COMMUNITY

Taking pictures of the rain or fog in UAE?

As the weather changes in the UAE, you may experience rainy or foggy conditions while driving around the city or on long road trips over the weekend. However, there are some common driving mistakes that police authorities in the UAE regularly warn motorists against.

1. Taking photos while driving

Fine: Dh800, four black points

Taking photos while driving can leave you facing a fine of Dh800 and four black points.

In 2023, Abu Dhabi police warned motorists that taking photos while driving is a traffic violation and they will face penalties.

According to Article 32 of the Federal Traffic Law, the use of a mobile phone while driving is harmful and is categorised as distracted driving. Statistics revealed by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai discovered that texting and driving increases the chance of being in an accident by up to 32 per cent while the reaction time of drivers falls by up to 50 per cent.

2. Driving with your hazard lights on

Fine: Dh500, four black points

Another common traffic violation during conditions of reduced visibility is when motorists leave their hazard lights on. You can be fined Dh500 with four black points. Using your hazard lights turns on all the four indicator lights on your vehicle, so if you are driving and changing lanes, there is no way in which you will be able to indicate that to other road users. If the weather is so bad that you cannot safely see while driving, pull over to a safe place till the storm passes.

Use your hazard lights only when your car is stopped or in case of a breakdown.

3. Changing lanes without an indicator

Fine: Dh400

This is a violation, which is already quite dangerous in regular weather conditions. Add to that reduced visibility and difficult driving conditions and not using an indicator while changing lanes, it can become lethal. This is why police authorities conduct regular awareness campaigns to change the behaviour of motorists in the UAE, who are not using indicators in 47 per cent of lane change and lane turning instances, according to a study published by RoadSafetyUAE in 2019.

4. Reckless driving

Fine: Dh2,000, 23 black points, 60 day impoundment

Driving recklessly, which can include actions that endanger the lives of others, blocking traffic, jumping red lights or sudden swerving, can leave you with some hefty fines, especially when driving conditions are tricky during rainy and foggy conditions.

In December 2022, Abu Dhabi Police posted a video on their social media channels warning motorists that strict action would be enforced if someone was found to be driving recklessly. According to UAE laws, any action classified as ‘reckless driving’ can land you with a hefty fine of Dh2,000 in addition to piling on 23 black points and impounding of the vehicle for a period of 60 days.

Story by Gulf News

COMMUNITY

AlUla Club Marks International Day of the Arabian Leopard

AlUla Club organized an awareness event yesterday to mark the International Day of the Arabian Leopard, with broad participation from residents of AlUla Governorate and visitors. The event is part of the club’s efforts to enhance environmental awareness and support wildlife protection initiatives.
The event aimed to educate youth and the community at large, and especially visitors to the governorate, about the importance of conserving biodiversity. It also sought to reinforce positive behaviors that support wildlife protection, underscoring the role of community initiatives in supporting national efforts to protect the environment, and sustain it.
— SPA

COMMUNITY

Saudi Arabia to issue passports for millions of camels

Saudi Arabia has announced plans to issue official passports for camels, a move aimed at better regulating and managing one of the kingdom’s most culturally and economically significant assets.

In a statement this week, Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said the initiative would help improve oversight of camel ownership while enhancing ‘productivity and efficiency in the sector’ by creating a centralised and reliable reference database.

According to state-backed broadcaster Al Ekhbariya, the document will be used to regulate the sale, transport and trade of camels, while also helping protect owners’ rights and simplify proof of ownership.

Saudi authorities estimate that the kingdom is home to around 2.2 million camels, based on government figures released in 2024. The animals remain deeply embedded in Saudi society — historically as a primary means of transport and today as symbols of heritage, prestige and wealth.

In recent years, camels have also become central to a lucrative breeding and competition industry, particularly at large annual festivals such as the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, where prize-winning animals can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

That growing commercial value has prompted authorities to tighten oversight, especially after repeated scandals involving cosmetic manipulation of camels entered into beauty contests. Organisers have banned practices such as injections and fillers used to enhance lips, noses and humps, with offenders facing fines and disqualification.

Officials say the passport system is part of a broader effort to modernise agricultural governance while preserving traditional industries — using documentation, data and traceability to manage practices that once relied entirely on oral record and custom.

COMMUNITY

Saudi Arabia suspends 1,800 foreign Umrah agencies after review

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended contracts with about 1,800 foreign travel agencies operating in the Umrah sector, giving them 10 days to rectify their status following a periodic performance review, the ministry said.

The affected agencies are among roughly 5,800 foreign firms authorised to provide Umrah services. The decision was taken after evaluations identified performance deficiencies and weak service quality, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday

The ministry said the suspension applies only to the issuance of new Umrah visas and is intended as a regulatory measure to allow agencies to address classification issues and improve compliance with approved standards. Contracts will be reactivated once the requirements are met within the specified grace period, it added.

The ministry stressed that Umrah pilgrims holding valid visas or existing reservations will not be affected, confirming that services to them will continue without disruption.

Applying approved classification criteria and performance indicators is a core regulatory tool to raise compliance among service providers and ensure that services meet required standards, the ministry said, adding that protecting the rights of Umrah performers and ensuring service continuity remain central priorities.

Ghassan Alnwaimi, the ministry’s spokesperson, said regulatory action would be taken against any agency that fails to correct deficiencies by the deadline. He added that the ministry would continue to rely on monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to strengthen the reliability of the Umrah sector and safeguard pilgrims’ rights.