The Gulf never stops keeping us on our toes. From retail shake-ups to jaw-dropping luxury, here’s the latest roundup of news that’s making people talk. And honestly? Some of these 6 GCC Updates are pretty wild.
6 GCC Updates For You
1. Carrefour Exits Kuwait
So, big news for shoppers in Kuwait: Carrefour is shutting its doors there on September 16, 2025. The company thanked its customers for sticking around, but the closure follows recent exits in Bahrain and Jordan. Now, with over 14,000 stores worldwide, Carrefour is still huge. But these Gulf retreats have people asking the obvious question: what’s going on with Carrefour in the Middle East? Are they consolidating, or is the region proving trickier than they thought? After all, the retail game here is fiercely competitive.
2. Visa Private Targets UAE Millionaires
Meanwhile, the UAE is clearly thinking big and luxurious. Visa has launched Visa Private, a premium card service aimed squarely at high-net-worth customers. With nearly 9,800 new millionaires expected this year, the timing is perfect. The perks? Airport lounge access for guests, fine-dining discounts, beach club deals, and free hotel stays. Truth be told, it’s about creating an entire lifestyle around a card. Not just spending money, but making money feel exclusive. Banks and credit card companies are in stiff competition here. In practice, every perk counts when wooing ultra-wealthy clients.
3. Day Mart Hypermarket Shut Down in Abu Dhabi
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On a less glamorous note, Abu Dhabi authorities closed Day Mart Hypermarket after repeated food safety violations. The list was not pretty: poor handling, bad storage, and a general lack of sanitation. Multiple warnings didn’t help, so the administrative closure under Law No. 2 of 2008 was inevitable. And really, you can’t argue with that; nobody wants dodgy groceries. After all, keeping food safe is basic, not optional.
4. Emirates Pride Perfumes Breaks A Guinness World Record
Shifting gears back to the extravagant, Emirates Pride Perfumes hosted the world’s largest perfume testing event at One&Only One Za’abeel in Dubai. Fragrance experts, influencers, media, and VIPs all showed up to celebrate. Dubai knows how to put on a show, and this was a sparkling reminder of its knack for creativity and luxury. Honestly, only in the UAE would you see perfume testing go this big.
5. Saudi Arabia Renames Key Road in Madinah
Over in Saudi Arabia, King Salman renamed a 13-kilometre stretch of road in Madinah. It’s now Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road. The corridor links the Prophet’s Mosque to the airport, cutting through major development zones. The move signals Saudi Arabia’s push for modern urban infrastructure and, truth be told, a little national pride.
6. Dubai’s Swarovski Bentley Steals The Spotlight
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And because we can’t talk Gulf updates without a little over-the-top glamour: Dubai recently unveiled a Bentley covered entirely in crystals, complete with cat ears. Content creator Parikshit Balochi shared the sparkling car, joking that it probably needs bodyguards more than insurance. Only in Dubai, right? Malls big enough to host marathons, taxis designed just to carry luggage, and luxury cars that make ordinary Bentleys look boring. In Balochi’s words: “If your bag has better ratings than you… You’re probably in Dubai.”
GCC Life
So, there you have it. Retail exits, premium perks for millionaires, law enforcement keeping us safe, Guinness-worthy perfume events, road renaming, and blinged-out Bentleys. The GCC Updates is a mix of the practical, the luxurious, and the utterly over-the-top.
Cover Image Courtesy: CT, Emirates Pride/Instagram
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