GCC is the most unpredictable region in terms of news and updates. One day, you’re sweating it out on a flight with no AC and the next moment, you can be you’re admiring a Filipino masterwork at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Buckle up because here’s what’s buzzing in the region!
5 GCC Updates You Shouldn’t Miss
1. Passengers Get Stuck On A Jaipur-Dubai Flight For 5+ Hr Without AC & Communication
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Picture this: you’re on a late-night flight, hoping for a smooth ride, and instead, you’re fanning yourself with the safety card because the AC isn’t working. That’s exactly what passengers on Air India’s Jaipur-Dubai flight IX196 went through. A viral video shows frustrated passengers drenched in sweat, waving safety cards like makeshift fans. Aarzoo Sethi, a content creator on board, captured the chaos, slamming the crew for their radio silence. Passengers hit call bells in unison, desperate for answers that never came. Five hours of discomfort later, the crew still hadn’t addressed the issue.
2. Juan Luna’s ‘Mona Lisa’ Debuts At Louvre Abu Dhabi
On to cooler, classier news. The Louvre Abu Dhabi is now home, at least temporarily, to Juan Luna’s iconic “Una Bulaqueña.” This stunning portrait, often dubbed the Filipino Mona Lisa, is now rubbing shoulders with masterpieces by Renoir and Manet. The baro’t saya-clad beauty in the painting represents national pride. The National Museum of the Philippines lent this treasure, second only to Luna’s “Spoliarium” in significance. For art lovers in the UAE, this is one exhibit you’ll want to catch before it moves on.
3. SlimeMania Oozes Fun at OliOli, Dubai
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If you’re after sticky fun rather than fine art, head to OliOli in Al Quoz. SlimeMania has landed, letting kids craft their own gooey creations. They can pick colours, textures, and even scents to make slime that’s truly theirs. For AED 179, they get two hours of play and take their masterpieces home. Parents, prepare for messy hands, but lots of happy faces.
4. Pilgrims Scammed of Basic Travel Allowance In Saudi Arabia
In more sobering news, some Kwara State pilgrims in Saudi Arabia were reportedly defrauded of their Basic Travel Allowance during Hajj. The Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board has launched an investigation, vowing to expose those responsible. The board condemned the heartless scam, especially as it preyed on pilgrims in a vulnerable moment.
5. Saudi Medical Team Saves Iraqi Pilgrim After Brain Haemorrhage
Lastly, a heartening update from Madinah. The medical teams at King Salman bin Abdulaziz Medical City saved the life of an Iraqi pilgrim. A brain haemorrhage due to a ruptured artery was reported. A quick clinical assessment and advanced coiling technology, doctors sealed the rupture and stabilised her condition.
From air travel nightmares to life-saving medical heroics and world-class art, it’s been a rollercoaster of updates across the GCC region. Stay sharp, stay curious—and always check that your flight’s AC is working!
Cover Image Courtesy: King Salman bin Abdulaziz Hospital/LinkedIn, OliOli/ Instagram
First Published: June 15, 2025 6:55 PM