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Upto Dh700,000 fine for sharing patient’s information without permission UAE

FNC passes new law to ensure privacy of patient’s data by all medical and health care professionals, and facilities

Abu Dhabi: Publishing a medical advertisement without a licence will attract a fine of between Dh100,000 and Dh200,000, according to a new Federal Bill passed yesterday (Tuesday) by the Federal National Council.

The new legislation also prohibits handling, transferring or storing of medical records and health information outside the country. Those who violate this article will face a fine ranging between Dh500,000 and Dh700,000.

Punitive measures against health facilities which violate the law will range from written notice, written warning, to a fine between Dh1,000 and Dh1 million through to temporary suspension and cancelling of permission to use the central information system.

Members of the Federal National Council yesterday passed the draft law on the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in health care facilities across the country.

Members of the House stressed ICT is a major factor that will support the achievement of UAE’s various health care objectives, both in the short and long term.The ICTs-based health care law will be applicable to all health facilities across the country including those in free zones.

Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Minister of Federal National Council (FNC) Affairs, said the new law envisages developing state-of-the-art, patient-centred health care delivery systems that match the best global standards and rank among the best in the world.

Innovation and excellence is a major theme of the health care development strategies of GCC member states. The UAE is at the forefront of such developments, with the UAE Vision 2021 aiming to create a world-class health care system.

UAE hospitals have already introduced smart medical records, enhancing how, where and why patient information is collected and stored. On the back of such advances, health and wellness tourism increased 12 per cent last year, with 350,000 visitors recorded.

According to the draft law, patients’ medical records and health information must be kept safe and private by all medical and health care professionals, and all health care facilities such as hospitals and clinics. The medical records and health information may not be released without written approval from the patients, except for information required by insurance companies and health care providers for review and approval of medical treatment, scientific and clinical research provided that ethics are met, preventive measures on request from health facilities and judicial authorities.

The draft law sets the minimum retention period of medical records and health information at 25 years.

The new legislation makes it illegal to publish any medical advertisement without a licence. It authorises the Ministry of Health and Prevention to ban websites which publish advertisements without licence from the ministry.

In the realisation of these ambitious health care goals, health care industries across the GCC states are expected to post double-digit annual growth rates over the coming years. And in the context of the growing local health needs and the prevailing medical focus on chronic diseases, GCC health care systems are also expected to undergo a major transformation going forward.

The ministry will set up a central system for storing and exchange of medical records and health information. The law obliges all health facilities to join the central system.

The ministry will also develop ICTs policies and carry out ICTs initiatives and programmes.

The ministry will also ensure integrity and credibility of the medical records and health information, according to the draft law.

The Cabinet will issue executive rules of the law within six months from the date of publishing this law in the official gazette.

The law will become effective three months after publishing in the official gazette.

Shobhika Kalra: Meet the Dubai woman on wheelchair who helped build 1,000 ramps across UAE

Wheelchair-bound Shobhika Kalra, who has helped build over 1,000 ramps across UAE, is now creating a database to identify more locations

Dubai: Dubai-based Shobhika Kalra may be wheelchair-bound, but she makes sure she stays ahead of the game.

The 28-year-old, who has helped build over 1,000 ramps across the UAE, is set to raise the bar and rope in as many people as she can to identify more places that need to be wheelchair-friendly.

“As part of this campaign, we’re launching an app Wings of Angelz, named after our social initiative, to build a database of places that urgently require ramps. So far, whatever we’ve done has been project-specific and based on one-off inputs. We are now taking the initiative to the next level.”

That is no empty talk, considering Kalra has come a long way. The Indian expat, who suffers from a rare degenerative muscular disorder called Friedreich Ataxia, said dealing with challenges has been a way of life for her.

Turning point

A topper, she said she forced her parents, then in Abu Dhabi, to send her to boarding school when her grades once fell to second place. “I felt I was too pampered and convinced them I needed a hostel life. They enrolled me into a school in Hyderabad, India. But fate had other plans for me.”

Like all concerned mums, Kalra’s mother Dr Alka Kalra wanted her to get a medical check-up before she left. “She was concerned since I tended to lose my balance. At times, I couldn’t walk straight.”The check-up changed her life forever. “I was 13 and the diagnosis of my disorder shattered me.”

She said she was compelled to drop out of regular school as the classrooms were on the second floor. But thankfully, she was allowed to pursue distance learning from another institute. “This helped me regain my confidence. I not only finished schooling, but also went on to college and earned myself a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and a Master’s degree in Psychology.”

It didn’t matter that her condition, which has no cure, was getting worse. “I had to go on the wheelchair when I was 18,” she said.

Her mission to make the UAE wheelchair-friendly was born of an embarrassing experience back in India, when she had to be physically carried as a 19-year-old to her seat in a movie hall that did not have ramps. “We realised the UAE also has only a few ramps. so my sister Ruchika and I decided to bring about a change.”

She said, “I started with the pavement outside Rashidiya Metro Station. Although the station had ramps, the pavement outside didn’t. I just visited the RTA and told them about it. The idea was so well received and the ramp was built within a week.”

Clearly, there has been no looking back since

Video: Rare waterspout spotted off RAK

National Centre of Meteorology posts video of massive funnel cloud hovering over water on Tuesday

Dubai

A rare fair-weather waterspout swirled across coastal waters off Ras Al Khaimah late Tuesday morning, said the national weather bureau.

The National Centre of Meteorology in Abu Dhabi posted an eyewitness video of the waterspout air-and-water column moving swiftly along coastal waters appearing to have dropped out of the storm clouds that have draped the north eastern reaches of the UAE since Sunday bringing heavy rains.There were no reports of any injuries on Tuesday morning from boats that may have been in the area.

The funnel cloud appears to have extended several thousand feet into low-level clouds.

Mohammad Al Khajeh, a national weather forecaster, confirmed the video was posted on Tuesday shortly after 11am on the weather centre’s twitter account.

“it’s rare,” Al Khajeh said.

Waterspouts are uncomming in the UAE given they need just the right storm cloud and rainy conditions to form.

He said waterspouts form when low-lying clouds leave a shorter vertical distance to the ocean surface and winds can quickly begin to swirl.

“The base of the cloud was very close to the sea and it created a rotation,” Al Khajeh said from the capital, adding water spouts can bring high winds and rough waters that can threaten watercraft navigating nearby.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA, an American agency that reports on atmospheric and ocean conditions, waterspouts can take many forms on the water.

“They are sometimes seen as threatening funnel clouds descending from stormy skies. Others can be nearly invisible, like a ghostly spiral of wind skimming the sea surface. These eerie columns of rotating air are known as waterspouts — commonly defined as tornadoes over water,” said the agency on its website.

“Waterspouts usually develop over warm tropical ocean waters. They’re spotted in the Florida Keys more than any other place in the world. They’ve also been seen over the waters of the Great Lakes.

“Scientists that study waterspouts generally put them in two categories: fair weather and tornadic,” said NOAA.

Rainy, cloudy weather across the UAE is expected to clear by late Wednesday, said Khajeh.

UAE amnesty: Heavy turnout leads to extension until December Dubai

Large number of applicants and slow procedures at some embassies prompt government to extend amnesty period for a month

Abu Dhabi: The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) announced on Tuesday that the visa amnesty will be extended for one more month.

The authority said that the heavy turnout of undocumented residents at the diplomatic missions of the foreign countries and Amnesty Centres and slow procedures at some of the diplomatic missions of foreign countries have prompted the government to extend the amnesty.

The authority had earlier announced a three-month long amnesty from August 1 to October 31, which would now be extended to December 1.

The extension will provide more time for the amnesty-seekers to regularise their residency status to stay in the country or leave without paying fines or getting an entry ban.Brigadier Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, acting director-general for Foreigners Affairs and Ports at the FAIC, said the authorities will not offer any leniency to the residency-law violators after the extended amnesty period.

An extensive inspection campaign will be initiated across the country to arrest residency-law violators and they will be prosecuted as per the laws of the country and penalised for the whole period of violation with imprisonment followed by deportation, Brig Al Rashidi said.

He said the extension comes under the directives of the country’s leadership to make all efforts to help all residents and make their life easier.

During the extended period, the amnesty-seekers can also apply for a six-month visa under self-sponsorship to look for a job. They can either move to a new job visa, if they get a job offer, or leave the country after six months.

The authority also clarified that those who will be leaving the country on exit-passes can legally return to the country and there will be no entry ban on them. Even absconders who ran away from their sponsors can leave the UAE without getting the entry ban

However, those who entered the UAE illegally [without a visa] can renter the country after two years only.

Brig Al Rashidi said diplomatic missions of some countries were slowly processing their citizens’ amnesty applications. This caused delay in completing the procedures of residency-law violators.

He said all nine Amnesty Centres across the country will continue to welcome amnesty-seekers who wish to regularise their residency status or leave the country.

The initiative aims to make the “Emirates free from violators”. All undocumented residents can avail of this opportunity, the official said.

Location of Centres

There are nine Amnesty Centres for amnesty seekers across the UAE where they can regularise their residency status or get an exit pass to leave the UAE.

In Abu Dhabi, the centres are located at immigration office in Shahama, Al Ain and Al Gharbia. In Dubai the registration centre is in Al Aweer, while in other emirates, the main immigration offices act as Amnesty Centres.

Reception centres are there in Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain to facilitate amnesty-seekers.

Those who wish to clarify and obtain any information about the amnesty can call on the toll free number 8005111. This is operational 24/7 and people can communicate in multiple languages, including English and Urdu.

Embassies welcome amnesty extension

Bangladesh

The extension would immediately help around 4,500 Bangladeshi amnesty — seekers who are still waiting to receive their renewed passports, which have to come from Dhaka in Bangladesh, said Mohammad Imran, the Bangladeshi Ambassador to the UAE.

Of 22,000 (twenty-two thousand) amnesty seekers who approached the Bangladeshi missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, 15,000 (fifteen thousand) applied for passports and remaining 7,000 (seven thousand) for emergency certificates. “Around 10,500 (ten thousand and five hundred) passports and almost all emergency certificates were already issued,“ he said.

Pakistan

The decision [extension] would help all those amnesty-seekers who for one reason or another have not been able to complete their papers, said Moazzam Ahmad Khan, the Pakistani Ambassador to the UAE. “We urge all those who are illegal to come forward and avail themselves of the opportunity and not wait for the last moment,” he said.

Philippines

“We continue to urge our kababayans to avail of the amnesty programme. The extension signals that the UAE has generously provided more time to all with immigration concerns to have their documentation and legal issues resolved and apply for the amnesty,” said Paul Raymund Corte, Philippine Consul-General in Dubai.

Indonesia

Around 3000 Indonesian amnesty-seekers approached the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, which issued 476 emergency passports for those wanting to go back home (most are still pending confirmation from the amnesty system), said Hussain Bagis, the Indonesian Ambassador to the UAE. The embassy also processed 1,725 passports (1,247 new passports and 488 extensions). “The embassy will facilitate our citizens during this extension,” he said.

Sri Lanka

The extension would give more time to those who could not use the amnesty period, said A Sabarulla Khan, Charge d’affairs at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Abu Dhabi. “We served about 600 Sri Lankans, of whom about 90 per cent took emergency certificates to return to Sri Lanka. The number of people calling over at the Embassy to apply for passports or emergency certificates has sharply declined. We urge all those Sri Lankans who stay in UAE without valid visa to regularise their status using the amnesty, he said.

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Mother of three in debt after father abandons family

Dubai resident embroiled in legal cases and left with dues over Dh400,000

Dubai: A mother of three has been left with huge debts and unpaid bills of over Dh400,000 when her husband abandoned the family and returned to his home country.

Algerian-American Mouna Laouar, 48, who has lived in Dubai since 2012 has been struggling to keep her family afloat ever since her Algerian husband disappeared in 2016 while she was at work.

Soon after he left, Laouar discovered that he had failed to pay rent, school fees, bank loans and debts for over a year, leaving her heavily in debt with multiple legal actions against her.

Now, Laouar is unemployed with two of her three children unable to attend school due to outstanding fees.

“I went to jail, I had to leave my kids for several days and I have lost three jobs. But what’s hurting me most is that they are at home and not going to school,” Laouar said.

I came to Dubai on a work visa a few months before the rest of my family, so the apartment lease was in my name. Bank loans and credit cards were also taken in my name as I had a stable salary. I didn’t think much of it as he was my husband.”

How it all started

Laouar told Gulf News, her husband used to work in the real estate sector where he did not maintain a stable income, and relied on commissions.

“I had first come to Dubai a few months before the rest of my family on a work visa, so the apartment lease was in my name. After that, bank loans and credit cards were taken under my name since I had a stable salary. I didn’t think much of it at the time, since he was my husband,” she said.

However, Laouar said her “gut feeling” told her something was seriously wrong and that she couldn’t help but sense that he would run away one day.

She was proved right as the man indeed ran away leaving her to raise the three children who are 15, 11 and eight years-old. Laouar’s life began to crash before her eyes starting with a notice from the land department ordering her to vacate her home immediately.

“The landlord had taken the cheques to the police and the final judgement from the land department to vacate was issued with the order to pay the full outstanding amount, which was over Dh140,000,” said Laouar.

Several months after Laouar vacated the property and moved into a smaller apartment, she was escorted from her workplace by police and was kept at the police station for four days for her outstanding rent payments.

After a court case ruled Laouar could be released when 10 per cent of her dues were paid to her previous landlord, she was supported by her colleagues who had raised money to help her.

“I had to leave the kids with the maid, and told them I had a health problem and had to remain in hospital for several days. They were already dealing with being abandoned by their dad and I could not make things worse,” she said.

However, soon after, Laouar was laid off by her employer.

A constant struggle

Desperately searching for job in administration, things finally started to look up for Laouar when she landed a good-paying job at a reputable company in Dubai.

“I started paying off what I could such as late school fees, bus fees and some of the loans to the banks, also with the help of my father, who was living back in Algeria. He did the best he could considering the difference in currency and was a great support emotionally,” she explained.

However, her bad luck did not end there. After five short months, Laouar was suddenly dismissed by her employer.

“When I was asked about my husband, I did not want to disclose my personal issues to any employer but as soon as they found out I was laid off. My situation had cost me my job again,” she said.

Just before Ramadan 2018, Laouar managed to find another job, which was also unfortunately short-lived.

“I worked longer hours than others and took my job very seriously — I hate to be absent or late, and I always tried to detach from my problems — but they were digging into my personal business and when they found out, I was dismissed again on the spot,” she said.

After losing her third job in August 2018, Laouar was left with nothing but her faith.

“If the most powerful people tell me they will help me, I would just ask for a job that is stable. One who helps with money can do it once or twice, but one who gives you a job can help you sustain your life for a long time,” she said.

The mother of three has managed to transfer sponsorship for two of her children, however, one remains illegal due to outstanding cases against her.

Still, Laouar has not given up and is till eager to find a job in order to make ends meet for her children’s sake.

UAE Consulate issues warning to citizens

Emiratis in Florida were warned to evacuate ahead of lethal hurricane expected to hit the US Gulf Coast

Dubai: The UAE Consulate in New York City issued a weather alert to citizens over the Category 3 hurricane that is likely to hit the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday.

UAE authorities warned Emiratis to follow evacuation procedures, and urged citizens to contact the consulate in the event of an emergency.

On its Twitter page, the UAE Consulate in New York City, said: “Attention: UAE citizens in Florida, Hurricane Michael is strengthening and expected to make landfall in the northern Gulf Coast on Wednesday. Stay tuned to local news for safety instructions and evacuation procedures. For emergencies, please call 911 and do not hesitate to call the consulate at +1 646 630 2575 for further assistance.”

On Monday night, the hurricane was nearing in on Cuba and forecast to push through the Gulf of Mexico before moving inland over the northern Gulf Coast of Florida, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said.

The Category 1 hurricane is expected to turn into a violent Category 3 hurricane — with the power to uproot trees, block roads and knock out power for days — by the time it hits Florida on Wednesday, before moving across the southeastern United States through Thursday.

When a hurricane is approaching, many people prepare based on previous experience.

But they’re not always right.https://t.co/YHOQ2ietbC#HurricaneMichael #Michael pic.twitter.com/l6GZekbclG— NWS (@NWS) October 9, 2018

The US National Hurricane Centre warned residents in Florida’s Gulf Coast to prepare for “life-threatening” winds, and said that Hurricane Michael is likely to produce heavy rain and flash floods in parts of western Cuba and northeastern Mexico during the next few days.

Hurricane #Michael continues to strengthen over the southern Gulf of Mexico. Here are the updated 10 PM CDT Key Messages for Hurricane #Michael. https://t.co/tW4KeGdBFb pic.twitter.com/6x3a1wjqfi— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 9, 2018

Has vengeance unseated idealism and integrity in naya Pakistan?

These are interesting times in Pakistan. There is a giddy round of constant entertainment in the form of high profile arrests, a reformist setup and the rosy-hued civilian-military honeymoon the whole country is basking in.

Unfortunately, as is wont of all honeymoons, these end and reality and egos can shatter the glass ceilings of any perfect setup.

Reality is almost always hard-nosed and grim, and those basking in illusions sweeter than saccharine should realise that sooner rather than later."

The only thing that remains is integrity, which is critical for the perpetuity of any ideals, or survival in the cesspool we call politics. And while integrity and politics are often not in tandem, these together could ultimately serve a higher cause, both of survival and perpetuity of ideals.

Hasty arrests

But first, let us recoup and review the seismic or ordinary (based on one’s perception) recent event - the arrest of Pakistan’s opposition leader and former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif days before the coming by-elections. The timing of this could not have been worse. It could have definitely been scheduled till after the elections and thus dispelled the opposition’s claims of misuse of force and victimisation attempts to affect the outcome or the morale of Sharif’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, PML-N.

Shahbaz Sharif

It was hardly likely that Shahbaz would have turned absconder and slipped out of the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) grasp. The NAB, which is now beginning to resemble the inquisition, for some, has so far obtained a reputation of biased persecution, especially, in arresting Shahbaz for corruption and misuse of authority as the chief minister in two cases without solid evidence justifying arrest and allowing him any recourse to answer charges against him.

The hasty arrest is bound to backfire on Prime Minister Imran Khan. What is worse is that such measures do not bode well for political stability or inspiring confidence in democracy and judicious accountability.

The way arrests were undertaken of Sharif now and his brother, the former premier Nawaz Sharif, and his daughter, Maryam, before the general elections in July this year has confirmed for those on the other side of the fence that a troika comprising the military, judiciary and PTI is out for vendetta.

Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz

The alleged massive and systematic rigging eclipsing the 2018 election ferociously divided opinion and polarised society. Similarly, the challenges being thrown to the established political and social system has ignited a tussle between the old guard and the new aspirants for power.

Is 'naya' Pakistan on its way yet?

For now, Pakistan’s naya (new) image is being cultivated as a game changing moment of its existence. Fed up by allegedly corrupt regimes, the people voted in Imran Khan-led populist party, the PTI, in July this year and lo behold, we had a reinvigorated country raring to go about its reformist agenda. Populist sentiments buoyed by over-enthusiastic and blinkered PTI supporters on twitter hailed these superfluous measures introduced by the premier himself, whose zeal and tenacity must be admired.

But therein lies the bite. Targeting elite structures and the old-world order is in itself debatable as the PTI’s top guard, besides a handful of socialist-minded office holders, themselves belong to Pakistan’s entrenched elite. It is thus highly ironic though that the new power structure emerging is being carried on the shoulders of the same elite it rallied against.

The opening of state houses, including governor houses to the public and decisions pertaining the conversion of the Prime Minister house into a world class university - which incidentally would again have children and youth from moneyed backgrounds studying there - is simply hogwash.

The economy is adrift, literally, with the finance minister increasingly displaying ineptitude at being able to steer his way out in any direction. The only policy changes one glimpses are those pertaining taxation, which are retracted and reissued to and fro. What is seriously upsetting is the lack of effort to build confidence amongst the business community. Also, the lack of interest in the agricultural economy, the country’s mainstay, simply underlines the new government’s lack of comprehension in understanding its immense potential. What Pakistan’s agricultural sector desperately needs is technology and resources to harness its true worth.

'Naya' Pakistan

But these are early days and Khan’s government has a lot to learn. It is only hoped that it would rise above vengeance and pettiness and value integrity. After all, PTI was voted in for its idealism, a promise to end corruption and to enable Pakistan to stand tall in the comity of nations for its values. May we please see those values enshrined in policy and behaviour at home first?

#MeToo Vinta Nanda accuses Alok Nath of rape, CINTAA to send him notice

Mumbai Vinta Nanda, a veteran writer-producer of the avant-garde 1990s' show "Tara" fame, has accused actor Alok Nath -- known for his "sanskaari" on-screen image -- of sexually violating her almost two decades ago. The Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) has decided to send him a show-cause notice.

"I have waited for this moment to come for 19 years," Nanda wrote in a long, heart-wrenching Facebook post, referring to the "predator in question" as "the actor par excellence who is known as the most 'sanskaari' (cultured) person in the film and television industry".

Her suggestive remarks like "sanskaari" and that the person concerned was the "lead actor" and a "television star of that decade" were good enough to make out that Nanda was indeed pointing the finger at Alok.

Later, confirming the same to IANS via SMS, Nanda said: "It is Alok Nath. I thought saying 'sanskaari' would do the needful."

CINTAA General Secretary Sushant Singh has said a show-cause notice will be sent to Alok. He urged Nanda to file a complaint against "this vile creature", and added: "We extend you full support".

Alok Nath's response: "It was me who made her what she is"

ABPLive reported Alok Nath as saying, “Neither I am denying this nor I would agree with it. It [rape] must have happened, but someone else would have done it. Well, I do not want to talk much about it as for the matter if it has come out, it will be stretched.”

Speaking about how fans have been reacting to the allegations and about it affecting his image, he said, “What do I have to do with people? People will say anything to spoil the image. Leave my image, whatever has been said, it is absurd.”

He added, “At one time she used to be such a good friend... today she said such a big thing. In a way, it was me who made her what she is. It is useless to react on the allegations as in today's world whatever a woman says, only that will be considered. In such a situation, it would be wrong to say anything.”

Alok is known for his roles as a stereotypical Indian father, personifying religious traditions and moral values in films and TV shows.

It is the escalating voices against sexual harassment across the world as part of the #MeToo wave that gave Nanda the courage to pen down the experiences which had left her "shattered".

Nanda's account of the events

"He was an alcoholic, shameless and obnoxious but he was also the television star of that decade, so not only was he forgiven for all his bad behaviour, many of the guys would also egg him on to be his worst," Nanda wrote, adding that he even harassed the show's lead actress who was not interested in him.

Sharing the "worst" that happened, Nanda recounted the incidents that followed after she left a party at Alok's house at 2 a.m. She says her drinks were mixed.

"I started to walk home on the empty streets... Midway I was accosted by this man who was driving his own car and he asked me to sit in it and said he would drop me home. I trusted him and sat in his car.

"I have faint memory after that. I can remember more liquor being poured into my mouth and I remember being violated endlessly. When I woke up the next afternoon, I was in pain. I hadn't just been raped, I was taken to my own house and had been brutalised.

"I couldn't get up for my bed. I told some of my friends but everybody advised me to forget about it and move on."

Later, she got a job to write and direct a series for Plus Channel, and again her paths crossed with Alok.

"The man found his way through the casting route and became one of the lead actors on the show. He created an environment in which I was made to feel threatened, so I asked the producers to release me from directing the series because I didn't want to be around where he was.

"I continued to write the show."

The "most difficult part" and the "main reason" why Nanda took so long to come out with the truth was because while she was working on this new series, she says, "he asked me to come to his house again and I went to allow him to violate me".

"I needed the job and didn't want to leave it as I needed the money. It was after this that I quit."

Nanda has urged people "who have suffered at the hands of predators, to come out and say it aloud".

"Don't hold yourselves back. This is a moment for change, so your silence will only hold barriers to its evolution. Speak out. Shout out from the top of the roof."

Up to 50 kilos of free baggage allowance on these UAE flights

Dubai: UAE residents who will be flying out via Emirates anytime this month until early December could benefit from higher free baggage allowance of up to 45 to 50 kilos.

The Dubai-based carrier confirmed with Gulf News on Monday that it is again extending the weight limits for checked bags by ten to 20 kilos on flights from Dubai to at least 40 destinations.

Travellers who can avail themselves of the extra baggage allowance are those who are heading to select countries in India, Philippines, Pakistan, China and the Middle East.

The airline had earlier extended the baggage limits on select flights in June 2018.

In the recently announced incentive, flyers to Colombo, Beijing, Shanghai, Manila, Cebu, Clark, Jakarta, Dhaka, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Peshawar, Karachi, Amman and Kabul, among many others, can benefit from increased baggage limits.

Tickets need to be purchased by October 31, 2018, according to the airline. The extra baggage allowance is applicable to trips until December 13, 2018 or earlier, depending on the destination.

How to get a seat upgrade

7 in 10 UAE residents on holiday risk these

Travellers bound for Manila, Cebu and Clark, however, are advised that the higher baggage limits are not valid for travel between December 5 and December 13, 2018.

For Colombo-bound passengers, the 50-kilo baggage allowance is not valid for travel from December 1 to December 13 and they’re valid on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The 40-kilo allowance is valid on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.