Author: Editorial Team

DUBAI, 13th April, 2026 (WAM) — The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has signed a strategic agreement with HSBC Bank Middle East Limited to further deepen cooperation aimed at attracting international corporates, institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals seeking to establish or expand their presence in the emirate. The partnership will also support deeper engagement with global capital markets participants, including institutional allocators, private equity firms and multinational corporations seeking to access regional capital pools or establish financing and treasury operations in Dubai. The agreement brings together DET’s mandate to drive Dubai’s economic agenda with HSBC’s global network and…

JEDDAH — Al Sadd advanced to the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals after defeating Al Hilal 4-2 on penalties following a dramatic 3-3 draw after extra time on Monday. The Qatari champions fought back three times during a pulsating Round of 16 clash at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium before sealing qualification in the shootout to set up a quarter-final meeting with Vissel Kobe. Al Sadd, already crowned Qatar Stars League champions ahead of the match, started brightly, testing goalkeeper Yassine Bounou early through Mohamed Camara and Roberto Firmino. Al Hilal took the lead in the 29th minute when Sergej…

RIYADH — A total of 55 wildlife births have been recorded across Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammad Royal Reserve and King Khalid Royal Reserve by mid-second quarter of 2026. The births include oryx and gazelles, reflecting a recovery in wildlife and the success of efforts to reintroduce endangered species. The Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority (IARDA) said the births included nine Arabian oryx and 46 sand gazelles. Of the total, 40 were recorded in the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve, while King Khalid Royal Reserve accounted for the remaining 15. The authority said the figures reflect the…

Google recently expanded its partnership with Intel by committing to use multiple generations of the chipmaker’s CPUs in its AI data centres. Under this expanded agreement, Intel’s latest Xeon 6 processors will support AI training and inference workloads. Google’s Amin Vahdat, SVP and chief Technologist, AI infrastructure, stated Intel’s Xeon roadmap gives his company confidence it “can continue to meet the growing performance and efficiency demands of our workloads”. Intel CEO Lip‑Bu Tan noted scaling AI requires more balanced systems rather than accelerators alone. The deal comes as CPUs regain strategic importance in AI systems, with processors becoming a bottleneck…

[Editor’s Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog for the latest regional developments with the US-Israel-Iran ceasefire now in effect.] Amid increased speculations over school reopening timelines, the UAE Ministry of Education (MOE) has dismissed claims that distance learning will continue until May 1 as “inaccurate”. Distance learning in UAE will remain in place until April 17 for students, teachers, and administrative staff across all educational institutions. This measure was first introduced amid the US–Israel–Iran conflict. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels. As authorities monitor the regional situation, families await further updates, with clarity expected closer…

MADINAH — The Ministry of Tourism has instructed tourist hospitality facilities in Madinah that their guests are not permitted to bring in portable gas stoves or gas cylinders into tourist hospitality facilities, including hotels and furnished apartments. The ministry indicated in a circular that the decision is based on Article 22, Paragraph 4 of the Tourist Hospitality Facility Regulations issued by a ministerial order. The ministry emphasized the necessity of adhering to the regulations issued in this regard. It underlined the need to comply with the instructions from the relevant authorities as part of security and safety measures. Source: Saudi…

MADINAH — Three expatriates were arrested for engaging in prostitution in a residential apartment in Madinah. The arrests were made during a security inspection, carried out by the Criminal Investigation and Research Department of the Madinah Police, in coordination with the General Directorate for Community Security and Combating Human Trafficking in Madinah. The Public Security sources said that the necessary legal procedures were taken against the suspects. They were referred to the Public Prosecution after completing the required legal procedures. The raid was part of the ongoing security campaigns to combat crimes against public morals and enhance community security. Source:…

SHARJAH, 13th April, 2026 (WAM) — Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) delivered an exceptional financial and operational performance across all business segments during the first quarter of 2026. Net profit after tax reached AED 380.7 million, representing an increase of 19.4% compared to AED 318.9 million for the same period in 2025. Income from investments in Islamic financing and Sukuk grew by AED 131.8 million, or 14.4%, to reach approximately AED 1.05 billion by the end of the first quarter of 2026, compared to AED 914.3 million during the same period in 2025. Meanwhile, total profit distributions to depositors and Sukuk…

Early visuals point to a slimmer, more refined Number Series device, with a striking golden finish, ultra-thin bezels and a stronger flagship-style design direction. HONOR has unveiled the expected design direction of its upcoming HONOR 600 Series, offering an early look at what appears to be one of the brand’s boldest and most polished Number Series designs to date. Early visuals show the device in a striking golden finish, with orange and black variants also set to be available at launch. The design, based on the images released so far, leans into a clean and modern aesthetic with a strong…

Abu Dhabi recorded a total of 8,886 civil marriage and wills transactions in less than three months this year — highlighting not just sustained demand — but a shift in how foreigners are using the emirate’s legal system. Figures from the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department show that 4,320 civil marriages and 4,566 wills were registered between January 1 and March 25, marking one of the busiest starts to a year since the introduction of the Abu Dhabi Law No. 14 of 2021 on Civil Marriage. The figures also reveal a notable trend: civil wills have now slightly overtaken marriages, pointing…