Running a marathon is hard enough and doing it in a kandura feels learning to move all over again. “You can’t open your legs naturally,” said UAE resident Sedique Ahamed, who has set a Guinness World Record at the London Marathon. “After 25km, every step needed attention.” For the 35-year-old runner, the 42.2km race was less about speed and more about control. While the kandura felt manageable in the opening kilometres, the challenge quickly shifted. “The kandura actually felt okay in the first 5–10 km. I even thought, ‘this might be manageable.’ But after 15 km, I started to feel the difference,”…
Author: Editorial Team
NEW YORK — Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the United Nations’ efforts to combat terrorism, describing terrorism as a direct threat to international peace and security.Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasel made the remarks while addressing an ambassador-level meeting held under the UN80 initiative to review the capacities of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre. He noted the Kingdom’s continued support for the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre since its establishment in 2011 as a founding donor and chair of the advisory board.Within the framework of the UN80…
NextEra, a Saudi-based company specializing in IT solutions, has announced the opening of its new headquarters in KAFD in Riyadh. The inauguration took place under the patronage of Chairman Eng. Nabil Al Nuaim, and in the presence of CEO and Board Member Dina Abo Onoq, alongside a group of partners and leaders from the Kingdom’s technology sector.The opening marks a strategic step that reflects NextEra’s commitment to expanding its presence in the Saudi market and strengthening its role as an active strategic partner supporting the Kingdom’s digital transformation journey. Through its advanced technology solutions, the company contributes to the goals…
Dining is not an impersonal experience. Behind every memorable meal that one has had, there is a person — a chef, a waiter, a helper — who’s warmth has etched the experience in your minds and hearts. Today, as the hospitality industry navigates uncertainty, a unique initiative has been designed to help the workers — from bartenders, waiters, chefs and baristas to hostesses, supervisors and back-of-house teams — affected by current circumstances. The Art of Hosting, a local catering and events agency, has launched a programme, Family Meal, to support them by offering gourmet meals prepared by top chefs.…
SEOUL, 1st May, 2026 (WAM) — South Korea’s exports exceeded US$80 billion for the second consecutive month in April, jumping nearly 50% from a year earlier on the back of robust shipments of semiconductors, government data showed Friday. Outbound shipments totaled $85.89 billion last month, up 48% on-year, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, according to Yonhap. The April tally marks the second-highest monthly export figure for the country, following an all-time high of $86.6 billion recorded in March. Imports rose 16.7% on-year to $62.11 billion last month, resulting in a trade surplus…
Followers of Dubai Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, on X, are more used to tweets from him announcing major projects, new milestones on the emirate’s path to being the best city in the world to live in, or glimpses of his personal life. On Thursday, April 30, 2026, a brief but powerful message was conveyed by the UAE royal through the social media platform. “The soul of Dubai is found in its people,” Sheikh Hamdan, who also serves as UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, said in the…
MAKKAH — In three separate incidents, three Saudi citizens and 19 residents were arrested for violating Hajj regulations. Hajj Security Forces arrested two citizens for violating Hajj regulations and instructions by transporting 17 Pakistani residents through unpaved roads and valleys in an attempt to enter Makkah and remain there without obtaining a Hajj permit. Authorities apprehended them and took legal action against them. In a related incident, Makkah region police arrested a citizen for posting fraudulent and misleading advertisements on social media offering fake entry permits to Makkah. He was referred to the Public Prosecution after taking the necessary legal…
JEDDAH — For many Saudi travelers last Eid, it was a rediscovery of destinations closer to home, as Red Sea resorts entered a more active phase and became increasingly accustomed to receiving guests at scale. That shift was reflected in the numbers. Red Sea resorts emerged as one of the strongest-performing segments of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector in the first quarter of 2026, driven by a surge in domestic travel during Ramadan and Eid. According to the Ministry of Tourism’s Q1 2026 performance report, occupancy at ultra-luxury Red Sea resorts reached 82% during the final 10 days of Ramadan, reflecting…
As students across Dubai juggle a mix of in-person and remote learning after a prolonged stretch of online classes, the transition has brought its own set of challenges, particularly when it comes to rebuilding social connections and a sense of routine. For 16-year-old Dubai student Mehrin Shiras, the changing state of affairs highlighted a gap that needed to be filled. As a result, the Year 12 student and Head Girl at Repton Dubai launched ‘The Third Space’, a student-led initiative offering free creative sessions for children struggling with the loss of routine, social interaction and a sense of belonging. “The…
DUBAI, 30th April, 2026 (WAM) — Mashreq Bank recorded a net profit after tax of AED1.927 billion during the first quarter of 2026, compared to AED1.792 billion in the same period of 2025, reflecting a growth of 8 percent year-on-year, while net profit before tax reached AED2.28 billion, marking a 9 percent increase year-on-year. According to a statement issued today, the bank recorded revenues of AED3.426 billion during the first quarter of the current year, compared to AED3.12 billion in the corresponding period last year, representing a growth of 10 percent. Total assets reached AED344.305 billion by the end of…