Latest news with #AlBarsha
UAE Moments
04-08-2025
- Automotive
- UAE Moments
New Umm Suqeim Tunnel Cuts Drive Time to Under 4 Minutes
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) just opened a new 800-metre tunnel with four lanes each way on Umm Suqeim Street—and it's a game-changer for anyone who dreads traffic. Part of the ongoing Umm Suqeim Street Development Project, this new underpass connects Al Khail Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, and it's designed to move traffic faster, smoother, and way more efficiently. Why It Matters If you live in areas like Al Barsha South, Dubai Hills, Arjan, or Dubai Science Park, this is big. Over one million residents are expected to benefit from the upgrade. The tunnel boosts the road's total capacity to 16,000 vehicles per hour in both directions, helping cut your drive time from 9.7 minutes to just 3.8 minutes between key intersections. The Bigger Picture The full 4.6 km upgrade also includes a reconstructed intersection near Kings' School and surface-level traffic signals for added flow. This is all part of a massive plan to improve the 16-km Umm Suqeim–Al Qudra corridor—one of Dubai's top east–west routes. And yes, they brought in the tech. AI-powered drones and time-lapse imaging helped RTA fast-track progress while keeping everything in check. Smart and efficient? Very Dubai.
Khaleej Times
12-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
'I can travel the world': Why UAE residents want US visa despite additional fee
An additional fee of $250 to apply for a US visa may not stop UAE residents from applying, as many believe it still offers various other benefits. From ease of travelling to many countries to visa-free entries in other countries, residents said the long-term benefits are more with multiple trips to the US. Mohammad Sajid, a businessman living on Al Maktoum Road, said the visa has added a lot of value for his travel plans. 'I got the US visa mainly for a business trip to New York, but now I have used it to visit Mexico and even got my other countries' visas easily because of it,' said Sajid. As part of a major immigration reform bill, US President Donald Trump earlier this month signed into law the 'one big beautiful bill', which includes a new 'Visa Integrity Fee'. This fee adds $250 on top of the existing $185 non-immigrant visa fee, bringing the total cost to at least $435 for applicants. The amount could rise in future based on inflation. The charge applies to all non-immigrant visa categories, tourist, student, or work, and cannot be waived, although in certain cases, it may be reimbursed. Despite the additional cost, Sajid believes people will still apply because of the long validity the visa offers. 'It is valid for 10 years. You pay once and can use it so many times. Unlike the Schengen visa, which costs hundreds of dirhams and is often valid only for a few weeks or months.' Saeed Hashim, a resident of Al Barsha and a finance professional who got his US visa a few years ago, said that the visa helped him to visit other countries without hassle. 'I have used my US visa for more than just America,' he said. 'Turkey, the Dominican Republic, and other countries allow e-visas or visa-free entry if you have a valid US visa. It saves you the headache of applying for new visas again and again.' He added that his visa also helped during long airport layovers. 'I once had a 12-hour layover in Chicago. We left the airport, saw the city, had dinner, and came back. You can't do that in most countries without a visa.' Travel industry executives said that because of added benefits, the demand will not dip despite the higher fee. 'People were paying $185 for US visa and this new fee will not make much of a difference. It won't really affect serious applicants,' said Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager at Wisefox Tourism. 'When you apply with a good salary and proper documents, a US visa becomes a strong credential. It makes getting other visas much easier, and for many countries like Turkey or even Georgia, it opens doors to e-visas or visa-free travel,' said Subair. 'For example, a Turkey visa can cost you Dh765 in total, and you still need to submit your passport to the embassy. But if you already have a US visa, you can get an e-visa instantly,' added Subair. He further said that the visa allows for smooth transit through airports across the world. 'We have seen people willing to wait a year for a US visa appointment and that shows how valuable it is.' Pavan Poojari, travel consultant at Luxury Travels, said they are watching the situation closely. 'Right now, we are in a bit of a wait-and-watch mode. The US systems are undergoing updates, and currently, we don't have full access to the new visa application system.' He said that there is a lot of anticipation in the travel industry and everyone wants to know what changes might be introduced. 'We are monitoring the situation and are hopeful that the new system will be operational very soon. Once it's live, there will be more clarity and efficiency in the process.'
The National
04-07-2025
- Business
- The National
Money & Me: ‘My goal is not having to check the price of things I want to buy'
Karen Kriska, a Filipina in Dubai, is a cryptocurrency enthusiast who has allocated half her investment portfolio to digital tokens. She has accumulated most of her wealth over the years through investing in cryptos, particularly Shiba Inu. She considers her crypto coins to be generational wealth for her son. 'I learnt all about Bitcoin, wallets, decentralised finance and blockchain from YouTube,' Ms Kriska, 38, says. 'I initially invested $86 to buy 540 million Shiba Inu coins in February 2021. Before it hit an all-time high, I sold $50,000 worth of these coins between May and October 2021 and re-invested in other coins and play-to-earn tokens to grow my portfolio." She still holds 577 million Shiba Inu coins, which are now valued at $6,400, and stakes it in crypto exchange Bybit to earn rewards while holding. "I am holding it as a reminder that without this coin, I would never have achieved the financial freedom I have now," Ms Kriska says. Ms Kriska currently works as chief of staff for a holding company called Coinvesting Holding in Dubai. The company's subsidiaries include Digital Asset Business Centre, a digital assets consultancy in Dubai Multi Commodities Centre; Reit Development, which is building the Crypto Tower in JLT, and Web3 Productions, which produces content related to blockchain. Ms Kriska has been in the UAE for the past 11 years and currently stays with her 16-year-old son in a villa in Dubai's Al Barsha 3 area. Her other investments include a call centre in the Philippines. 'I came to the UAE in 2014 in search of new challenges after I heard that Dubai is hosting Expo 2020,' she says. Ms Kriska holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from the Philippines. Did wealth feature in your childhood? What did you learn from it? Money was not a problem in my childhood since I came from a family of businesspeople. When I was a kid, I learnt that money is freedom. It's not being able to buy luxuries for the sake of it, but about the choices you can make. Money offers me the freedom to say 'no' to things that don't align with me and 'yes' to things that do. Money gives me the power to take care of my family. I brought my son to Dubai in 2022 because I earned enough for him to live with me. How did you first earn? My first job was as a technical support representative for Dell Computers in 2007 and I earned around Dh1,000 per month equivalent in Philippine pesos. I earned my first 1 million pesos a year after I graduated from college when I started my home-based call centre. Any early financial jolts? I used to have a daycare centre in the Philippines, which I had to sell in 2016 to finance some business endeavours I was planning in Dubai. However, these ventures failed because I trusted the wrong people. I also lived beyond my means. How do you grow your wealth? Right now, I grow my wealth by diversifying my investment portfolio. I invest in real estate in the Philippines, tech stocks in the US, UAE initial public offerings, cryptos and artificial intelligence companies. For instance, my Parkin stocks are already up by 200 per cent since the date of investment. I have also invested in stocks of Al Ansari Exchange, Dewa, Empower, Salik, Spinneys, Talabat and Taaleem. Are you a spender or a saver? I don't spend on things that I don't need. But I give myself a reward occasionally for working hard. Have you been wise with money? I have been wise with money in the past three years. When I suddenly earned a good amount in Dubai, I was shocked and didn't know what to do with it. So, I bought luxury items. But I realised soon enough that I should invest in things that matter. What has been your best investment? It's been in cryptocurrencies. Regardless of the price of Bitcoin, I set aside money every month to buy cryptos and my portfolio is growing. The reason why I consider cryptos to be my best investment is because I look at it as generational wealth that can be passed on to my son. Bitcoin forms the big chunk of cryptos in my portfolio, but I also own Ethereum, AI coins, Satoshi, Shiba Inu, and some altcoins. I trade in cryptos on Binance, Bybit and Phemex exchanges. Around 50 per cent of my portfolio is made up of cryptos, 20 per cent in stocks, 20 per cent is in real estate, and the remaining 10 per cent is invested in crypto projects with a strong foundation. I use Wio to trade UAE stocks and eToro for US stocks. I started investing in UAE stocks when crypto prices crashed in 2022. Any cherished purchases? The five-bedroom house that I purchased in Iloilo City, where my parents hail from, in the Philippines. It was a 'thank you' gesture to them for raising me to be a competitive person and inculcating my money mindset. How do you feel about money? It gives me the power to take care of my family, to invest in my passions and to live life on my terms. I don't chase money blindly, instead I see it as a tool that when used wisely can amplify who I am. Any financial advice for your younger self? Yes, I should have started investing earlier. I began to invest only in the last five years. Properties in the Philippines were cheap earlier and I should have invested in them, instead of spending on luxuries and travel. I wish I had invested in gold, too, because I remember my grandmother would give me gold and I'd sell it. What luxuries are important to you? The biggest luxuries are having time, being with the people I love and to be able to slow down in life when required. I want to share my knowledge, tell my story and inspire others that they can achieve wealth, too, by watching videos on YouTube, learning new skills and new technologies. But I don't have time to share my knowledge. What are your financial goals? To achieve financial freedom, which I already have. It's being in a place where I don't have to check the price of things I want to buy. I have wanted to be so financially secure that I don't have to think twice, whether it's about taking a vacation, helping my family, or just walking away from situations I don't like.
Khaleej Times
28-06-2025
- Khaleej Times
Dubai Police confiscate 656 scooters in Al Barsha in 2024
Dubai Police confiscated a total of 656 scooters in Al Barsha area alone last year due to various traffic law violations committed by the riders, authorities announced on Saturday. This statistic was revealed following an inspection visit at Al Barsha Police Station conducted by Maj-Gen Harib Mohammed Al Shamsi, deputy commander-in-chief for Criminal Affairs, as part of the annual inspection program for general departments and police stations. Al Shamsi reviewed initiatives of Al Barsha Police Station and also evaluated security coverage in the area, as well as average emergency response time, traffic accident fatality and crime rates. The inspection revealed a 100 per cent presence rate for on-duty officers at reporting locations, successfully meeting its target. Al Shamsi also focused on operations aimed at enhancing road safety, mitigating negative traffic behaviors, and apprehending violators through checkpoints established across various areas within the station's jurisdiction. The 656 scooters confiscated last year were due to traffic law violations committed by the riders, he noted. Meanwhile, in April this year, Dubai announced the launch of a special unit focused on monitoring violations by cyclists and e-scooter riders. The new Personal Mobility Monitoring Unit was created to improve traffic safety on cycling and e-scooter tracks while ensuring compliance with all relevant safety standards. Launched through a collaboration between the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police, the unit is tasked to oversee adherence to traffic rules, managing the flow of traffic on cycling lanes, and promoting public awareness of safe riding practices. It can be noted that last year, Dubai saw 254 accidents related to bicycles and e-scooters, resulting in 10 deaths and 259 injuries, including 17 severe injuries, 133 moderate injuries, and 109 minor injuries. The issue of electric bikes and e-scooters being recklessly operated by unlicensed teenagers is one of the main concerns of UAE residents. Several parents and concerned residents have raised the issue of seeing some minors navigating busy roads and traffic lanes with little to no experience, often ignoring traffic laws and without any parental supervision.
Zawya
24-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Air Arabia introduces new city check-in facility in Al Barsha Mall
Air Arabia has opened its second City Check-in facility in Dubai, located at Al Barsha Mall. The newly launched service offers added convenience to customers traveling from both Sharjah International Airport and Zayed International Airport, bringing the total number of Air Arabia City Check-in facilities to 14 spreads across the UAE. The City Check-in service allows passengers to drop off their baggage and collect their boarding passes from 48 hours up to 8 hours prior to their scheduled departure time, helping them avoid airport queues and head straight to immigration upon arrival at the airport. A handling fee of 20 dirhams per passenger applies. Operating daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, the new facility also offers additional services such as the purchase of extra baggage allowance, seat selection, and flight modifications. The Al Barsha Mall location is the second Air Arabia City Check-in facility in Dubai, complementing a growing network of conveniently located centres across the UAE in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah. This service is designed to streamline the travel experience, reduce waiting times at the airport and deliver added value to customers ahead of the busy summer travel season. As part of its growth strategy and dedication to quality, the carrier continues to provide enhanced customer experience. The opening of the new City Check-In facility is consistent with the airline's commitment to providing affordable and value-added solutions that meet its customers' evolving needs. -TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
