The Kuwaiti government has directed state agencies to continue raising the respective flags of GCC countries on their national days, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al Qabas reported, citing an official letter.
In a letter addressed to the Kuwait Municipality, the Council of Ministers’ Secretary-General, Saleh Al Mulla, stated that the flags of GCC states are to be hoisted annually on their national days as a gesture of sharing in each country’s celebration.

Created in 1981, the GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar.

Kuwait will host the 45th GCC summit on December 1, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al Yahya said.”Kuwait looks forward to welcoming the GCC leaders,” he told Al Rai newspaper on the sidelines of a milestone GCC-European Union summit held in Brussels last week.
The GCC is making efforts to get citizens of its state members exempted from the Schengen visa.

Last December, a GCC summit held in Doha approved a unified Gulf visa system allowing the holder to travel across the grouping’s six countries.A month earlier, the GCC interior ministers, meeting in Oman, approved a Schengen-like unified tourist visa for their countries in a landmark move aimed at boosting tourism and the economy.

“This approval is an important step illustrating that we, the six GCC countries, can grant visitors a visa that allows them to enter all six countries,” the bloc’s Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi said earlier this year.

The post Kuwait to raise GCC states’ flags on national days appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

DUBAI:

Celebrating World Chocolate Day on 7 July, Emirates is sharing that more than 40 million pieces of gourmet chocolate are served onboard each year, to passengers in all classes. Sweetening the travel experience with the world’s most beloved confectionary, Emirates selects and serves a delectable selection of artisan chocolate as part of the signature meal service in all classes, to 140 destinations around the world, according to a press release.

Throughout the last 12 months, 35 million chocolate treats have been served in Economy Class, more than 160,000 chocolates in Premium Economy Class since its launch in June 2022, with an additional 4 million chocolate pairs offered in Business and First Class. Emirates also introduced large gourmet chocolate boxes to First Class in December 2022, offering premium passengers the chance to indulge in a sample onboard and even takeaway some of their favourite flavours, with chocolate fans relishing more than 36,000 boxes in the last six months.

Emirates collaborates closely with connoisseur chocolatiers from around the globe, including Bateel, Coco Jalila and Forrey & Galland from the UAE, Godiva from Belgium, Valrhona from France, Butlers from Ireland, Canonica and Neuhaus from Switzerland, Pacari from Ecuador and Hotel Chocolat from the UK. The chocolate brands are selected for a multitude of reasons including content – for example dark, milk or white chocolate, bonbons, pralines or truffles, with fillings of creamy ganache or tangy fruit, the all-important taste and texture component, alongside brand recognition, current trends, its ‘instagrammability’ and whether its sustainably sourced. Each handpicked chocolate brand is on board for a minimum of 3 months before a new selection is introduced to delight frequent flyers.

Across all classes, customers craving a chocolate fix can enjoy chocolate desserts and hot chocolate from the menu. The most popular chocolate desserts onboard Emirates historically are the decadent Molten Chocolate Cake in First Class and the silky-smooth Milk Chocolate Mousse for children. On longer routes, chocolate candy bars are served in a snack tray and chocolate lollipops are offered to children during festive celebrations. At Emirates’ A380 Onboard lounge, customers can also help themselves to vegan and non-vegan sweet treats of M&Ms, chocolate cake and chocolate mini treats.

In Emirates Lounges, chocolate is a staple feature, with customers enjoying homemade Emirates chocolate ice-cream from the old-fashioned ice cream cart, signature creamy hot chocolate from Costa Coffee, and a myriad of creative chocolate desserts from Emirates Master Chefs, including white chocolate raspberry delight with white chocolate mousse and luscious raspberry jelly, decadent chocolate truffles, a fruity white chocolate passionfruit cheesecake and indulgent dark chocolate salted caramel tarts amongst many others.

A special chocolate-focused dessert is a new feature in Emirates First Class Lounges in Dubai, using Valrhona Grand Cru Blends from around the globe to make exquisite desserts like chocolate and pecan gateaux, 85% Abinao chocolate cremeux, pecan praline, Sacher sponge and spiced milk ice cream, as well as Dulcey Chocolate – a blond and biscuity flavoured chocolate. In July, the special First-Class lounge dessert will be a rich chocolate extravaganza of 64% Manjari dark chocolate entremets, cocoa crumble, dark chocolate sponge, vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.

The post Emirates serves more than 40 million chocolates every year appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

The most obvious plan is to begin flights to India through its Gulf subsidiary, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, based on strong point-to-point demand between the UAE and India. Abu Dhabi would also become a connecting point to Europe for Wizz Air, Aviation Week quoted Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi as saying.

“Over the longer run, we would be interested in connecting India directly to the European network, especially when the A321XLR becomes available to us,” Varadi said.

According to the report, Wizz Air has 47 A321XLRs on order. Airbus says it is confident about the certification timeline for the long-range variant, targeting entry-into-service in the second quarter of 2024.

Even though this plan cannot be executed in the short term, Varadi believes that Wizz Air could be a pioneer in bringing India closer to the EU as the ULCC looks east. In his view, Wizz Air is the logical operator of such services among the European carriers.

“I expect our first Airbus A321XLR toward the end of next year. The aircraft can do Delhi-London nonstop, for example … not from the whole of India, [but] from some parts of it,” Varadi said.

The fleet of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the joint venture between Hungary’s Wizz Air and Abu Dhabi state-owned holding ADQ, will be doubled from eight aircraft to 16 within the next 12 months.

Wizz Air itself has made significant investments to make its operations more robust. The ULCC doubled the number of people working in daily operations from 150 to 300, in a bid to improve its operations planning, maintenance control center, logistic department, and other functions.

The Wizz Air fleet is growing from 180 aircraft to 200 this year. “We are taking roughly around 40 aircraft deliveries a year, an average of three aircraft every month,” he said.

The post Wizz Air plans Nonstop EU-India flights soon appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

The post Children under 12 exempted from COVID-19 PCR test, says Air India Express appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

The post Sharjah top notch in ‘High Growth Ecosystems’, says GSER appeared first on The Gulf Indians.

DUBAI 28/05/2020
The UAE’s penchant for taking the COVID-19 fight head on was evident as the federal government announced a return to business but with social distancing norms in place. All federal ministries and institutions will function from May 31 at 30 per cent capacity. This will be gradually increased, and will attain 100 percent capacity from June 14, 2020.
As of now, certain categories of people can continue with the remote work system; they include pregnant women, people of determination, and people with chronic diseases like asthma and diabetes.
The emirate of Dubai, which resumed business activities from 6 am to 11 pm on May 27, witnessed a buzz of activity in its streets and public places. Restaurants, cinemas, gyms and recreation centres welcomed back customers while following sterilisation and social distancing precautions.
The National Disinfection Programme will now be from 11 p.m. to 6 am in Dubai while the six other emirates will continue to observe the 8 p.m. to 6 am timings until further notice. The programme, which involved a complete sterilisation of all public spaces and utilities, had begun on the night of March 26 and has continued with complete public support thereafter. The movement restrictions applied to all residents and visitors, except those working in vital sectors. Dubai even went into a 24 hour sterilisation drive from April 5 advising the public to stay at home except for essential purposes.
This has now seen results, and Dubai is cautiously heralding the new normal. The lifeline of many expats, the Dubai Metro, which had resumed on April 26 after a temporary suspension from April 5, was its old bustling self on the first day after the Eid holidays. Trams, buses and the peak-hour traffic jams on the Sharjah-Dubai roads are all back to add to the emirate’s dynamic way of life.
COVID-19 fight and death toll
As of May 27, 883 new cases were reported taking the total number of infected in the country to 31,969. This includes those receiving treatment, recovered cases, and deaths. With the recovery of 389 patients after receiving the necessary medical care, the total number of recoveries in the country now stands at 16,371.
Dr. Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, official spokesperson for the UAE government, announced the death of two patients on Wednesday, which took the total number of COVID-related deaths to 255.
“The number of COVID-19 cases still receiving treatment now stands at 15,343 from different nationalities,” she added.
“Regarding the gradual return to normal life and amendments to the National Disinfection Programme, they are being assessed by the relevant committees in every emirate to ensure the readiness of local economic sectors to serve the public and take all preventative measures,” Al Shamsi said.
Repatriation of Indian expatriates
The Indian government had launched the Vande Bharat Mission for the repatriation of stranded Indians in early May. The first repatriation flight ferried 181 passengers from Abu Dhabi to Kochi on May 7. Until June 8, 81 flights will take around 14,000 Indians from the UAE.
Pregnant women and those with medical emergencies are given priority. More than 800 pregnant women have already been repatriated from the UAE to India. At least 6,500 pregnant women in the UAE, have registered with the Indian embassy (in Abu Dhabi) and consulate (in Dubai) to return home to India.

The post UAE opens cautiously after Eid holidays appeared first on The Gulf Indians.