Author: Editorial Team
Neha Gupta, Chief Financial Officer, Core42. UAE-headquartered AI infrastructure operator strengthens capital base to scale cloud and compute deployments across the United States and Europe Abu Dhabi — Core42, a G42 company specialising in sovereign cloud and AI infrastructure, today announced the successful arrangement of two structured trade finance facilities amounting to $550 million with HSBC to accelerate its AI cloud and compute deployments across the United States and Europe. The facilities of $240 million and $310 million were completed in February 2026 and May 2026, respectively. The facilities have been purpose-built to support Core42’s capital intensity and deployment cycles of AI cloud infrastructure. Structured to enable strategic flexibility, both facilities are non-equity dilutive and reinforce Core42’s disciplined capital…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports, including re-exports, jumped by 21.5 percent in March 2026 compared to the same month in 2025, while national non-oil exports, excluding re-exports, declined by 27 percent. According to the data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), the total value of merchandise trade reached SR173 billion in March 2026. Merchandise exports amounted to around SR115 billion, while imports totaled approximately SR58 billion, resulting in a merchandise trade surplus of roughly SR57 billion for the month. The GASTAT’s International Trade Report for March 2026 highlighted that the value of re-exported goods increased by 2.5…
JEDDAH — The National Center for Meteorology (NCM) announced that it is continuing to advance its digital and innovative services during the current Hajj season by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into weather forecasts and awareness bulletins. Additionally, the center has launched specialized reports and a multilingual application to enhance the quality of climate services provided to pilgrims. Dr. Turki Habibullah, director general of Research, Development, and Innovation at the NCM, stated that the center began utilizing AI technologies in weather forecasting last year, entirely leveraging Saudi expertise. He emphasized that the technology has demonstrated exceptional efficiency compared to the…
A viral skincare product, a glowing influencer review, and a long ingredient list are usually enough to convince consumers to click “add to cart.” But UAE resident Aishwarya Tyagi wants shoppers to pause before spending. The founder recently launched Data of Beauty, an Instagram and Substack platform that reviews beauty and skincare products using clinical studies, ingredient analysis, and marketing audits rather than traditional influencer recommendations. Speaking to Khaleej Times, Tyagi said the idea came after years of watching beauty marketing blur the line between science and sales. “Beauty marketing is incredibly clever. At its best, it sits right at…
Justlife, the Middle East’s leading at-home services super-app, has appointed Ruder Finn Atteline to lead its corporate communications mandate across the UAE, as the platform continues to scale its integrated home and healthcare offering, building on a partnership that has been underway since October 2025. Ruder Finn Atteline, the MENA arm of the Ruder Finn group, will oversee strategic PR communications across Justlife’s consumer, corporate and healthcare segments. The appointment comes as Justlife continues to expand its unified at home services, designed to make everyday life easier and more accessible. Its offering spans cleaning, beauty and home maintenance services, alongside…
Abhinav Gupta, CEO, CARS24. The UAE boasts one of the most digitally mature consumer markets in the region, yet high-value purchases, particularly in the pre-owned automotive sector, have historically relied on physical reassurance. For consumers, the transition from online browsing to final purchase has traditionally been bottlenecked by a single, critical variable: the need to see, touch, and verify the vehicle in person. When shifting market conditions restricted mobility, CARS24 chose not to wait for consumers to return to the showroom. Instead, they took the showroom to the consumer. Driven by real-time data signals that showed customer intent remained high…
JEDDAH — Saudi Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif received Head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization Alireza Rashidian in Jeddah on Thursday. The minister welcomed pilgrims arriving from Iran, affirming the commitment of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to serving pilgrims from around the world and ensuring they perform their rituals with ease and peace of mind. On his part, Rashidian expressed appreciation for the Kingdom’s efforts and preparations to serve pilgrims, praising the level of organization…
JEDDAH — Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah affirmed that preparations for next year’s Hajj season begin early, even before the current season concludes. This is through an integrated framework involving various government entities, pilgrim affairs offices, and Hajj service providers, to enhance services for pilgrims and improve operational readiness. He made the remarks while attending a panel discussion held Wednesday as part of the third edition of the Hajj Health and Safety Forum, organized by the General Administration of Medical Services at the Ministry of Interior. The minister explained that preparations for the next Hajj season will begin…
There’s a noticeably different tone around Dubai’s hospitality sector heading into Eid Al Adha this year. Traditionally, this time of year would see the city flooded with endless dining offers, staycation packages and aggressive Eid promotions as venues compete for attention during one of the busiest hospitality periods on the calendar. But in 2026, much of that activity arrived earlier than usual. Look at Dubai Restaurant Week, as an example. The annual citywide dining initiative brings together a large selection of restaurants across Dubai to offer specially curated set menus at fixed, accessible price points. Running this year from the beginning of May and…
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority’s (SFDA) Hajj Operations Center continues its round-the-clock operations from its headquarters in Makkah during the 1447 AH Hajj season, as part of a comprehensive regulatory framework aimed at enhancing field preparedness and expediting response times, thereby ensuring the safety of food, medicine, medical devices, and supplies provided to pilgrims. The Center’s operations span a wide geographical area encompassing Makkah, Medina, and Jeddah—including the primary aviation gateways at King Abdulaziz International Airport and Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport—and extending throughout the Holy Sites. This is achieved through an integrated operational system that supports oversight…