Author: Editorial Team

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is set to strengthen its financial resilience and support long-term economic diversification under its newly announced 2026–2030 strategy, according to Moody’s. The ratings agency said the strategy marks a clear evolution in the fund’s approach, focusing on sustained value creation, improved capital efficiency and more targeted investment allocation across key sectors. Moody’s noted that the shift will enhance the PIF’s ability to generate stable and recurring cash flows, reinforcing its institutional strength while supporting Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 transformation goals. The strategy prioritizes deploying capital into high-impact areas of the economy,…

RIYADH — The General Directorate of Passports is providing mobile counter devices across various international entry points including air, land, and sea ports to facilitate procedures for the smooth arrival of pilgrims for the upcoming Hajj. This is through the use of the latest technologies that ensure high levels of security and reliability while streamlining the Hajj journey.The mobile counter enables the smooth and swift processing of pilgrims, particularly the elderly and persons with disabilities, by capturing biometric data, taking facial images, and reading passport information efficiently without waiting. Source: Saudi Gazette

The UAE Government is set to roll out a sweeping set of initiatives between 2026 and 2027, including a dedicated Arabic Language Law, as part of a comprehensive policy to enhance the role and status of the Arabic language across the country. The ambitious roadmap was presented by the Ministry of Culture during a recent session of the Federal National Council (FNC). The presentation underscored that protecting the language and cementing its presence in Emirati society is a “national priority” that demands a robust governance model. The Ministry highlighted the necessity for comprehensive legislative and executive interventions to safeguard the…

DUBAI, 29th April, 2026 (WAM) — The UAE Circular Economy Council held its first meeting of 2026, chaired by Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism. The meeting took place at Barakat Quality Plus Group, which specialises in the production of fresh foods and juices. Attended by council members representing government, private sector, and academic entities, the meeting discussed the latest developments related to national policies and initiatives aimed at accelerating the UAE’s transition toward a circular economy model, with a focus on developing governance frameworks and strengthening regulatory and operational structures to ensure the efficient and…

Among the biggest challenges in brain cancer treatment are finding the tumour clearly and getting medicine to reach it. Researchers in Abu Dhabi say they may have found a way to address both problems at once. A team at New York University Abu Dhabi has developed smart molecules that made brain tumours visible on MRI scans while also helping destroy cancer cells in laboratory tests and animal studies. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The research focused on glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. It is the most common malignant brain tumour…

DUBAI, 27th April, 2026 (WAM) — The Sustainability and Innovation Centre of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is set to organise the fourth cycle of the CleanTech Hackathon from 18th to 20th May, bringing together innovators from around the world to develop solutions to pressing sustainability challenges. The hackathon invites the participation of companies, entrepreneurs, university students and sustainability experts, offering a collaborative platform to address climate change, water scarcity and broader environmental issues. Participants will showcase their innovations across three main tracks: Decarbonisation & Sustainability, Clean Energy Integration & Storage, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digitisation. The initiative…

QBS Software Middle East (formerly emt) has announced a new partnership with Orbus Software, bringing Orbus’s enterprise architecture platform, OrbusInfinity, to customers and channel partners across the region. OrbusInfinity is positioned by Orbus as a unified platform for strategy, architecture, process, and portfolio management, designed to eliminate information silos, accelerate informed decision-making, and support stronger business outcomes. Orbus works with a broad network of global and regional partners to help customers navigate digital transformation and build more resilient businesses. Through the partnership, QBS Software Middle East will help expand access to Orbus’s enterprise architecture capabilities for organisations looking to improve…

SYDNEY — Two people were killed after a small plane crashed into a hangar at an airport in South Australia on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said. The aircraft burst into flames at Parafield Airport in Adelaide after it crashed.South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas wrote on social media that a “number of others” have been injured. The plane involved was a twin-engine Diamond DA42, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which has launched an investigation into the accident. According to the manufacturer’s website, each Diamond DA42 aircraft can seat up to four people.The South Australian police said in a statement…

RIYADH — Saudi date exports recorded strong growth across key global markets, rising between 39% and 67% in 2025 compared to 2024, according to the National Center for Palms and Dates With the total value of date exports surpassing SR1.9 billion in 2025 — up 14.3% — four key markets, among more than 125 countries importing Saudi dates, recorded notable increases. Exports to the Netherlands rose by 47% compared to 2024, while shipments to China increased by 39%. In South Africa, exports grew by 48%, and Japan recorded the highest increase at 67% year-on-year. Source: Saudi Gazette

The Embassy of Pakistan in the UAE has announced on Wednesday, April 29, that the passport processing service at its premises is currently suspended due to technical and maintenance reasons. It urged all Pakistanis in the country to either apply for their passports online or wait till further instructions from the Embassy. “The community will be informed immediately on resumption of the service,” it further clarified in a post on X. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels In an earlier announcement, the embassy in the UAE Capital, Abu Dhabi said that it will…