Surat:

Four people have been arrested for allegedly smuggling gold worth Rs 65 lakh by spraying it on trolley bags to evade security checks at the international airport in Gujarat’s Surat, police said on Monday.

The accused allegedly smuggled gold from Dubai by mixing it with chemicals and spraying it on rexine and rubber sheets of trolley bags, the official said.

According to an official statement, the Special Operations Group (SOG) arrested four persons who were part of a gang and seized 927 gm of gold worth around Rs 65 lakh on Sunday.

The gang members sent a couple from Surat to Dubai, where their accomplice handed them gold in liquid form.

The gold was mixed with chemicals and sprayed on trolley bags to evade security checks at the Surat International Airport, the SOG said.

The accused managed to evade immigration checks and were going to deliver the smuggled gold to their gang members at a hotel, it said.

“Based on a tip-off, the SOG team conducted a raid at a hotel and arrested four persons, including a woman,” the statement said.

The accused, Naeem Saleh (29), Umaima Saleh (25), Abdul Bemat (33), and Firoz Nur (48), are residents of Mangrol in Surat district, it said.

The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita for cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Islamabad:

With cash-strapped Pakistan running from pillar to post to get loan, its rich nationals own between 17,000 to 22,000 properties worth USD 12.5 billion in Dubai, according to the leaked data used by an international consortium of journalists to access details of properties in Dubai, it emerged on Tuesday.

According to Dawn.com, the leaked data provides a detailed overview of hundreds of thousands of properties in Dubai and information about their ownership or usage, largely from 2020 and 2022. It was obtained by the Centre for Advanced Defence Studies (C4ADS), a non-profit organisation based in Washington, D.C., that researches international crime and conflict.

The data was then shared with Norwegian financial outlet E24 and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which coordinated an investigative project with media outlets from around the world. Titled ‘Dubai Unlocked’, the collaboration includes 74 partners from 58 countries.

The website reported that the details of “an astounding volume of leaked property data that includes over 17,000 properties listed as belonging to Pakistani nationals up to the spring of 2022” were known to journalists from scores of media outlets around the world.

It stated that while 17,000 Pakistani citizens are listed owners in the 2022 leak, academics using the data and additional sources put the actual number of Pakistani owners of residential property in Dubai at 22,000.

They further estimate that the apartments and villas may have been worth more than USD 10 billion at the start of 2022, but with the more than 25 per cent increase in property prices over the last two years, the real worth of Pakistanis’ residential properties in Dubai could now be well above USD 12.5 billion.

“If we have the data you are talking about, as well as the information on residence status, we will make sure those who are eligible to pay tax in Pakistan on rental income or capital value are doing so,” Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana, chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), was quoted as saying by the news portal.

“It may be a sensitive matter, and perhaps the law will have to change, but with political will we will go all out against tax evaders. The government is prepared for this.” He added that “citizenship has no importance in tax law” as taxation is linked to residence status. “We have been trying to get information from the immigration department of Dubai to determine tax status, but it has not materialised.” Ali Rahim, tax lawyer and former Karachi Tax Bar Association president, said that the entire world income of resident Pakistanis is liable to be taxed in Pakistan, but they can get credit against their total tax payment for any taxes paid abroad.

Pakistani residents (those in the country for more than 183 days per year) with assets abroad have to value them at the current exchange rate and pay one per cent tax on that if the value of the asset is more than Rs 100 million. This law is being challenged in the high courts and the Supreme Court.

Non-resident or overseas Pakistanis are only liable to pay tax on income generated in Pakistan. They are not required to file a wealth statement or declare overseas assets.

Dawn also clarified that a mere mention of someone in the data is not evidence in itself of financial crime or tax fraud. Nor does the data contain information such as residence status, sources of income, tax declarations of rental income or capital gains. In fact, several of those approached for comment on their properties said they were declared to the tax authorities.

“But it does paint an astonishing picture of contrasts. Pakistan, a developing country teetering on the edge of economic collapse, begging international lenders and friendly countries for lifelines in single digit billions, features prominently in the data,” according to the website. PTI SH ZH ZH

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Abu Dhabi:

Days after the United Arab Emirates witnessed flooding in April, heavy rains have returned to the country with several flights being cancelled and delayed in and out of Dubai while people and students were asked to work and study from home, Khaleej Times reported.

An orange alert was issued on Thursday as heavy rains and thunderstorms lashed the UAE. Over the past few days, the UAE has been preparing for this wave of unstable weather, which is forecast to peak on May 2, until May 3.

People have been advised to take safety measures across all sectors. Schools are on distance learning while companies have been asked to allow people to work from home. Parks and beaches have been shut.

Dubai announced work from home for government employees on May 2 and May 3 due to unstable weather conditions prevailing in the emirate, according to Khaleej Times.

On Wednesday, UAE’s disaster management authority reiterated the nation’s readiness to tackle the upcoming weather conditions. It said that all relevant agencies are ready to tackle the anticipated weather fluctuations by implementing measures.

Earlier, an NCM expert said the impending weather condition is not anticipated to be the same as the rainfall seen on April 16. Officials have discussed the precautionary measures that must be taken during this time.

The UAE on Wednesday announced that students will have online classes for all government schools on May 2 and 3 in the country due to prevailing weather conditions.

Furthermore, the government announced that all private schools in Dubai will have online learning on May 2 and May 3 due to expected unstable weather conditions. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) announced that the decision is applicable to all private schools, nurseries and universities.

Five inbound flights to Dubai Airport were diverted overnight, while 9 arrivals and four outbound flights were cancelled, according to Dubai Airport spokesperson, Khaleej Times reported on May 2.

The airport spokesperson further said, “Guests departing from Dubai’s airports are advised to allocate additional time for their journey to the airport, as road congestion may be anticipated. We strongly encourage the utilisation of the Dubai Metro to get to DXB Terminals 1 and 3 wherever feasible.”

Emirates cancelled several flights due to bad weather across the UAE on Thursday. Flight operations at Dubai International Airport have been reduced.

In a statement, Emirates said, “Customers arriving or departing from Dubai airport on May 2 can expect some delays as flights are rescheduled,” the report said.

A Flydubai spokesperson said that the “adverse weather conditions in Dubai on Thursday have caused some delays to their operations,” Khaleej Times reported.

The spokesperson added, “Passengers are advised to allow extra time for their journey to DXB, whether they are travelling by car or public transport. Passengers are also advised to update their contact details via the manage booking tab and check (flydubai website) for the latest updates regarding their flight.”

Sharjah-based Air Arabia advised passengers flying from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah to plan for additional travel time to the airport due to the weather conditions. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways asked passengers using the Etihad bus service between Zayed International Airport and Dubai “to check in early for their transfer to allow additional time to reach the airport”.

Indian Airlines IndiGo said that their flight operations have been affected due to bad weather in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi. Vistara and SpiceJet also said that departures, arrivals, and flights will be impacted due to inclement weather, the report said.

In a post on X, IndiGo on Thursday stated, “#6ETravelAdvisory: Due to bad weather in #Dubai #Sharjah #RasAlKhaimah #AbuDhabi, our flight operations are impacted. Road blockages may disrupt local transport. Plan accordingly and allow extra time for airport travel.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A person stands surrounded by flood water caused by heavy rains, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on April 17, 2024.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS

The Indian embassy in the UAE on Friday advised the inbound Indian passengers travelling to or transiting through Dubai International Airport to reschedule non-essential travel till operations normalise after the city witnessed unprecedented rains this week.

The United Arab Emirates is trying to recover from the record-setting rains this week which has caused massive flooding in Dubai and surrounding areas.

The embassy in the advisory said while the UAE authorities were working round the clock to ensure normalisation of operations, the airport authorities have advised that passengers may travel to the airport “only after” final confirmation from the respective airlines regarding the departure date and time of flights.

Due to disruption caused by unprecedented weather conditions in the UAE earlier this week, Dubai International Airport has temporarily limited the number of inbound flights, the advisory said.

Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, hoped to be back on a normal schedule within 24 hours.

“Inbound Indian passengers travelling to or transiting through Dubai International Airport are advised to reschedule non-essential travel till operations normalise,” the statement said.

“To assist Indian nationals at the Dubai International Airport, the Consulate General of India in Dubai has operationalised emergency helpline numbers which have been functional since April 17,” the statement said.

New Delhi:

A storm hit the United Arab Emirates and Oman this week bringing record rainfall that flooded highways, inundated houses, grid-locked traffic and trapped people in their homes.

At least 20 people were reported to have died in the deluge in Oman while another person was said to have died in floods in the UAE that closed government offices and schools for days.

The storm had initially hit Oman on Sunday before it pounded the UAE on Tuesday, knocking out power and causing huge disruptions to flights as runways were turned into rivers.

In the UAE, a record 254 millimetres (10 inches) of rainfall was recorded in Al Ain, a city bordering Oman. It was the largest ever in a 24-hour period since records started in 1949.

Did Cloud Seeding Cause The Storm?

Rainfall is rare in the UAE and elsewhere on the Arabian Peninsula, that is typically known for its dry desert climate. Summer air temperatures can soar above 50 degrees Celsius.

But the UAE and Oman also lack drainage systems to cope with heavy rains and submerged roads are not uncommon during rainfall.

Following Tuesday’s events, questions were raised whether cloud seeding, a process that the UAE frequently conducts, could have caused the heavy rains.

Cloud seeding is a process in which chemicals are implanted into clouds to increase rainfall in an environment where water scarcity is a concern.

The UAE, located in one of the hottest and driest regions on earth, has been leading the effort to seed clouds and increase precipitation.

But the UAE’s meteorology agency told Reuters there were no such operations before the storm.

What About Climate Change?

The huge rainfall was instead likely due to a normal weather system that was exacerbated by climate change, experts say.

A low pressure system in the upper atmosphere, coupled with low pressure at the surface had acted like a pressure ‘squeeze’ on the air, according to Esraa Alnaqbi, a senior forecaster at the UAE government’s National Centre of Meteorology.

That squeeze, intensified by the contrast between warmer temperatures at ground level and colder temperatures higher up, created the conditions for the powerful thunderstorm, she said.

The “abnormal phenomenon” was not unexpected in April as when the season changes the pressure changes rapidly, she said, adding that climate change also likely contributed to the storm.

Climate scientists say that rising global temperatures, caused by human-led climate change, is leading to more extreme weather events around the world, including intense rainfall.

“Rainfall from thunderstorms, like the ones seen in UAE in recent days, sees a particular strong increase with warming. This is because convection, which is the strong updraft in thunderstorms, strengthens in a warmer world,” said Dim Coumou, a professor in climate extremes at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Can’t Create Clouds From Nothing

Friederike Otto, a senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London, said rainfall was becoming much heavier around the world as the climate warms because a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture. It was misleading to talk about cloud seeding as the cause of the heavy rainfall, she said.

“Cloud seeding can’t create clouds from nothing. It encourages water that is already in the sky to condense faster and drop water in certain places. So first, you need moisture. Without it, there’d be no clouds,” she said.

Global warming has resulted in “extraordinarily” warm water in the seas around Dubai, where there is also very warm air above, said Mark Howden, Director at the Australian National University’s Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions.

“This increases both potential evaporation rates and the capacity of the atmosphere to hold that water, allowing bigger dumps of rainfall such as what we have just seen in Dubai.”

Gabi Hegerl, a climatologist at Edinburgh University, said that extreme rainfall, like in the UAE and Oman, was likely to get worse in many places due to the effects of climate change.

When conditions are perfect for really heavy rain, there’s more moisture in the air, so it rains harder. This extra moisture is because the air is warmer, which is because of human-caused climate change, she said.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Dubai has introduced a game-changer for Indian tourists with a newly launched five-year multiple-entry visa. Aimed at strengthening ties between India and the UAE, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has announced this initiative in response to the increasing influx of Indian visitors.

Dubai’s 5-Year Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa: What does it mean?

In 2023, Dubai witnessed a remarkable 25% surge in overnight visitors from India, solidifying its position as the leading source market. The five-year visa is strategically implemented to deepen economic collaborations, stimulate tourism, and fortify business relationships.

Dubai’s 5-Year Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa: How does it work?

This new visa lets tourists enter the UAE multiple times on their sponsorship. They can stay for 90 days initially, extendable once, totalling a maximum of 180 days within a year. 

It is designed to suit various travel needs, facilitating easy connections for business or leisure purposes.

DET highlighted that with this initiative, tourists can benefit from multiple entries and exits, enhancing operational flexibility for business engagements, leisure travel, and seamless connectivity. 

Bader Ali Habib, Regional Head of Proximity Markets at Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, emphasised the significant role of India in Dubai’s tourism sector, contributing to record-breaking performance in inbound visitation in 2023, reported Economic Times.

He stated that India remains a key market for Dubai, playing an essential role in achieving the goals of the D33 Agenda and reinforcing Dubai’s position as a hub for business, investment, and tourism. 

Application Process:

To obtain the visa, applicants must meet certain criteria, including a bank balance of 4,000 USD, valid health insurance for the UAE, a round-trip ticket, and proof of stay in the UAE (hotel or residential address). 

The application requires essential documents such as a coloured photo, passport copy, medical insurance, bank statement, tour program, and an onward journey ticket.

Issuing the Visa:

The process of issuing the visa involves either utilising digital channels (GDRFA website/smart application) or visiting a Customer Happiness Centre. Both methods involve filling the application, paying the necessary fees, and ensuring all conditions and documents are in order.

The visa adheres to specific terms and conditions, including possessing a valid passport or travel document, a return ticket, valid medical insurance in the UAE, and a bank statement showing a balance of 4,000 USD. 

Dubai’s 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa for Indians is a significant step towards fostering stronger bonds between the two nations and providing Indian tourists with an extended and flexible travel option to Dubai.