UAE Bank to stop SMS OTPs for online transactions starting January 6 and replace them with biometric authentication.
UAE Banks to Phased Out SMS OTPs for Online Transactions If you’ve been in the UAE for a while, those SMS codes you’ve relied on for online shopping have probably felt like a constant companion. However, come January 6, 2026, several prominent banks in the UAE will discontinue sending one-time passwords (OTPs) through text messages […]
NRIs in the UAE are receiving notices for Foreign Asset Disclosure: What’s the reason? What should be done?
Why do NRIs receive such notifications? India gets financial data from over 100 countries annually through a system known as the Common Reporting Standard (CRS). This system is designed to share information to combat tax evasion. Through CRS, India can access details such as: foreign bank accounts interest, dividends, and overseas income assets like investments […]
Exploring Kevin O’Leary’s Interest in the UAE and the Future of A.I.
Entrepreneur and investor Kevin O’Leary recently appeared on World of Travel: The Podcast, sharing his connections to the Middle East and the significance of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in his life. “I’m half Lebanese and half Irish, so I’ve spent much of my life in that region. I’ve lived in places like Cyprus and […]
Musk’s Boring Company to Construct ‘Dubai Loop’ in the UAE
Dubai Metro Transit System Planned by Elon Musk’s Boring Company Elon Musk’s Boring Company is on track to develop a metro transit system in Dubai, known as the Dubai Loop, which is anticipated to begin operating in 2026, according to UAE officials. Omar Al Olama, the Minister of Artificial Intelligence in the UAE, shared that […]
Nvidia Shares Reach All-Time High After UAE Trade Approval
Nvidia Shares Surge After AI Chip Export Approval Nvidia’s stock hit new highs recently, climbing after the US government granted approval for the company to export a significant quantity of AI chips to the United Arab Emirates. The Bureau of Industry and Security at the Commerce Department issued export licenses as part of a trade […]
Report highlights the Trump family’s cryptocurrency transactions with the UAE
Happy Tuesday! Here’s a recap of last week’s notable events at the crossroads of technology and politics. $2 billion cryptocurrency deal A report from the New York Times unveils an intriguing sequence of events where World Liberty Financial, a crypto company launched in the Middle East by Donald Trump and Steve Wittkoff, secured $2 billion […]
Sending money to India? Will the rupee remain weak against the US dollar and UAE dirham?
Rupee Woes for Indian Expatriates in the UAE Dubai: Indian nationals residing in the UAE are feeling anxious about the rupee’s performance. Last week, it plummeted to a historic low of ₹88.17 per US dollar, while the exchange rate against the UAE Dirham reached ₹24.05. This downturn makes it increasingly challenging for families sending remittances […]
RAK Properties in the UAE will accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for property transactions.
Rak Properties Accepts Cryptocurrency for Real Estate Rak Properties, one of the largest public real estate firms in the UAE, has announced it will start accepting cryptocurrencies for international real estate deals. As of a recent announcement, they will particularly accept payments in Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and Tether (USDT). This initiative underscores the increasing […]
UAE Central Bank halts the license of Yas Takaful insurance company
UAE Central Bank Suspends Yas Takaful License The UAE Central Bank has halted the operations of Yas Takaful due to violations of national regulations, as announced on Monday. The bank made it clear that Yas Takaful remains accountable for the rights and obligations tied to insurance contracts that were terminated before the suspension took place. […]
A step-by-step guide to booking a flight with cryptocurrency in the UAE
Key Takeout Airlines and travel agencies, including Emirates, Air Arabia, Trabara, and others, now accept cryptocurrency payments for bookings, appealing to tech-oriented travelers and digital nomads. Travelers can pay using Bitcoin, Ether, Tether, or other digital currencies via checkout or gift cards, depending on the service. Initiatives in the UAE, like Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory […]