Social media’s evolving role in GCC spotlighted at Doha conference
Doha, Qatar – The Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference, held on Wednesday, at Barahat Msheireb in Msheireb Downtown Doha, brought...
Latifa bint Mohammed awards UK’s Simon Squibb with ‘One Billion Award’ at 1 Billion Followers Summit
Dubai, UAE - Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, presented the...
Business
Economy
UAE tourism boom fuels leisure, entertainment industry in MENA
Dubai, UAE: The UAE’s target of attracting 40 million tourist visits by 2030, and its subsequent economic contribution of AED...
- The L&E sector in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) currently generates approximately AED 30 billion ($8.2 billion) in revenue
- KSA is the world’s fastest-growing tourism destination MENA’s L&E sector generates approximately AED 30 billion in revenue
Business
CBUAE balance sheet hit all-time-high of $161 bn by March end
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The balance sheet of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) surpassed AED594 billion ($161 billion)...
- The apex bank said that its balance sheet grew by 5.3 percent on a monthly basis to $161.23 billion at the end of March 2023
- The bank's balance sheet increased YoY by the equivalent of $21.3 billion, from about $139.82 billion in March 2022
Geostrategy
Iran’s emerging pivot to Russia and China is for strategic leverage: study
Dubai, UAE - Iran’s pivot to Russia and China has been driven by various factors, most notably the United States'...
- The decision by the Trump administration to abandon the nuclear deal deeply disillusioned the Iranian leadership
- Iran's incremental moves toward China and Russia is said to indicate an unwillingness to redefine its national security doctrine
Geostrategy
Blinken meets Saudi Crown Prince in fresh bid to mend ties
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah,...
- The Secretary expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia in hosting the D-ISIS Ministerial and stressed our joint efforts to fight terrorism, US State Department said
- Crown Prince and Blinken reviewed the bilateral relations and aspects of cooperation in various fields and ways to enhance them, Saudi Press Agency said
Business
PGA Tour-LIV Golf deal: A profit-driven game changer
US-based PGA Tour and Europe's DP World Tour have partnered with LIV's Saudi sponsors to form a new jointly-owned, profit-oriented...
- The US-based PGA Tour and Europe's DP World Tour said they had signed an agreement with LIV's Saudi backers that will lead to the formation of a new collectively owned, for-profit
- LIV Golf was launched in October 2021 and lured top PGA Tour talent with record $25 million purses and money guarantees, bankrolled by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund
Arts & Culture
Tom Cruise coming to Abu Dhabi’s for Middle East premiere of Mission Impossible
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Abu Dhabi will host the Middle East premiere of the eagerly-awaited Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning...
- It is the second time the Mission Impossible franchise has filmed in Abu Dhabi, following the jaw-dropping HALO jump sequence that was shot for 2018’s Mission Impossible - Fallout
- Along with Tom Cruise and Director Christopher McQuarrie, the other stars of the film due to attend the Middle East Premiere are Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff and Simon Pegg.
Geostrategy
UAE highlights efforts in space sector at UN committee meet
ABU DHABI, UAE - A high-level UAE delegation at the 66th session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful...
- The UAE highlighted the significance of the peaceful use of outer space, acknowledging the right of all member states to develop their capabilities.
- The UAE also focused on the importance of international collaboration to ensure space technologies benefit humanity in times of disaster.
Karim Benzema signs for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad: club source
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema has signed for Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad for three years starting...
- The announcement comes days after Real Madrid announced that the 35-year-old was leaving the club after 14 seasons
- Benzema is in line to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gulf kingdom after the Portuguese five-time world player of the year moved to Al Nassr
Research
YouTube most popular app on Android devices for UAE children
Dubai, UAE - YouTube emerges as the most popular app among children in the UAE on Android devices, with 37.8...
- Baby Shark was the most searched for song among children, while Roblox and Minecraft were the favored games
- Korean pop groups BLACKPINK and BTS, along with Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, topped the list of musical preferences
Geostrategy
Israeli soldiers to join Moroccan war games for first time
Israel participated in the event last year, however only as international military observers, without soldiers taking part on the ground....
- A delegation of 12 soldiers and commanders from the Golani Reconnaissance Battalion" has been sent to participate alongside some 8,000 soldiers from 18 countries
- According to the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces (FAR), the war games include exercises in operational planning and fighting weapons of mass destruction
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Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
Social media’s evolving role in GCC spotlighted at Doha conference
Doha, Qatar – The Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference, held on Wednesday, at Barahat Msheireb in Msheireb Downtown Doha, brought...
Company News
Latest News
UAE signs pact to develop digital infrastructure in Greece
ABU DHABI, UAE - The Ministry of Investment of the UAE and the Ministry of Digital Governance of the Hellenic...
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia launches program to boost exports
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia has embarked on a program to equip Saudi exporters with the necessary information on...
Economy
Saudi Crown Prince announces new company to boost Kingdom’s global tech status
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday launched a new company called Alat geared to...
Business
Most Read
The DCO Council announces multilateral initiatives to bridge digital divide
Manama, Bahrain - The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), a global intergovernmental organization dedicated to fostering digital prosperity for all by...
- Topics of discussion included cross-border market growth; the value of data; human-centric and sustainable digital economy
- The DCO Council also announced the joining of Bangladesh, Qatar, and Greece as the new member states
Average lifespan in Saudi Arabia rises to 77.6 years
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia reached 77.6 years compared to 74 years in 2016, the...
- The remarkable progress is attributed to a series of strategic efforts, notably the incorporation of health promotion principles into all facets of life and policy
- Initiatives such as promoting walking culture, reducing salt in foods, and fortifying health services have collectively contributed to the nation's improved health landscape
Economy
Iran and Turkey to utilize modern tech for electricity exchange
Tehran, Iran - Iran and Turkey are set to enhance their electricity exchange capabilities through the implementation of modern technology,...
- The Iran Grid Management Company and the Turkish Electricity Transmission Company (TEIAS) will operationalize the Khoy-Van grid line
- The agreement sets the stage for full-scale operation, opening avenues for electricity exchange between Turkey and several European countries