Modern children get digital devices at a young age and begin navigating the cyberspace early – they explore the world, make friends, play games and learn. On International Children’s Day, a new Kaspersky Safe Kids study published on Kaspersky Daily reveals children’s digital interests & preferences. Over the last months, the three most popular apps on Android among children in Oman were YouTube (37.1%), Instagram (17.8%) and…

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, Lieutenant General Anwar Al- Barjas, said the biometric fingerprint project provides a database for everyone who lives in Kuwait provided he/she is 18 years old and above, reports Al-Qabas daily. In this regards the Public Relations and Security Media Department of the ministry said in a press release following an inspection tour by Lieutenant General Al-Barjas to a number of biometric fingerprint c…

The Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (IPA Qatar) and the German Federal Association for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (BVMW) announced the inauguration of a BVMW representative office in Doha, its first-ever headquarters in the GCC region.  The official launch of the BVMW representative office in Qatar signifies a remarkable step towards advancing Qatari-German business cooperation. The office will connect 900,000-BVMW alliance members …

Saudi Arabia is witnessing increased entrepreneurial activity as the total number of small and medium enterprises exceeded 1.2 million in the first quarter of 2023. According to a report released by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, also known as Monsha’at, this figure reflects a 4.8 percent surge compared to the final quarter of 2022.....

The travel and tourism industry in the Arab world has been a major contributor to the region’s economic growth and development, with the region emerging globally as a world-class destination. Dubai has become a hub for tourism, and in recent years Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Abu Dhabi have invested heavily in the sector. The region is also becoming an important sporting destination, with the Formula One Grand Prix hosted by Bahrain, the…

We feature some of the regional and international fintech industry experts, startups, and investors who attended the Dubai Fintech Summit held in Dubai in May 2023. At the first-ever Dubai Fintech Summit, which was held in Dubai in May 2023, we had a chat with Maanav Sagar, Partner at Bharat Founders, a group of successful Indian entrepreneurs looking to invest in early-stage ventures, about how artificial intelligence can help further unloc…

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)’s initiatives and programmes, which aim to develop and facilitate access to all its services through digital channels, are highly appreciated by customers, partners and all stakeholders. The stakeholders praise DEWA’s continuous keenness to enrich their experiences and provide instant and innovative value-added services that enhance their happiness and participation in achieving the sustain…

Emirates’ flagship A380 has achieved a milestone as it made a landmark touchdown at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport earlier today and became the first-ever scheduled A380 service to Indonesia. Emirates’ flight EK368 left Dubai at 03:10 hrs and arrived in Bali at 16:20 hrs. The return flight, EK369, will depart Bali at 19:40 hrs and arrive in Dubai at 00:45 hrs. All times are local. The world’s largest passe…

Payment of parking fees is made easier through 4 different channels Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has installed over 17,500 new directional signs in parking control zones across Dubai. These signs provide details about public parking fees, service hours, and payment channels. The step is part of RTA's ongoing efforts to bring more happiness to customers through enhanced services, offer the best solutions for parking use, and make th…

Amazon has launched a new fulfillment center in Riyadh doubling its total storage capacity in Saudi Arabia and increasing selling opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses. The facility, which spans 390,000 sq. feet across five floors, with 2.7 million cubic feet capacity can store more than 9 million products, according to a statement .....

18 startups have been enrolled in this installment of SANDBOX, which saw a total of more than 1,600 applications to be a part of this 12-month program. SANDBOX, the founder-focused startup program developed by Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus (Dtec), the largest tech hub in the MENA region, has kicked off its third cohort, SB3....

Luxury electric vehicle (EV) maker Lucid said Wednesday it plans to raise about $3 billion through a new common stock offering, the majority of which will come from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).   New funding round The kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, the PIF, has agreed to purchase 265.7 million shares in a private placement for about $1.8 billion, Lucid said in a statement. The rest of the amount will be raised f…

Africa is a key market for us, with this partnership complementing our ongoing investment and development across the continent. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World The continent’s largest bank becomes the first African bank to partner with DP World Trade Finance Standard Bank, the largest bank in Africa by assets, has partnered with DP World, a global leader in supply chain solutions, to offer t…

The Customer Care Centre of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) achieved a service quality level of 96.22% in 2022. The average speed of response for technical calls has reached 15 seconds. The Centre is an integrated digital interactive hub that provides customers with a suite of pioneering solutions, procedural and informational services. It also enables them to complete their transactions seamlessly through multiple integrated channel…

The world’s largest international airline proudly transported the prestigious Rugby World Cup trophy from South Africa via Dubai to Paris. The Webb Ellis Cup arrives in time to kick off the 100-day countdown to Rugby World Cup 2023 (8 September – 28 October). The Webb Ellis Cup has touched down in Paris with Emirates, kick starting the 100-day countdown to Rugby World Cup 2023 (RWC 2023). Set to take place from 8 September to 28 Octo…

In recognition of their tremendous efforts in the fight against money laundering crimes, Dubai Police has honoured the strategic partners of the Anti-Money Laundering Crimes Department of the General Department of Criminal Investigation in a ceremony held at the Raffles Hotel in Dubai. Major General Jamal Salem Al Jallaf, Director of the General Department of Criminal Investigation, emphasized the instrumental role of strategic partners in bolste…

Driven by this urgent need to mitigate climate change, innovators and entrepreneurs are seeking ways to address this catastrophic challenge through natural and engineered carbon removal initiatives. If successful, developers of such initiatives can be compensated for the successful removal of carbon through the issuance and sale of carbon credits. Each carbon credit represents 1 ton of carbon emissions removed. As of November 2021, the average pr…

SkyGo and Airobotics joint venture to deploy Airobotics’ Optimus system as urban drone infrastructure to provide data and information services to Industrial and Governmental entities in the UAE Airobotics, an Israeli developer and provider of autonomous drone infrastructures for smart cities, signed a Term Sheet for Joint Venture (JV) with SkyGo to provide aerial drone services to the city of Abu Dhabi.... More https://bit.ly/45CQqcv V…

As part of Oman’s continuous efforts to be a worldwide hub for the production of green hydrogen, Hydrogen Oman (Hydrom), a subsidiary of Energy Development Oman (EDO), will sign the first green hydrogen project agreements in Oman on Thursday, June 1. These agreements fall within the Phase A Round 1 auction process that was kicked off last November.....

Dubai is expected to attract $2.5 billion worth of investments in its real estate sector from global high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) this year, a report showed Wednesday. Property preferences Wealthy people from across the globe have been increasingly targeting Dubai's luxurious homes, said the first Destination Dubai report released by global property consultancy Knight Frank, which also highlighted Downtown (37%) and Palm Jumeirah (30%)…

The Kingdom’s housing market will get a fresh stream of liquidity, with Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co. announcing SR3.5 billion ($933 million) in sukuk issuances.  The latest issuance of the SRC, owned by the Public Investment Fund, marked the sixth tranche under its upsized SR20 billion sukuk program.....

The Emirates Group is embarking on a futuristic, immersive digital journey to transform its employee experiences – a first for the industry – by collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS). Both organisations have signed an agreement to develop an immersive Extended Reality (iXR) platform and capability for the Emirates Group’s cabin crew, new joiners, and the wider industry partner community. 3D virtual hubs, virtual training,…

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced its collaboration with Microsoft to harness the power of the Microsoft Cloud to promote data-driven mobility services and own an innovative hub utilising Metaverse technologies to enhance the experience of the residents and visitors of Dubai. This cooperation comes in line with the RTA Strategic drive of envisioning the future in line with the UAE's vision of the digital government, besi…

Rapyd, the leading FinTech-as-a-service partner, is celebrating its first year in Dubai at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). In the wake of this milestone, Rapyd reports a four-fold increase in its workforce, growing from an initial team of 15 to over 70 employees since its DIFC establishment in 2022. This growth is testament to Dubai and DIFC's appeal as a top global talent hub attracting the best people in finance and FinTech sectors…

Qatar is seen as a global hub of opportunities for Italian construction companies. The trade volume between Qatar and Italy reached €8bn in last year which is a sign of healthy and positive trade relationship said, Italian Ambassador to Qatar, H E Paolo Toschi.....

One of Saudi Arabia’s goals is to be among the top 15 nations globally in terms of gross domestic product, and the Kingdom is well on its way to achieving it, said Khalid Al-Falih, minister of investment and chairman of the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority.....

Riyadh-headquartered stc Group’s startup accelerator, inspireU, has announced total investments touching over $186 million (SAR 700 million) towards more than 90 startups led by Saudi entrepreneurs.   The Group has also unveiled an expansion of the accelerator, introducing a cutting-edge track that offers enhanced support to startups during their crucial growth phase. The initiative highlights stc Group’s commitment to fostering …

UAE-based utility giant National Center Cooling Company (Tabreed) said Tuesday it would invest $12.1 million (AED 44.34 million) in the Tata Realty-owned Intellion Park special economic zone (SEZ) development in Gurugram, India. Terms of the deal The deal allows Tabreed to acquire the existing cooling infrastructure at the Intellion Park development, which covers a total area of 3.5 million square feet, the firm said in a statement, add…

Affirming Saudi Arabia’s evolution into a global trade hub, total anchor investments in its four special economic zones reached SR47.2 billion ($12.6 billion) to date, it was disclosed at a forum.  Apart from the existing investments made by companies like Lucid and Seera, the Saudi Special Economic Zones Investment Forum in Riyadh on Monday also saw new investment pledges for projects in zones established in King Abdullah Economic Cit…

Standard Chartered is exclusive partner of the DIFC Treasury Leadership Forum 31 May Standard Chartered announced today its exclusive partnership of the DIFC Treasury Leadership Forum, marking a new milestone in the collaboration between Standard Chartered and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region. Organised by DIFC, the forum will bring togethe…

New ad campaign features renowned athletes across various sports, reflecting the airline’s extensive sponsorship portfolio.  Launches in time to kick-start an exciting line up of sponsored global sports events including the Emirates FA Cup Final, US Open 2023, Rugby World Cup 2023 and much more. Emirates is stamping its mark on top global sports with an inspiring ad campaign launching ahead of a busy season of events across football, …

In a significant stride towards academic and research development, Dubai Police, represented by the General Department of Forensic Science and Criminology, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU). The agreement aims to launch the UAE’s first master in forensic sciences, bolster cooperation and solidify relationships in fostering academic and cultural exchange to meet strategic objectives…

The taxi sector in Dubai has experienced a robust growth rate, reaching a remarkable 6% during the first quarter of 2023, in comparison to the corresponding period of the previous year. This impressive figure surpasses the levels reported during the same period in 2019 by a significant margin of 5%.  “Dubai's taxi sector has seen a remarkable growth trajectory over the past five years. In the first quarter of this year, the number of t…

The Sustainability Hackathon by Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) presented more than 300 ideas to combat food waste in a sustainable fashion by 150 young participants. Organized in collaboration with the Information & Communication Technology Fund (ICT Fund) and powered by BEEAH Education, the event was held in line with the UAE celebrating 2023 as the Year of Sustainability.....

Saudi Arabia will offer foreign investors operating in the Kingdom’s special economic zones extra incentives to hire local workforce, said Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi. He was speaking at the Saudi Special Economic Zones Investment Forum in Riyadh on Monday....

Saudi venture capital firms are bolstering the regional startup funding landscape, with Nama Ventures and RAZ Group leading the investment round to support the expansion of the UAE-based logistics startup Cargoz in the Kingdom.  Cargoz, often called the Airbnb for commercial warehousing, has secured an undisclosed amount in bridge funding from Nama Ventures, RAZ Group and a select few angel investors from the UAE and Saudi Arabia who are key…

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)’s Water Smart Distribution Management System plays a vital role in improving its field operations related to around-the-clock monitoring and remote controlling of the water distribution network in Dubai. This maintains DEWA’s excellence as it has one of the lowest percentages of water network losses worldwide. The system has increased the number of fully monitored devices for measuring wate…

•    Dedicated gaming and esports edition of DMCC’s Future of Trade report finds MENA gaming revenues to hit USD 6 billion in 2027•    Growth to be accelerated by sector-specific ecosystems in key business hubs, demonstrating the importance of DMCC’s Gaming Centre to the region •    Advancements in technology, a wider and more inclusive user base, and greater government …

The screens will display a variety of products and services RTA’s Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) has signed an agreement with ADTECH 7 Marketing Management EST., to operate advertising screens onboard DTC's limousine fleet showcasing various products and services from advertising companies. This move is part of DTC's efforts to develop and diversify revenues while continuing to provide innovative, digital and sustainable transportation servic…

Speaking exclusively with Arab News, Nour Taher, CEO and founder of the company, said Intella has begun relocating its headquarters to the Kingdom after gaining massive traction in the country.  The move is evidence of how Saudi Arabia is making strides in the field of artificial intelligence and positioning itself at the forefront of the AI revolution in the Middle East. “Saudi is becoming a hub for tech companies, and we plan on play…

Total energy consumption down 4% and 5% drop in gross direct CO2 emissions. “At DP World, we believe in enabling resilience, and building a smart and sustainable future that generates long-term societal impact. In 2022 we saw continued global headwinds but that challenged us to push new frontiers of collaboration. I’m proud that we have cut our direct carbon emissions by 5%, and significantly increased our community contributions. We …

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) ’s Innovation Centre has commenced the registration process for the third batch of the Cleantech Youth Programme. The programme aims to enhance the youth’s contribution to sustainability by developing their knowledge and expertise in the fields of clean and renewable energy, entrepreneurship, and accelerating climate action. Registration is open from 1 June until 3 July 2023. The programme …

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai Police is hosting the third edition of the World Police Summit at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 5-7 March 2024.  The three-day Summit will convene over 100 global police leaders, 170+ exhibitors, and a multitude of speakers and experts from over 109 countries. With the goal of fostering kno…

For its third edition, the Leaders in Fintech Awards will be staged in the UAE at Sofitel Dubai The Palm on June 12, 2023. ominations are now open for the Leaders in Fintech Awards 2023, an event being staged by Entrepreneur Middle East that will recognize and reward key players in the MENA fintech ecosystem......

Saudi Arabia is leading the digitalization wave in the wellness space by improving quality care, patient experience, and sustainable health development on par with the best in the world. The Kingdom aims to restructure the health sector by enhancing its capabilities as an effective, integrated, value-based ecosystem focused on the patient’s health.....

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has rolled out its 'Zero-Emissions Public Transportation in Dubai 2050' strategy, which makes it the first Middle Eastern agency to develop a long-term strategy for migrating towards Net-Zero Emission Public Transport by 2050. With this strategy, RTA aims to contribute to mitigating climate change and minimise its carbon footprint across three areas: public transportation, buildings and related faciliti…

Hanoi in Vietnam is becoming more popular as Qatar Airways plans to add more flights over the course of this Summer and in the Winter too. Between June and October, we will experience significant frequency upgrades from the carrier in Doha as operations ramp up. Without further ado, let’s get into it…

The group's new slogan "Realize More" reflects its growth from one of Egypt's first pure-play, independent investment banks to a financial group that now serves people of all income levels and companies of all sizes across 12 markets through the expertise of over 7,100 employees. Egypt-headquartered EFG Hermes Holding has rebranded itself as EFG Holding in a bid to signal the group's expansion across three verticals, including investmen…