Saudi Arabia is set to introduce mandatory occupational fitness assessments and non-communicable disease (NCD) screenings for employees across all sectors under a new framework announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

According to a recently issued guide reviewed by Okaz newspaper, the initiative will be implemented through a phased approach aimed at strengthening workplace safety, improving employee health standards, and ensuring compliance with occupational fitness requirements, a Saudi Gazette report said.

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The ministry said the programme will initially target employees in public-sector entities and non-profit organisations before being gradually expanded to include all professions and economic sectors throughout the kingdom.

The rollout will take place in three stages, beginning with pre-employment screening, followed by implementation in high-risk companies and establishments, and ultimately extending to all businesses and organisations nationwide.

Pre-employment screening to be mandatory

Under the first phase, all prospective employees will be required to undergo non-communicable disease screenings before starting work.

Employers will be responsible for conducting the screenings and uploading the results to the approved electronic system within the first six months after the regulations come into force.

The ministry said candidates completing recruitment and onboarding procedures will not be permitted to begin work until their examination results have been issued and approved by a physician specializing in occupational medicine.

Expansion to existing employees

The second phase will begin once the initial stage is completed and will continue for a period of 12 months.

During this stage, health screenings will be gradually expanded to cover existing employees, with priority given to workers in high-risk establishments. Authorities will also work to complete the integration of all establishments into the approved electronic system to ensure efficient monitoring and compliance.

Officials said the phased approach is designed to allow organizations sufficient time to adapt to the new requirements while ensuring a smooth nationwide implementation.

Employees must meet occupational fitness standards

The third and final phase will see the full implementation of the regulations across all entities, establishments, and employees operating in different economic sectors and activities.

The guide states that public-sector entities and non-profit organisations must comply with all provisions regardless of employment type. The regulations will apply to permanent employees, temporary and seasonal workers, trainees, persons with disabilities, and remote workers.

Under the new framework, employees who fail to meet the required occupational fitness standards will not be allowed to continue practicing their profession. In such cases, employers will be required to take appropriate measures, including changing the employee’s profession where necessary.

However, the guide also allows employees to undergo additional examinations to demonstrate their ability to perform the duties associated with their role.

Medical assessments may also be required during employment in cases involving occupational injuries or diseases, changes in profession or work environment, or where periodic evaluations are necessary due to the nature of the work.

The ministry said the guide aims to standardize implementation procedures, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and strengthen worker health and occupational safety protections across the kingdom.

By establishing a unified system for occupational fitness assessments and NCD screenings, authorities hope to create safer workplaces while ensuring employees are medically fit to perform their duties.

An explosion and fire at Qatar’s Barzan gas facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City has left 54 people injured and 18 others missing, raising fresh concerns over the resilience of the Gulf state’s energy infrastructure as it works to restore production following months of regional disruption. According to Qatar’s Interior Ministry, the incident occurred during the start-up of operations at the facility on Sunday, with emergency response teams subsequently bringing the fire under control.

QatarEnergy confirmed that an operational incident triggered the explosion and subsequent fire at the gas processing complex, which is located within Ras Laffan Industrial City, the country’s primary liquefied natural gas (LNG) production and export hub. According to Reuters, the company has not yet disclosed the extent of any damage to the facility or provided a timeline for a full technical assessment.

The Barzan project is a strategic component of Qatar’s domestic energy system, producing approximately 1.4 billion cubic feet of gas per day for power generation and industrial use. The facility also produces condensates, ethane, liquefied petroleum gas and sulphur for local and export markets.

The incident comes at a sensitive time for Qatar’s energy sector. Reuters reported earlier that QatarEnergy was preparing to restore LNG production capacity affected by regional security disruptions, with facilities gradually returning to service. Any prolonged outage at Ras Laffan could complicate those recovery efforts and renew concerns among international buyers already monitoring energy flows through the Gulf.

Ras Laffan is one of the world’s most important LNG hubs and serves as the centre of Qatar’s gas export industry. As the world’s largest LNG exporter, any disruption to operations at the industrial city is closely watched by energy traders, shipping companies and governments across Asia and Europe that depend on Qatari gas supplies.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the blast while rescue teams continue searching for the missing workers. Further updates are expected as QatarEnergy assesses the condition of the facility and the potential impact on production, Reuters further stated.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has completed 30 per cent of its ambitious 14.5-kilometre Dedicated Bus and Taxi Lanes Project, a major initiative aimed at improving public transport efficiency and supporting the emirate’s long-term sustainable mobility goals.

The project is being implemented across six key roads in Dubai: Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street, 2nd December Street, Al Satwa Street, Al Nahda Street, Omar Bin Al Khattab Street and Naif Street. Once completed, the total length of dedicated bus lanes across the emirate will increase to 20.6 kilometres.

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According to the RTA, the project is designed to make public transport a more attractive option for residents and visitors by delivering faster, more reliable and more efficient services.

Supporting Dubai’s sustainable mobility vision

Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, said the dedicated bus and taxi lanes play a vital role in advancing Dubai’s sustainable mobility objectives.

He noted that the initiative supports efforts to encourage greater use of public transport by offering commuters faster, more regular and dependable travel options, according to a WAM report.

Al Tayer said: “The project ranks among the world’s leading practices and successful transport policies for encouraging residents to use public transport instead of private vehicles. It targets shorter journey times, improved adherence to bus schedules, better taxi arrival times, and lower direct and indirect operational costs, while also supporting greater public transport uptake across the community, smoother integration across transport modes, and reduced polluting emissions.”

He added: “Collectively, these outcomes advance the strategic goal of integrated Dubai, enhance quality of life, bring happiness to public transport users, and reinforce Dubai’s standing as a world-leading city in seamless mobility and urban sustainability.”

Significant reductions in travel times expected

RTA estimates show that the expansion of dedicated bus lanes will deliver substantial improvements in both journey and arrival times, particularly during peak traffic periods.

According to Al Tayer, bus journey times on routes using the dedicated lanes are expected to decrease by between 24 per cent and 59 per cent, while expected bus arrival times are projected to improve by 28 per cent to 56 per cent.

“The expansion of dedicated bus lanes will reduce bus journey times on routes using these lanes during peak hours by 24 per cent to 59 per cent, while improving expected bus arrival times by 28 per cent to 56 per cent,” Al Tayer said.

He added that bus travel times are expected to decline by 59 per cent on Naif Street, 54 per cent on Al Satwa Street, 50 per cent on Omar Bin Al Khattab Street and 38 per cent on Al Nahda Street.

Meanwhile, bus arrival times are projected to improve by 56 per cent on 2nd December Street, 52 per cent on Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street, 48 per cent on Al Satwa Street and 42 per cent on Omar Bin Al Khattab Street.

Boosting ridership and operational efficiency

Beyond improving travel speeds and reliability, the project is also expected to encourage more residents and visitors to use public transport.

Al Tayer said ridership on some routes could increase by as much as 30% once the new lanes become operational. He added that the resulting journey time savings would allow the RTA to optimise bus deployment, reducing the number of buses required to serve certain routes while maintaining service standards.

The latest phase builds on the success of earlier dedicated bus lane projects introduced across the city.

According to Al Tayer, the previous three phases helped reduce journey times on some routes by around five minutes per trip, representing a 24 per cent improvement. The initiatives also contributed to higher satisfaction levels among passengers, bus drivers and taxi drivers.

Building on earlier successes

The RTA has already implemented 6.1 kilometres of dedicated bus lanes across several parts of Dubai.

These include a 4.3-kilometre dedicated lane for buses and taxis along Khalid Bin Al Waleed Street in both directions, stretching from its intersection with Al Mina Street to just before its junction with Zaa’beel Street.

Previous works also covered a 500-metre section of Naif Street, a 900-metre stretch of Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street between Al Satwa Roundabout and Sheikh Rashid Street, and a 400-metre section of Al Ghubaiba Street extending from its intersection with Al Mina Street to Street 12.

The UAE could see rainfall in parts of the country this week as the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) forecast convective cloud formation over eastern regions from Tuesday through Thursday, bringing the possibility of afternoon showers despite the onset of the summer season.

According to the NCM’s latest five-day weather bulletin, Tuesday, June 23, is expected to be fair to partly cloudy, with clouds developing eastward and a chance of convective cloud formation associated with rainfall by the afternoon. Similar conditions are forecast for Wednesday, June 24, with the potential for rain-bearing clouds continuing over eastern areas.

On Thursday, June 25, the weather authority said convective clouds may once again develop over eastern parts of the country and could be accompanied by rainfall. The forecast also points to a slight drop in temperatures, particularly in western regions.

The weather pattern is expected to be accompanied by light to moderate southeasterly to northeasterly winds, reaching speeds of up to 40km/h at times. On Thursday, winds are forecast to shift northwesterly in some areas, potentially causing blowing dust and reduced visibility.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has approved the expansion of areas eligible for the licensing of new driver training institutes and branches across the emirate, creating fresh opportunities for investors while improving access to services for residents.

The initiative is designed to extend the reach of driver training services into Dubai’s rapidly developing residential communities, according to a report by WAM.

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The expansion aligns with RTA’s broader strategy to keep pace with the emirate’s continued urban development and population growth. By increasing the number of locations where training institutes can operate, the authority aims to make driver training services more accessible and convenient for residents across Dubai.

Investment opportunities for private sector

The newly approved areas include Wadi Al Safa, Jebel Ali, Mushrif, Al Maktoum City and Madinat Hind. RTA has invited accredited training institutes and prospective investors to submit applications to establish new branches in line with approved regulatory requirements and operating standards.

The move is expected to support greater private-sector participation in the driver training market while helping meet rising demand for licensing services in newly developed communities.

Ahmed Mahboob, CEO of the Licensing Agency at RTA, said, “This expansion reflects RTA’s commitment to meeting the needs of residents in emerging communities by bringing driver training services closer to them and reducing the need for long-distance travel. It also supports Dubai’s vision of making mobility across the city easier and safer.”

Supporting mobility and traffic safety goals

Mahboob added, “RTA will provide the necessary support to new investors, adopting a flexible approach to reviewing applications in line with relevant legislation and policies. This will strengthen private-sector participation in developing driver training services, enhancing driver competency and improving traffic awareness across the community.”

The expansion marks another milestone in RTA’s efforts to strengthen Dubai’s driver training and licensing infrastructure. It also supports the emirate’s long-term goals of improving road safety, enhancing mobility and raising the quality of services available to residents throughout Dubai.