From Qatar Airways’ Free Flight Changes To UAE Joining WFP Board 5 GCC Updates

GCC Updates is back with another round of trending news from the region. We have travel, education, hospitality and a lot more to cover within 5 buzzing news. Here’s all of it for you to glance at and understand what’s going on in the Gulf,

5 GCC News For You

1. Oman Air To Restart Flights To Khasab

Starting April 18th, the airlines is officially resuming flights to one of the most beautiful destination in the region. The goal is to make travel easier for both residents and tourists while also boosting tourism. The airline wants to help both leisure travel and local mobility by making it easier to get to Musandam. It is welcoming passengers back on this route.

2. India Embassy In Kuwait Pauses Saudi Transit Visa Service Before Hajj

For now, Indian travellers in Kuwait will need to change their plans. As of April 15, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait has stopped helping people get transit visas to Saudi Arabia before the Hajj. Now, applicants must apply directly to airlines or Saudi consulates, which can take up to two weeks. Airlines are giving people the option to change their plans, and officials say the break is only temporary because of the peak Hajj season. Travellers should plan ahead and give themselves more time for visas.

3.Qatar Airways Extends Free Flight Changes

Qatar Airways has extended its policy of allowing passengers to change their flights for free until June 15, 2026. Passengers can rebook their flights until October 31. The airline is making this move as it gets back on track after problems caused by the closure of Qatari airspace in March. Flights are slowly coming back, and the airline wants to serve more than 120 places by the middle of May. Travel is becoming more stable across the region. Bahrain has reopened its airspace, and airlines like Etihad Airways are doing the same thing to bring back customers.

4. UAE Halts School Bus Services As In-Person Classes Resume

The UAE Ministry of Education has put off school bus service for all public and private nurseries, kindergartens, and schools during this phase. The decision comes as in-person learning starts up again on April 20, 2026. Every week, officials will look at the situation and give updates through official channels. Parents will have to find their own way to school for now, while schools slowly return to normal.

Also Read: Thukher Club New Branch Inaugurated To Al Ain Streets Decked With UAE Flags; 5 GCC Updates

5. UAE Joins World Food Programme Board As Global Food Risks Rise

The United Arab Emirates has been chosen to be on the Executive Board of the World Food Programme for 2026–2028. This will make it a stronger player in global humanitarian efforts. The UAE’s logistics network, which is based in Dubai, will be very important for getting aid to people quickly because of rising food security concerns and problems near the Strait of Hormuz. The change from donor to strategic partner shows that the country is still focused on fighting hunger and building strong food systems around the world.

So that’s all for today’s GCC Updates and we will be back with more such news tomorrow!

Cover Image Courtesy: Qatar Airways/Website