Saudi Arabia’s labour reforms under Vision 2030 have lifted women’s workforce participation from 17% in 2017 to over 35% in 2024 and counting/Representative Image TL;DR: Female labour-force participation jumped from ~17% in 2015 to 36.2% in Q3 2024, well above Vision 2030’s initial 30% target . “Mada” digital payments saw e-commerce sales grow 25.8% to […]
Applicants now weigh Bahrain, UAE, and Saudi residency schemes for affordability, flexibility, and family benefits/Representative Image TL;DR: Bahrain’s 10-year Golden Residency is one of the most cost-effective long-term Gulf residency available in 2025. The UAE’s Golden Visa requires AED 2 million (USD 545,000) investment or comes via talent with nomination, with complex renewal criteria. Saudi […]
Saudi Arabia is using advanced AI and its Absher platform to track visit visa overstays, holding both expats and employers accountable with heavy fines/Representative Image TL;DR: Saudi Arabia introduced a 30-day grace period effective June 26 for expired visit visas this is a major shift from older 90‑day fines. Failure to leave within this window […]
Women in Saudi Arabia are redefining their roles, advancing in healthcare, education, and entrepreneurship under Vision 2030 reforms/Representative Image TL;DR: 2.6 million Indians contribute significantly to Saudi Arabia’s economy. Female Workforce participation up from ~23% to ~35–36%, with rising leadership and SME ownership. Persisting hurdles such as Saudization, legal friction, and cultural biases still limit […]
GCC residents can now buy and sell shares directly on Tadawul, replacing indirect access and boosting regional investment opportunities/ Image: (File) Saudi Arabia now allows GCC residents to directly invest in its main stock market, Tadawul. Previously, Gulf investors could only access the main market via indirect swap agreements. New rules let former residents of […]
GTA V and GTA Online will be available with a +21 rating in Saudi Arabia and the UAE starting July 17, 2025, on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, in both physical and digital formats./ Image: Rockstar GTA V and GTA Online are officially rated +21 and launching in Saudi Arabia and UAE on July 17, 2025. […]
In a major goof-up, a Pakistani airline flew a passenger to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia instead of Karachi, his actual destination.Shahzain, the affected passenger, alleged that he was not informed that he had boarded the wrong flight despite showing his ticket to the air hostess, ARY News reported.The passenger had to travel from Lahore, Pakistan’s […]
Saudi Arabia introduces a skill-based permit system, transforming the expat workforce/Image: File TL;DR: Saudi Arabia’s new visa policy now considers skills, experience, and salary. Expats are grouped into three levels: high-skilled, skilled, and basic.This change joins with Vision 2030 and big national projects like NEOM and Qiddiya. While professionals may benefit from this system, it […]
No radioactive traces have been detected in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, or the wider Gulf region following U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, according to regional authorities and the IAEA./ Image composite: File (AP) Multiple Gulf nations have confirmed that no abnormal radiation has been detected in the region following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear […]
Muslim pilgrims offer prayers at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) In a major policy shift to enhance the Umrah experience and protect the rights […]
