Author: Editorial Team
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), launched a national training program to qualify more than 20,000 Saudi citizens in AI, machine learning, and cloud computing. The initiative aims to enhance national digital skills and support the Kingdom’s transition to a smart economy. The program comprises two training tracks delivered through AWS Academy. It offers a learning experience focused on applying advanced technologies in practical projects, contributing to raising professional competence, equipping trainees with job-market skills, and supporting organizations in keeping pace with technological advancements. The first track includes an intensive course targeting…
Synergy Research Group recently unveiled their findings about global cloud infrastructure spending by enterprises. The group determined that the spending had surpassed an annualised run rate of half-a-trillion dollars for the first time, driven largely by accelerating generative AI (GenAI) demand. Quarterly revenue of $128.6 billion in Q1 2026 represents a 35% year-on-year jump. The research company noted it is the highest growth rate seen since the last quarter of 2021, when the market was only 40% of its current size. “The Q1 market is now 15 times larger than it was a decade ago and continues to expand at…
RIYADH — The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi condemned, in the strongest terms, the treacherous attacks that targeted a national carrier affiliated with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) while it was passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The GCC chief affirmed that the continuation of these brutal Iranian attacks, targeting ships passing through the Strait, constitutes piracy and a serious threat to the security of maritime routes and straits, and represents a flagrant violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, foremost among them resolution No. 2817. Albudaiwi expressed the GCC’s full solidarity with the United Arab…
MAKKAH — Kidana Development Company, the executive arm of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, has completed phase two of the shading and cooling project surrounding Mount Arafat for the 2026 Hajj season. The project increases the utilization of shaded and cooled areas for pilgrims fivefold compared to last year. The project, across its first and second phases, covers a total area exceeding 272,000 square meters. The second phase for 2026 includes the installation of 18 modern canopies equipped with 36 misting fans. It also includes seven advanced cooling units and 107 misting fan columns. This milestone…
The Deep Tech Commercialization Bootcamp, organized by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in partnership with the Research, Development and Innovation Authority, was launched today with the participation of more than 50 research teams that have prototypes and technologies ready for testing and commercialization. The bootcamp, held at the innovation incubator and accelerator “The Garage,” aims to equip national research teams with the skills needed to commercialize deep technologies by aligning solutions with market needs, building business models, and improving understanding of intellectual property rights and patents as investment assets, in addition to introducing mechanisms for technology transfer…
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently approved new rules designed to unlock a seven-fold capacity boost for satellite broadband services. This move would in turn benefit SpaceX’s Starlink service. A unanimous vote by the FCC’s three commissioners ends a regulatory framework dating back to the late 1990s which limited the amount of energy satellite systems could transmit to and from ground equipment. The FCC’s report and order replaces the Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) framework with modern, performance-based GSO protection criteria which considers improved spectrum sharing possibilities in today’s modern satellite technologies, including the use of adaptive coding and modulation…
JEDDAH — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan in Jeddah on Monday. During the meeting, the ministers reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries. They discussed ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields. The latest developments in the region also figured highly in their meeting. The ministers emphasized the need to support efforts aimed at protecting and ensuring the stability of waterways, thereby strengthening regional and international peace and security. Source: Saudi Gazette
ABHA — Al-Nasb Heritage District in Abha is one of the most prominent living examples of traditional architecture in the southern Asir Region, preserving its long history and architectural details. These embody people’s connection to their local environment and document the social and cultural patterns that have shaped the identity of the place across generations. The district’s significance lies in its unique architectural composition, where mud and stone buildings stand side by side in visual harmony. They were built using local materials such as stone, clay, and juniper trunks, while the narrow alleyways and closely set buildings give the district…
The Heritage Commission announced financial fines against 11 violators for dealing in portable antiquities without obtaining the required regulatory licenses, as part of its ongoing efforts to protect cultural heritage in the Kingdom and enhance compliance with regulations governing the sector. The commission clarified that the violations involved displaying and selling antiquities on online platforms without registering or documenting them with the Heritage Commission or obtaining the necessary licenses, in explicit violation of the provisions of the Law of Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage. The fines varied according to the nature and circumstances of each violation, reaching up to SAR15,000…
ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates said it intercepted three cruise missiles launched from Iran, while a fourth fell into the sea, as authorities confirmed the situation is now safe and air operations have fully resumed. The Ministry of Defense said the missiles were detected heading toward the country and were successfully intercepted over territorial waters. It added that sounds heard across parts of the UAE were the result of the air defense response. Separately, the General Civil Aviation Authority announced the full resumption of normal air navigation operations across UAE airspace after temporarily activating precautionary measures. The authority…