JEDDAH — The Council of Ministers has approved a framework allowing investors to develop planned land and construct housing units for beneficiaries of developmental housing programs in exchange for ownership of a percentage of the land. During its session held in Jeddah on Tuesday, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, the Cabinet also approved a one-year extension of the deadline for rectifying undocumented real estate transactions. At the outset of the session, the Crown Prince briefed the Cabinet on his telephone conversation with United States President Donald Trump, during which they discussed developments in the region…
Author: Editorial Team
RIYADH — A royal decree has been issued approving the appointment of members to Saudi Arabia’s 13 Regional Councils for their eighth term, which will span four years. The regional councils of Riyadh, Makkah, and Madinah each comprise 20 members, while the councils of Jazan, Eastern Province, Al-Qassim, Asir, Hail, Tabuk, Al-Baha, Northern Borders Region, Al-Jouf, and Najran each have 15 members. Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif expressed his gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for issuing the royal decree approving the appointment…
SHARJAH, 4th August, 2026 (WAM) — Sharjah Investment Forum (SIF) 2026 has secured Gulftainer as a strategic sponsor, bringing one of the region’s largest ports and logistics operators to the forefront of global discussions on supply chain resilience and economic competitiveness. Announced by the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), the sponsorship reinforces the Forum’s ambition to connect high-level dialogue with the infrastructure, investments and public-private partnerships that will shape a more adaptive and resilient world at a time when governments and businesses face rapid shifts in the global economic landscape. Organised in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Investment…
AMMAN, 4th August, 2026 (WAM) — Jordan and the United States signed a four-year strategic objectives agreement on bilateral cooperation at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported. The agreement, valued at $354.6 million, is the first of its kind with the current US administration and aligns with its new foreign assistance priorities. It will support Jordanian government efforts to implement national priorities under the Economic Modernization Vision (EMV). As for its scope, the agreement focuses on supporting national priorities by strengthening long-term water security, economic resilience, and self-reliance through programs and projects in water…
RIYADH — Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin Nasser warned that the impact of the Strait of Hormuz crisis was not limited to global oil supplies but also extended to global food security. He described the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as the largest oil supply shock in history. “Global markets had lost more than 2.6 billion barrels of supplies since the crisis began,” he said on Tuesday while speaking to Al-Arabiya Business following the release of the company’s quarterly results. Al-Nasser said that Saudi Aramco continued its strong financial and operational momentum in the second half of the…
Rakuten Group has recently taken steps to advance an existing online medical and pharmacy service by collaborating with technology company J Frontier. The pair intend to align to deliver online medical consultations and guidance on medications, a move which would build on the services provided by the Rakuten Healthcare Yoyakusuri app. Rakuten stated the app currently provides pharmacy reservation and medical record services across Japan. It is bringing online consultation and guidance services J Frontier provides in its own app into the mix. The initial integration means users of the J Frontier app can pick a Yoyakusuri Pharmacy for collection…
MAKKAH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has approved the results of its evaluation of companies providing services to international pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj season. This was part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance services, improve quality, and strengthen transparency in assessing the performance of service providers, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program. The ministry said the evaluation covered companies contracted by pilgrim affairs offices, companies contracted by affiliated organizers, and companies operating under the direct Hajj model. Companies in each category were classified into three tiers based on…
DUBAI, 4th August, 2026 (WAM) — Dubai Police have launched its “Summer of Innovation” event, bringing together police personnel, university students, innovators and innovation diploma participants to promote a culture of creativity, future foresight and practical problem-solving that supports institutional excellence and future readiness. The event, organised by the Knowledge, Innovation and Development Centre at the General Department of Administrative Affairs, was inaugurated by Dr Major General Ahmad Zaal Bin Krishan Almheiri, Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Financial and Administrative Affairs, in the presence of Major General Dr Saleh Abdullah Murad, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Administrative Affairs, senior officers and participants. Major General…
NEW YORK, 4th August, 2026 (WAM) — Oil prices fell as low as 4% on August 4 to a three-week low. Brent crude futures fell US$3.11, or 3.71%, to US$80.66 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate futures dropped US$3.58, or 4.46%, to US$76.76 a barrel. Both contracts fell to their lowest since July 13 earlier in the session. Earlier in the session, both benchmarks had risen more than 2%. Source: Emirates News Agency
There are few sensible reasons to venture outdoors during a Dubai summer. Dining, however, is one of them. On one particularly balmy evening, we headed to J1 Beach, which continues to quietly cement itself as Dubai’s most compelling collection of beach clubs and serious restaurants. It’s a destination that understands the difference between expensive and exceptional. This visit also happened to coincide with World Caviar Day — a celebration I confess had somehow escaped my diary until now. It did, however, remind me of my neighbour back in the tiny Northumberland village of Glanton, whose enduring claim to fame is…