The Dubai Expat Diaries

Blackberry users in the UAE have been baffled by the recent news of the imminent ban on its services in the country. The TRA have announced to cut off its services by October 11 later this year until a solution they seek with RIM is reached. This has come as a surprise to the many [...]

It is soon going to be compulsory to have an ID card to access the internet from public locations such as cafes and shopping malls. This move is intended to protect children and prevent cyber crime. This highlights the growing importance of having an ID card in the near future. Expats who don’t have an [...]

It seems like etisalat users will have to endure the incredibly slow internet connection until the end of this week. It has been about 2 weeks since it was announced that etisalat internet connection had been hit by a cable damage and this is the second time the repair date has been delayed. They have [...]

Although Dubai hasn’t yet made an official bid for the 2020 Olympics, the emirate is conducting feasibility studies to weigh the pros and cons of hosting the Olympic games. According to Arabian Business, in a recent interview Sheikh Mohammed stated: “Dubai already has a well-developed infrastructure and a good track record of staging international sporting events, [...]

The on-going travel chaos caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland has delayed the launch of the world’s first Armani Hotel in Dubai. Located in the world’s tallest tower Burj Khalifa, the Armani hotel was due to open today. But thanks to the travel disruption in Europe, the designer Giorgio Armani and several hundred VIP [...]

Recent news have been dominated by the shutting down of the European airspace for days, which has happened for the first time in history, crippling the airline industry and leaving millions of travelers stranded around the globe. There are several stories of Dubai expatriates among others unable to return home, businesses suffering huge losses due [...]

The much hyped about Apple gadget is now available for sale in Dubai stores. But it seems buyers in Dubai have to pay a heavier price than the  customers in the US. According to The National, given below are the comparative costs of buying an iPad from a store in Dubai vs the purchase price in the US. [...]

The Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing has announced an exciting new promotion to attract more tourists during this year’s Dubai Summer Surprises. According to The National : Two children under 16 with every family travelling to Dubai on Emirates Airline in the summer can claim free flights, free meals, hotel stays and entrances to attractions, [...]

The popular food festival loved by Dubai foodies is on its second day today and will be running till Saturday, March 20. It features live cooking by a number of renowned chefs with live music playing in the background. The daily timetable with details are available here. Some of the best restaurants in Dubai are [...]

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has given the go ahead for VoIP phone calls to be allowed in the UAE, but only four companies have the license to offer these services – Etisalat, du, and the satellite firms Thuraya and Yahsat. Skype which arguably is the most popular among consumers, is still banned and can enter [...]