Author: Editorial Team

RIYADH — The Transport General Authority (TGA) revealed that the number of passengers, who used public bus transport within the cities and governorates of the Kingdom, exceeded 30.6 million during the first quarter of 2026, showing a high demand for these services. According to its quarterly statistical bulletin issued by TGA, Riyadh ranked first in terms of passenger numbers, recording more than 19.55 million, followed by Makkah with 4.87 million, Madinah 3.4 million, Jeddah 1.25 million, and Dammam and Qatif 840,000 passengers. The remaining figures were distributed across other cities and governorates, including Qassim with 259,000; Taif 180,000; Al-Ahsa 134,000;…

On some Sunday evenings in Dubai, just before the sun sets, you’ll find a very different kind of networking event. There are no finish lines or performance metrics or complicated membership portals here, just women in sneakers, clutching water bottles, walking side by side and chatting. What started as a way of coping with new motherhood has turned into a full-fledged walking club for Syria-born, UAE-raised Farah Enayeh, the founder of ‘Girls Who Walk Dubai’. “I started off in corporate, but life kind of changed when I became a Mum,” says Enayeh. “That phase really changed how I see work…

H.E. Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), conducted a series of strategic bilateral meetings with international regulatory counterparts on the sidelines of the 7th International Heads of Food Agencies Forum (IHFAF) in Auckland. Dr. Aljadhey commenced the discussions with Mr. Gerard Bakker, Inspector General at the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). The two sides explored frameworks for deepening technical cooperation and the exchange of expertise. A primary focus was the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize food risk management, refine product evaluations, and enhance the precision of digital inspection…

Abed Hamandi, Senior Director, EMEA Consulting, Fraud and Security Intelligence Practice, SAS. As fraudsters sprint ahead with AI, organisations report they are struggling to keep pace. That’s the sobering verdict delivered in the latest fraud research by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and data and AI leader SAS: Only 7% of anti-fraud professionals say their organisations are more than moderately prepared to detect or prevent AI-fuelled fraud – even as criminals hijack inexpensive and plentiful AI tools to drive social engineering schemes, digital forgery and consumer scams to record highs. The 2026 Anti-Fraud Technology Benchmarking Report – the fourth installment in a research…

BONN — Germany’s Lufthansa Group said on Thursday it will cut 20,000 short-haul flights over the summer as the US-Iran war drives up oil prices and deepens worries that some countries may run low on jet fuel. Several airlines, including KLM-France and Delta, have also temporarily cut some flights while others have raised ticket prices as they pass on expenses to customers. Analysts have warned that travellers should expect further ticket price rises and more cancelled flights as the conflict continues. The Gulf is a major source of aviation fuel, accounting for about 50% of Europe’s imports. The bulk of…

RIYADH — The Digital Government Authority announced that 76.04% of government entities — 54 entities — are prepared to adopt and activate emerging technologies. Based on the Authority’s “Emerging Technologies Adoption Readiness Index” report, readiness among government entities to adopt and activate emerging technologies reached 76.04%, compared to 74.69% in 2025, with the participation of 54 government entities compared to 49 entities in the previous edition. The Governor of the Digital Government Authority, Ahmed Alsuwaiyan, affirmed that the report’s results reflect ambitious efforts by government entities and their transition from the experimentation phase to the actual use of emerging technologies,…

Dubai Restaurant Week is back and if your “restaurants to try” list has been piling up, this is your sign to finally book that table. Running from May 1 to 17, the city-wide dining event brings together more than 125 restaurants across 25+ cuisines, turning Dubai into a two-week food trail. But beyond the numbers, this year’s edition is really about access, giving diners a way into some of the city’s most in-demand (and often hard-to-book) spots at a fraction of the usual cost. What’s on the menu? First, the value. Expect two-course lunches priced at Dh125 and three-course dinners…

A recent academic study has underscored the importance of developing integrated models that combine economic policy frameworks with engineering methodologies to accelerate the growth of the green hydrogen sector. The study highlights that a lack of coordination between governments and the private sector remains one of the most significant challenges facing the industry globally. It notes that aligning national strategies with industrial initiatives can enhance investment efficiency and strengthen the long-term sustainability of green and clean energy projects. According to the findings, establishing clear regulatory frameworks supported by practical and scalable operational models is critical to closing execution gaps, particularly…

Debo Zhang, General Manager, HONOR GCC. 200MP AI Night Camera, Snapdragon performance, and advanced AI creativity tools redefine the premium mid-range smartphone experience HONOR has launched its new HONOR 600 Series in the UAE, introducing the HONOR 600 and HONOR 600 Pro at a starting price of Dh1,599. Unveiled at a Dubai launch event attended by media, partners, influencers, and technology enthusiasts, the new range is positioned to bring flagship-level features to the premium mid-range smartphone segment. The HONOR 600 Series places strong emphasis on imaging, led by a 200MP Ultra-Clear AI Night Camera designed to deliver high detail and…

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s prime minister has accused Israel of war crimes after an airstrike in the south of the country on Wednesday killed one journalist and seriously wounded another. Amal Khalil, who worked for Lebanon’s Al Akhbar newspaper, was killed while carrying out her journalistic work, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA). She is the fourth media worker slain by Israel in Lebanon since March. The other journalist was identified by Lebanese authorities as Zeinab Faraj, a freelance photojournalist.The strikes also killed several other people, NNA reported. An initial Israeli strike hit a car in at-Tiri, a village in…