Syria’s new authorities to help locate missing Americans: US envoy
Damascus, Syria -- Syria's new authorities have agreed to help the United States locate and return Americans who went missing...
Geostrategy
United Kingdom renationalizes first train operator under Labor reforms
London, United Kingdom -- Britain's South Western Railways on Sunday becomes the first private train operator to be returned to...
Economy
Arts & Culture
Saudi Arabia, Gulf neighbours say Ramadan to start on Saturday
Observing fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring believers to abstain from eating, drinking, smoking...
- Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's two holiest sites, was joined by the UAE and Qatar in declaring the sighting of the crescent moon that heralds Ramadan
- "The Supreme Court has decided that tomorrow, Saturday, is the first day of the month of (Ramadan)," the official Saudi Press Agency posted on X
Business
e& reports $2.94 billion in net profit
e&’s subscriber base rose 11.7% to 189.3m
- The company acquired PPF Telecom’s assets, expanding into Central and Eastern Europe
- e& announced a progressive dividend policy, aiming for USD 0.24 per share by 2026
Business
$2.65bn in contracts signed during first two days of IDEX and NAVDEX 2025
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Tawazun Council, UAE's authority responsible for managing acquisitions, procurement, and contracts on behalf of the Ministry...
- Tawazun Council signed five deals worth a total of AED 5.8 billion with local and international companies on the second day of IDEX and NAVDEX 2025.
- Tawazun Council is UAE's authority responsible for managing acquisitions, procurement, and contracts on behalf of the Ministry of Defense and security agencies.
Business
UAE announces top-up tax for multinational enterprises
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The Ministry of Finance has announced the issuance of Cabinet Decision No. 142 of 2024 on...
- The top-up tax will apply to entities that are members of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) operating in the UAE with annual global revenues of €750 million or more
- To bolster the UAE’s competitiveness as a leading investment hub, the top-up tax has been structured to exclude Investment Entities
Geostrategy
UAE, France discuss bilateral ties, sign AI cooperation deal
Paris, UAE - UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and French President Emmanuel Macron of France explored various...
- Both sides emphasized collaboration in AI, climate action, energy, and sustainable development initiatives
- They signed the UAE-France Framework for Cooperation in AI, including a 1GW AI Campus investment
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia says no Israel normalization without Palestinian state
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia said Wednesday it will not formalize ties with Israel unless a Palestinian state is established,...
- Both US President Donald Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden have backed Israel and Saudi Arabia having diplomatic relations
- Riyadh paused tentative talks on the matter early in the Gaza conflict and hardened its rhetoric as the war continued
Geostrategy
Trump doubles down on Gaza shock plan, says Israel will turn over the territory to US
Trump said that by the time of the handover, Palestinians "would have already been resettled in far safer and more...
- Trump first made the stunning proposal to audible gasps during a joint press conference with Netanyahu on Tuesday, whom he was hosting at the White House for talks
- Suggesting "long-term ownership" by the US, Trump said he would make Gaza the Riviera of the Middle East, and that "this could be something that could be so magnificient".
Geostrategy
Syrian President’s first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia signals Syria’s shift away from Iran’s influence.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, marking his first foreign visit and signaling...
- Al-Sharaa’s visit signals Syria’s pivot away from Iran and closer ties with the Gulf states
- Saudi Arabia is leading efforts to reintegrate Syria into the regional fold and push for sanctions relief
Economy
NHC signs strategic deals worth $8 billion at the opening of Real Estate Future Forum 2025
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The National Housing Company (NHC) has signed a series of agreements, deals, and memoranda of understanding...
- The agreements included a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to enhance collaboration in supply chains
- In another key agreement, a memorandum of understanding was signed with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
Economy
Davos2025: 33 industrial clusters from 16 countries commit to economic growth, jobs creation and emissions cuts
The Transitioning Industrial Clusters initiative aims to improve collaboration and develop a shared vision among co-located companies and public institutions,...
- The initiative’s 33 members from 16 countries represent combined potential greenhouse gas emissions reductions comparable to the annual emissions of Saudi Arabia
- A new report highlights the critical role that industrial clusters play in accelerating the deployment of clean-energy infrastructure at scale worldwide
Syria’s new authorities to help locate missing Americans: US envoy
Damascus, Syria -- Syria's new authorities have agreed to help the United States locate and return Americans who went missing...
Geostrategy
Company News
Yalla Group Q1 revenue $83m
Business
Latest News
Qatar Airways annual profit $2bn
Business
AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show
Arts & Culture
US asking countries for ‘voluntary’ Palestinian relocation: Rubio
Israel has again warned the population of Gaza -- nearly entirely displaced since the war broke out over the October...
Geostrategy
The New Travel Mindset: Local Living and Smarter Tech
From immersive local experiences to AI-powered personalization, Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO of Almosafer, shares key trends shaping the future of travel.
Interview
Most Read
Business
Nvidia unveils plan for Taiwan’s first ‘AI supercomputer’
Taipei, Taiwan -- Nvidia boss Jensen Huang announced plans for Taiwan's first "AI supercomputer", as he showcased on Monday the...
- Taiwan produces the bulk of the world's most advanced chips, including those needed for the most powerful AI applications and research.
- TSMC, the Taiwanese contract chipmaking giant, has unveiled plans to inject an additional US$100 billion into the United States, on top of the US$65 billion already pledged.
Business
Qatar Airways annual profit $2bn
This was a record 28% jump in annual net profit.
- Qatar Airways Cargo, the group's air freight service, saw revenues increase by 17 percent on the year before, the airline said.
- In 2024, the Qatari airline reported a $1.7 billion net profit following an annual increase of 39 percent, another record.
Geostrategy
Israel will ‘take control of all’ of Gaza, says Netanyahu as WHO warns of famine risk
After more than two months of a total blockade, the World Health Organization issued a stark warning on the humanitarian...
- In southern Gaza, the Israeli military issued an evacuation call to Palestinians in and around Khan Yunis city ahead of what it described as an "unprecedented attack".
- Two million people are "starving" in the Gaza Strip, with the deliberate blocking of aid driving up the risk of famine, the World Health Organization chief warned.

