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Khaleej Times
10 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
3 hours to Dubai, 12 hours to reach airport: Torrential rains delay UAE-bound travellers
With torrential rains lashing parts of south and western India, UAE residents returning from their summer break are battling floods, road blocks and hours of delay just to reach the airport. Panic has gripped many families as district administrations issue red alerts, reservoirs release excess water, local trains get cancelled and roads remain under knee-deep water. 'As soon as the authorities said water would be released from the Linganamakki reservoir, I knew things could go out of hand,' said Asif Sheikh, a Dubai-based sales supervisor who travelled back from Honnavara, Uttara Kannada in Karnataka. 'Normally, it takes me about 3-and-a-half hours to reach Mangalore airport. This time it took me 7 hours. I left a day early just so I don't miss my flight,' said Asif. He arrived at the airport nearly eight hours before departure and spent the night waiting to board his IndiGo flight to Dubai. 'It was raining heavily while I was taking the road journey. We had to drive slowly and carefully with full alertness. At some towns, the roads were blocked. Back home, it's still raining heavily.' he added. 'We don't usually leave so early, but this time we had no choice. Missing the flight would mean shelling out another Dh2,000 to Dh3,000 for a new ticket,' he said. It is not only travellers from southern India who are experiencing hard times. The situation in western India, especially Maharashtra, is also alarming. Mumbai has been hit by torrential rains over the past few days which has delayed dozens of flights. A red alert was issued by authorities on Tuesday and Wednesday. According to Flight Radar 24, over 150 departures and nearly 100 arrivals were delayed on Tuesday alone. The airport has issued advisory on their website stating that they are operational and asking passengers to arrive early and stay in touch with their airlines. Abhishek Patil, a production manager at a food company in Abu Dhabi, left his hometown of Ratnagiri with his wife and three children in panic mode. 'When we heard the roads were getting blocked and even local trains were being cancelled, we decided to reach Mumbai a day early,' he said. 'We stayed at a hotel, but getting from the hotel to the airport took us nearly four hours due to waterlogged roads. There were cars breaking down on the way, people pushing their vehicles.' His flight to Abu Dhabi was delayed by 2 hours, and the family ended up spending around 10 hours at the airport. 'Our children were exhausted, but at least we reached. In such weather, anything can go wrong." Even those living in Mumbai are struggling to reach the airport on time. Kruthika Nair, a PR executive living in Dombivli and working in Dubai, said she left home 10 hours before her SpiceJet flight to Dubai. 'Local trains had stopped, roads were submerged. The 45-km trip to the airport took me six hours,' she said. 'I couldn't eat or drink much on the way because I was under stress that I wouldn't make it to the airport,' added Nair. Although her flight departed only an hour late, Nair said it was one of the most stressful days of her life. 'This was one of the most difficult travels of my life. One lesson I learned is not to travel to Mumbai during the monsoon,' said Nair. With more heavy showers forecast and red alerts in place, travelers from rain-hit Indian states say they are leaving home at least 8 to 10 hours early to avoid missing their flights back to the UAE.
Arabian Business
an hour ago
- Arabian Business
Ancient Christian cross unearthed on Abu Dhabi's Sir Bani Yas Island
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has announced the discovery of an ancient Christian cross on Sir Bani Yas Island, marking the first major excavation on the site in more than 30 years. The find was made during a fieldwork campaign launched in January 2025 and is believed to have been used by monks for spiritual contemplation. The cross, moulded on a stucco plaque, shows stylistic similarities with objects discovered in Iraq and Kuwait, linking it to the Church of the East, which traces its origins to ancient Iraq. Ancient Christian cross found in Abu Dhabi DCT Abu Dhabi said the discovery reinforces the UAE's long-standing traditions of peace and tolerance. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: 'The discovery of this ancient Christian cross on Sir Bani Yas Island is a powerful testament to the UAE's profound and enduring values of coexistence and cultural openness. 'It stirs within us a deep sense of pride and honour and reminds us that peaceful coexistence is not a modern construct, but a principle woven into the very fabric of our region's history. 'The ongoing discoveries from Sir Bani Yas Island, even after 30 years of research and excavation, underscore the magnitude of our cultural legacy and the importance of our continued commitment to its preservation and understanding. 'As DCT Abu Dhabi continues to uncover these valuable stories, we reaffirm our dedication to preserving, promoting, and protecting Abu Dhabi's diverse heritage, one that we are honoured to share with the world.' History unearthed by the DCT Abu Dhabi team! An ancient cross from a 7th-8th century monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island, our first major dig in 30 years. This discovery highlights the UAE's legacy of peaceful co-existence. — Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (@dctabudhabi) August 19, 2025 Sir Bani Yas Island The Sir Bani Yas monastery was originally discovered in 1992 by the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS). Dating to the seventh–eighth centuries CE, it is part of a wider network of churches and monasteries across the region, with parallels found in: Umm Al Quwain Kuwait Iran Saudi Arabia Archaeologists have uncovered a church, a monastic complex and evidence of courtyard houses, interpreted as spaces where senior monks lived in retreat and seclusion. Christianity flourished in the Arabian Peninsula between the fourth and sixth centuries CE before declining; by the eighth century CE the Sir Bani Yas monastery was peacefully abandoned. Today, the church and monastery lie within a protected nature reserve, home to gazelles and hyrax, and serve as a reminder of Abu Dhabi's diverse cultural past. As part of DCT Abu Dhabi's restoration works in 2019, the monastery and church were protected with shelters and reopened to the public. The site now features upgraded facilities including directional signage and a small exhibition of artefacts from previous excavations, such as glass chalices, a cross-shaped stucco and a scorpion seal. A multi-faith church, inspired by the ancient monastery, has also been constructed adjacent to the visitor centre. Looking ahead, DCT Abu Dhabi plans to continue excavations of nearby courtyard houses, which may be integrated into a wider visitor trail connecting Sir Bani Yas Island's cultural heritage landmarks.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
As Pop Mart eyes Middle East expansion, what you need to know about Chinese brand behind Labubu
Labubu has been all the rage, and it doesn't look like the craze is slowing down anytime soon. But could a Pop Mart store finally be on its way to the region? Pop Mart founder and chief executive Wang Ning spoke to analysts on Wednesday, saying the company is weighing possible expansion plans into emerging markets, including the Middle East, Central Europe, as well as Central and South America. 'I think for overseas markets we're still very positive, and we also believe there's still very broad space for growth,' Wang said. For now, fans in the region rely on authorised resellers, as there are no official standalone Pop Mart stores here. But with the company eyeing entry into the UAE, here's a closer look at what they're all about. What is Pop Mart? The toy company from Beijing was founded in 2010, with an early focus on tapping into youth culture trends in China. Its first shop opened in Zhongguancun, the city's tech hub, but struggled with inventory, staffing and a clear identity, selling a wide mix of products. That changed in 2014, when toys became the company's main focus. Wang drew inspiration from Japan's gashapon vending machines, which dispense toys in random canisters. He wanted to capture the same element of surprise, but in sleeker packaging. The result was the 'blind box", so customers buy a sealed box without knowing which figure they'll get. Pop Mart's first big breakthrough came with Hong Kong artist Kenny Wong, who created Molly, a wide-eyed girl with a blond bob and turquoise button-shaped eyes. Already popular with a niche fan base, Molly proved a hit and set the stage for more collaborations. From 2016 onward, Pop Mart partnered with more artists and expanded its range, including Kasing Lung, who introduced Labubu in 2019. Since then, the company has opened stores and installed vending machines, known as Roboshops, across Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America. It has also branched out into animation studios, art galleries and even a theme park called Pop Land. What can I expect inside a store? Pop Mart stores are usually bright, modern spaces designed to feel playful and immersive. They have glass walls showcasing rows of colourful blind boxes, shelves stacked with character figurines, and larger-than-life statues of popular creations such as Labubu or Molly. Inside, the layout is clean and minimalist, but packed with vibrant displays, giving it the feel of both an art gallery and a toy shop. Some locations also feature interactive elements, such as vending-style Roboshops, where customers can try their luck at a blind box. What characters can I find at Pop Mart? Pop Mart offers a wide roster of collectable characters, mostly sold in its blind box format. Its most recognisable in-house creations include Labubu, Molly and Skullpanda. The company has also teamed up with major names such as Disney and Sanrio, the brand behind Hello Kitty. Labubu's appeal in the UAE The UAE has long been a hub for global retail trends and collectables. From Funko Pops to limited-edition trainers, there's a strong culture of fandom and exclusivity, especially for younger buyers who are active on social media. While Pop Mart doesn't yet have a dedicated store in the region, authorised resellers and online platforms already stock its blind boxes, often at a markup. For example, Labubu retails for about Dh79, but some outlets sell them for up to Dh350 or more.
