🇦🇪 UAE Announces Four Cases for Domestic Worker Recruitment Fee Refunds

🔹 Refunds apply if the worker is incompetent, quits without reason during probation, or if the agency fails to meet contract terms

🔹 Employers can also claim refunds if the worker is deemed medically unfit

🔹 36 recruitment agencies penalized for violations, with 22 agencies fined in February alone for 37 infractions

🔹 MOHRE warns against using unlicensed agencies, stating that employers may lose legal protection

🔹 A list of licensed recruitment agencies is available on MOHRE’s official website 

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🇦🇪Fewer Rate Cuts in 2025 – Is Now the Right Time for a Mortgage  

🔹 Expected 2025 rate cuts reduced from four to two, keeping interest rates higher for longer

🔹 Mortgage options: Fixed-rate for stability vs. variable-rate for potential savings if rates drop

🔹 Experts suggest delaying major borrowing decisions until 2026 for better terms

🔹 If home purchase is urgent, current mortgage options should be carefully evaluated

🔹 Inflation and UAE real estate trends play a key role in mortgage timing decisions

🔹 Fixed rates provide security, while variable rates may benefit from future rate reductions

🔹 Waiting until 2026 could offer the best mortgage terms, but personal financial factors matter

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🇦🇪 Dubai Parking Fees to Change from April 4 – What Drivers Need to Know

🔹 Dubai will introduce a new variable parking fee system starting April 4

🔹 Peak-hour premium parking will cost Dh6 per hour (8 AM–10 AM & 4 PM–8 PM)

🔹 Different rates across zones – e.g., Zone B max Dh40 per day, Zone D max Dh30

🔹 Event-based pricing could see rates as high as Dh25 per hour in key areas

🔹 Dynamic pricing model means parking costs will depend on time and location

🔹 Salik toll gates also adopting similar time-based pricing adjustments

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✈️ Gulf Airlines Expand Routes to Australia, New Zealand, China, U.S., and U.K.

🔹 Oman, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia enhance direct and transit routes to key global markets

🔹 UAE (Emirates Airlines) expands its global network via Dubai hub

🔹 Qatar (Qatar Airways) strengthens its Doha transit system for better connectivity

🔹 Saudi Arabia (Saudia Airlines) increases flights to North America, Europe, and Asia

🔹 Oman (Oman Air) accelerates expansion into China and the U.S.

🔹 Bahrain (Gulf Air) boosts connections with Asia and Western markets

🔹 Expected to drive tourism, trade, and economic growth in the Gulf region

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🇸🇦 Saudi Housing Reforms to Boost Homeownership in Riyadh

🔹 Saudi Arabia introduces major housing market reforms to stabilize Riyadh’s property sector

🔹 Plans to release 10,000–40,000 residential plots over the next five years

🔹 Restrictions lifted on land transactions in 33.2 sq km of northern Riyadh

🔹 Apartment prices have risen 8-15% on average—reforms aim to slow price growth

🔹 Expansion of affordable housing options for young Saudi nationals amid growing foreign property ownership

🔹 Reforms align with Riyadh’s urban expansion, including the New Murabba project

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