If you’ve been too busy battling the Dubai heat or sipping on your Matcha latte, here’s your easy catch-up on this week’s hottest GCC Updates. From transport news and foodie fun to chocolate indulgence at 30,000 feet, the region’s buzzing, and we’ve got the scoop.
5 GCC Updates You Need To Know
1. Dubai Taxis Now Accept American Express
Big news for all the American Express users cruising around Dubai. More than 13,000 taxis across the city now accept your shiny plastic. Good news for all you Amex users zipping around the city, taxis in Dubai just got a payment upgrade. Thanks to American Express Middle East, big names like National Taxi, Arabia Taxi, Kabi Taxi, Dubai Taxi Corporation, and Metro Taxi now accept American Express. So, whether you’re racing to the airport or cruising between malls, paying for your ride just got way easier.
2. Aseer’s Summer Fruit Frenzy Is Here
Saudi’s Aseer Region is having a summer moment, and it’s got everything to do with the juicy, seasonal fruits popping up across its markets. Known for its high-altitude farms and lush orchards, Aseer is a fruit lover’s dream.
You’ll find everything from grapes, pomegranates, and figs to mangoes, peaches, guava, strawberries, and even those hard-to-find prickly pears. These sweet treats are sold along popular routes to parks and picnic spots, at surprisingly reasonable prices too.
3. Riyadh Metro Changes Friday Timings
Next on your GCC Updates radar, the Riyadh Metro is switching up its Friday schedule starting 4th July. Commuters can now hop on the metro from 8:00 AM till midnight every Friday. For the rest of the week (Saturday to Thursday), operations run from 6:00 AM to midnight as usual.It’s all part of the city’s ongoing efforts to make public transport more accessible, whether you’re heading for work, shopping at Riyadh Boulevard, or planning a late-night shawarma run.
4. Emirates Customers Munch Through 60 Million Chocolates In One Year
Here’s a sweet stat for all you chocolate lovers: Emirates passengers have devoured over 60 million pieces of luxury chocolate onboard in just one year. That’s 2 million more chocolates than the year before, proving Dubai residents and travellers never say no to cocoa.
First Class guests alone enjoyed 122,000 large gourmet chocolate boxes, roughly 13.4 million individual chocolates. Meanwhile, Business Class passengers munched their way through 9.1 million pieces.
5. Querida’s Guacshop Has The Little Chefs Getting Ready To Mash It Up
Dubai’s favourite Mexican hotspot, Querida, is turning up the flavour this summer with its first-ever Guacshop and it’s all about the kids. On Monday, 7th July, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, little taco fans can roll up their sleeves and get messy making their very own guacamole with help from a real chef.
It’s just AED 49 per child, and trust us, the fun doesn’t stop with guacamole. Once the little chefs are done smashing, mixing, and making a happy mess, they’ll tuck into an all-you-can-eat taco feast loaded with juicy Tinga Chicken and hearty Bean Tacos. And of course, there’s a cool drink to sip on while the fiesta vibes keep rolling.
Your GCC Updates Wrapped Up
From tap-and-go taxi rides to chocolate overload at 30,000 feet and metro timing tweaks, the region’s buzzing with action. Stay tuned, the GCC Updates aren’t slowing down anytime soon, and trust us, you’ll want to keep up.
Cover Image Courtesy: American Express/Website, CanvaPro/ Nikada from Getty Images Signature
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