Loyalty Lost: How brands need to adapt to the modern traveler
Dubai, UAE: As 2025 unfolds, travel brands are facing a significant challenge: customer loyalty. Traditional rewards programmes, often based on points systems,...
Business
Israel presses ground offensive in Gaza, encircles part of Rafah city
Israel's military pressed ground operations across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, encircling part of Rafah city near Egypt almost a...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Remove sanctions to restore Black Sea Grain Initiative: Russian Ambassador to US
Washington, United States - Russian Ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, on Friday asked the United States to remove sanctions barriers...
- Antonov's statement comes in response to comments by US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who expressed skepticism about a swift return to the initiative
- Ambassador Antonov stressed that Russia has consistently expressed its willingness to reopen the doors to the initiative provided its concerns were addressed
Geostrategy
Blinken likely to visit Saudi, Israel, West Bank in October to discuss normalization
Tel Aviv, Israel - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is considering a trip to the Middle East in October...
- The US State Department has also issued a statement marking the third anniversary of the historic Abraham Accords
- US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Middle East czar Brett Mcgurk have also made visits to Riyadh in July and last week
Business
Google gives select companies access to its Gemini AI
The company plans to make Gemini available through its Google Cloud Vertex AI service, and will offer access to models...
- The company is close to incorporating it into its consumer services and selling it to enterprises through Google Cloud
- Google has also invested in generative AI companies Anthropic and Runway, gaining them as cloud customers
Business
Dubai real estate transactions worth over $3.4bn in week ending September 15
DUBAI, UAE - A total of 2,329 real estate transactions worth over US$3.4 billion (AED 12.7 billion) were conducted during...
- A total of 549 plots were sold for US$1.1 billion, while 1,780 apartments and villas were purchased for $1.07 billion.
- A plot in Marsa Dubai sold for US$169 million while a plot sold for US$49 million in Business Bay.
Economy
Nearly two-thirds of Saudi Arabian employees lack enhanced digital skills
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - A substantial 62% of employees in Saudi Arabia are eager to acquire improved digital skills in...
- The findings also exposed a troubling trend, with 45% of respondents expressing concerns about job security due to their perceived lack of IT competencies
- The survey also highlighted a specific group within the workforce most apprehensive about job security – department heads and top managers
Economy
People’s Bank of China cuts bank reserve ratio again to aid recovery
Beijing, China - The People's Bank of China (PBOC) on Friday unveiled its decision to trim the reserve requirement ratio...
- The move marks the second significant RRR reduction by the PBOC this year
- Institutions already operating with a 5% RRR are exempted from this change
Business
AstraTech to expand across India, Pakistan, and Egypt: founder
Sharjah, UAE -- The UAE-based technology firm AstraTech is seeking to expand across India, Pakistan, and Egypt in the near...
- Last month, we acquired a banking company in the Philippines as part of our global expansion, Abdallah Abu Sheikh told Wam
- He confirmed that in the first quarter of the next year, there will be acquisitions in the fields of financial technology and social communication
UAE to meld climate change talks with interfaith harmony at COP28
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The UAE Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence and the COP28 Presidency have signed a Memorandum of...
- The UAE Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence will assist in organizing and overseeing the Faith Pavilion at COP28
- The platform aims to enhance global religious engagement to bolster climate action and address the climate crisis
Geostrategy
Leaders of China’s National People’s Congress, UAE’s FNC hold talks
BEIJING, CHINA – Chairman of China’s National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Zhao Leji held talks in Beijing with the...
- China, the UAE have consolidated political mutual trust and expanded cooperation.
- China supports the UAE in playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs.
Business
Online beauty products sales in MENA grow by over 20% in 1H 2023: study
Dubai, UAE - Online sales of beauty products in the MENA region experienced significant growth, surpassing global trends In the...
- Global sales in the beauty and self-care industry increased by more than 15% during this period
- The research was based on over 6.5 million orders globally and more than 400,000 orders in the MENA
Most Read
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
Loyalty Lost: How brands need to adapt to the modern traveler
Dubai, UAE: As 2025 unfolds, travel brands are facing a significant challenge: customer loyalty. Traditional rewards programmes, often based on points systems,...
Business
Company News
Latest News
Riyadh set to debut historic Saudi opera ‘Zarqa Al-Yamama’ on April 25
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The capital city of Riyadh is abuzz with excitement as preparations are underway for the premiere...
Arts & Culture
Passports officers to ease travel for Ramadan at Dammam airport and causeway
DAMMAM, SAUDI ARABIA – With the increase in passenger traffic during Ramadan, the General Directorate of Passports is ramping up...
Geostrategy
Gemini’s inaccurate AI racial images warn of tech titans’ power
AUSTIN, US – For people at the trend-setting tech festival here, the scandal that erupted after Google's Gemini chatbot cranked out...
Science
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Business
Saudi Arabia takes part in global mineral and mining meet in Canada
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – A delegation comprising several entities from the Kingdom’s industry and mineral resources' system participated in PDAC...
- The Saudi delegation held meetings with teams from Canada, the Czech Republic and Ecuador.
- These are part of the 85 meetings they will hold with officials of countries and global firms participating in the event.
Middle East poised to lead global crypto surge as Bitcoin eyes $100,000
Geneva, Switzerland - A major new study released by The Lancet Neurology shows that, in 2021, more than 3 billion people worldwide...
- Neurological conditions are now the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide
- The overall amount of illness and premature death caused by neurological conditions has risen by 18% since 1990
Economy
S&P affirms Saudi Arabia’s A/A-1 credit rating
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The international credit rating agency S&P Global Rating affirmed its foreign and local currency sovereign credit...
- The agency indicated in its report that this rating affirmation is a result of the continuation of the Kingdom's economic and social reform agenda
- The agency forecasted GDP growth to average 3.3% in the medium term, due to the acceleration in non-oil sector investment and robust consumption in the Kingdom