Dubai, UAE-- Outbound travel from China is estimated to almost double this year, compared with 2023 and will only be 22% below its peak pre-pandemic numbers of 155 million tourists in 2019, who spent over $250 billion overseas, according to Oxford Economics Full recovery is expected to materialise in 2025,...

Dubai, UAE - As China's outbound tourism steadily rebounds from the pandemic's impact, the Middle East is emerging as a preferred destination for Chinese travelers, alongside traditional hotspots like Thailand and Malaysia. Data from online travel agencies including Ctrip, Tongcheng, Tuniu, Mafengwo, and Zuzuche indicates a significant rise in Chinese...

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards adviser, his two Iranian security escorts, and four Syrian and nine Iraqi fighters with pro-Iran groups were killed in strikes on a villa in Deir Ezzor city and on the town of Albu Kamal on the Iraqi...

The region is spearheading sustainability initiatives to address climate challenges, with Saudi Arabia making significant strides towards renewable energy and clean technology.

The Shenzhen-based firm is now moving quickly overseas.

Doha, Qatar - Mediator Qatar said on Tuesday that talks between Hamas and Israel on a Gaza truce and hostage release are continuing, despite the warring parties trading blame over the lack of headway. Foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said the talks were "ongoing", adding there had not been "any development...

ABU DHABI, UAE – SeaWorld Yas Island - the region’s first Marine Life Theme Park here -, has won a coveted place in the Guinness World Records as the “Largest Indoor Marine-Life Theme Park” in the world. The certificate was presented to Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral,...

Madrid, Spain - Spain's government has acquired a three-percent stake in telecoms giant Telefonica following concerns over a Saudi firm taking a piece of a company that Madrid considers strategically important. Spanish state-owned holding company SEPI said in a filing with the stock market regulator late Monday that the move was...

Baltimore, United States -- A major bridge collapsed in Baltimore on Tuesday, blocking one of the busiest US commercial harbors, after a heavily laden cargo ship lost power and smashed into a support column despite desperate attempts to stop in time. Six people -- all members of a nighttime construction crew...

Gaza's health ministry said Israeli troops were shooting and firing "shells and (conducting) violent raids in its surroundings in preparation for its storming".

Avanse is education-focused non-banking financial company.

ALULA, SAUDI ARABIA – The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has marked a significant milestone in the development of the Sharaan Resort with the inaugural rock excavation for the much-anticipated project.  The initial excavation symbolizes the start of a mission that combines Jean Nouvel’s architectural innovation with Bouygues' engineering expertise....

Dubai, UAE -- Atlantis Dubai becomes the first resort destination in the Eastern Hemisphere to gain the Certified Autism Center (CAC) designation by both Atlantis, The Palm and Atlantis The Royal, following the successful certification of Atlantis Aquaventure in 2023. The CAC designation, awarded by the International Board of Credentialing...

He also points out the necessity of leveraging parliamentary diplomacy to avert wars and conflicts, through mediation and good offices that lead to reconciliations and peace agreements, highlighting the Qatar's neutral and credible mediation efforts, which have earned it the confidence of the international community.

ALULA, SAUDI ARABIA – Situated in the heart of Old Town here, Dar Tantora Hotel offers guests a chance to step back in time. Housed in beautifully restored mudbrick buildings, the hotel is imbued with the region's rich history and culture. The Old Town, with its origins going back over...

Dubai, UAE -- More than 100 of the world’s leading travel technology companies will be exhibiting at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in the UAE from May 6-9. ATM 2024’s sold-out Travel Tech space will be 56 percent bigger than...

The company posted a net loss of US$3.7 billion for 2023.

Haniyeh's visit comes after a resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on Monday called for an "immediate ceasefire" for the ongoing Muslim holy month of Ramadan, leading to a "lasting" truce. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani described Monday's resolution as a "positive but insufficient step".

Amman, Jordan--Jordan's import bill for crude oil, derivatives, and mineral oils saw a notable decline in January this year, according to data released by the Department of Statistics on Tuesday. The figures revealed a decrease in the value of oil imports to the Kingdom, totaling $361 million for January, compared...

As the only  bidder, Saudi Arabia was anointed host of the 2034 World Cup last October by FIFA. Infrastructure is the initial concern for the oil-rich kingdom, which is snapping up high-profile sports events in an attempt to sweep away its conservative image and entice foreign investment.

With dollars dominating the country's economy, Baghdad has imposed a series of restrictions on the use of American greenbacks domestically. At the end of 2022 the country's bankings sector also adopted the international financial messaging system known as SWIFT as part of the reforms, to help tackle money laundering and...

It will be a hub for customers to lift up "digital competence."

The resolution demanding an "immediate ceasefire" was adopted Monday after Israel's closest ally the United States abstained. Washington insisted that its abstention, which followed numerous vetoes, did not mark a shift in policy, although it has taken an increasingly tougher line with Israel in recent weeks.

Abu Dhabi, UAE--The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has called for increased investments in the oil industry to meet global energy demands and sustain economic growth. According to its secretary general, Haitham Al Ghais, these investments are crucial for ensuring reliable energy supplies for current and future generations....

According to a security source, who did not want to be identified, the target was Mohammad Assaf of Jamaa Islamiya, a Lebanese anti-Israel resistance group closely linked to Palestinian group Hamas. Assaf was travelling on the road that was struck at the time of the attack, said the source.

Driven by its strategic location, cultural heritage, and government incentives, Türkiye's real estate market remains a focal point for regional investors amid economic fluctuations.

Former US president Donald Trump warned Israel in an interview that it was losing support over the war in Gaza. The comments from Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee to take on President Joe Biden in November's US election, came as Washington abstained at a UNSC vote calling for an immediate...

AL-DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA – Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser outlined the potential for stronger collaboration with Chinese partners in his speech on Monday at the China Development Forum in Beijing. Nasser underscored the possibility of fostering broader economic globalization by strengthening ties with Chinese partners and identified specific areas...

"The overwhelming nature and scale of Israel's assault on Gaza and the destructive conditions of life it has inflicted reveal an intent to physically destroy Palestinians as a group," Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights situation in the Palestinian territories, concluded in a report.

The company had posted its highest-ever net profit of $109.1m for 2023.

All 14 other members voted in favor of the resolution which "demands an immediate ceasefire" for Ramadan. The resolution calls for the truce to lead to a "lasting, sustainable ceasefire" and demands that Hamas and other groups free hostages.

KELIX bio is a specialty pharmaceutical business.

Among six firms named as market "gatekeepers" under the EU's landmark Digital Markets Act -- along with Amazon, TikTok owner ByteDance and Microsoft -- the companies have been obliged to comply with the new law since March 7.

The automaker will slash production costs by 30 percent.

Singapore, Singapore--Singapore made the Israeli embassy in the city-state take down an "insensitive" social media post about the Palestinians over the weekend after warning it could inflame tensions, the interior minister said Monday. Israel's war on Gaza and deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza since the fighters of Hamas launched unprecedented attacks...

"The UAE has strengthened its position in the global economy. The total value of UAE assets abroad, whether government or private, is estimated at $2.5 trillion as of early 2024. It ranked first in the Arab region and West Asia, 15th globally, and second globally in investing in new opportunities,"...

In a telephone call between the two leaders, Macron also "strongly condemned" Israel's announcement Friday of the seizure of 800 hectares of land in the occupied West Bank for new settlements. Activists say Israel's declaration that the land in the northern Jordan Valley was now "state land" was the single...

Christian families from Gaza have found refuge inside the church with the memory of two women killed in December by Israeli fire there still fresh in their minds.

Last Friday, the Security Council voted on a draft submitted by the United States that called for an "immediate" ceasefire linked to the release of hostages. China and Russia vetoed the resolution, criticizing it for stopping short of explicitly demanding Israel halt its campaign.

As the Director of Admissions and Operations for Georgetown University's Executive MBA Dubai Program, Lara Dajani champions empowering women and bridging cultures.

Manama, Bahrain--Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have signed a memorandum of understanding to boost road safety and maintenance in the two kingdoms. The agreement was signed in a meeting between Ibrahim bin Hassan Al Hawaj, Minister of Works, and Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics of the...

Sharjah, UAE--The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Thailand have explored ways to boost trade and economic cooperation. In this connection, the SCCI has engaged in high-level discussions with a Thai diplomatic delegation, exploring avenues for enhancing economic cooperation and boosting the trade exchange volume between the two countries....

Dubai, UAE - The UAE's total assets abroad, encompassing both governmental and private investments, have reached $2.5 trillion as of early 2024. Jamal Bin Saif Al Jarwan, chief of the UAE International Investors Council, said that UAE investments abroad are performing well despite global economic fluctuations. The UAE secured the top...

Antonio Guterres repeated his call for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" to alleviate "the plight of Palestinian children, women and men struggling to survive the nightmare in Gaza during a press conference in Cairo. On Saturday, the UN chief had visited the Rafah border crossing with Gaza.

In February 2024, Saudi Arabia's poultry industry reached a milestone by producing 100 million kilograms of poultry, thereby setting new benchmarks in the global market.

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES – The Palestinian Red Crescent said on Sunday that Israeli forces were besieging two hospitals in southern Gaza, days after the army began targeting Hamas in and around the territory's biggest medical center. Israel has mounted several raids at and near hospitals in Gaza since the war began...

Paris, France -- Visitors to central Paris were treated Sunday to the sight of hundreds of aproned waiters surging through the medieval streets, in a one-of-a-kind race designed to show off the profession months ahead of the Olympic Games. Men's winner Samy Lamrous and top waitress Pauline Van Wymeersch walked the...

The Bank's general assembly also approved 6% in bonus shares.

Guterres urged an end to the "non-stop nightmare" endured by Gaza's 2.4 million people in a visit to the Egyptian border. He said "horror and starvation stalk the people of Gaza. Any further onslaught will make everything worse. Worse for Palestinian civilians, for the hostages, for all people of the...

The company narrowed losses to $367 million in Q4.