
UAE:Taxi fares rise for February in this emirate
Taxi fares in Ajman are set to increase in February, following a rise in fuel prices, authorities announced on Friday.
After two months of unchanged rates, the fare will increase to Dh1.77 per kilometre, up from Dh1.74 in December and January.
Ajman adjusts its taxi fares in line with fuel prices, which are set every month.
In February, motorists in the UAE will have to pay more for fuel, with a full tank costing about Dh6 to Dh9 higher than last month.
Here are the rates for February:
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Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Khaleej Times
'New lease on life': UAE's visa waiver brings Sudanese back from the brink
A mother of three, whose family faced over Dh18,000 in visa overstay fines, is among the many who have found a new lease of life after the UAE announced a full waiver of residency and tourist visa violations for Sudanese. The waiver, effective from May 19, 2025, through the end of the year, comes as part of the UAE's ongoing efforts to support those displaced by the conflict in Sudan. Om Hanin, who arrived in the UAE in July 2023 after fleeing the war in Khartoum, said her family had overstayed for three months and was drowning in fines. "We didn't know how we would ever pay. Every day felt heavier than the last," she recalled. Her children, too young to understand the legal weight of their situation, watched as their mother struggled to hold the family together in a foreign land. Her husband, she said, was left behind in Sudan after refusing to abandon his elderly mother, who was unable to travel. "He stayed for her. Then one day, he left to get food from a nearby town and never returned. We haven't heard from him since." The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) decision to waive all overstay fines has brought financial relief and emotional reprieve for families like hers. Another Sudanese expat, Mohamed Issam, had been preparing to fly back to Port Sudan to make his way to Khartoum, which began stabilising in March. "A lot of Sudanese started going back," he explained. "But what stopped me was my fines. I had over Dh6,000 in fines, and I was going to borrow the money from a friend to fix my visa before travelling." His plans were disrupted when the Port Sudan airport recently came under attack. "That means I'm still here, but at least my fines will be waived," he said. Mohamed sees the visa waiver as "divine mercy" and is now focused on finding employment in the finance sector to rebuild his life. The news has also brought hope to those on the frontlines of helping affected Sudanese in the UAE. Mr Awad Allah, who runs a typing centre in Deira, said he sees dozens of Sudanese residents daily looking for guidance. "Whenever it feels like doors are closing, the UAE opens another with even more mercy," he said. "People come to us desperate, not just for paperwork help but for reassurance that they're not alone." Awad Allah, who also maintains a popular TikTok account sharing updates on Sudanese residency issues, recounted a moment from a recent livestream. "Two days ago, a man joined the live and shared his hope that the UAE would extend its support by offering the amnesty so he could renew his Crisis & Disaster Countries Visa for his family. "This waiver is not just about fines," Awad added. "It's about hope. The Sudanese people here are in real need, and this gives them more than time, it gives them dignity." Sudanese expats are strongly encouraged to begin their application process as early as May 19 through ICP's online services and regularise their visa status without penalty. Ongoing conflict in Sudan The visa fine waiver comes amid the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The fighting has devastated cities like Khartoum and displaced millions internally and across borders. Many Sudanese fled with little notice, leaving behind essential documents and facing uncertain futures in foreign countries. UAE haven during regional instability The UAE has consistently extended humanitarian support to those affected by the crisis. In 2023, Dubai and Sharjah airports became temporary havens for Sudanese passengers stranded in the country due to the closure of Khartoum Airport and flight cancellations. On April 25, 2023, Khaleej Times reported that 13 Sudanese passengers were stranded at Sharjah International Airport due to the conflict. The Sharjah Emergency, Crisis, and Disaster Management Team (ECDMT) provided the travellers with temporary accommodations and necessary care. Dubai Airports also extended support to Sudanese transit passengers affected by flight cancellations. Passengers who had flown into the Emirate from different countries were offered temporary accommodation until they could travel to Khartoum or choose to fly to other destinations. Authorities offered visa flexibility, shelter, and assistance to those unable to continue their journeys due to closed airspace and grounded flights. The new fine waiver builds on these earlier efforts, reinforcing the UAE's role as a haven during times of regional instability.


Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Khaleej Times
India, Pakistan flights: One-way ticket to UAE for Dh9,100 as expats rush back after ceasefire
Airfares from Pakistan and some Indian cities have seen a massive increase as UAE residents stuck in their home countries reschedule their return dates following the ceasefire between the two neighbours. Travel agents in the UAE said they are witnessing a lot of enquiries and demands from the UAE residents who went to India and Pakistan for holidays before the military escalation and want to return early, fearing flights may be suspended again if the situation escalates. Following the ceasefire initiated by US President Donald Trump, Pakistan and India has reopened airports and announced the resumption of flights. Reschedule return date Pakistani national Ijaz Khan, a businessman in the UAE, has been stuck in his home country due to the war. 'I'm trying to move ahead my return to the UAE during this ceasefire. I'm trying to arrange my return as soon as possible because I don't know what the situation will be with regard to commercial flights,' said Khan. Saleem Akhtar, currently in Lahore on vacation and looking to return to the UAE, said airfares are quite high over the next few days only. 'Those people whose flights were cancelled over the past 3-4 days are rebooking now. Therefore, airfares have spiked this week till May 17. We see airfares on May 18 and beyond are normal,' he said. Dh3,900 India-UAE one-way fare One-way airfare from Delhi to Dubai for Monday flight on a full-fledged carrier reached Rs44,670 (Dh1,920) due to the closure of airports in the Indian Punjab during military escalation, resulting in a large number of residents opting to fly from Delhi airport. However, the one-way airfare drops steadily and will reach just around Dh910 by Friday. Meanwhile, Delhi-Abu Dhabi airfares stood at Rs51,600 (Dh2,230) for Monday and Rs90,300 (Dh3,900) for Tuesday. Meanwhile, airfare on a budget carrier on Delhi-Sharjah flights ranged between Dh1,360 and Dh1,180 over the next few days due to high demand. Dh9,100 Pakistan-UAE one-way fare Similarly, for Monday, Lahore to Dubai airfare on UAE carriers touched as high as nearly Rs700,000 (Dh9,100) but dropped to around Rs390,000 (Dh5,100) on Friday. A local carrier website showed seats on Lahore-Abu Dhabi almost sold out till Wednesday due to heavy passenger traffic with airfares reaching Rs540,000 (Dh7,050). Meanwhile, one-way airfares on Pakistani airlines reached around Dh2,350 for Monday and Tuesday. Hundreds of flights from Pakistan were cancelled over the past few days due to the closure of airspace. This has created a massive backlog for the airlines to deal with. If the ceasefire continues to hold, travel industry executives suggested that airfares will take at least 4-5 days to return to normal levels due to exceptionally high demand. 'There is a strong demand from people stuck in India and Pakistan because they want to return to the UAE as soon as possible,' said Mir Wasim Raja, manager of International Travel Services (ITS). 'Because of strong demand, airfares have gone up by 20 per cent as flights are operating at full capacity,' Raja told Khaleej Times in an interview. Summer holiday rush Avinash Adnani, partner at Neo Travel and Tourism, also confirmed that there are many inquiries from people stuck in India and Pakistan due to the military escalation. 'There were regular daily flights from Chandigarh and Amritsar airports to the UAE. However, due to the closure of airports in these two cities, passenger traffic has been diverted to Delhi. Therefore, airfares from Delhi to Dubai have rocketed,' said Adnani. 'In India, schools are closed, and people are waiting for clarity on the military situation. We hope the situation will be clearer in the next 48 hours.' For Pakistan, the UAE and Pakistani carriers have resumed flights between the two countries as Pakistan reopened its airspace for commercial flights. 'Once Chandigarh and Amritsar airports reopen for commercial flights and UAE carriers begin full-scale operations to Pakistan, airfares are likely to normalise within a few days from the two countries,' he added.


Arabian Post
08-05-2025
- Arabian Post
Emirates Group reports record profits of US$6.2 billion
By Saifur Rahman The Emirates Group reported an 18 percent growth in profit before tax exceeding US$6.2 billion (Dh22.7 billion) – a new record – in the financial year 2024-25. This is the first financial year that the UAE corporate tax, enacted in 2023, is applied to the Emirates Group. After accounting for the 9 percent tax charge, the Group's profit after tax reached US$5.6 billion (Dh20.5 billion). The world's largest international aviation group also recorded annual revenue of US$39.6 billion (Dh145.4 billion) which is 6 percent higher than the previous financial year. Emirates Group, which includes the world's largest international career Emirates Airline and its ground handling and ticketing arm Dnata – has also declared Dh6 billion dividends to its shareholder – the Government of Dubai – through Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD). Emirates Group also reported a record level of cash assets at US$ 14.6 billion (Dh53.4 billion), up 13 percent from last year while it also reported the highest-ever Earnings before Interest, Tax, Debt and Amortisation (EBITDA) of US$11.5 billion (Dh42.2 billion), which is up 6 percent, demonstrating its strong operating profitability. Emirates Airline reported a 20 percent jump in profit before tax of US$5.8 billion (Dh21.2 billion) on record revenue of US$34.9 billion (Dh127.9 billion), for 2024-25 financial year, an increase of 6 percent over last year. The airline currently has highest-ever level of cash assets at US$13.5 billion (Dh49.7 billion), which is 16 percent higher compared to 31 March 2024. Emirates Group's ground handling and ticketing arm Dnata delivered record profit before tax of US$430 million (Dh1.6 billion), up 2 percent from last year on record revenue of US$ 5.8 billion (Dh21.1 billion), up 10 percent. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group said: 'It is no accident that Dubai has produced hugely successful global aviation entities including Emirates and dnata. Dubai's aviation sector has become an influential force on the global stage thanks to visionary leaders, strategic planning, co-ordinated execution, and strong support from our customers, business partners, and all the people of Dubai. 'When the government set up Emirates 40 years ago and we began expanding Dnata's capabilities to support the city's growth, we had a clear mission – be the best at what we do; and deliver value to Dubai, our stakeholders, and the communities we serve.' Sheikh Ahmed added: 'For 2024-25, the Emirates Group has raised the bar to set new records for profit, revenue, and cash assets. Through the year, Emirates and Dnata were able to move quickly to meet the strong demand for air transport services across markets and win over customers – thanks to our non-stop investments in our people, in building partnerships, and in delivering great products and services.' In 2024-25, the Group collectively invested US$3.8 billion (Dh14.0 billion) in new aircraft, facilities, equipment, companies, and the latest technologies to support its growth plans. The Group's total workforce grew by 9 percent to 121,223 employees, its largest size ever, as Emirates and Dnata continued recruitment activity around the world to support its expanding operations and boost its future capabilities. Commenting on the outlook for 2025-26, Sheikh Ahmed said: 'We enter the year ahead with excitement and optimism. Our excellent financial standing enables us to continue building on and scaling up from our successful business models. While some markets are jittery about trade and travel restrictions, volatility is not new in our industry. We simply adapt and navigate around these challenges. 'Emirates will strengthen our network connectivity with the expected delivery of 16 A350s and 4 Boeing 777 freighters in 2025-26, providing much-needed capacity to meet customer demand. Our retrofit programme will continue apace to provide our customers the latest Emirates products and a more consistent experience across our A380, 777 and A350 fleet. 'Work is already underway at the new Al Maktoum International airport (DWC) and broader development around Dubai South. Our planning teams are working closely with Dubai airports and other entities to design and deliver the future of aviation and the best possible travel experiences. 'We've set high targets for ourselves, but I am confident that our talented workforce and Dubai's winning formula will empower the Emirates Group to forge an even brighter future, and deliver even more value to the people, cities and communities we serve.' Emirates Airline Emirates' total passenger and cargo capacity grew 4 percent to 60.0 billion ATKMs in 2024-25, recovering to near pre-pandemic levels. During the year, Emirates launched two new destinations – Bogotá and Madagascar; restarted flights to Phnom Penh, Lagos, Adelaide and Edinburgh; and strengthened services to 21 other destinations to meet rising demand. By 31 March, Emirates served 148 cities in 80 countries and territories. Emirates also grew its partnerships to 33 codeshare and 118 interline partners, providing customers smooth access to over 1,750 cities beyond its network. 'One of the key benefits of operating an airline in the Gulf is that you don't have to deal with trade unions or labour unions – so the airlines could keep the operating costs low through its own salary and remuneration packages as no one is there to question those,' said an aviation expert, requesting anonymity. 'Having said that, Emirate's employee packages are higher compared to other private sector businesses. Other than that, it is perhaps the best managed airline group in the world and the results are a testament to this.' The first Airbus A350 aircraft joined Emirates' fleet this year, bringing added capacity for the airline to serve customer demand with its latest products, including the popular Premium Economy Class and a new-generation inflight entertainment system. By 31 March, Emirates had 4 A350s in its fleet flying to Edinburgh, Ahmedabad, Bahrain, Colombo, Kuwait and Mumbai. With ongoing delays in new aircraft deliveries, Emirates added 99 more aircraft to its retrofit programme which will now see 219 aircraft go through a full cabin refresh at a total investment of US$ 5.0 billion. At 31 March, Emirates' order book had 314 aircraft pending delivery, including 61 A350s, 205 Boeing 777x, 35 787s, and 13 777Fs. Total fleet count at the end of March was 260 units, with an average fleet age of 10.7 years. By strategically deploying capacity to serve surging demand across markets, Emirates' total revenue for the financial year increased 6 percent to US$ 34.9 billion (Dh127.9 billion). Currency fluctuations and devaluations in some of the airline's major markets negatively impacted the airline's profitability by Dh718 million (US$196 million). Emirates saw a record operating cash flow of Dh40.8 billion (US$11.1 billion) in 2024-25, which reflects its strong commercial performance and enables the airline to grow the business going forward. Total operating costs increased by 4 percent from last financial year. Fuel and employee cost were the airline's two biggest cost components in 2024-25, followed by cost of ownership (depreciation and amortisation). Fuel accounted for 31 percent of operating costs compared to 34 percent in 2023-24. The airline's fuel bill decreased slightly to Dh32.6 billion (US$8.9 billion) compared to Dh34.2 billion (US$9.3 billion) the previous year, as lower average fuel price (down 10 percent) including hedging gains offset a higher uplift of 5 percent from increased flying. With robust appetite for travel across customer segments, the strength of its global network, and strong customer preference for its products, Emirates hit a new record profit after tax of Dh19.1 billion (US$5.2 billion), outstripping last year's Dh17.2 billion (US$4.7 billion) result with an exceptional profit margin of 14.9 percent. This is the best performance in the airline's history and in the airline industry for the reporting year 2024-25. Emirates carried 53.7 million passengers (up 3 percent) in 2024-25, with seat capacity up by 4 percent. The airline reports a Passenger Seat Factor of 78.9 percent, a marginal decline from 79.9 percent last year. Passenger yield remained consistent at 36.6 fils (10.0 US cents) per Revenue Passenger Kilometre (RPKM). Emirates continued to invest in delivering ever better customer experiences. In addition to a range of inflight service enhancements in 2024-25, Emirates invested Dh63 million in its lounge product, opening two new lounges at London Stansted and Jeddah to bring the total number of dedicated Emirates Lounges globally to 41; and renovated existing facilities in Bangkok and Paris. This is part of a long-standing strategy to provide premium customers with signature experiences at key stations across the network, not only at its hub. The airline also launched its Emirates Chauffeur-Drive Service to Riyadh, expanding this signature service to over 70 cities. Emirates SkyCargo delivered an outstanding year, carrying 2.3 million tonnes of goods around the world, up 7 percent from the previous year as the delivery of 2 new Boeing 777 freighters and 2 wet-leased 747 freighters unlocked capacity to serve surging demand for air transport. Ably navigating the ongoing challenges in global logistics, the cargo division reported a solid revenue of Dh16.1 billion (US$4.4 billion), contributing 13 percent to Emirates' total revenue. See also Dubai's Stock Market Outpaces GCC Peers Amid Sectoral Strength Emirates placed orders for 10 more Boeing 777Fs, a significant investment to strengthen its cargo division's position at the centre of global trade and logistics. Emirates SkyCargo has 13 freighters on order and expects to operate a fleet of 21 freighters by December 2026. At the end of March, Emirates' SkyCargo's total freighter fleet stood at 10 Boeing 777Fs. Under Emirates Group companies and subsidiaries, Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC) and MMI/Emirates Leisure Retail (ELR) reported notable results in 2024-25. EKFC grew revenue from external customers by 11 percent to Dh1.1 billion (US$293 million), uplifting 15.4 million meals during 2024-25 for its 114 airline customers in Dubai. It committed Dh160 million to expand Linencraft's facility to handle 400 tonnes of laundry per day by 2026, cementing its place as the region's leading laundry services provider. EKFC also launched its gourmet B2C offering, Foodcraft, to consumers in the UAE. MMI/ELR posted solid results with revenue growing 6 percent to Dh3.1 billion (US$847 million). During the year, both businesses saw strong customer demand across their portfolio, and extended their footprint with F&B and retail stores opening in 22 new locations, including MMI's first retail outlet in Sri Lanka. With a strong cash balance and operating cash flow, Emirates fully met all contracted obligations during 2024-25, including aircraft pre-delivery payments and financing liabilities as they become due, utilising our cash reserves which stood at Dh49.7 billion as of 31 March. Emirates also fully repaid its US$750 million Corporate Bond which was issued in 2013 with a 12-year term. Listed on the Irish Stock Exchange, this bond was the first senior unsecured amortising bond issued by an airline, and the airline's diligence in honouring the payment schedule further enhances its credit worthiness in global financial markets. During the year, Emirates continued to deploy simple forward contracts to hedge against Brent crude oil and refining margins; and used long-term interest rate hedges to mitigate the impact of interest rate fluctuations. With significant currency exposure due to its global presence, Emirates continued to manage foreign exchange rate risk through currency options, forward contracts, and natural hedges. Its systematic approach improved cash flow predictability against volatile market shifts, reinforcing financial stability. In 2024-25, the airline's risk management programme generated savings of Dh1.1 billion (US$287 million). Dnata Dnata increased its profit before tax by 2 percent to Dh1.6 billion (US$430 million) in 2024-25, with all business divisions reporting a solid performance, and notable contributions from its airport operations and catering and retail divisions. Dnata's total revenue increased by 10 percent to hit a new record of Dh21.1 billion (US$5.8 billion), driven by increased flight and travel activity across the world, particularly in its major markets: Australia, Europe, the UAE, UK, and US. Dnata's international businesses account for 75 percent of its revenue, unchanged from the previous year. Expanding its capabilities and capacity to meet customer needs and its future growth ambitions, Dnata's investments in 2024-25 amounted to Dh579 million (US$ 158 million). Significant investments during the year included: new electric and hybrid ground support equipment for its airport operations as part of its environmental strategy, new catering facilities in Australia, and new cargo facilities in the UAE. In 2024-25, Dnata's operating costs increased by 10 percent to Dh19.7 billion (US$5.4 billion), in line with expanded operations in its Airport Operations, Catering & Retail, and Travel divisions. Dnata's cash balance declined by Dh468 million to Dh3.7 billion (US$1.0 billion), primarily due to dividend payments to its owner, ICD; plus the funding of investments and debt repayments. The business saw a positive operating cash flow of Dh2.7 billion (US$735 million) in 2024-25, reflecting the substantial improvements in revenue. Revenue from Dnata's Airport Operations, including ground and cargo handling increased to Dh9.9 billion (US$2.7 billion). Key customer wins in 2024-25 include: long-term contracts secured with Etihad Airways and British Airways in the USA; and the long-term extension of an agreement for dnata to manage Jordan Flight Catering Company Ltd which delivers world-class culinary services to over 30 airlines in Amman. Revenue from Dnata's Travel Services division grew by 11 prcent to Dh3.9 billion (US$1.1 billion), with strong contributions from its UK travel business and Imagine Cruising, its cruise holidays business. Also published on Medium. Notice an issue? Arabian Post strives to deliver the most accurate and reliable information to its readers. If you believe you have identified an error or inconsistency in this article, please don't hesitate to contact our editorial team at editor[at]thearabianpost[dot]com. We are committed to promptly addressing any concerns and ensuring the highest level of journalistic integrity.