Dubai Municipality has unveiled the Middle East's first fully integrated recreational vehicle route, taking a huge step towards reshaping outdoor tourism in the city. The project proposes a regulated, interconnected network that provides structure to RV travel while opening up new leisure and investment options. The route is designed as a seamless system, connecting purpose-built RV stations, serviced parks, and scenic driving corridors into one accessible travel experience. Travellers will be able to move seamlessly between Dubai's deserts, beaches, and mountainous areas, with no logistic
The fifth edition of the joint military exercise Harimau Shakti 2025 between the Indian Army and the Royal Malaysian Army was completed successfully at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan after two weeks of coordinated training activities, according to defence officials. The exercise, which spanned from December 5 to December 18, brought together 120 Indian Army personnel, primarily from the Dogra Regiment, as well as 70 soldiers from the Royal Malaysian Army's 25th Battalion, highlighting the two nations' growing defence engagement. The training focused on sub-conventional comb
Deepavali, the festival celebrated throughout India with lamps, colours, and traditions, has been formally added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The announcement has given India great pride, as the event now stands with major cultural symbols such as Ghana, Georgia, Congo, Ethiopia, and Egypt. UNESCO released the update, describing it as a new and meaningful addition to the list. The decision was made during the current session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which India is hosting at
The World Health Organisation has released its first comprehensive plan for managing coronavirus disease threats, which includes COVID-19, MERS, and any future outbreaks. The new plan represents a change from emergency reaction to long-term, integrated management. It builds on lessons learnt from five years of COVID-19 and previous research on MERS and other respiratory diseases. The strategy guides countries in taking coordinated, long-term activities within larger infectious-disease systems. Coronaviruses have repeatedly triggered global health crises, including SARS in 2002, MERS in 201
The UAE has been chosen as the headquarters for the new GCC Civil Aviation Authority, a significant step towards greater regional collaboration in the aviation sector. The decision reflects the UAE's robust aviation ecosystem and longstanding leadership in global air transport. Hosting the authority is expected to help produce unifying regulations, streamline operations, and promote communication among the six GCC nations. The UAE's aviation business has expanded dramatically over the years, thanks to world-class airports, large airline networks, and significant infrastructure investment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the world’s first Digital Traditional Medicine Library during the WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine. The platform intends to digitise centuries of traditional health knowledge and make it available worldwide. It would combine thorough material on Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga, Naturopathy, herbal medicines, and other indigenous therapies, providing a single digital area for global users. The library aims to assist researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals in studying and analysing conventional systems using modern scientific
Indonesia has launched the Meticulous Artificial Intelligence of Indonesia (MaiA) platform to redefine its tourism business and boost its global standing. This AI-powered solution provides personalised itineraries, multilingual assistance, and interactive digital tools to help travellers plan and navigate. Indonesia hopes to attract tech-savvy travellers looking for seamless and personalised experiences by incorporating smart technology into tourism. MaiA assists tourists in discovering sites that match their interests, encouraging them to venture beyond the most well-known attractions. Th
According to UNICEF, India is making outstanding progress in poverty reduction and is on course to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 1.2 well before the 2030 deadline. Between 2013-14 and 2022-23, almost 248 million Indians fled multidimensional poverty, reducing the national poverty rate from 29.2% to 11.3%. Social security coverage increased from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025, benefiting about 940 million persons – a development that has helped elevate vast segments of the population out of poverty. As a result, more than half of India's 460 million children now have access to essent
India has emerged as Ajman's second-largest tourism source market, prompting the emirate to organise a targeted roadshow in New Delhi, Pune, and Kolkata. The program intends to increase Ajman's presence in India by highlighting its cultural appeal, modern hospitality, and expanding recreational services. The promotional campaign showcases new luxury resorts, improved attractions, and immersive experiences that are intended to appeal to a diverse range of Indian travellers. Ajman intends to strengthen its connection with Indian travel experts, with the goal of forming long-term partnerships th
Saudi Arabia is moving ahead with major reforms that will allow foreign nationals to purchase a wide spectrum of real estate beginning in January. According to a senior official with the Real Estate General Authority, non-Saudis would be able to purchase residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial properties, as well as land for development. Foreigner buying zones in Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, and Madinah are now being finalised and will be announced shortly. These areas are projected to be big and comprise major development projects, with foreign ownership limited to 70–90%.