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You know how it usually goes: you open social media for a quick check, blink once, and suddenly it’s been 40 minutes. No memory of what you even watched. Just lost time. Now imagine a giant orange cat jumping in and shutting it all down. Meet Cat Gatekeeper, a browser extension that doesn’t ask politely. It blocks your screen the second you’ve scrolled long enough. Created by a Japanese developer, Cat Gatekeeper tracks how much time you spend on specific websites like social media. You decide the limit, and the extension does the rest. Once time is up, a massive...

Abu Dhabi residents are being reminded to keep their balconies and windows tidy — or risk a fine. The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has recently issued a reminder about existing regulations that ban hanging laundry, carpets, or any type of covering on windows or balconies that face public roads. DMT posted on X (formerly Twitter) that this applies to placing drying racks outside windows or on balconies (Clause 12), as well as cleaning or displaying carpets and coverings in those same areas (Clause 15). These actions go against efforts to keep the city clean and well-organised. The fines...

If you’re a regular on Dubai’s Red Line, don’t be surprised when Jebel Ali Metro Station suddenly looks a little different — it’s getting a new name. Starting July 2025, Jebel Ali Metro Station will officially become National Paints Metro Station, following a 10-year naming rights agreement announced by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Located in the heart of the Jebel Ali Free Zone, the station serves one of Dubai’s busiest and fastest-developing industrial districts. The rebranding reflects the RTA’s ongoing partnerships with local companies to rename stations across the network. The transition won’t happen overnight. From July through...

Parking in Dubai Silicon Oasis changes from June 1. Drivers will now find new on-street parking zones near DSO and the University Residence buildings. The new areas use a ticketless parking system with automatic number plate recognition. Parking rates in Dubai Silicon Oasis: AED 4/hour from 12 AM to 4 PM and from 8 PM to 12 AM AED 6/hour from 4 PM to 8 PM There are no cash payment options in the new zones. Payment happens digitally through Salik or SMS. Other changes for drivers in Dubai: a 5% VAT now applies to parking services and Salik from...

If you’ve scored tickets to Ed Sheeran this Saturday, April 26, and you’re heading from Dubai to Abu Dhabi to OFFLIMITS Music Festival, getting there just got a lot easier with Careem. Dubai-based super app has reintroduced its “Concert Rides” service, timed perfectly for fans heading to Etihad Park. This limited-time offering is designed for big events like OFFLIMITS and gives concert-goers a 10-hour round-trip ride from Dubai to Abu Dhabi — complete with a personal driver and a specially curated playlist to set the mood. You can pre-book your ride now through the Careem app and choose between two...

Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s dining scene is no stranger to global recognition, and the latest MENA’s Top 50 Restaurants list proves it. If you're a food lover, you’ll be pleased to know that many of the region’s best dining spots are right here in the UAE. Let’s take a look at the standouts that made the list in 2026. MENA’s Top Restaurants in Dubai for 2026 Dubai is clearly dominating, with seven dining spots mentioned in the top 10: Kinoya (2) Trèsind Studio (3) Orfali bros (4) Surfet Maryam (7) Jun’s (8) Manao (9) Moonrise (10) It’s no surprise that...

The holy month of Ramadan concludes with Eid Al Fitr, one of the most important holidays for Muslims. If you’ve been waiting for clarity on upcoming days off, the Eid Al Fitr holiday dates 2026 have now been officially confirmed for both the public and private sector in the UAE. The UAE Federal Authority for Government Human Resources (FAHR) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) have announced the official schedule. For federal government employees in the UAE, the Eid Al Fitr holiday dates 2026 are: The break will last from Thursday, March 19 to Sunday, March 22...

Oman has officially declared Sunday, June 29, 2025, as a public holiday for both public and private sector employees in observance of the Holy Prophet’s Hijra Anniversary and the beginning of the Hijri year 1447 AH. This decision means a three-day weekend for residents across the Sultanate, aligning their time off with neighbouring countries like the UAE, where the Islamic New Year will be marked slightly earlier  on Friday, June 27. The timing of the holiday is especially notable because Oman’s official work week runs from Sunday to Thursday. With the Islamic New Year falling on a Sunday, employees will...

If you’ve ever gone to one supermarket and wondered if the same items cost less somewhere else, you can now check in advance. A new website lets you compare prices on everyday items at different UAE retailers before shopping: Essential Goods Prices Platform, introduced by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism. You can already find more than 30 essential items, including the basics most people buy every week: Cooking oils Eggs Dairy products Rice and sugar Bread Meat, poultry, and fish Fruits and vegetables Prices are updated daily using data from participating supermarkets. You can check the same items...

If you regularly drive to mosques in Dubai, there’s a new parking update you need to know. Starting August 2025, more than 2,100 parking spaces across 59 mosques in the city will be managed by Parkin Company, under a new agreement with Dubai’s Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department (IACAD). The new setup allows free parking for one hour during prayer time. Outside those hours, however, all these spaces will become paid parking zones, operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The newly managed mosque parking areas will be assigned to either Zone M or Zone MP, each...