Author: Editorial Team
[Editor’s Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.] The UAE has noted with concern a recent press release by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), concerning the situation in the Middle East amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war, saying that it included a “misdiagnosis of restrictions” the country imposed to safeguard civilians. The OHCHR’s statement, published on April 1, 2026, included references to measures adopted by the UAE following the unlawful and unprovoked Iranian aggression since the beginning of the war. Since war erupted in the region on February 28,…
TEHRAN — Iran on Thursday warned of “broader” and “crushing” attacks on the US and Israel in response to President Donald Trump’s latest threat to hit Iran “extremely hard” and bomb the Islamic republic “back to the Stone Ages” over the coming weeks. A spokesperson for Iran’s military said US-Israeli attacks on the country have been “insignificant”, claiming the two countries have “incomplete” information about Tehran’s military capabilities and equipment. The war, which erupted more than a month ago with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, has spread throughout the Middle East and roiled the global economy, impacting hundreds of millions worldwide.…
RIYADH — The number of visitors to Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector has surpassed 89 million during the year 2025, according to the General Entertainment Authority (GEA). The authority said in its annual report for the regulatory affairs sector for 2025 that the total number of licenses issued last year reached 6,490. In addition, 472 entertainment destinations were licensed during the year, compared to 422 destinations in 2024, representing a 12 percent increase. The total number of active entertainment destinations reached 975, compared to 513 destinations in 2024. These figures reflect the scale of activity and growth witnessed by the entertainment…
Sabya Sen, Vice President, IMEA & APAC, Alteryx. Move Comes as the Middle East and APAC Emerge as Global Hubs for AI Innovation and Enterprise Investment Dubai —Alteryx, Inc., a leading AI-ready data and analytics company, today announced the appointment of Sabya Sen as Vice President, IMEA and APAC, to lead its business across India, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific (IMEA & APAC). In this role, Sen will focus on accelerating customer outcomes and scaling adoption of the Alteryx One platform across some of the world’s fastest-growing markets for AI and data innovation. Sen brings deep regional expertise and a strong track record of execution to this role. Most recently, he served as…
RIYADH — The Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) has approved amendments to the Executive Regulation of the Companies Law for listed joint stock companies as part of enhancing the regulatory framework governing the removal of board members and the mechanism for determining and distributing profits in listed companies. The amendments aimed to establish clear controls for the removal of board members by the general assembly, strengthening corporate governance by enabling shareholders to exercise their rights, monitor board performance, enhance transparency, and improve investor protection, thereby supporting capital market stability. They also introduce greater flexibility in regulatory requirements related to distributable…
RIYADH — The Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) has approved a regulatory framework for offering Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) in the Nomu parallel market. This is through amendments to the Executive Regulation of the Companies Law for listed joint stock companies, the Rules on the Offer of Securities and Continuing Obligations, and the Glossary of Defined Terms used in the CMA’s regulations and rules. The amendments will come into force upon publication. The amendments aimed to diversify available investment products and encourage private sector companies to pursue listing, contributing to meeting financing needs, increasing offerings, and enhancing liquidity in…
All masses and activities at the two Catholic churches in Dubai — St Mary’s Catholic Church in Oud Metha and St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Jebel Ali — are suspended from Friday, April 3, and will remain so until further notice. “Parishioners are requested to refrain from visiting the church premises, in the interest of safety and community well-being,” St Francis Church posted on its website on Thursday evening, citing directives from government regulatory authorities. “The church will remain closed and no livestream will be available,” it said. St Mary’s Church posted a similar announcement on its social…
Microsoft revealed it was on track to invest $5.5 billion in Singapore between 2025 and the end of 2029. This move includes the expansion of AI and cloud infrastructure. The sum comprises cash to support ongoing operations and funds to boost cloud and AI infrastructure. In its statement, the company also outlined measures to expand education and workforce programmes in the country. This includes giving tertiary students free access to AI productivity tools, supporting the government’s focus on digital skills development. More than 200,000 university and vocational students will receive a year of Microsoft 365 Premium with Copilot, providing access…
Abu Dhabi’s food safety authority has shut down a cafe located in the emirate’s Al Dhafra region for food safety violations. Desert Breeze Cafe, situated in the Madinat Zayed Western Souk, was found to have repeatedly violated food safety violations. The Abu Dhabi Agriculture Food Safety Authority also revealed the eatery had failed to implement effective corrective measures, necessitating an immediate intervention to safeguard food safety. The establishment’s practices posed a serious risk to public health. The authority recently shut down Index restaurant located in Mussafah Industrial in Abu Dhabi for violating food safety laws. Crackdown on businesses for violating…
RIYADH — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan held on Thursday phone calls with foreign ministers of China and Japan. During the phone call, Prince Faisal and Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Wang Yi discussed the latest developments in the region. Also on Thursday, Prince Faisal received a phone call from Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi. During the call, they discussed the latest developments in the region. They also reviewed bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Source: Saudi Gazette