From Etihad’s AED730 Fare Sale To Riyadh’s Giant MBS Mural, 5 GCC Updates

The GCC updates cycle this week has a bit of everything: cheap flights, an easier way to pay off government fines, a football tournament for the kids, a record-breaking tourism run in Ras Al Khaimah, and a mural in Riyadh that might just land in the Guinness World Records book. Here’s what’s going on.

5 GCC Updates

1. Etihad’s Latest Fare Sale Has Return Tickets From AED730

If you’ve been putting off booking that trip, now might be the moment. Etihad Airways has rolled out a fresh global sale, with up to 20% off fares and return tickets to Riyadh going for as little as AED730. Jeddah comes in around AED1,080, and Cairo starts from AED1,060 if you’re after somewhere with a bit more culture and food on offer. The catch is you’ll need to book by July 31, but once you do, travel is open right through to November, so there’s room to plan a proper autumn escape rather than rushing into it. Etihad’s also throwing in no change fees on bookings through March 2027, which takes some of the stress out of committing early.

2. MoHRE Fines And Fees Can Now Be Paid Through Tabby

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has added Tabby as a new payment option, meaning service fees and fines up to AED20,000 can now be split into instalments over four to twelve months instead of paid all at once. It sits alongside the existing setup where MoHRE customers could already spread payments via credit cards from eight approved banks: Emirates NBD, ADCB, ADIB, FAB, Mashreq, CBD, CIB and RAKBANK. The move is part of a broader effort to make government services more digital and less of a hassle, and comes after a similar tie-up Tabby made with the UAE’s Ministry of Finance late last year that covered federal fees more broadly, officials say.

Also Read: From Etihad Rail’s Free Bag Allowance To UFC Showdown Week In Abu Dhabi, 5 GCC Updates

3. Emirates Youth International Cup Set For Dubai This Spring

Young footballers from around the world are gearing up for the Emirates Youth International Cup, running March 27 to 29 at ISD Dubai. The tournament brings together Under-11, Under-13 and Under-15 age groups, giving academy sides a shot at competing against teams from outside the region. It follows on from the Emirates Youth International Winter Cup, which had a solid debut with clubs from across the Middle East and beyond taking part.

4. Ras Al Khaimah Has Its Best First-Half On Record

RAKTDA said Ras Al Khaimah welcomed more than 670,000 visitors from January to June this year, its best first half on record. Domestic tourism did a lot of the heavy lifting here, jumping 47% year-on-year, with May turning out to be the emirate’s busiest month yet. New openings are also on the way, including Rotana Ras Al Khaimah – The Mangroves later this year and a mountain lodge on Jebel Jais, while work at Wynn Al Marjan Island continues on track for its 2027 debut.

Also Read: Safeer Market Opening In Ajman To Dubai RTA Upgrading Lighting Of Pedestrian Bridges; 5 GCC Updates

5. Riyadh’s Tuwaiq Tower Now Wears The Region’s Largest Mural

In Riyadh, the Tuwaiq Tower, at 305 metres high, has been transformed into a giant canvas portraying Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The project took 31 days, four cranes and plenty of nerve from the artists. Its creators are hoping it will win a Guinness World Records title for scale and height.

Here are the latest trending GCC Updates from across the region and why you need to take a glance. 

Cover Image Courtesy: Etihad/Website