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.…
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…
Limited-edition gold and silver commemorative coins have been launched in the UAE, inspired by the “Proud of the UAE” campaign. The UAE’s precious metals mint and refinery, Emirates Minting Factory, and Dubai Gold District, the largest gold and jewellery destination in the region, launched the coins on Thursday. Each coin reflects attention to detail, drawing inspiration from the UAE’s identity and heritage. Struck in investment-grade one-ounce gold and silver, the collection captures a moment in time, echoing the spirit of pride, unity, and resilience felt across the UAE. The limited-edition gold and silver coin collection is now available online at…
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…
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…
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…
A recent panel of experts concurred that AI agents are a key element in employing the technology accross various network operations, but emphasised concerns over trust and governance must be addressed before they can be used in closed-loop scenarios. Reza Rahnama, MD of mobile networks with BT Group, said it views its networks in their entirety and is using the approach to guide AI deployments. He explained this addresses complexities associated with “creating multiple tools” which do not necessarily possess all of the information required to run its network. Rahnama is clear AI agents are going to be a powerful…
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…
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…
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…