RIYADH — The General Authority for Statistics revealed on Tuesday that net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Saudi Arabia declined by 2.4 percent year-on-year during the first quarter of this year, reaching SR 23.1 billion, compared with SR23.7 billion in the same quarter of 2025. The authority added that net inflows also fell by 51.9 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2025, when they reached SR48 billion. Meanwhile, statistical data showed positive growth in total foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the Saudi economy during the first quarter of 2026, which rose to SR26.6 billion, marking a 2.4…
Author: Editorial Team
WASHINGTON, 30th June, 2026 (WAM) — Apple has accelerated the release of some security updates, making them available to users earlier instead of waiting to include them in the planned iOS 26.6 release. The move comes in response to growing security concerns that artificial intelligence could speed up the development of malicious hacking tools and shorten the time attackers need to exploit software vulnerabilities. The decision marks a shift from Apple’s previous practice of delivering security fixes alongside major operating system releases after developer testing. Apple said there is no evidence that the newly patched vulnerabilities have been exploited, but…
DUBAI, 30th June, 2026 (WAM) — Emirates is marking a significant milestone in the expansion of its cargo fleet by becoming the first airline cargo carrier to deploy the Boeing 777-300ERSF passenger to freighter converted aircraft. The aircraft (A6-EBK) will enter commercial service with a flight from Hong Kong to Dubai carrying over 100 tonnes of cargo. The converted Emirates Boeing 777-300ERSF offers 100 tonnes of payload capacity and 811 m³ of cargo volume, representing a 25% increase in cargo volume over the Boeing 777-F production freighter. At 47 pallet positions, the converted aircraft also accommodates 10 additional pallet positions…
[Editor’s Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid the US-Iran MOU for the latest regional developments.] UAE nationals are expressing excitement and relief following the decision to allow citizens to travel to Lebanon again and lifting a war-related travel ban on the Arab country, with many saying they have been waiting for months, and in some cases years, to make the trip. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa) announced that UAE citizens may travel to Lebanon starting Monday, June 29, 2026, provided they comply with strict travel requirements, including mandatory registration on the “Twajudi” service before departure. For Noura Al Kathiri from…
RIYADH — The Public Investment Fund’s consolidated net profit surged by 152 percent in 2025, reaching SR65.1 billion, compared with SR25.8 billion in the previous year. The strong growth was driven by higher revenues, improved overall operational performance, lower administrative expenses, and a stronger contribution from associated companies to profits. The fund’s consolidated financial statements, published on the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday, showed that net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company also rose sharply to SR46.4 billion, compared with SR11.2 billion in the previous year—nearly four times its earlier level. This reflects the improved efficiency of the…
(R) Dr. Moataz BinAli, Chief Executive Officer of Magna AI. Magna AI, Inc., the global integrated-value-chain sovereign AI transformation leader established through a partnership between Trend Micro and Wistron Digital Technology Holding Company (WDH), powered by NVIDIA, recently announced a strategic collaboration with Emaar Executive Company (EEC), a Saudi-based company specialising in data center construction, Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), systems integration, and infrastructure services. The agreement is designed to support the planning, development, and delivery of sovereign AI data centers, AI Factory infrastructure, secure AI platforms, and large-scale AI transformation programs across Saudi Arabia, with the potential to extend…
ABU DHABI, 30th June, 2026 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, has visited the fifth edition of Abu Dhabi Summer Sports, organised by ADNEC Group, a Modon company, in partnership with Abu Dhabi Sports Council and sponsored by ADNOC Group. The event runs until 23rd August 2026 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. During the visit, H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed toured the event’s sports facilities, reviewed community programmes and activities, visited a number of pavilions, and was briefed on the integrated sports experiences…
The Indian government has announced a significant hike in passport service fees for UAE-based applicants, with the new structure set to take effect from July 1, 2026, the Consulate General of India in Dubai confirmed on Tuesday. The revised fees will apply uniformly across the Consulate General of India in Abu Dhabi, the Consulate General of India in Dubai, and all Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) operated by the outsourced service provider across the UAE. Under the new structure, ordinary fresh or reissue applications for a 36-page passport will cost Dh450 in the normal category — a 60 per cent…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has raised Saudization rate in engineering professions in the private sector to 30 percent effective from Tuesday, June 30, 2026. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD), in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, announced the implementation of this decision, which is applicable to establishments employing five or more workers in the covered professions. The decision targets 46 engineering professions, including architecture, power generation, industrial, electronics, automotive, marine, and aerospace engineering, that required professional accreditation from the Saudi Council of Engineers. HRSD supervisory teams have begun monitoring compliance across establishments, with statutory…
DUBAI, 30th June, 2026 (WAM) — dnata, a global air and travel services provider, has been re-awarded a ground handling licence at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) in the Netherlands, reinforcing its position at one of Europe’s most important aviation hubs. The award follows a competitive public tender by the airport operator and enables dnata to continue providing high-quality ground handling services at AMS for the next seven years, as Schiphol moves into the next phase of its ground handling operations. dnata has been serving airline customers in Amsterdam for more than a decade, providing passenger, baggage, ramp and cargo services…