UAE school winter break dates, CBSE 2027 exam updates and fresh visa options for Pakistanis.
Dubai: Major changes are on the way for motorists across the UAE. New federal traffic regulations coming into force on January 1, 2027, will affect everything from driving licence validity and vehicle registration renewals to the number of cars individuals can own and the time drivers are allowed to spend on the road.
Beyond the traffic updates, a Dubai resident has landed a Dh25 million Big Ticket jackpot, an aviation enthusiast has recreated a luxury A380 suite in his living room, and parents now have the dates for the winter school holidays.
If you missed the week’s biggest stories, here’s a round-up of what you need to know.
UAE may introduce two-year vehicle registration from January 2027
Motorists could soon have the option of renewing their vehicle registration every two years instead of annually.
Under Article 98 of the new federal traffic regulations, owners of light vehicles can apply for a two-year registration provided their car was new when first registered, is no older than six years and is registered in an individual’s name rather than a company’s.
However, meeting all three requirements does not automatically secure approval. The final decision will rest with the relevant licensing authority.
UAE driving licence changes: Validity to range from one to 10 years
From 2027, the validity of driving licences will depend on the holder’s age and residency status.
Drivers below the age of 21 will receive temporary licences valid for one year, while first-time applicants aged 21 and above will be issued licences lasting two years.
For renewals, UAE and GCC nationals will be eligible for licences valid for 10 years, while expatriate residents will receive five-year licences. The regulations also establish minimum driving ages for different vehicle categories, with the minimum age for cars set at 18.
UAE residents face a five-vehicle registration cap
Article 89 of the new traffic regulations limits the number of vehicles an individual resident can register to five.
The standard provision covers the first two vehicles, with additional fees applying to each vehicle beyond that when registering or renewing.
However, the regulations have yet to clarify the amount of these fees or explain how residents who already own more than five vehicles will be affected.
New UAE rules limit driving to nine hours in any 24-hour period
Under Article 7 of the new regulations, motorists will be restricted to a maximum of nine hours of driving within any 24-hour period.
Drivers must also avoid getting behind the wheel if they are too fatigued to drive safely, even if they have not reached the daily limit.
Other provisions include a 40km/h speed limit on internal residential roads, mandatory helmets for cyclists and a ban on delivery riders carrying passengers.
Doctors and essential service drivers may exceed speed limits by up to 40km/h
Doctors attending medical emergencies and personnel working in essential services, including road maintenance, vehicle recovery and accident scene mapping, will be permitted to exceed speed limits by up to 40km/h outside built-up areas.
They will also be allowed to use bus lanes and road shoulders when traffic is at a standstill.
Doctors must have completed approved training and hold a valid UAE medical licence to qualify. However, the exemptions do not permit drivers to cross red traffic signals.
Dubai-based Indian expat bags Dh25m Big Ticket jackpot
Meena Sareen, an Indian expatriate based in Dubai, won the Dh25 million grand prize in Big Ticket’s Series 292 draw with ticket number 304251. She will share the winnings with three other people.
“Right now, I’m shivering. I’m speechless,” she said after receiving the winning call.
The draw also saw an Al Ain resident win a Range Rover Velar. The next live draw, scheduled for December 3, will feature another Dh25 million grand prize.
Three Kerala expatriates and an Omani win 200g gold bars
Four participants each won a 200g bar of 24-carat gold, valued at approximately Dh95,000, in Big Ticket’s final October e-draw.
Among the winners was Rajesh Gopalan, a supervisor from Ras Al Khaimah, who won on his first attempt. Dubai-based advertising professional Anish Raveendradas plans to use his prize to repay a housing loan in India, while Sharjah school bus driver Muhammed Ashraf Mundakai Samsu intends to share his winnings with six friends.
The fourth winner, Omani businessman Yousuf Hamed Mohammed Al Naabi, who enters the draw on his own, said he plans to continue buying tickets.
Dubai man takes 224 A380 flights before recreating luxury cabin at home
Aviation enthusiast Arun Rajagopal has taken 224 flights aboard the A380, travelling approximately 1.16 million kilometres across 97 different aircraft. He has now brought a touch of luxury aviation into his Dubai home by recreating the living area of Etihad’s three-room A380 suite, The Residence, inside his apartment.
The ambitious project took a UAE-based upcycling company nearly a year to complete.
“I know this is not the real thing, but it is as close as the real thing would be on the ground,” he said.
UAE school winter holidays 2026–27: Dates parents need to know
Parents can now plan for the winter break, with schools scheduled to close for the term after Friday, December 11.
The three-week holiday will run from December 14 to January 3, with students returning to classrooms on Monday, January 4, 2027.
The calendar applies to public schools and private schools in Dubai and Sharjah that follow an academic year beginning in September. Schools operating on an April-start calendar may have different holiday dates.
CBSE 2027 board exams: Expected dates for Classes 10 and 12
CBSE board examinations for 2027 are expected to take place in February and March, although the board has not yet published its official timetable.
Last year, CBSE released a provisional schedule in September, followed by the final date sheet in late October.
Class 10 students will again have the option of appearing for a second examination to improve their marks in up to three subjects. Once released, the timetable will be available on the official website, cbse.gov.in.
Who is Sarah Jukaku? Meet the Indian-origin wife of America’s first Muslim senator
Michigan Democrat Abdul El Sayed made history this week by becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate.
His wife, Dr Sarah Jukaku, is an Ann Arbor-based psychiatrist whose family has ancestral ties to Bhatkal in Karnataka. Her grandfather served as deputy finance minister of Mysore State during the 1950s.
El Sayed has previously joked about his Indian heritage, saying: “I might be more Indian than I am Arab.”
Pakistani passport holders: New visa options and winter travel destinations
Qatar has introduced a 30-day visa-on-arrival option for eligible Pakistani passport holders, subject to conditions that include booking accommodation through Discover Qatar and purchasing health insurance.
Pakistani citizens can also visit 29 destinations without securing a visa in advance. These include visa-free countries such as Barbados and Rwanda, as well as destinations offering visas on arrival, including the Maldives, Nepal and Cambodia.
