that balances convenience with efficiency.

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UAE fuel prices for August announced: Petrol rates hold, diesel sees hike

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Drivers in the UAE can expect mostly unchanged petrol prices in August, while diesel costs have risen.

The UAE’s Fuel Price Committee has announced the official petrol and diesel rates for August, with petrol prices remaining nearly unchanged from July, while diesel prices see a notable increase.

From August 1, fuel prices across the country will be as follows:

  • Super 98: Dh2.69 per litre (down from Dh2.70 in July)
  • Special 95: Dh2.57 per litre (down from Dh2.58)
  • E-Plus 91: Dh2.50 per litre (down from Dh2.51)
  • Diesel: Dh2.78 per litre (up from Dh2.63)

While petrol prices have dipped by just one fils, the 15-fils hike in diesel could impact logistics and goods transport.

Fuel prices in the UAE are revised monthly under global oil market trends. Since the deregulation of fuel prices in 2015, the country has followed a dynamic pricing model aligned with international benchmarks.

Despite slight monthly fluctuations, the UAE continues to offer some of the lowest fuel prices globally, averaging Dh2.58 per litre, helping residents manage daily transportation costs while keeping inflation in check.

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No tuition fees, just talent: New scholarship programme offers 100% tuition fee waiver

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In a major boost for aspiring medical students, especially those facing financial challenges, Aster DM Healthcare has launched a new scholarship programme offering 100% tuition fee waivers for MBBS, BSc Nursing, and BPharm courses. Designed to support 25 deserving students every year, the initiative opens doors to high-quality medical education at no cost, removing a key financial barrier for many talented individuals across India and the UAE

The Dr. Moopen’s Legacy Scholarship & Fellowships Programme, announced by Padma Shri Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder and Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, is the first of its kind from a private medical college in Kerala, and promises to transform access to healthcare education in underserved regions.

“No capable student should have to give up on a dream of becoming a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist because they cannot afford it,” said Dr. Moopen. “This initiative is our commitment to changing that.”

Scholarship Details:

  • 5 MBBS students will be selected based entirely on academic merit, including NEET rankings.
  • 10 BSc Nursing and 10 BPharm students will be chosen based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.
  • The scholarship will cover 100% of tuition fees.
  • Over five years, 125 students are expected to benefit, with a financial commitment exceeding INR 3 crore annually.

Applications open on July 28, 2025, and detailed eligibility guidelines are available at www.dmscholarship.in.

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