U.S. Visa Restrictions on 39 Countries Ripple Through Multicultural Expat Communities
BY Greeshma Nair
FUJAIRAH, United Arab Emirates – A sweeping U.S. visa policy expansion, effective January 1, 2026, under Presidential Proclamation 10998 titled "Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States," is creating...
Visa-Free Armenia: Eligible Indians Get 180 Days Access in Early 2026
YEREVAN, Armenia (GDM)— Indian expatriates living in the Gulf, United States and Europe can now visit Armenia without a visa for up to 180 days under a temporary policy aimed at boosting tourism and business ties, officials announced.
The visa...
Sri Lankan wins gold Mercedes in Dubai draw
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates— A Dubai resident from a small fishing village in Sri Lanka has won a gold Mercedes-Benz S-Class 500 in a retail raffle, organisers said.
The prize was awarded as part of the Dubai Gold District’s “Shop...
Dubai worker returns AED 50,000 gold in 3 days
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: An unusual yet uplifting episode in Dubai has drawn international attention after gold worth about AED 50,000 (₹12–13 lakh) was accidentally discarded with household waste — only to be recovered and returned to its Indian...
Ramadan in the UAE: What Expats Should Know About Work Hours
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates: Ramadan 2026 is expected to begin around February 18–19, 2026 (most astronomical forecasts and official predictions point to Thursday, February 19 as the likely start, depending on the moon sighting confirmed by the UAE...
Sheikha Latifa attends Young Arab Leaders Forum
DUBAI, Feb. 2, 2026 —Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, on Sunday attended the Young Arab Leaders Forum, held as a prelude to the World Governments Summit 2026 in...
Nipah outbreak in India puts global travel on alert
NEW DELHI- 28 Jan 2026 (GDM) A fresh outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in India has raised concerns among international health authorities, as officials monitor the risk of cross-border spread amid heavy travel flows between South Asia and...