Founder and Chairman Arif Abdul Latif receives prestigious recognition for Kabbali Hills at the 9th Golden Excellence Awards in Dubai DUBAI: Arif Development, a UAE-based real estate developer specialising in premium villa communities, has received the Golden Excellence Award for Luxury Villa Community of the Year for its flagship project, Kabbali Hills. The award was received by Arif Abdul Latif, …

By Rafiq Vayani KARACHI: In a landmark initiative to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the Republic of Türkiye, Bukhari Group of Companies, under the leadership of Brig. (R) Sardar Sajjad Hussain, Group CEO of Bukhari Group, and the Ibni Sina Institute signed a Strategic Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Bukhari Group Head Office in Karachi. The agreement …

More than 1.2 million women travelled to Thailand alone in 2024. The ones who went know exactly why. The ones who have not yet gone are running out of reasons to wait Solo travel for women is no longer a niche pursuit. It is, by almost every measure, a mainstream movement. Women now drive 82 per cent of all travel …

Hotels that extend your life. Restaurants that rebuild your immunity. Temples that restore your mind. Thailand has assembled the most sophisticated wellness infrastructure in Southeast Asia There is a moment, somewhere between your third sunrise yoga session on a Koh Samui terrace and your first consultation with a physician blending traditional Thai medicine with longevity science, when a Thailand trip …

By Rafiq Vayani DUBAI: Object 1 has announced the completion of its second project, V1TER Residence, a residential development located in District 12 of Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), one of Dubai’s most active, family-oriented communities. The launch reflects Object 1’s continued focus on delivering residential projects with long-term relevance, underpinned by consistent execution, operational continuity, and alignment with Dubai’s broader …

News Desk KARACHI: Meezan Bank, Pakistan’s first Islamic bank and one of the country’s largest financial institutions, has successfully achieved PCI DSS v4.0.1 certification following a comprehensive assessment conducted by Risk Associates, a globally recognised PCI Qualified Security Assessor (QSA). The certification reflects the Bank’s continued commitment to safeguarding cardholder data and maintaining robust security controls across its expanding digital …

The UAE continues to attract international companies as a major employment market and base for Middle East growth. Its private sector workforce grew by 12.4% in 2025 and a further 2.5% in Q1 2026, according to MoHRE. Yet successful entry requires early planning, as every hire carries implications for licensing, sponsorship, employment law and operating control. Aethra Advisory outlines the …

MoU covers interline, codeshare, cargo and loyalty cooperation, deepening Etihad’s presence in West Africa By Rafiq Vayani ACCRA, Ghana: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and Africa World Airlines, the Accra-based carrier that has connected Ghana and the wider West African region for more than a decade, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a …

News Desk DOHA: Visit Qatar returns for its second edition as the presenting partner of the Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar 2026, taking place from 28 July to 1 August in West Sussex, United Kingdom. Visit Qatar’s partnership with one of the most prestigious fixtures in the British flat racing calendar continues to build on the strong foundations …

By Rafiq Vayani GENEVA/DUBAI: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Saadia Zahidi has been appointed by IATA’s Board of Directors to the position of Director General from 1 November 2026. Zahidi will be IATA’s ninth Director General and the first woman appointed to hold the position. She joins IATA from the World Economic Forum (WEF) where she is …