Automotive
Hala Launches Subscription for Taxi Rides to and from Dubai Metro Stations

Hala, Dubai’s most convenient e-hailing taxi solution, announced the launch of Hala Rides for Metro, providing seamless and affordable transportation to and from Dubai Metro stations across the city. The new subscription is now available on the Careem app and Hala commuters can start enjoying the benefits immediately.
Priced at AED 4.99 per month, subscribers can avail 20% off 10 Hala trips (discount of up to AED 5 per trip) starting from or ending at any Dubai Metro station. The service is available to all users, including tourists and non Careem-plus members. Once the subscription is purchased, users can select a Dubai Metro station as their pick-up or drop-off location and apply the promo code to avail of the discount.
Khaled Nuseibeh, Chief Executive Officer at Hala said, “Our data indicates that Dubai Metro usage presents a significant opportunity for enhancing first-mile and last-mile connectivity. With many residents and visitors relying on the Dubai Metro for their daily travel needs, we believe this offering will help us increase these essential trips and deliver greater value to our customers. Whether you’re heading to work, school, or exploring Dubai, Hala is committed to making your journey smoother.”

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) recently announced that Dubai Metro and taxis accounted for the largest share of public transport riders, with 37% for the metro and 27% for taxis during H1 2024. The Red and Green Lines of Dubai Metro transported 133 million passengers during this period. Hala experienced over 20% growth in customers using its services for pickups and drop-offs to metro stations in H1 of 2024 alone.
With a significant number of residents relying on the Dubai Metro for their daily commute, Hala Rides for Metro aims to offer a convenient and affordable solution for everyday travel. This new service is part of Hala’s ongoing commitment to enhancing urban mobility, offering accessible and cost-effective solutions for daily commuters. The subscription is tailored to those who rely on the Dubai Metro for their daily travel and require an easy, reliable way to get to and from stations.
Automotive
2025 INFINITI QX50: Luxury Crossover Blends Style with Innovative Technology

The 2025 INFINITI QX50 delights with its eye-catching design, spacious interior, a lengthy list of features that enable everyday convenience, and the responsive power of a 2.0-liter Variable-Compression Turbocharged (VC-Turbo) engine.
For the 2025 model year, the QX50 is streamlined to three grades – LUXE 2WD, LUXE STYLE AWD, and SPORT – with standard Intelligent All-Wheel Drive.
Design for visual appeal and function
The 2025 INFINITI QX50 makes a splash with muscular proportions and sculpted bodywork. INFINITI’s signature double-arch front grille and crescent-shaped rear roof pillar help the model stand out, while its rounded roofline and prominent, sharply defined lines along the bodysides add depth.
For buyers seeking an even more dynamic appearance, QX50 SPORT wears a sport front fascia with numerous exterior elements painted black: the roof rails, window trim, front grille, liftgate trim, exhaust tips, door handles, and badges. The visual enhancements continue inside with enhanced ambient LED lighting and a Graphite headliner.
QX50 LUXE 2WD includes 19-inch, silver-painted wheels, LUXE STYLE drives on 20-inch dark-painted aluminum allow wheels, while QX50 SPORT has 20-inch dark-painted wheels with machined finish. Depending on the trim level, customers can select from seven exterior color choices: Hermosa Blue, Graphite Shadow, Slate Gray, Black Obsidian, Dynamic Sunstone Red, Lunar White, and Radiant White. Inside the cabin, both the LUXE 2WD and LUXE STYLE grades feature dark aluminum trim and Graphite upholstery, and the LUX STYLE grade has the additional option of Pebble Gray upholstery; QX50 SPORT has black aluminum accents and either Graphite or Monaco Red semi-aniline leather appointments.
The well-appointed cabin is both beautiful to behold – with detailed, soft-touch materials throughout – and functional for passengers and cargo alike. The second-row slides, allowing for optimization between legroom or luggage room, and folds flat to create up to 65.1 cubic feet (64.4 with panoramic moonroof) of cargo space.
Advanced turbocharged engine for effortless power
Backing up its energetic outward appearance, QX50 delivers strong and responsive performance thanks to the world’s first mass-produced Variable-Compression Turbocharged (VC-Turbo) engine. The 2.0-liter engine delivers 268 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque and is complemented by an XTRONIC transmission that features Downshift Rev Matching and standard paddle shifters to help deliver a more engaging driving experience.
With standard Intelligent All-Wheel Drive on all grades, the 2025 QX50 delivers a fuel economy of 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.
Intuitively integrated technology
As in all INFINITI vehicles, QX50 incorporates technologies that help make the journey more connected, more convenient, and more entertaining. The standard INFINITI InTouch infotainment system has an 8-inch upper and 7-inch lower screen, with Android Auto™ and wireless Apple CarPlay. A total of four USB ports and a wireless device charging pad are standard. A 12-speaker Bose Premium Audio System is standard on QX50 LUXE STYLE and SPORT, delivering richer and more lifelike audio.
QX50 also features an impressive array of standard safety and driver assistance technology, including Intelligent Cruise Control, Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Forward Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Automatic Braking, and High Beam Assist. ProACTIVE Package is equipped to offer support in certain driving situations. The system can help the driver stay centered within their lane and assists with acceleration and braking.
QX50 also has numerous standard features that make every drive a little more luxurious, including acoustic front side window glass and active noise control to keep the cabin more serene, and dual-zone automatic climate control allows drivers and passengers to select their preferred temperatures. QX50 offers standard heated seats, a panoramic moonroof, roof rails, and other luxurious touches, while notable QX50 SPORT equipment includes remote engine start and head-up display, enhanced ambient lighting, ICC with steering assist, climate-controlled seats, navigation, and Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection.
Automotive
Feel The Rush: BMW M Track Driving Experience Hits Dubai Autodrome This Weekend

Gear up for an adrenaline-packed experience with the BMW M Track Experience, organised by AGMC, taking place at the iconic Dubai Autodrome on April 26 and 27, 2025.
AGMC, the exclusive importer of BMW vehicles in Dubai, Sharjah, and the Northern Emirates promises an unforgettable day on the track, offering automotive enthusiasts and BMW fans the chance to get behind the wheel of the brand’s most powerful and exclusive M models.
The weekend offers the opportunity to drive extraordinary BMW M vehicles – including the BMW M2, M4, M5, M5 Touring, and the dynamic XM – experiencing the raw power and precision of the legendary M brand. Along with track time, attendees will also get the chance to explore an exclusive display of state-of-the-art M models, adding to the excitement of the day.
Each participant will enjoy a two-hour driving session getting behind the wheel on track, with multiple timeslots available, attendees can choose a schedule that suits them.
This event is open to both the public and BMW customers, delivering the ultimate M experience to all who share a love for speed, luxury, and thrilling performance.
What: BMW M Track Experience
When: Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27, 2025
Where: Dubai Autodrome
Tickets: AED 1,800 (Advance registration required)
Who can join: Anyone above 21 who purchases a ticket with a valid UAE or GCC driver’s license
Automotive
King Long and Sharjah RTA to Accelerate Green Mobility in Public Transportation

King Long, exclusively represented by the Motors division of Al Ghurair Mobility in the UAE, is proud to announce the launch of the first fleet of electric buses in Sharjah.
This marks a significant milestone in King Long’s journey as the first Chinese automotive brand with a fully operational electric city bus fleet in the public transportation industry, supporting Sharjah Road and Transport Authority’s (SRTA) efforts to accelerate sustainable mobility in the UAE’s public transportation landscape.
The King Long EV models include its state-of-the-art and luxurious C12E Intercity Coach and PEV9 City Bus with a driving range of up to 450 km on full charge. King Long has 10 electric buses, currently operational on Sharjah roads and aims to expand its electric fleet to 20 buses in the Emirate by H2 2025, with a potential for further fleet expansion in the UAE. The pioneering automotive brand’s success in delivering public EV transportation follows the premium brand’s efforts to integrate smart technologies in sustainable mobility, earning King Long a first-place spot for its groundbreaking self-driving autonomous bus at the Dubai World Challenge 2023.
Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Jarwan, Director of Transportation Affairs at Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority stated: “In line with UAE’s initiative to reduce carbon emissions by adopting clean energy and green mobility, RTA Sharjah has concluded multiple partnerships with several leading EV manufacturers. King Long has 10 electric buses currently in operation on Sharjah roads with another batch of 10 electric buses to be delivered by the second half of 2025.”
King Long electric buses represent the latest advancements in zero-emission public transportation, providing passengers with an eco-friendly, efficient, safe and luxurious travel experience. With features designed to enhance the passenger experience, the buses combine intelligent battery temperature monitoring system with European safety standards to withstand the harsh weather conditions in the country. The launch of King Long’s electric bus fleet reinforces Sharjah’s commitment towards the Climate Neutrality 2050 Initiative and playing an active role to support the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy.
Malik Mohammad Tariq, Vice President of Dealership, an Al Ghurair Mobility business said:
“The delivery of King Long’s electric buses to SRTA marks a pivotal step in advancing sustainability through innovative mobility solutions. This initiative highlights King Long’s dedication to supporting Sharjah’s sustainability goals and fostering environmental responsibility across the UAE. At Al Ghurair Mobility, we are dedicated to promoting smart mobility and playing an active role in the UAE’s forward-thinking vision for an eco-friendly future.”
As King Long’s exclusive distributor in the UAE, Al Ghurair Mobility is playing an active role in supporting the UAE’s long-term vision to augment the eco-conscious growth of mobility solutions. In Q4 2024, Al Ghurair Mobility also marked an outstanding achievement as it signed an MoU with Emirates Transport to accelerate the adoption of eco-friendly transportation and smart solutions, pilot-testing hydrogen and electric commercial vehicles.
Furthermore, Al Ghurair Mobility is also a member of UITP, the international association of public transportation championing sustainable urban mobility solutions and initiatives worldwide.
As the UAE advances towards a greener future, Al Ghurair Mobilityand King Long remain steadfast in redefining the future of the UAE’s automotive sector with forward-thinking solutions.
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