Oman Rolls Out Free 14-Day Tourist Visa; Regional Travel Rules Shift

Royal Oman Police Decision No. 109/2026 set the pace for a busy week of regional news, as a free 14-day tourist visa for nationals of selected countries took effect in Oman the day after its publication in the Official Gazette. The amendment to the executive regulations of the Foreigners’ Residence Law, issued by Lt Gen Hassan bin Mohsin Al Shraiqi, Inspector General of Police and Customs, is designed to ease short-term entry and lift tourism numbers across the sultanate.

Meanwhile, the UAE Government Media Office confirmed that Friday, August 28, 2026, will be a paid public holiday for federal government and private-sector employees, marking the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, Mawlid Al Nabawi. Because the date falls on a Friday, workers on a standard Saturday-Sunday weekend will receive a three-day break. The announcement gives employers and staff a clear planning horizon for the months ahead.

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Travel regulations remain a live concern for anyone moving through the UAE. Strict rules govern what can be brought into the country, covering certain foods, vapes, e-cigarettes, and medications. Airlines and aviation authorities add their own safety protocols for batteries, power banks, drones, and flammable items, treating each as a serious hazard. Travellers are advised to check banned and restricted item lists before packing.

A gas cylinder explosion at a car showroom on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai killed one person and injured five others. Dubai Civil Defence teams responded, brought the situation under control, secured the site, and put safety measures in place to prevent further harm. The incident highlights persistent safety risks at commercial facilities that store or handle pressurized containers.

Immigration enforcement flagged a document fraud case on July 24, when a 45-year-old Filipina bound for Dubai was detained at Clark International Airport. Officers discovered she was carrying a falsified Overseas Employment Certificate. A cross-check against the Department of Migrant Workers database, now directly linked to the Bureau of Immigration’s verification system, confirmed the certificate had been altered before she could board her connecting flight.

Legal proceedings have opened against actor Salman Khan in connection with his jewellery business. A district court in Chandigarh has directed Khan, his sister Alvira Khan Agnihotri, and the directors of the company licensed to sell Being Human jewellery to appear before it on October 5. The summons follows a criminal complaint filed by a Chandigarh businessman over a showroom he opened eight years ago. None of the allegations has been tested in court.

In governance, Maharashtra IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe, a 2005-batch officer, has been transferred approximately 25 times over two decades. Many observers attribute the frequency to his strict rule enforcement and refusal to yield to political or administrative pressure. The constant relocations have done little to dent his reputation as one of India’s most uncompromising administrators.

BTS announced it will not submit any music for the 2027 Grammy Awards, roughly a month after the Recording Academy introduced a new Best Asian Pop Music Performance category. The group framed the decision as a rejection of geographic sorting over merit-based judgment. Indian composer Salim Merchant, speaking to Hindustan Times, expressed little surprise, arguing that the Recording Academy has historically functioned as an American institution that prioritizes American artists and eventually funnels others into smaller categories.

On the streaming side, Musafir Cafe began on Netflix on July 24 and received a second-season renewal just twelve days later. That turnaround is unusual for a Hindi-language romance rather than an established franchise (platforms typically wait months before committing to additional seasons). All three leads are returning. Whether the speed of that renewal signals a broader shift in how platforms treat regional-language titles is a question the industry will be watching closely.

For the full week’s coverage, visit gulfnews.com/uae/the-weeks-top-10-stories-uae-holiday-oman-visa-salman-khan-bts-and-more-1.500634460.