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The National
24 minutes ago
- The National
Bidders swoop for prized falcons at Abu Dhabi auction
Falcon merchants and breeders attended auctions this weekend in Abu Dhabi, where birds of prey changed hands for tens of thousands of dirhams. Dozens of falcons have been on sale at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, before the 20th Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition begins on August 30. Four of this year's eight auctions take place before the nine-day main event, which runs until September 7, with more than 1,000 falcons being assessed. One of the first to buy a bird on Sunday night was Mubarak Al Amri, from Abu Dhabi, who collects falcons to use for hunting. He bought two falcons at the auction – bidding Dh22,000 ($5,990) and Dh38,000, respectively. 'The auction is an easy way to own the best falcons. It attracts many merchants and collectors,' he said. 'Falconry is not a new practice or sport. There is a great connection between humans and these birds. In the past, life was harsh, birds were used for hunting to provide food to people. Pedigree birds of prey decorate the country's logos. It is sign of pride.' Hunting for deals Saif Al Meqbaly, 48, from Abu Dhabi, was also among those looking for a prized bird of prey. He already owns three birds and uses them for hunting and in competitions. 'I have been in love with falcons for the past 32 years,' he said. 'The auction is a gateway to meet and get to know other enthusiasts in the UAE and around the globe. 'Collecting falcons is a hobby of our fathers and ancestors. We have a strong bond with these birds. Falcons are part of our heritage and tradition.' The second round of the auction takes place from August 23 to 24. The remaining events will be held on August 30 and 31, with the final auctions scheduled for September 6 and 7. For 4,000 years, Bedouin in the UAE and the wider Arabian Peninsula have practised falconry as a form of hunting. It remains a popular sport and pastime and is a key feature of the UAE's identity. In 2023, a prized falcon fetched Dh600,000 at an auction held during the exhibition. A year earlier, a bidder spent Dh1.01 million for a Pure Gyr American ultra-white falcon. In addition to in-person falcon auctions, a secure online platform will be launched on the opening day of the exhibition. The move aims to boost participation from local and international bidders. The exhibition is to feature events displaying falconry, hunting, equestrian sports and fishing, as well as promoting environmental preservation and the UAE's culture.
Khaleej Times
24 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
Kuwait: 4 visas under new online system explained; fees, duration, how to apply
Everybody is welcome. This was the message Kuwaiti officials conveyed as they announced acomprehensive plan for boosting tourism and attracting visitors by facilitating the process of issuing visas. During a recent press conference, a Kuwaiti official from the General Department of Residency Affairs highlighted how the revamped visa procedures have simplified the process for visitors planning to travel to the Gulf nation. The overhaul provides four types of online visas for all nationals except for Israelis, Lieutenant Colonel Abdulaziz Al-Kandari, Assistant Director of Electronic Services at the department said. Here are the four new options made available by the Kuwaiti authorities: 1. Tourist visa There are four categories of tourist visas under the new system: 1 - Nationals of 52 countries are eligible for a visa without restrictions. They are only required to have a passport valid for more than six months from the date of entry. These countries are: Spain-Portugal-Czech Republic-Denmark-Sweden-The Vatican-Germany-Norway-Finland-Japan-Greece-Ireland-Australia-Estonia-Italy-Andorra-Iceland-Brunei-UK-Belgium-Bulgaria-Bhutan-Poland-US-Romania-San Morino-Slovakia-Slovenia-Singapore-Switzerland-France-Croatia-Cambodia-Canada-South Korea-Latvia-Laos-Luxembourg-Malta-Malaysia-Monaco-New Zealand-Hungary-The Netherlands-Hong Kong-Austria-Ukraine-Georgia-Cyprus-Liechtenstein-Lithuania-Turkey) 2 - Professionals with financial capacity for travel and tourism, and who are residents of GCC countries, US, UK and Schengen nations. They must have: Passport valid for over 6 months For GCC residents: Valid residency that clearly shows the profession and is valid for over 6 months Eligible professions include judges and prosecutors, businessmen, managers, doctors and pharmacists, lawyers, members of the diplomatic corps, university professors, shareholders, directors and officers, engineers, consultants, journalists and media professionals, system analysts and computer programmers, pilots 3 - Nationals of other countries (Not activated yet) This category includes those who prove their financial capacity by methods specified by the Kuwaiti authorities. They are required to have: Passport valid for more than six months from the date of entry Proof of financial solvency through a recent bank statement Confirmed hotel reservation for the entire duration of stay An insurance amount of money will be charged via the visitor's credit card (Visa or MasterCard) at the time of visa payment. This amount is collected in case of violation and refunded upon departure. 4 - Visa applicants pertaining to international and local events and activities. Requirements for this category will be determined according to each event or activity at the time. Tourist visas come in two forms: Single entry for 1, 2, or 3 months with a validity of 30 days. Multiple entries for 3, 6 months or 1 year with a stay not exceeding 30 days per entry. 2. Family visit visa To get this visa, applicants are required to provide a proof of family relationship in a document in Arabic or translated into Arabic by a certified translation office. This document can be a marriage contract or a birth certificate. The relationship can be up to the fourth degree of blood relation or third degree by marriage. Family visit visas come in two forms: Single entry for 1, 2, or 3 months with a validity of 30 days Multiple entries for 3, 6 months, or 1 year, with a stay not exceeding 30 days per entry. 3. Business visa It is granted to individuals whom a private entity—such as a company or organisation—wishes to invite for a visit for business purposes. It comes in two forms: Single entry for 1 month with a validity of 30 days Multiple entries for 3, 6 months, or 1 year, with a stay not exceeding 30 days per entry. 4. Government visa Granted to individuals whom a government entity wishes to invite to visit Kuwait from abroad for purposes related to that government entity. There are no specific requirements to obtain a government visit visa; rather, the government entities determine the need for the visit. It comes in two forms: Single entry for 1, 2, or 3 months, with a validity of 30 days. Multiple entries for 3, 6 months, or 1 year, with a stay not exceeding 30 days per entry. Fees, how to apply The fee for the new visas is 3 Kuwaiti dinars (around Dh36). For a detailed, step by step guide on how to apply, check this video: #CGCKuwait — Ù�رÙ�ز اÙ�Ø°Ù�اصÙ� اÙ�ØÙ�Ù�Ù�Ù� (@CGCKuwait) August 14, 2025
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Iranians struggle with GPS disruption after Israel war
The streets of Tehran have become a confusing maze for driver Farshad Fooladi amid widespread GPS disruption, still ongoing nearly two months after the end of Iran and Israel's unprecedented 12-day war. "For weeks I have been unable to work," said Fooladi, who uses Iran's homegrown ride-hailing app Snapp to find customers. "Most of the time was wasted wandering around aimlessly," the 35-year-old Iranian driver added. Unprecedented disruption has plagued users of GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, in Iran since Israel's surprise attack in mid-June which triggered a deadly 12-day war. Iran's communications ministry has said the disruptions were necessary for "security and military purposes", without giving further explanation. Missiles, drones and rockets often use GPS or other similar technologies, which involve triangulating signals from multiple satellites, to find their targets. Iran has long employed GPS jamming and spoofing around sensitive military sites but the recent disruptions have been the most sustained and widespread. It remains unclear how long the measures will last or how much damage they have caused to Iranian businesses. Ride-hailing apps, delivery platforms, and even basic mapping services like Google Maps and its Iranian equivalent Neshan have buckled under the interference. In many areas, especially around Tehran, users often spot themselves on the maps hundreds of kilometres away from their actual locations. "To get around, you either need a sharp memory for routes or already know the city well," Fooladi said. But the driver, originally from the western Lorestan province and less familiar with the capital's winding backstreets, frequently finds himself running into dead ends. "I only pick up passengers who know the directions, " he said, adding the strategy had severely cut his income. 'Collateral damage' In early August, the chief executive of the Neshan mapping app, Javad Amel, said in a video interview that daily disruptions through GPS spoofing had been ongoing for years, especially in Tehran. But he explained in recent weeks that Neshan's daily active users "had dropped by 15 percent, while navigation activity on the app fell by 20 percent". The continued disruption has heightened fears of a deepening economic crisis among Iranians. The Islamic republic's economy is already struggling under the weight of decades of international sanctions and mismanagement, compounded by the revival of US President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign earlier this year. Nuclear talks with Washington, which began in April, have also stalled since the United States joined its ally Israel to strike Iranian nuclear sites in June. "This war has upended our lives and frozen our future plans," said Fooladi. In a report last week, the Khabar Online news agency warned against the disruption of GPS, saying it caused "collateral damage" to the digital economy and public safety, including delays to emergency services. Former communications minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi argued the disruption was costly and would likely have limited defensive results. "Drone manufacturers and operators are not stupid either. If the GPS is disrupted and another positioning system replaces it, they will also use the new system," Jahromi said according to his Telegram channel. 'Unclear future' With the significant impact on civilian lives, deputy communications minister Ehsan Chitsaz suggested that Iran could consider alternatives to GPS. "Disruptions are created by domestic systems on GPS, and this has pushed us toward alternative options such as BeiDou," he told Iranian daily Ham Mihan in July. The Chinese satellite system BeiDou, fully operational since 2020, is emerging as a global rival to the US-built and operated GPS. Chitsaz said Iran was "drafting a program" so some of the country's location-based services for transport, agriculture could "gradually migrate from GPS to BeiDou". He acknowledged disruptions in Iran, coupled with years-long internet restrictions, have damaged businesses and created "social distrust and despair". But experts say that replacing GPS would be complex. "Doing so would require extensive and costly infrastructure changes," said Amir Rashidi of the US-based Miaan group, adding that Iran is currently "highly vulnerable in cyberspace". Many in Iran believe that another confrontation with Israel is on the horizon as Israel and the United States continue to threaten attacks if Iran restarts its nuclear programme, which has been on hold since the war. "Everything is uncertain, and we can't plan. The future is unclear," said Mohammad Hossein Ghanbari, a 32-year-old Snapp driver.
