Author: Fahad Al Sheri

Updated 29 July 2026: July’s announcements have moved quickly — and several early reports are now out of date. Dubai Summer Surprises is live, the school holiday has begun, a tightly defined visa grace period has closed, and Etihad Rail has confirmed the exact date its Dubai station will open. Most importantly, Armenia’s visa rule did not simply “end” on 1 July: a new temporary exemption is now in force for eligible UAE residents. This is the current-status version of the changes Dubai residents and visitors need to know. Every date and eligibility rule below has been checked against the…

Updated 29 July 2026: Sharjah’s paid parking hours changed on 1 July. Across the emirate, chargeable hours now run from 8am to midnight — but whether you pay on Fridays and public holidays still depends on the sign beside your space. The easiest rule to remember is this: yellow-sign zones are normally free on Fridays and official holidays; blue-sign zones charge every day, including those days. Do not rely on the colour of the kerb or what happened on a nearby street. Read the parking sign where you leave the car. Sharjah parking ruleCurrent positionPaid hours8am–12 midnight from 1 July…

Summer rain in the UAE sounds like a paradox, but it is very real — and this week it is happening again. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) confirmed three days of rain across the Emirates from Tuesday, 23 June, through Thursday, 25 June 2026, with the Eastern Emirates bearing the brunt of the showers. If you have never witnessed summer rain in the UAE, it is worth understanding what causes it, which areas get it most, and what to do when it hits. Why Does It Rain in the UAE in Summer? Most UAE residents associate rain with the…

Grand Theft Auto VI is officially available for pre-order in the UAE, and in this article, we’ll cover the GTA 6 UAE price pre-order details along with everything you need to know about the game’s release. With a confirmed release date of 19 November 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. After years of anticipation and a development budget estimated at up to $2 billion, the game is shaping up to be the biggest entertainment launch of 2026 — and the price tag reflects it. GTA 6 UAE Price in Dirhams According to the UAE PlayStation Store, GTA 6…

Complete Salik Dubai guide 2026 — which roads have toll gates, how much each pass costs, how to register and top up your account, and what happens if you run out of credit. Continue Reading Salik Dubai 2026 — What It Is, Which Roads Have Tolls & How to Top Up

Dubai traffic fines 2026 — how much each violation costs, the black points system, how to check outstanding fines, and how to pay them. Continue Reading Dubai Traffic Fines 2026 — How Much, How to Pay & How to Contest Them

If your landlord has just sent you a rent increase notice, the RERA Rent Calculator is the first tool you should open. It tells you — in under a minute — whether the proposed increase is legal, what the maximum allowed increase actually is, and gives you the data you need if you choose to push back. Here is how to use it and what the rules behind it really mean. What Is the RERA Rent Calculator? The RERA Rent Calculator (also called the Rental Index Calculator) is an official tool published by the Dubai Land Department (DLD). It is…

Dubai gets a solid number of public holidays every year, but planning around them requires understanding which dates are fixed and which depend on the moon. Here is a list of all official UAE public holidays in 2026, including confirmed and expected Islamic dates, with notes on private-sector vs public-sector entitlements. For your convenience, these UAE Public Holidays 2026 are organised by both date and category. How UAE Public Holidays Work The UAE has two categories of public holidays: As you plan for UAE Public Holidays 2026, note that both fixed and Islamic dates are included within these groups. Additionally,…

The UAE Golden Visa in 2026 is a long-term residency visa that lets you live, work, and study in the UAE without needing a company or employer to sponsor your residency. It comes in 5-year and 10-year versions, is renewable, and covers your immediate family. Here is everything you need to know — How Much Does the UAE Golden Visa Cost in 2026? Fee itemApprox. cost (AED) Immigration & visa fee~2,710 Emirates ID (10-year)~1,154 Standard medical fitness test~273 Typical total (non-property routes)~4,000–5,000 DLD & admin fees (property route only)~5,000–5,300 extra Typical total (property route, all-in)~8,000–10,000 Government fees only — excludes…

If your DEWA bill feels like it needs a decoder ring, you are not alone. It is four pages of line items, surcharges, and fees that can look baffling the first time — and the second. This guide breaks down exactly what you are paying for, why each charge exists, and what you can actually do to bring the total down. Who Is DEWA? DEWA — Dubai Electricity and Water Authority — is the sole provider of electricity and water for residential and commercial properties in Dubai. If you live in Dubai and are not in a community with a…