Author: Editorial Team
Many pilgrims are eager to purchase gifts and souvenirs from Makkah, turning these keepsakes into symbols of affection and blessing that they carry from the holiest city to their families and friends around the world. A steady stream of visitors searches the markets surrounding the Grand Mosque for meaningful mementos, ranging from copies of the Holy Quran and prayer rugs to prayer beads, perfumes, and photographs of its landmarks, alongside traditional items reflecting Makkah’s cultural identity and heritage. These markets reflect Makkah’s economic vitality and vibrant commercial life as the city welcomes millions of visitors each year. This activity is closely integrated…
Abu Dhabi —The UAE’s National Experts Program– AI track (NEP-AI) has shortlisted 135 finalists from more than 1,000 applicants, as the country accelerates efforts to build a national base of artificial intelligence expertise across priority sectors. A final group of 25 participants will be selected from these finalists to join the inaugural NEP-AI cohort. The finalists of this first NEP-AI track represent all seven emirates, signaling broad national engagement in the program. Abu Dhabi (80) and Dubai (21) account for the majority, followed by Sharjah (14), Ras Al Khaimah (9), Ajman (6), Umm Al Quwain (3), and Fujairah (2). The finalist pool is the most diverse in the program’s history, bringing together professionals from government, industry, and…
RIYADH — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks with Chief of Staff to the President of South Korea and Presidential Special Envoy Kang Hoon-sik in Riyadh on Sunday. During the meeting, they discussed the latest developments in the region and their repercussions for the regional security and the global economy. They also reviewed bilateral cooperation between the two friendly countries. Source: Saudi Gazette
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned on Sunday the Iraqi Ambassador to the Kingdom Safia Taleb Ali Al-Suhail to convey its strong response against the continued blatant attacks and threats targeting Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states through drones launched from Iraqi territory. Ambassador Saud Al-Sati, undersecretary for political affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, handed the protest note to the Iraqi ambassador during their meeting in Riyadh. “During the delivery of a protest note, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs stressed the Kingdom’s condemnation and denunciation of the attacks originating…
The seventh Local Armed Forces Quran Memorization Competition for Military Personnel and the ninth Prince Sultan Charitable Society for the Memorization of Quran Competition for the children of Ministry of Defense personnel concluded yesterday in Makkah. Attendees viewed a video presentation highlighting the history, stages, and activities of both competitions. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the results were announced, the winners were honored, the judging panel was presented with a commemorative plaque, and a group photo was taken. Source: Riyadh Daily
Samsung’s latest Galaxy A series arrives in the UAE with upgraded Awesome Intelligence, enhanced cameras, durable design and long-term software support for value-conscious users. Samsung Gulf Electronics has launched the Galaxy A57 5G and Galaxy A37 5G in the UAE, strengthening its mid-range smartphone portfolio with a sharper focus on AI-powered experiences, camera performance and long-term device support. Available from 10 April across Samsung’s online and retail channels, the two new Galaxy A series devices are designed to bring what Samsung describes as “Awesome Intelligence” to a wider user base. The launch reflects the company’s broader strategy to extend AI-enabled mobile experiences…
RIYADH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will begin the second phase of registration for domestic pilgrims wishing to perform Hajj this year from Saturday, Dhul Qada 1, corresponding to April 18. This phase is for those citizens and expatriates who have performed Hajj within the last five years. The registration process shall be completed through the Nusuk electronic application. The ministry stipulated that the applicants in the second phase will be considered if there are vacancies remain after considering the applications of Saudis and expatriates who applied in the first phase. Earlier on Feb. 23, the ministry commenced…
PARIS — A 9-year-old boy has been rescued after being locked inside his father’s utility van in eastern France since 2024, authorities said. According to prosecutor Nicolas Heitz, police were alerted by a neighbor who reported hearing a child inside a parked vehicle in the village of Hagenbach, near the Swiss and German borders. Officers forced the van open and found the boy “lying in a fetal position, naked, covered by a blanket on top of a mound of trash and near excrement,” Heitz said. The child was severely malnourished and unable to walk after being kept in a seated…
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH) and Qiddiya Investment Company have signed an agreement to collaborate on the establishment of the Qiddiya Sports Medical Centre in Riyadh, aimed at delivering specialized sports medicine services in line with international standards. The agreement was signed at the headquarters of KFSH in Riyadh, with H.E. Dr. Majid Alfayyadh, Chief Executive Officer of KFSH, and Mr. Abdullah AlDawood, Board Member and Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company, representing the two parties, in the presence of senior officials from both sides. The agreement aims to develop a dedicated centre providing sports medicine services…
Abu Dhabi — e& UAE, the flagship telecom arm of global technology company e&, and TM Forum have announced the launch of a landmark whitepaper titled “Building a Future-Ready Ecosystem: e& UAE’s Adoption of TM Forum Open Digital Architecture.” The paper highlights e& UAE’s successful operationalisation of TM Forum’s Open Digital Architecture (ODA) and achievement of the prestigious Running on ODA (RoODA) status, TM Forum’s formal recognition that Open Digital Architecture is deployed and operating in live production environments. The whitepaper provides a comprehensive blueprint of how e& UAE transformed its technology landscape from legacy monolithic systems into a modular, cloud-native,…