Author: Editorial Team
RIYADH — The National Center for Meteorology (NCM) has forecast thunderstorms to continue across multiple regions of the Kingdom from Friday through Tuesday, with rainfall ranging from light to heavy, intensifying in several areas. According to the NCM, these weather conditions may be accompanied by strong downdraft winds reaching up to 60 km/h, which could stir up dust and reduce visibility; hail; rising wave heights; and flash floods in areas experiencing heavier rainfall. The center also forecast the severity of these storms could increase in certain areas over the weekend. For regions expected to experience moderate to heavy rainfall, certain…
RIYADH — Total investment in the industrial cities of Yanbu and Jubail has exceeded SR1.5 trillion by the end of 2025, according to the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu’s annual report. The figure reflects the scale of investments and the alignment of the Commission’s efforts with the objectives of the National Industrial Strategy, which seeks to develop national industries, maximize value-added output, and expand the production base. These initiatives, in turn, strengthen the competitiveness of the national economy and increase the contribution of the non-oil sector to economic growth. The growth also highlights the Commission’s role as a key…
[Editor’s Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog for the latest regional developments with the US-Israel-Iran ceasefire now in effect.] UAE’s Ministry of Education denied reports of extension of distance learning till May 1. The ministry clarified that this information is “inaccurate”. The authority stressed that decisions related to education will only be announced through the ministry’s official channels. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels. Currently, distance learning is in place till April 17 across all educational institutions in the UAE for students as well as teaching and administrative staff. When schools across UAE transitioned to…
ABU DHABI, 13th April, 2026 (WAM) — The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has announced the appointment of VERMEG, a global provider of mission-critical technology solutions for Market Infrastructures, Collateral Management, and Asset Servicing, as the lead technology partner of a consortium supporting the establishment of a Central Securities Depository (CSD) for national debt and Sukuk. The move is part of the Central Bank’s strategy to strengthen the infrastructure of the UAE’s capital markets. This strategic initiative is designed to enhance the efficiency of post-trade operations while further strengthening the global competitiveness of the UAE’s financial markets. It aligns…
As the global automotive industry accelerates toward electrification and intelligent mobility, OMODA & JAECOO — fast-rising brands under the Chery Group — are reinforcing their position as one of the industry’s most dynamic new entrants. Following strong global expansion into 64 markets and cumulative sales surpassing 960,000 units in under three years, OMODA & JAECOO continue to gain traction and are fast approaching the one-million milestone, with the UAE emerging as one of the key regional growth markets in the Middle East. Within just one year of operations in the UAE, OMODA & JAECOO have recorded over 3,000 vehicle sales,…
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently outlined plans to explore a ban on China’s three major telecoms operators running data centres in the United States. These plans form part of an ongoing effort to address national security concerns. It stated it tentatively concluded national security concerns exist with companies on its so-called Covered List including China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile interconnecting with domestic operators, and is seeking comment on whether to issue a ban. The Covered List identifies telecoms and other equipment deemed an unacceptable risk to US national security, banning its authorisation, importation and sale. Specifically,…
A fire incident was reported in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) on Sunday afternoon, prompting a swift response from Dubai Civil Defence teams. According to authorities, the operations room received the alert at 2.28pm. Immediately after, Al Barsha Fire Station was dispatched as the first responder and arrived at the scene within six minutes. Upon arrival at 2.34pm, firefighters found that the blaze had broken out in a 27-story building under construction. The fire was classified as moderate. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels. Specialised teams quickly initiated evacuation and firefighting operations to contain…
RIYADH — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced an update to compliance requirements for documenting employment contracts through the Qiwa platform. It has raised the target compliance rate to 85 percent starting April 30, 2026, followed by a second phase increasing the rate to 90 percent by June 30, 2026. The ministry noted that the compliance rate is calculated by comparing the number of documented contracts to the total number of employee contracts at each establishment, allowing employers to monitor their performance accurately and clearly. The update to the rules comes as part of the ministry’s efforts…
BOGOTA — Polls opened in Peru on Sunday as more than 25 million voters began casting ballots in a presidential election featuring a record 35 candidates, amid efforts to end years of political instability. The vote is seen as a pivotal moment for the country, which has faced a decade of turbulence marked by frequent leadership changes and institutional deadlock. No candidate is expected to secure the more than 50% required for an outright first-round victory, raising the likelihood of a runoff on June 7. Among the frontrunners is Keiko Fujimori, leader of Fuerza Popular and daughter of former President…
ABU DHABI, 13th April, 2026 (WAM) — Etihad Airways has announced a significant expansion of its mainland China network, launching five new routes and adding 28 weekly flights, marking one of the airline’s largest single market increases in recent years. The expansion will see Etihad operate services from Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) to Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Guangzhou (CAN), Chengdu (TFU), Hangzhou (HGH) and Shenzhen (SZX), bringing its total operation in mainland China to 35 weekly flights across six destinations, including its existing daily service to Beijing Daxing (PKX). All services will be operated by Etihad’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner…