The Ministry of Interior in Saudi Arabia has announced penalties for individuals who violate regulations requiring a permit to perform Hajj, as well as for those who facilitate such violations.

The following penalties will be applicable to the violators during the period starting from Dhul Qada 1, corresponding to April 29, until the end of Dhul Hijjah 14 (June 10).

Performing Hajj without a permit

According to an SPA report, firstly, a fine of SR20,000 will be imposed on individuals caught performing or attempting to perform Hajj without a permit. This includes holders of all types of visit visas who attempt to enter or stay in Makkah and the holy sites during the specified period.

Read- Hajj 2025: Saudi Council reiterates permit requirement for pilgrimage

Facilitating Hajj without a permit

Secondly, a fine of SR100,000 will be imposed on individuals who apply for a visit visa on behalf of someone who has performed or attempted to perform Hajj without a permit. The same fine will also apply to those who have entered or stayed in Makkah and the holy sites during the restricted period.

The fine will multiply for each individual involved.

Transporting or sheltering visit visa holders

Thirdly, a fine of SR100,000 will also be imposed on individuals who transport or attempt to transport visit visa holders to Makkah and the holy sites during the specified period. This applies equally to those who shelter or attempt to shelter these individuals in any accommodation, including hotels, apartments, private residences, shelters, or pilgrims’ housing.

This also includes concealing their presence or providing any assistance that enables their stay. The fine will multiply for each individual sheltered, concealed, or assisted.

Illegal infiltration to perform Hajj

In addition, illegal infiltrators attempting to perform Hajj—whether residents or overstayers—will be deported to their home countries and banned from entering Saudi Arabia for ten years.

Confiscation of vehicles

Finally, the relevant court may order the confiscation of any land vehicle used to transport visit visa holders to Makkah or the holy sites during the specified period, if owned by the transporter, facilitator, or any accomplice.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) in Oman has issued a new directive requiring foreign investors to employ at least one Omani national within one year of starting commercial operations.

Mandatory social insurance registration

As reported by the Oman Observer, the Omani employee must be registered with the General Authority for Social Insurance. This move aligns with the Ministry of Labour’s Omanisation policy, which promotes the employment of Omani citizens in the private sector.

Read-Rules in Oman: TikTok use, WhatsApp calls explained

Council of ministers’ decision supports foreign investment

This regulation follows a Council of Ministers’ decision to reduce commercial registration fees for foreign investors and treat them similarly to Omani investors—provided they meet the requirement of hiring at least one Omani employee.

Fee reductions and digital alerts

On June 18, 2023, MoCIIP announced the fee reductions for foreign investment companies via its digital platforms. Eng. Ammar bin Sulaiman Al Kharousi, Director General of the Investment Services Centre at MoCIIP, noted that the commercial register now includes an alert informing investors of the employment condition one year after registration.

Improving the investment environment

Al Kharousi also highlighted ongoing efforts to make Oman more attractive to investors by addressing challenges faced by both local and foreign businesses. Hiring Omani nationals is expected to contribute to local economic development and improve the labor market.

Enforcement through Oman Business Platform

As of April 1, 2024, MoCIIP has implemented administrative restrictions on transactions through the Oman Business Platform for foreign investors who fail to meet the employment obligation within a year of registration. A grace period of 30 days—subject to extension—is granted for companies to rectify non-compliance.

If the employed Omani is later dismissed, the obligation is automatically re-applied electronically, enabling MoCIIP and the Ministry of Labour to monitor compliance more effectively.

Simplified investment procedures

Oman’s investment sector has recently undergone several reforms, allowing foreign investors to own 100 per cent of their businesses and invest in over 1,700 commercial and industrial activities. The government has also streamlined procedures by reducing, canceling, or merging 836 services.

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), the United Arab Emirates’ biggest lender by assets, beat first-quarter profit estimates on Tuesday, boosted by strong growth in non-interest income from fees and commissions.

The results come as FAB undergoes a restructuring aimed at strengthening its business in the Gulf and boosting shareholder return, according to sources.

Read-FAB reports Dhs17.1bn in net profit for 2024

Under the reorganisation, FAB is splitting its operations into four new divisions and appointed Citi dealmaking veteran Linos Lekkas as its new head of investment banking, sources told Reuters last month.

The restructuring at FAB, headed by Hana Al Rostamani since 2021, follows a series of senior management departures including its former head of global markets and chief operating officer earlier this year.

The company said that it had reorganized its operating segments during the January-March period.

Net interest income climbed 3 per cent to Dhs5bn ($1.36bn) in the quarter ended March 31, while non-interest income jumped 22 per cent to Dhs3.8bn.

Fees and commissions income rose 23 per cent in the quarter versus a year earlier.

Net profit rose 23 per cent to Dhs5.13bn, beating analysts’ average expectations of Dhs4.24bn, according to data compiled by LSEG.

The bank’s total assets rose 6 per cent to Dhs1.31tn.

OpenAI on Monday said it has updated ChatGPT’s web search capabilities to improve online shopping for users with personalized product recommendations with images, reviews, and direct purchase links.

The generative AI pioneer’s search feature has gained popularity since its introduction last year, and has become one of its most sought-after tools, with over 1 billion web searches in the past week, the company said.

Read- OpenAI’s Altman to stop in Abu Dhabi for MGX fundraising talks

The update will be available in its default AI model, GPT-4o. It will be accessible to all ChatGPT users worldwide —including Pro, Plus, and Free tiers—as well as to those using the service without logging in.

Users will receive tailored product recommendations across categories like fashion, beauty, home goods, and electronics when they pose specific questions.

The update will exclude advertisements, and the company will not receive commissions from purchases made through the ChatGPT platform, OpenAI said.

The shopping results will be independently determined, and will rely on structured metadata from third-party sources such as pricing, product descriptions, and reviews, the company said.

The move comes as OpenAI is moving to challenge Alphabet’s dominance in search by providing a more user-focused alternative, contrasting with Google’s advertising-heavy search results.

In February, OpenAI’s weekly active users surged past 400 million, a company spokesperson had told Reuters.

Etihad Airways has launched its all-new Airbus A321LR, bringing wide-body comfort and luxury to short and medium-haul routes for the first time, the airline said on Sunday.

The A321LR, part of Etihad’s strategy to redefine narrowbody travel, features an all-new First Suite, 14 fully-flat Business seats with direct aisle access, and upgraded Economy seating.

The launch marks a major step toward Etihad’s “Journey 2030” vision to double its fleet size, triple passenger numbers, and open 16 new destinations in 2025 alone.

“The A321LR is an amazing aircraft which proves our commitment to luxury, customer experience, and connectivity,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways. “We’ve taken the luxury experience we are famed for on our widebody fleet and adapted it to offer guests the same experience in a single-aisle aircraft.”

A321LR: Features of First-Class Suites, Business Class on Etihad

The new First Suites offer a private, enclosed space with a sliding door, lie-flat bed, elevated dining, and a 20-inch 4K entertainment screen with Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging.

Only two First Suites are available per aircraft, offering an intimate, ultra-premium experience typically reserved for long-haul widebodies.

Business Class features 14 fully-flat beds in a 1-1 herringbone layout, each with a 17.3-inch 4K screen, wireless charging, Bluetooth headphone pairing, and personal storage space.

Meanwhile, 144 Economy seats provide up to five inches of recline and 18.4-inch width — among the widest in the industry — along with 13.3-inch 4K touchscreens and USB charging.

Passengers across all cabins can access superfast Wi-Fi, capable of speeds up to 1 Gbps, thanks to Viasat’s advanced, multi-orbit ready system, enabling streaming, social media, gaming, and live TV throughout the flight.

New aircraft starts services on August 1

The A321LR enters service on August 1, 2025, flying from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport to destinations including Algiers, Athens, Bangkok, Chennai, Chiang Mai, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Kolkata, Krabi, Medan, Milan, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Riyadh, Tunis, and Zurich.

Ten A321LR aircraft are expected to join the fleet this year.

Etihad is also expanding its First class offering across more routes, supported by new premium services launching alongside the A321LR. These include personalised travel planning via the new Etihad Concierge, private chauffeur services to and from airports, dedicated First Check-In, and luxury transfers to aircraft doors at Zayed International Airport.

“First isn’t just a seat – it’s an experience that starts the moment you choose to fly with us,” Neves said. “We’re bringing First to more destinations and elevating it at every touchpoint, combining the elegance of champagne and caviar with the convenience of modern luxury.”

Etihad said the new aircraft will play a key role in supporting Abu Dhabi’s tourism and economic development while delivering a world-class travel experience.