New UAE media law: Fines of up to Dh1 million for insulting religious beliefs
A new media law has come into effect in the UAE as of May 29, introducing a strict regulatory framework for all media activities in the country. The law carries hefty penalties up to Dh1 million, for violations ranging from insulting religious beliefs to operating without a license.
The legislation reinforces the UAE's commitment to promoting ethical, respectful, and responsible media conduct. It outlines a series of offenses, many of which come with tiered fines depending on the severity or repetition of the violation.
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The National
an hour ago
- The National
Syria tilts towards the West as Gulf capital drives post-Assad recovery
After more than a decade of war and isolation, Syria is edging back into the global economy. The signs are familiar: commercial flights have resumed, sanctions are being eased and its debts are being cleared. Gulf investors are circling. Infrastructure deals are being announced. The headlines suggest the country is on the cusp of reintegration. But this is not simply an economic reawakening. It marks a deeper geopolitical repositioning – one that places Syria within a widening western and Gulf-aligned bloc, as influence from Iran and Russia recedes. Syria's recovery will not be decided by GDP charts alone. It will depend on whether the country can reclaim enough political agency to rebuild on its own terms – or whether, like Iraq before it, Syria becomes a postwar economy designed around the interests of its financial and political sponsors. Sanctions relief from the US and EU has reopened the door to international investment in Syria, particularly in energy. The policy shift has catalysed a wave of Gulf-backed deals, most notably a $7 billion agreement involving Qatari, Turkish and US companies to rebuild Syria's power infrastructure. These developments signal more than capital flows, they point to a convergence of western and Gulf interests. The energy deal led by Qatari companies is the clearest bellwether. It follows a well-established template seen in postwar Iraq, where US and western firms including ExxonMobil and Shell helped rebuild the oil sector in ways that aligned output with western markets. With Russian and Iranian influence in Syria greatly diminished, its energy sector is being restructured to serve a different geopolitical order. Syria's new economic vision is increasingly shaped by partnerships with Gulf nations. Flights from Dubai-based airlines to the Syrian capital Damascus are resuming. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have paid Syria's arrears at the World Bank. Major regional banks are exploring correspondent relationships with Syrian institutions – something that was unthinkable just a year ago. The momentum is clear. This pivot also hints at Syria's eventual role in a broader integration of regional infrastructure. Syria is not formally part of the Iraq Development Road (IDR), a $17 billion infrastructure project that aims to facilitate trade between the Gulf and Europe through Turkey. But recent infrastructure moves suggest a potential alignment. Syria is negotiating a $300 million fibre-optic project with Gulf telecoms companies under the SilkLink initiative and it has signed agreements with Gulf and French firms worth more than $1.5 billion to develop its Tartus and Latakia ports. These projects aim to restore Syria's position as a logistical bridge and may yet dovetail with broader regional integration efforts, such as the IDR. Gulf support for Syria is driven in part by strategic considerations. With a population exceeding 20 million and a pressing need for reconstruction, Syria offers economic opportunities in sectors including energy and infrastructure, attracting interest from Gulf nations seeking to diversify their own economies beyond oil. Six months after former president Bashar Al Assad was deposed, Syria remains deeply unstable, but the direction of travel is unmistakable. Political volatility persists, with pro-Assad insurgents challenging the government, led by President Ahmad Al Shara. Sanctions have been eased, yet investors remain cautious. A true investment boom will require more institutional guarantees and credible reforms. Yet Syria's fundamentals are hard to ignore. Its geography gives it access to five key markets (it borders Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and Lebanon) and a Mediterranean port system, offering direct access to Europe through the Suez Canal. It has natural resources, untapped agricultural capacity and a large, dispersed diaspora, including millions of highly educated Syrians who fled to North America and Europe after the civil war broke out in 2011. If Syria can secure peace and policy credibility, it has the potential to become, over time, a regional node for trade, logistics and skilled industries. So, what kind of state might Syria become? The Iraq model is one possibility, an externally funded recovery shaped by competing interests and vulnerable to internal fragmentation, though Syria's more diverse international backing could set it on a different course. Another, more aspirational model is the UAE, a service-driven economy boosted by expatriate talent and foreign capital. But unlike Syria, the UAE built from a foundation of stability and oil wealth. The more plausible path is somewhere in between: a hybrid economy rebuilt with Gulf capital and western acquiescence, plugged into regional logistics but still dependent on foreign support. However, Syria could become globally connected, but politically constrained, with its economic direction increasingly shaped by the terms set abroad. That raises longer-term questions about sovereignty. Syria remains heavily dependent on external support for reconstruction, currency stability and basic financial credibility. Its future will hinge on whether it can preserve any meaningful policy autonomy while accepting sustained foreign involvement. The signals to watch over the coming year will be telling: foreign direct investment, particularly in infrastructure and education; return migration from Europe and North America; and concrete steps towards institution-building. If the country invests in people, not just in roads and power plants, its recovery may be sustainable. If those signals fail to materialise, Syria risks being increasingly shaped by the interests of its backers. It is not returning to the global stage as a neutral actor. It is returning with its orientation, at least economically, tilted towards the West.
Khaleej Times
10 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: Indian expat dies during scuba diving session at Jumeirah Beach
A 29-year-old Indian expat lost his life during a scuba diving session at Jumeirah Beach on Friday — while spending the Eid Al Adha holidays with his family in Dubai — a family member confirmed to Khaleej Times on Saturday. The deceased, identified as Issac Paul Olakkengil, was an engineer based in the UAE. According to his relative, Issac suffered a cardiac arrest after experiencing difficulty breathing underwater. David Pyarilos, Issac's uncle who is assisting the family with the legal procedures, told Khaleej Times that the incident happened during a training session at a designated scuba diving area in Dubai on Friday. 'They were participating in a beginners' training session when Issac began to struggle with his breathing and drifted away from the rest of the group,' said Pyarilos. He was immediately pulled out of the water and transported to a nearby hospital but could not be revived. 'We are currently coordinating with the relevant authorities to complete the documentation needed for the repatriation of his body,' added Pyarilos. Expert advice Filipino instructor Bimbo Calitis, founder and CEO of Amphibious Swim School in Jumeirah, told Khaleej Times: 'Those who want to learn diving must first check the background and credentials of the diving school.' 'Once you sign a waiver, technically you are voluntarily relinquishing or surrendering some of your rights and, in the process, exonerate the diving school of legal responsibilities,' he added. 'Learners must also first ensure they are physically fit,' he underscored, noting: 'There are many things that may happen under the water and if there medical emergencies, it's just you and the instructor. 'If you have underlying conditions, ask your doctor first and go to only licensed and credible diving schools. Avoid those who are offering cheap options or freelance diving instructors who are not certified,' Calitis added.
Khaleej Times
14 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
'Wish they could eat': Palestinian expats in UAE spend Eid praying for relatives, donating
Muslims across the UAE, like many others around the world, began their Eid Al Adha festivities on Friday, June 6, with early morning prayers in mosques and open prayer grounds. But for Palestinians expats, the celebration carries a complex and bittersweet weight. While the festivities unfold in the UAE, the place they now call home, many still carry the burden of loved ones living in Gaza, where destruction and hardship have cast a shadow over what should be a day of joy. For Jana A, a 24-year-old Dubai-based Palestinian, "celebrating Eid this year was bleak, marked by grotesque scenes of death, suffering and destruction aired on TV and our social media platforms. "It's impossible to go about celebrating Eid after seeing these images," she said. The young UAE resident said she has "not been to Palestine for 7 years mainly because of increasing settler violence in our village's area". A.H. (name withheld on request), a Dubai resident originally from Palestine, shared her thoughts on the matter. 'My parents and relatives are fine. But just because everyone at home is safe doesn't mean that we don't know what's happening in Gaza. It's hard, especially during Eid.' The 32-year-old copywriter, along with her brother, took part in a fundraiser to support those in Gaza who couldn't afford the festivities. 'It's one of the best experiences I've had,' she said, reflecting on the solidarity and connection she felt with those in need back home. For some Palestinians in the country, this Eid was not just about prayers and donations — it was a reminder of the resilience of their people, the hardships their loved ones face, and the deep connection that extends beyond borders, even in the darkest times. 'We've been living in Dubai for almost 10 years now, and it never gets easier seeing our brothers and sisters in Gaza, scraping by and barely having enough to eat," A.H.'s brother, M.A.H said. "Eid should be a time for celebration, but it's hard to feel that joy when you know what's happening back home. Still, we made the most of it, meeting with family here and donating to our friend's fundraiser. That's how we found some peace," the 36-year-old software engineer added. For Zain, a 23-year-old Palestinian from Sharjah, Eid in UAE starkly contrasts celebrations "back home." In Palestine, the festivities are never-ending; for 3 days, families go door-to-door, exchanging greetings with relatives. In UAE, the celebrations are shorter for Eid, as the number of relatives in the country are less, with most of her extended family staying in Palestine, Zain added. For this Eid, Zain's wish is heart-wrenchingly simple. She wishes her aunt in Palestine can eat. "I wish they can get food. It's not that they can't afford it, it's that there is simply nothing available." Jana fondly remembered the "tight-knit community" in Palestine; "the smell of soil, the taste of fruits that my family has planted and harvested for years, the warmth of the breeze traveling all the way from the Mediterranean." For Eid, her wish is to "go home; for all Palestinians to go home" and experience "the feeling of belonging [that] only lays in Palestine".
