Discover all the fun things to do

AlUla already has amazing desert landscapes. Soon, it will also have a new place for anyone who loves stars, space, and night views: AlUla Manara, an astronomy and research complex with powerful telescopes, public exhibitions, observation platforms, and a visitor centre. Saudi Arabia is no stranger to futuristic architecture, but AlUla Manara still catches the eye. The design takes inspiration from AlUla’s landscape, with locally sourced sandstone and flowing shapes that blend into the surrounding desert. The name Manara means “lighthouse” in Arabic. The complex will be located between Harrat Uwayrid Reserve and Gharameel. The desert complex looks unlike a...

There’s a new spot in town where your pup can run wild (in a good way), meet new furry friends, and cool off after a proper play session. The JLT dog park is now open in Dubai, and you’ll find it in Cluster V. If you already live in JLT, this is about to become part of your daily routine. If you don’t, it might be worth the trip. As a responsible dog parent, you’ll appreciate how well this place is set up. There’s a secure gated entrance, plenty of open space for proper runs, agility-style obstacles to burn off...

Private sector employees in Oman now have clear rules on how annual performance-based bonuses will be handled, thanks to a new decision from the Ministry of Labour. Effective from January 1 every year, Omani workers with at least six months of service at their current establishment are entitled to a periodic bonus, based on the outcome of their annual performance evaluation. The decision is part of efforts to ensure transparency and fairness in pay structures and is rooted in the country’s updated Labour Law (Royal Decree No. 53/2023). The periodic salary bonus is paid as a percentage of an employee’s...

Planning to head out in Abu Dhabi this week? Before you hit the road, there’s something you should know about upcoming road closures on December 25-29. If you’re driving along King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street, here are all the details you need to know. Closure start on Thursday, December 25 at 11 PM Closure end on Monday, December 29 at 5 AM During these times, certain intersections will be closed, but some lanes will still remain open to keep traffic flowing. The affected areas are marked in red on the map below (provided by AD Mobility). To avoid...

Thinking about a summer escape already? Kuwait Airways just announced a list of seasonal destinations for 2026, and the lineup covers everything from European beach spots to cooler mountain cities and quick regional getaways. Regional destinations in MENA and nearby Asia: Alexandria and Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) Antalya, Bodrum and Trabzon (Türkiye) Salalah (Oman) European destinations: Malaga (Spain) Mykonos (Greece) Nice (France) Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Vienna (Austria) Zurich (Switzerland) Kuwait Airways has plans to add more routes once official approvals arrive from relevant authorities. The following destinations under consideration: Krakow (Poland), Moscow (Russia), Beijing (China), New York (USA), Abu...

Even if you prepare well for your pilgrimage trip, plenty of questions can still come up once you arrive. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has expanded direct support for pilgrims with a hotline number that's available all day and night. Pilgrims can now get information, assistance, and service-related reports using number 1966. The hotline is available 24/7 Free support for pilgrims Assistance in 11 languages, including Arabic, English, French, Turkish, Urdu, Indonesian, Bengali, Hausa, Amharic, and Hindi The ministry says trained staff handle calls through an integrated system connected with relevant authorities. The process helps pilgrims receive assistance...

Dubai’s parking network continues to grow, and now, Mirdif is getting two new paid parking zones starting Monday, May 26. Parkin, the city’s official parking operator, announced the launch of Zone 251C (on-street) and Zone 251D (off-street), expanding regulated parking in one of the city’s busiest residential districts. Parking in these new zones will be free on Sundays and public holidays, but standard tariffs will apply on other days, with variable rates for peak and non-peak hours. Here are the rates for the two new parking zones in Mirdif: Zone 251C – On-Street Parking 1 hour: AED 4 (peak), AED...

If you regularly travel between the UAE and India, there’s a useful update to know about. Air India is adding a new flight between Dubai and Hyderabad, giving passengers another direct option between the two cities. The new flight will launch on March 29. With this addition, Air India continues to expand its presence in the Gulf region. The airline already connects several GCC cities with Hyderabad: Abu Dhabi and Sharjah in the UAE Manama (Bahrain) Dammam and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia Doha (Qatar) Kuwait City Muscat (Oman) Passengers flying on the new route between Dubai and Hyderabad will also...

If London is on your mind this year, pause for a second before booking your flight. New UK travel rules are now in force. From February 25, 2026, most travellers who used to enter the UK visa-free now need to apply for an ETA before boarding their flight. Airlines can turn you away at check-in, even if you’ve flown to Britain many times before. Here’s what you need to know so your trip doesn’t start with a surprise at the airport. What is the UK ETA and Who Needs It? The ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) is not a visa. It’s...

If you’ve ever planned a trip to Diriyah and immediately thought about traffic, this news is about to change the picture. Riyadh metro is officially heading to the birthplace of Saudi Arabia. The city has approved an extension of the Red Line, adding 5 more stations and stretching the route all the way to Diriyah Gate. The new section will covers 8.4 km and link areas many people already move between daily: from university zones to business districts and cultural spots. Riyadh metro only launched in late 2024, and since then it’s been adding new stations and polishing how things...