Author: Editorial Team
The Farasan Islands are currently experiencing the annual date harvest season, a significant period that brings the archipelago’s villages to life while fueling the local economy through the yield of over 10,000 productive date palms. Beyond its production numbers, the harvest carries a deep social and cultural dimension rooted in Farasan identity. Local families regularly gather on regional farms to cooperate in harvesting and exchanging local produce, preserving traditional agricultural practices passed down through generations. The continuation of this season highlights the unique environmental advantages of the islands while promoting rural tourism. By seamlessly blending commercial marketing opportunities with deep-seated…
Verizon Business and BMW Group recently collaborated on making the manufacturers’ vehicles in the U.S. the first to tap into the operator’s nationwide standalone (SA) 5G network for connected automobiles. This network uses its 5G core and 3GPP Release 16 industry standards. Under the arrangement, Verizon will provide 5G and LTE connectivity directly to BMW, Mini, and other BMW Group vehicles built for the US market, delivering telematics support for the automaker’s connected drive system. The partnership enables digital infotainment, remote services, app functionality, and telematics across the vehicles. Japan’s KDDI is also involved, with its platform giving BMW Group…
Michel El Gemayel has watched artificial intelligence enter the UAE’s creative scene the way everyone else has — fast, cheap, and impossible to ignore. The portraits, the cloned voices, the images pulled from a single line of text. What holds his attention is not the flood of new work. It is the small share of it that will still mean something in ten years. El Gemayel is the CEO of the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation, known as ADMAF, which has spent close to three decades behind Emirati and UAE-based artists, musicians and writers. He is not worried about…
The Haddaj Well, situated in the heart of Tayma within Tabuk Region, stands as one of the oldest and most significant historical wells in the Arabian Peninsula. According to the Encyclopedia of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia published by the King Abdulaziz Public Library, this architectural marvel is believed to date back to the 6th century BC. Long celebrated for its exceptionally abundant water supply, the well has evolved into an enduring symbol of hospitality and generosity in local memory. Constructed of meticulously polished stone and flanked on all sides by lush palm trees, the massive well measures 65 meters…
Aaron Block and Nader Albastaki. Dubai — Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF) has committed capital to MetaProp Fund IV L.P., one of the world’s most active and specialised venture capital firms investing in PropTech. This partnership positions MetaProp as a foundational early-stage PropTech partner for DFDF, supporting Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33 and the development of a regional real estate technology hub. Founded in New York, MetaProp is widely recognised as one of the most active PropTech investors globally. The firm invests across the full early-stage spectrum, from Pre-seed to Series A, backing a focused selection of high‑conviction PropTech companies. A defining feature of MetaProp’s model is its accelerator programme, which serves as both a validation engine and an investment platform. In addition, the accelerator offers masterclasses and structured mentorship,…
As temperatures soar across the UAE, air conditioning has become a lifeline for residents seeking relief from the summer heat. From homes and offices to cars, malls and restaurants, many people spend most of their day moving between intensely cooled indoor environments and outdoor temperatures exceeding 40°C. But doctors are warning that this constant cycle of artificial cooling and extreme heat can take a toll on the body. While air conditioning remains essential to prevent heat-related illnesses, prolonged exposure to cold, dry air, sudden temperature shifts and poorly maintained systems can contribute to a range of health concerns — from…
RIYADH — Fitch Ratings has affirmed Saudi Arabia’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at “A+” with a stable outlook, citing the Kingdom’s strong fiscal position, substantial financial reserves and resilient economy. In its latest report, Fitch said Saudi Arabia’s credit profile is supported by government debt and sovereign net foreign assets that remain significantly stronger than the averages for countries rated in the ‘A’ and ‘AA’ categories, alongside substantial fiscal buffers. The agency said the Kingdom has maintained economic resilience despite regional geopolitical developments, supported by the strength of non-oil economic activity and prudent fiscal management. Fitch noted that Saudi…
KINSHASA — The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains in a “very active” phase and has yet to peak, the Xinhua news agency reported quoting health authorities as saying on Thursday. The outbreak in DRC is the “fastest growing” ever, they said as the World Health Organization confirmed the disease has killed more than 600 people. Updated numbers issued by the UN health agency showed there have been 1,759 confirmed cases in DR Congo since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, including 600 confirmed deaths. “This is the fastest growing Ebola outbreak ever, not only…
DHAKA — The UN refugee agency called on Thursday for additional land to ease overcrowding in Bangladesh’s Rohingya refugee camps after heavy rains triggered landslides that have killed at least 15 people. More than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, many of whom fled Myanmar during a brutal military crackdown in 2017, live in congested camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar. The refugees live in basic shelters on hillsides cleared of trees — making the land unstable during monsoon rains. Authorities in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh used loudspeakers and a network of volunteers and community leaders to relocate people from risky areas…
The Haddaj Source: Riyadh Daily