The Middle East is always brimming with news of development. As a result, keeping up with all of them is not an easy task. Even for the most ardent news readers, there are chances that they might skip over a few once in a while. To ensure you do not miss out on these news pieces on our watch, we have made a list of some important updates from across the region that you will want to know.
Middle East Updates
1. 8,000 New Properties To Be Delivered By Year-End In Abu Dhabi
As revealed recently by Gulf News, there are plans to deliver 8,000 new residential units by the end of the year in Abu Dhabi. Not only this, the Abu Dhabi City is also planning to deliver 12,800 units by 2026. This is as per the new research by Cavendish Maxwell, wherein the consultancy reported that about 2,700 apartments, townhouses, and villas were completed in just the first nine months of the year.
2. UAE-based Community Choir Sings UAE Anthem
A UAE-based community choir brought a fresh musical tribute to the nation. They presented the national anthem in rich, Western four-part harmony for the UAE National Day. The joyful singers, which is a fast-growing group of 132 choristers from across the UAE, came together to record a harmonised version of the UAE national anthem, as per Gulf News.
3. Geminids Meteor Shower To Pass Through The UAE Skies
Mleiha National Park in Sharjah is opening its desert sky for the residents and visitors. This is for the Geminids meteor shower, which is one of the most anticipated celestial events. As it happens, it will take place on Saturday, December 13th. And the event would offer a chance for seasoned astronomic fans and first-time stargazers to take in the beauty of this event
4. Double Absence Rule For Students On Eid Al-Etihad
Schools in the UAE have warned students about double absenteeism for the UAE National Day holiday. Basically, if they miss school on December 3rd, 4th, and 5th, they will be marked as double. As s these dates fall immediately before the official winter break, which begins on December 8th, schools have notified students and parents that absence on these dates will be counted as double if there is no acceptable excuse.
5. Ancient Kingdom Festival Continues In AlUla
Celebrating 7,000 years of history, the Ancient Kingdom Festival is taking place until December 6th. It is being organised at several archaeological sites in AlUla governorate and highlights the destination’s significance as a historical site in the kingdom. Covering historical eras of different civilisations, it includes interactive programmes, historical performances, and even interpretative tours.
6. Yemeni Culture Week In Riyadh Concludes
As revealed by the SPA, the Yemeni Culture Week ends on Friday. Complete with Yemeni-themed events, this event comes to a close after a week of cultural and entertainment invents. These highlighted deep Saudi and Yemeni ties, and the week featured diverse pavilions that showcase handicrafts, traditional products, and popular foods.
7. Riyadh Metro Breaks Guinness World Record For Longest Driverless Network
Riyadh Metro has set the Guinness World Record for being the longest driverless train network. With a length of 176 km, it features six integrated tracks and 85 stations. This is indeed a big development and a hardly surprising one, as Riyadh Metro, ever since its opening, has been making life easier for daily commuters who use public transport.
8. Oman Announces Oman Vision 2040
At the high-level meeting at the United Nations in New York, Oman Vision 2040 was revealed. The country has been placed at the centre of the national development. Additionally, the consultant continues to implement systematic efforts so that they can combat trafficking in persons. This was revealed in a report of the Times of Oman. It also mentioned how to tackle this problem, as it recently issued a revised Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law under Royal Decree No. 78/2025.
Also Read: Emirates Celebrates 54th Eid Al Etihad With Traditional Treats And More!
9. Katara Culture Village In Doha Officially Named Arab Opera City
As unveiled by Doha News, ALECSO has officially renamed Katara Culture Village in Doha as the Arab Opera City. Recognising its role and promoting Arab opera, this designation coincides with the launch of the Arab Opera festival. This is the first edition, and there was also the launch of a new online platform for Arab Opera houses
10. International Coffee Exhibition Kicks Off
On November 27th, the Doha International Coffee Exhibition kicked off at the Qatar National Convention Centre. Bringing together more than 250 exhibitors with over 80,000 visitors from around the world, it is regarded as one of the leading events for coffee professionals and enthusiasts in the Middle East. The event is happening until November 29th, Saturday, so don’t forget to drop by for the event. After all eight features, live brewing workshops, premium tasting, and barista competitions.
With this list of updates laid out for you, we hope you’re always ahead of the news from the GCC region.
Cover Image Courtesy: rcrc.gov.sa
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