Author: Editorial Team

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has ranked second globally, after the United States, among the most attractive markets for data centers. This is a remarkable achievement that reflects the Kingdom’s growing position in digital infrastructure and its rapid expansion in a market increasingly driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing. According to a Bloomberg analysis, Saudi Arabia secured second place globally in data center market attractiveness. The analysis also indicated that power availability and land enablement together account for 58 percent of market attractiveness for data center projects. At the same time, 22.8 gigawatts of new capacity are currently under development…

The fifth edition of Make it in the Emirates (MIITE), UAE’s flagship industrial platform, is taking place from 4 to 7 May, 2026 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The event is hosted by the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MOIAT) and organised by ADNEC Group, a Modon company, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, and ADNOC Group. Humaid Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of ADNEC Group, said that this edition is set to be the largest in the event’s history, covering over 88,000 square meters, which is a 30 per cent increase in size compared to the previous…

ABU DHABI, 2nd May, 2026 (WAM) — Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement will showcase a range of regulatory enablers, industrial solutions and strategic initiatives at the Make it in the Emirates 2026, highlighting its role in developing the UAE’s defence sector. The council, the national authority responsible for regulatory frameworks, standards and compliance systems, will also present its work in overseeing testing, evaluation and certification processes. Tawazun aims to reinforce its role in advancing the national defence industrial ecosystem and supporting its integration and future readiness. It will also highlight the importance of specialised industrial zones in enabling defence manufacturing,…

SHANGHAI — China Eastern Airlines apologized to passengers after one of its aircraft struck a boarding bridge while taxiing at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on Saturday. The airline said the flight from Chengdu experienced a “mechanical malfunction” as it was moving slowly toward the gate, leading to a minor collision with the bridge. All passengers on board were safe, and the crew handled the situation according to established procedures, the airline said. Passengers disembarked in an orderly manner, with no injuries reported. The cause of the incident is under investigation. According to flight tracking data, the aircraft was an Airbus…

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump described the U.S. Navy’s seizure of Iranian-linked vessels in the Strait of Hormuz as “a very profitable business,” saying Washington had taken control of cargo and oil as part of its maritime blockade. “We took over the cargo. Took over the oil, a very profitable business,” Trump said during an event in Florida. “We’re sort of like pirates, but we’re not playing games.” Defending the move, Trump accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic pressure tool, saying the United States responded by imposing its own restrictions. On diplomacy, Trump cast…

[Editor’s Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog for the latest regional developments with the US-Israel-Iran ceasefire now in effect.] As the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has lifted restrictions on the country’s airspace, airline ticket prices to and from the UAE are likely to drop slightly, according to travel agents. They said the move would bring in more flights and cut airline expenses, thus increasing travel appetite. “From February 28, when UAE imposed restrictions on its airspace, all scheduled flights were cancelled and only special flights were operational,” explained Sudheesh TP, General Manager of Deira Travels. “During this time, each airline had…

MUSCAT, 2nd May, 2026 (WAM) — Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries outperformed the global average in the 2026 Economic Freedom Index, reflecting stronger economic openness and an improved business environment, data from the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC-Stat) showed. The GCC average Economic Freedom Index reached 66.9 points, surpassing the global average of 59.9 points by a margin of nearly 7 points, indicating a higher level of economic freedom across the region. All GCC countries recorded either improvement or stability in their scores between 2025 and 2026, with limited variation among member states, demonstrating the continuity of economic reforms and growth-supporting…

GENEVA, 30th April, 2026 (WAM) — On stage 1 of the Tour de Romandie, UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s rider Tadej Pogačar took the day’s honours and became the new race leader. Just 24 hours on from the opening prologue, Pogačar stamped his authority on the race for UAE Team Emirates-XRG. For the world champion, it was his first road stage of the season and his first stage victory of 2026. The win moves Pogačar to five victories for the campaign, and puts him and his Emirati squad into control of the race leader’s yellow jersey. Just three days on from his…

The General Civil Aviation Authority in the UAE has announced that air traffic in the country’s airspace is now back to normal. The authority added that the precautionary measures that had been temporarily implemented have been lifted. These measures were put into place after the US-Israel-Iran war commenced on February 28. This decision, it said, came after it assessed operational and security conditions, stressing that real-time monitoring will continue to ensure the highest levels of aviation safety. technical and operational teams are fully prepared to handle any potential developments. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on…

BRUSSELS, 2nd May, 2026 (WAM) — Trade tensions between the United States and the European Union have intensified after US President Donald Trump announced his intention to raise import tariffs on European cars and lorries to 25 percent “from next week”. The current tariff stands at 15 percent. “Based on the fact that the European Union is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal, next week I will be increasing Tariffs charged to the European Union for Cars and Trucks coming into the United States,” President Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social. “The Tariff will…