Category: UAE News

  • Dubai To Host IPL Final

    Dubai will host the final of the 2020 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced the schedule for the playoffs and the title clash. Dubai will host the first qualifier on November 5 after which the eliminator and second qualifier will be…

  • Boris Seeks United Front Against Covid

    The British prime minister says the entire world needs to pull together to recover from the impact of Covid-19 … reports Asian Lite News With the United Kingdom set to take leadership of the G7 and chair the global climate change conference COP26 in 2021, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country will play an…

  • Asian Lite Weekend, October 16, 2020 – MI5 Suspects China, Russia Threat On UK Security

    MI5 Suspects China, Russia Threat On UK Security; G20 extends debt suspension for poor nations; Young, Healthy People May Have to Wait Longer For Vaccine; Pak to Face Tougher FATF Scrutiny; US Appoints New Officer to Oversee Tibetan Issues – all in Asian Lite Weekend – please click here to read.

  • BR Shetty Files Complaint against Manghat Brothers, Former NMC officials

    The founder and former Chairman of UAE’s NMC healthcare and Finablr, BR Shetty has moved a complaint against former CEOs and officials of the two companies, alleging them of fraud. He claims that Pramod and Prashanth Manghat who were the CEOs had defrauded him by orchestrating a deception over the group companies’ affairs, Khaleej Times…

  • Abu Dhabi’s ADIA picks up 1.2% stake in Reliance Retail

    Reliance Industries Limited and Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL) announced that a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) will invest Rs 5,512.50 crore into RRVL, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries. This investment values RRVL at a pre-money equity value of Rs 4.285 lakh crore. ADIA’s investment will translate into a 1.20 per…

  • Danube Home launches ‘My Garden 2021’ E-Catalogue

    Danube Home, the leading one-stop retail solution for all home interior and improvement needs in the region, announced the virtual launch of its latest Garden collection 2021 on 24th September 2020 at the Danube Home showroom where Mr.Adel Sajan – Director Danube Home, Mr.Shubhojit Mahalanobis – General Manager Danube Home and Mr.Sayed Habib – General Manager Business Development Danube Home addressed the media and other esteemed guests virtually. “The…

  • UAE, Israel deal to enhance ties in various sectors

    Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and the Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat on Tuesday reviewed prospects for consolidating cooperation between both the countries. Ben-Shabbat is leading the Israeli delegation currently visiting the UAE. The discussion occurred during a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs…

  • UAE issues decree ending boycott of Israel

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday issued a decree to formally end its boycott of Israel amid the US-brokered peace deal to normalize relations between the two countries. The Decree comes as part of the UAE’s efforts to expand diplomatic and commercial cooperation with Israel, and by laying out a roadmap towards launching joint…

  • Imran says Pakistan can never recognise Israel

    Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has taken a clear and unequivocal stand, saying the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had made it clear that until the Palestinians get their due rights, they will not recognise Israel. Khan expressed these views during an interview with a private news channel on Tuesday. He discussed at…

  • UAE, US, Israel Ink Deal To Bring Peace & Progress

    President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, spoke on Thursday and agreed to the full normalisation of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. This historic diplomatic breakthrough will…

  • TASWEEK eyeing India’s ‘smart cities’

    Dubai based TASWEEK Real Estate Development and Marketing, has announced that it is exploring the possibility of engaging in ‘smart city’ projects in India in collaboration with local partner MAMS Holdings Group, reports Asian Lite  one of the leading newspapers in UK read by British Asians. This is in support of Indian Prime Minister Narendra…

  • UAE gears up for Mars mission

    State-owned Masdar Institute of Science and Technology is ramping up its efforts to support the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in achieving its goal of sending an unmanned space probe to Mars by 2021, a media report said. The initiative for the UAE’s Mars mission, named “Hope”, the first in the Arab world, was launched in…

  • Islamic Banking to cross US$263 bn in 2019

    The UAE is en route to achieve US$263 billion of Sharia-compliant assets by 2019, according to EY’s World Islamic Banking Competitiveness, WIBC, report. The industry was estimated to be worth US$127 billion in 2014, thus making it the third largest Islamic banking market by value, after the Saudi Arabian and Malaysian markets. Ashar Nazim, Global…

  • UAE jets join Saudi campaign in Yemen

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) military command has said here a number of fighter jets joining the Saudi-led “Decisive Storm” air campaign on some positions of Shiite Houthi group in Yemen. Reports said the UAE fighter jets struck command and control centers, and supply centers in Yemen’s oil producing Marib region, Xinhua reported citing state…

  • Solar Impulse begins epic journey

    A world record-breaking attempt to fly around the world in a solar-powered plane has got under way from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The aircraft – called Solar Impulse-2 – took off from the capital of Emirate, heading east to Muscat in Oman. Over the next five months, it will skip from continent to…

  • Yusuffali praises Modi’s 2015 budget

    “Instead of offering soaps, the budget shows maturity of a growing nation which aims to become the next global super power,” Yusuffali, the winner of Prvasi Bharatiya Puraskar, told Anasudhin Azeez Prominent NRI businessman MA Yusuffali, the richest Indian in the Gulf, praised 2015 budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jailtley and said the budget will…

  • Modiji wasted 8 months in power!

    We gave Modi 8 months to deliver; we received nothing but grand theatrics, swept streets but Modi government showed neither leadership, nor vision for change…writes Sanyia Kirpalani Congratulations Aam Aadmi, you have won the trust of the capital city of India. A landslide victory of 67 seats (vs.the duck of Congress and the apologetic 2…

  • Meridien Modena wins Ferrari showroom of the year

    Ferrari announced that the recently renovated Official Ferrari Dealer for the South of England, Meridien Modena, has won the Showroom of the Year at Ferrari’s Annual Dealer Conference held at the Finali Mondiali at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. In recognition of this outstanding achievement in a competition amongst all Official Ferrari Dealers…

  • WORLD PREMIERE OF THE FXX K IN ABU DHABI

    Ferrari’s new FXX K research and development programme receives its world premiere next weekend at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The laboratory-car is based on Maranello’s first hybrid model and will grace the world’s tracks from next year onwards. The K in its moniker is a reference to the “KERS” kinetic energy recovery…

  • Indians prepare to celebrate UAE National Day

    Indian expatriates residing across United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to celebrate the 43rd UAE National Day Dec 2. The UAE celebrates its National Day Dec 2, which marks the unification of the seven emirates and the founding of the country in 1971 under Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president. Various Indian…

  • The Webb Ellis Cup, the most coveted prize in Rugby, will visit Dubai this week (November 27 – 28) on the eighth leg of the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour. Rugby World Cup, the third largest global sporting event behind the Olympics and Football World Cup, takes place in England and Cardiff next year between…

  • Prince Harry to play polo in Abu Dhabi

    The Sentebale Polo Cup presented by Royal Salute World Polo is set to take place for the first time in Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, Abu Dhabi, today.  The event will see Prince Harry lead out the Sentebale Huntsman team alongside former England captain and Royal Salute Polo Ambassador Malcolm Borwick. Amongst the guests attending…

  • Hotel hammer attack man jailed

    A man who bludgeoned three sisters with a claw hammer in a London hotel while their children slept alongside them has been jailed for a minimum of 18 years. Philip Spence, 33, was convicted at Southwark Crown Court in October of three counts of attempted murder reported BBC. Spence attacked the sisters from the United…

  • Sushma pushes Make in India in the UAE

    India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj sought investment from foreign and Indian entrepreneurs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), highlighting her government’s “clear policies to facilitate business environment, transparency and speed” to “make India an investment and manufacturing destination”. “Our focus is growth with good governance and transparency with an eye on manufacturing, infrastructure and trade,”…

  • Abu Dhabi Film Festival kicks off

    The 8th edition of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) began at the Emirates Palace here. The film festival, which started Thursday evening, will continue until Nov 1 with plans to screen 194 films from 61 countries, including nine feature-length world premieres. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates’ minister for culture, youth…

  • MY DIWALI DELIGHT

    Happy Diwali to all readers of Asian Lite ….BIKRAM VOHRA I have received 23 I-cards or E-cards on the net with diyas in them and you’ll be surprised how quickly the novelty of exulting over the same flickering electronic flame wears off. After you have ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ over the first two or three and…

  • I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE

    Daily Dose by Bikram Vohra Tell you how rumours start. I was asked by an editor friend a piece on whom and what I would miss in the Gulf if I were to leave seeing as how I had completed 30 years in the country. The incisve name names piece was duly published and some…

  • Lulu inks deal with East India Company

    Abu Dhabi-based LuLu Group signs a multi-million deal with the East India Company….reports  Kaliph Anaz London has witnessed the beginning of a new business partnership. Godfather of Arabian  retail sector signed a deal with Patron Saint of global trade – the East India Company at a glittering ceremony held at prestigious Mandarin Hotel in London.…

  • Biden apologises to UAE

    US Vice President Joe Biden has apologised to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for comments made at a conference wherein he suggested that the two nations had contributed to arming and financing terrorists in Syria. The White House Monday said Biden clarified his comments over the weekend via telephone calls he made to…

  • UAE for Arab strategic food reserve

    The UAE minister for food and agriculture, Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, Friday said the Gulf Arab desert state is committed to support joint Arab efforts to set up a strategic food reserve in response to the world food crisis, WAM news agency reported. Bin Fahad also emphasised the need to establish and implement Arab-wide mechanisms…

  • Arab countries support US on ISIS mission

      Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have promised to stand alongside the US “until the end” in its fight against the Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical group, a day after launching coordinated attacks on the group in Syria. US President Barak Obama received the support in a meeting Tuesday…

  • Jordan confirms its part in Syria airstrikes

      Jordan announced  that its warplanes took part in the US-led air operation against the Islamic State (IS) jihadis in northern Syria. In a statement reported by the official news agency Petra, a source at army headquarters said that the Jordanian air force destroyed “several targets”. Without mentioning Syria, the statement said that the strikes…

  • UAE on Mars mission

    The UAE’s historic project to send an unmanned probe to Mars by 2021 would benefit all humanity and its findings would be made available to all countries to use, said His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Presiding over a brainstorming session with…

  • UAE to end mid-day break for hard labour

    The UAE Labour Ministry has announced that the midday break rule period, which prohibits labourers from outdoor work between 12:30pm and 3pm, will draw to an end tomorrow on September 15th. The mandatory midday work break aims to ensure the well-being of the labourers who work in the scorching heat during the summer months, according…

  • Indian envoy appeals to expats

    Send aid for J&K through PM Relief Fund As the devastating floods ravage India’s Jammu and Kashmir state, the Indian mission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has urged expatriates here to refrain from sending relief materials due to logistical issues and instead contribute to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. “Our suggestion is that they…

  • Holy Gaga rocks Dubai

    The eccentric pop star Lady Gaga buried her wild past to deliver a subdued performance at Dubai. This is her first-ever performance in the Arab world. “They used to tell me I was crazy, I would never come to the Middle East. They were wrong, they were the judgmental ones,” Gaga told her legions of fans…

  • Abu Dhabi to be resident friendly

    Residents of Abu Dhabi will enjoy easy access to high-quality community facilities and services in the coming few years under new standards unveiled on Sunday by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC). The new Abu Dhabi Community Facility Planning Standards (CFPS) sets out the specific social, educational, cultural, recreational and healthcare facilities that must…

  • THE SAGA OF THE 6 STAR SHAVING CREAM

    Daily Dose by Bikram Vohra Let me hear it from all you folks who are globetrotters and keep putting your profiles on Facebook showing yourselves in airport lounges and reclining in first class cabins. Clearly, you stay in swank 6 star hotels. So tell me, their rooms have these amenities, right? and they are all…

  • UAE mission runs out of passports

    The Indian missions in the UAE were issuing only the 64-page booklets after the supply of ordinary booklets was affected due to technical issues.  Just as they were clearing a backlog of passport applications due to the shortage of ordinary booklets of Indian passports in the UAE, officials in the Indian Consulate in Dubai have…

  • UAE workforce increases

    For the second consecutive year since the global financial crisis, the UAE’s total workforce has registered an increase, the Ministry of Labour said in a recently issued report on its achievements and gains. According to the report, after the global financial crisis, the number of employees in the country decreased from 4,079,453 in 2008 to 3,889,234…

  • Indian Uni to honour Sharjah Sheikh

     The Aligarh Muslim University will honour distinguished Muslims at its convocation for which Emir of Sharjah, Sultan Bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi, has been invited to deliver the convocation address. The emir will also be the chief guest at the Sir Syed Day, it was decided at a meeting of varsity officials presided over by Vice Chancellor,…

  • It’s salt-water challenge in Dubai

     A group of residents gathered at Jumeirah’s Kite beach early on Friday to take the ALS ice bucket challenge with one difference — they doused themselves with sea water instead of clean water, according to a Gulf News report. ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain…

  • SPLIT SONG by Bikram Vohra

    So I braille through the FB search thingee and find out an old friend’s address and phone number and I call him and he answers and I say, yo, voices from the past, old son, three guesses who it is and he can’t so I give my name and he shrieks with joy (well, not…

  • WHY ARE WE SCARED OF BEING IN OUR OWN COMPANY

    Daily Dose by Bikram Vohra Oops, I have just had a thought. Not one of those cosmic, celestially illuminating, lightning strikes the empire thoughts but one of those ‘what do you know’ variety where something vaguely hits you and it has been there for years tucked away in the recesses of the mind except you…

  • More jobs in Gulf

    As more and more women in Middle East countries step outside their homes for work, the opportunities for Asians to work as cooks, nannies and drivers in the region are likely to go up, said a migration expert. S. Irudayarajan, who heads the migration unit attached to the ministry of overseas Indian affairs at the Centre…

  • Portal to track mortal remains

    To alleviate the mental trauma of families whose kin die abroad, especially among the millions of expatriates living in the Middle East, the government Tuesday launched an online system for “facilitating transportation of the mortal remains” of such Indians. Launching the portal, which can be accessed at the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) website…

  • DAMN WE EAT BADLY

    Daily Dose by Bikram Vohra Have you ever made observations that not only get you into trouble but also earn you the undying wrath of people who hear you. Like I was at a few airports earlier this week waiting for planes with that stoic sense of surrender when I said the human race is…

  • THE LADY AND THE LOST LENS

    Daily Dose by Bikram Vohra On a flight recently, I chanced to sit near a crusty old man reading a novel and a lady of some thirty-five years, who had evidently come straight from a shopping spree to the airport and charmed her way past security with half a dozen duty free bags, a carry-all…

  • The risk of seeking remedy on Internet

    Daily Dose by Bikram Vohra Most of us are compu-Doctors. We feel so good when we are unwell. To compound this felony we have, thanks to the Net become experts. I turned into a compudoc about three years ago and am now convinced that I have the symptoms of at least 37 ailments of the exotic…

  • UAE expats to abide Sharia Law

    The Foreign Office has warned expatriates living in the United Arab Emirates they could face Sharia courts in divorce or child custody cases, BBC reported. UAE personal status law provides expatriates, even if they are not Muslim, with the right to have their case heard under the Islamic law. It comes after a British mother lost…