RIYADH — The General Directorate of Civil Defense has urged the public to exercise utmost caution amid forecast of continued thunderstorms expected across the Kingdom until Tuesday. The directorate called on the people to remain in safe locations, avoid areas prone to flash floods and valleys, and refrain from swimming in them. The directorate underlined the need to adhere to instructions disseminated through various media outlets and social media platforms. The capital city of Riyadh witnessed heavy rainfall on Thursday amidst cloudy skies and strong winds. The rain was accompanied by unstable weather conditions, including reduced horizontal visibility, the formation…
Author: Editorial Team
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has secured top global rankings in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025–2026 report, reflecting a highly competitive environment and reinforcing its position as a premier global hub for entrepreneurship. The Kingdom led all high-income economies in Entrepreneurial Finance, highlighting the efficiency of its financing tools for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Additionally, Saudi Arabia ranked third globally in the National Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI), cementing its status as an elite destination for entrepreneurial investment and growth. Total early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) has seen rapid expansion, jumping from 12.1 percent in 2018 to 28.9 percent in 2025.…
Vodafone Business recently outlined plans to offer its small business customers advanced cybersecurity and agentic AI services. This offering will be accomplished via the company’s $1 billion agreement with Google Cloud signed in 2024. Flagging a rise in “increasingly frequent and sophisticated cyber threats” facing SMBs, Vodafone Business will roll out a managed detection and response (MDR) service enabled by Google Security Operations, aimed at identifying and mitigating cyber threats in real time. The service will debut in Germany, ahead of a wider European rollout later this year. In parallel, the operator unveiled the Vodafone Business AI Concierge, an agentic…
After over a month of closure, Dubai’s Global Village is reopening its doors to the public, welcoming visitors again from today 5 pm onwards. Ticket prices start at Dh25 per person. The season was previously scheduled to end on May 10, though it remains unclear whether dates will be extended. In the meantime, here are five experiences visitors should start with: 1. Viral street food that’s taking over social media Food remains one of the biggest draws at Global Village, with several viral favourites making rounds this season. At Taco Loco, visitors can try authentic Mexican birria tacos, slow-cooked and…
ABU DHABI, 23rd April, 2026 (WAM) — A high-level delegation from Abu Dhabi, led by AGDM, has concluded a series of strategic engagements in Milan, Italy, bringing together global financial institutions, industry leaders, and sector participants, as part of its continued efforts to strengthen its position across the financial services sector and advance priority areas of economic growth. The engagements focused on reinforcing relationships with a broad range of financial institutions, including asset managers, private equity firms, banks, and family offices, reflecting the depth of the global financial ecosystem represented. Discussions centred on capital deployment, cross-border expansion, and structuring opportunities…
SHARJAH, 23rd April, 2026 (WAM) — American University of Sharjah Professor Steve Griffiths, Vice Chancellor for Research, has been named the UAE National Champion in the fourth edition of the Frontiers Planet Prize. The selection marks the UAE’s debut in the global competition, which recognises excellence in research regarding planetary boundaries. Chosen by an independent jury of 100 experts, Dr. Griffiths has been honored for a landmark study published in Nature Reviews Chemistry that assesses chemical innovations required to scale carbon capture technologies across diverse industrial settings. The UAE National Champion award recognises Dr Griffiths and his co-authors for a…
NAIROBI, 23rd April, 2026 (WAM) — The United Arab Emirates participated in the first 2026 Executive Board meetings of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), held in Nairobi, Kenya, with the attendance of member states. The UAE delegation was led by Engineer Mohammed Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. The meetings addressed several strategic priority areas, including the implementation of the 2026–2029 Strategic Plan, enhancing financial sustainability and resource allocation efficiency, and reviewing progress in urban planning, housing, and infrastructure. Discussions also covered the development of international partnerships with…
As part of ongoing efforts to boost the tourism sector in Ajman, the emirate’s Department of Tourism Development announced on Thursday, April 23, a comprehensive package of incentives and relief measures, including granting visitors free entry to all museums. The facilitations include a wide range of exemptions for tourism establishments and cover operations, licensing, and marketing, contributing to supporting tourism facilities in the emirate. According to the new package, the payment of tourism fees for touristic establishments will be deferred for six months, starting March 1, 2026. A “flexible payment” mechanism will also be activated to allow for clearing outstanding…
RIYADH — Foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and seven other Islamic countries condemned the repeated violations of the historical and legal status quo governing Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem by the Israeli occupation authorities. They expressed particular concern over the continued incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli settlers and extremist ministers under the protection of Israeli police, as well as the raising of the Israeli flag within its courtyards. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey reaffirmed that these provocative actions at…
MAKKAH — Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel concluded on Thursday a two-day inspection tour of healthcare facilities in Makkah to assess their readiness for the upcoming Hajj season. The visit reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to providing world-class healthcare for pilgrims, aligning with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program and Saudi Vision 2030. The minister emphasized that the readiness of Makkah’s healthcare infrastructure is a top priority, with operational plans focusing on expanding capacity and integrating preventive, curative, and emergency services. He noted that the strategy involves elevating medical and technical staff preparedness while ensuring seamless coordination across the…