Gulf Buzz

If you’re an Indian living in the UAE and you’ve been caught up in a cybercrime case, a banking scam or a problem with your Emirates ID, you probably know how confusing it can feel to figure out who to ask for help. Which is why, for one day only (Today, Monday, September 21) you can all the answers you need, for free. I have all the details you need to know about the Indian Consulate in Dubai offering free legal, so keep reading to find out more.

Barely a few weeks into the new school year, and there’s already a change to circle on the calendar. Several private schools across Dubai have just told parents that October half-term is moving a week earlier than originally planned. Which means if you’ve been eyeing flights or hotel deals based on the old dates, it’s time for a quick double-check. Keep reading for the full set of calendar changes you need to know.

Forget standing in line at a fixed counter. Passengers passing through Dubai airports can now get their entry and departure procedures done wherever they happen to be inside the terminal, thanks to a new mobile service called ‘Click and Travel’, launched by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai). I have all the exciting details you need to know, so keep reading to find out more.

Boarding the metro in Dubai is almost starting to feel like a real-life game of “Guess the Station.” One day you’re hopping off at Al Khail, the next time it’s christened Al Fardan Exchange. Noor Bank? Nope, that was in 1947! Now that’s Onpassive. Umm Al Sheif? Try Equiti! With almost 17 Dubai metro stations renamed since their inception, longtime commuters are now double-checking signs like confused tourists.

Found The Perfect Cake On Pinterest? Here’s What To Think About Next We’ve all done it. You’re planning a birthday, anniversary or celebration, you head to Pinterest for a little inspiration and suddenly you’ve found the cake. It looks incredible, perfectly matches the theme and you can already picture it sitting in the middle of the party table. But then come the practical questions. Can it actually be recreated? How big does it need to be? Will everyone like the flavour?

Dubai nights usually follow a familiar formula: pick a restaurant, meet for dinner and then figure out what to do afterwards. But what if you flipped the evening around? For friends meeting after work, families looking for something different at the weekend or anyone who wants more than another dinner reservation, Dubai’s growing indoor entertainment scene offers a much more active alternative.

Tired of the same dinner-and-a-movie routine? Dubai just got a serious upgrade to its weekend plans. PLUMA – Circus Spectacular by Cirque du Liban is landing at Dubai Festival City Mall from 30 September! Step into the Circus Tent and you’re instantly somewhere else. From dazzling costumes, to mind-bending acrobatics, and visual effects that make the whole thing feel like a fever dream in the best way possible. I have all the incredible details you need to know, so keep reading to find out.

Every September, the same question does the rounds – is summer officially over? The autumn equinox has a reputation for being the tidy line in the sand between hot and cool. But the truth is a lot messier (and a lot more interesting) than that. Turns out there isn’t just one “start of autumn,” there are three, and they don’t all agree with each other. So let’s actually unpack what the equinox is, why it doesn’t automatically mean sweater weather, and why UAE in particular is not buying it just yet.

New term, new shoes, new bag, new… everything, basically. Back to School season is officially here, and BurJuman Mall is stepping up as the one-stop spot to knock out the whole list. While also giving kids a smarter, more grown-up way to manage their own spending money. I have all the brilliant details you need to know, so keep reading to find out more. Let’s be honest, Back to School shopping usually means bouncing between five different shops for five different things.

Let’s be honest, if you’re a sibling, you already know Raksha Bandhan basically runs on last-minute energy. This Friday, August 28th, is the big day, and if you still haven’t sorted your rakhi, don’t panic. Dubai’s got you covered whether you want to shop from your couch or actually browse in person. Keep reading to find out where you can pick up your Rakhis in a jiffy.