Middle East

Dubai, Aug 26: Bahrain will be the next country to implement five per cent value-added tax (VAT) after the UAE and Saudi Arabia as part of the GCC framework agreed between the six states, according to tax experts. David Stevens, VAT implementation leader, EY, expects Bahrain, Qatar and Oman to implement in early 2019 - though no firm dates have been set yet - with Kuwait likely to be the last

Jerusalem, Aug 25: The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees suggested that the US slashed his budget early this year to punish the Palestinians for their criticism of the American recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, but he warned that the Palestinian refugee issue will not go away. The comments by Pierre Kraehenbuehl came amid signs that the US, with Israeli support, is aiming

Mina, Aug 23: The holy sites will undergo a fundamental facelift in the near future, Saudi Arabia's Hajj minister said in an exclusive interview with Arab News. “There is a comprehensive, integrated plan to develop the Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat altogether,” Mohammed bin Saleh Banten said. “We now know that there is a royal commission, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for Makkah and

For the first time in the UAE, people - including non-Muslims - who have never visited Makkah, can experience the holy city like never before as the Islamic Information Centre in Dubai is set to screen the movie One Day in the Haram. Packed with insider knowledge and information, this unique documentary sheds light on the most sacred place on Earth, offering us an exclusive look at the inner

Makkah, Aug 22: More than two million Muslims took part in the symbolic stoning of the devil on Tuesday, the last major ritual of the Hajj pilgrimage that heralded the start of Eid Al-Adha. Clad in white robes signifying a state of purity, men and women from 165 countries converged on Jamrat to perform the ritual from a three-story bridge. Large fans sprayed water over the crowd as temperatures

Dubai, Aug 21: Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates on Tuesday morning performed Eid Al Adha prayers. محمد بن راشد ومحمد بن زايد يستقبلان حكام الإمارات وأولياء العهود ونواب الحكام في قصر المشرف في أبوظبي ويتبادلان معهم التهاني بعيد الأضحى . pic.twitter.com/rdNXVTe6Xj — محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) August 21, 2018 Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al

Dubai, Aug 21: Muslims celebrated the first day of Eid Al-Adha on Tuesday, which marks the closing parts of the Hajj pilgrimage. The massive crowds had spent the previous night camped out in Muzdalifah, having performed the most important of the Hajj rituals, visiting mount Arafat, where they believe the Prophet Muhammad gave his last sermon. They had also endured poor weather conditions, which

Jeddah, Aug 20: Around two million pilgrims have began ascending the plains of Mount Arafat shortly after sunrise on Monday to perform the most important ritual in Hajj. Standing on Mount Arafat until the sunset on the 9th day of Dul Hijjah is the one of the most important rituals of the Hajj pilrimage. Pilgrims converge on the hill, dedicated to prayers and reflection, where Dhuhr and Asr prayers

Srinagar, Aug 19: A Kashmiri man, suspected to be a sympathiser of the banned terror group IS, was recently deported to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), officials said in Srinagar on Sunday. Thirty-six-year-old Irfan Ahmad Zargar, a resident of Chattatabal area on the outskirts of Srinagar, was deported from the Gulf country on August 14 and subjected to questioning by various security

Makkah, Aug 19: More than 2 million Muslims have begun the annual Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia From first light Sunday, throngs of the faithful have circled the cube-shaped Kaaba in Makkah, one of the holiest sites in Islam. The Kaaba represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God. Observant Muslims around the world face toward the Kaaba during their five daily prayers. The five