Author: Sam Allcock

Dubai Customs hosted a high-level delegation from the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation – Umm Al Quwain, led by Sheikh Mansour bin Ibrahim Al-Mualla, Executive Director of the Corporation, in a meeting aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation and institutional partnership between the two entities. The official visit was welcomed by His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Busenad, Director General of Dubai Customs, alongside several senior department executives. The two sides discussed key areas of joint collaboration, with a particular focus on sharing pioneering customs practices and enhancing the integration of services. Dr. Busenad praised the visit, describing it as a reflection…

Agility, a global leader in supply chain services and innovation, has reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to youth development by sponsoring the 10th edition of the KON Social Entrepreneurship Program. The initiative, launched at a special event hosted by LOYAC, celebrates a decade of inspiring the next generation of social change-makers in Kuwait. The five-week program will engage 60 students aged 12 to 16 in intensive, hands-on training that focuses on entrepreneurship, leadership, and social responsibility. Designed in collaboration with Babson College, a world-renowned institution in entrepreneurship education, the KON program equips students with essential business management skills through workshops, mentorship,…

Formula E is transforming how blind and visually impaired fans experience motorsport by launching a new AI-powered audio reporting service in partnership with Google Cloud. The initiative promises to make the excitement and drama of electric street racing more accessible than ever — especially to fans across the Middle East. Using advanced generative AI, the new feature delivers rich, descriptive audio summaries of every race in over 15 languages, including Arabic, allowing fans to tune into the energy, strategy, and emotion of the E-Prix in a way that suits their needs. The project was unveiled at the Google Cloud Summit…

The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has inaugurated its newly transformed Tier 3 certified Data Centre, marking a major digital milestone and setting a national benchmark in infrastructure excellence. The facility positions NBB as the first and only bank in Bahrain to design, construct, and operate its own data centre that meets the Uptime Institute’s Tier 3 certification, a globally recognised standard for data centre reliability. The inauguration follows an 18-month infrastructure transformation project, carried out with the support of the Central Bank of Bahrain. The upgrade involved a comprehensive overhaul of legacy systems and eight separate migration phases, enabling…

Samsung Electronics has officially unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip7, its most compact and intelligent foldable phone yet, packed with multimodal AI features, a brighter and larger FlexWindow, and enhanced durability — all designed to fit comfortably in the pocket. The Galaxy Z Flip7 introduces a redesigned 4.1-inch edge-to-edge Super AMOLED FlexWindow, enabling users to interact with their device more efficiently without unfolding it. With a peak brightness of 2,600 nits and a 120Hz refresh rate, the screen remains vivid and smooth even in direct sunlight, thanks to Vision Booster technology. TM Roh, President and Acting Head of the Device eXperience…

The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai has celebrated a significant milestone, welcoming its two millionth visitor this week. The achievement was marked with a special event inspired by Japan’s beloved Tanabata Festival, reinforcing the Pavilion’s dedication to cultural exchange and collective aspirations. The celebration brought together thousands of visitors who participated in the Tanabata tradition by writing their wishes for the future on Tanzaku cards—colourful paper strips—and hanging them on palm fronds, symbolising the UAE’s national tree. The gesture paid homage to the traditional Japanese festival, where wishes are typically hung on bamboo branches with the hope they…

BlueFive Capital, a newly established investment platform from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, has successfully closed its Founding Shareholders Circle investment round, securing a valuation of $120 million. The round was oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor confidence in the company’s ambitious global strategy. Formed at the end of 2024, BlueFive Capital has already emerged as one of the fastest-growing asset managers in the region, with over $650 million in assets under management (AUM). Its leadership and investor base span key financial centres including London, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, Singapore, and Beijing. The company is led by Founder and…

Abu Dhabi University (ADU) has announced the launch of 21 new academic programs for the Fall 2025–2026 intake, significantly expanding its educational offering to a total of 65 accredited programs. The expansion spans undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels, and is designed to meet the growing demand for talent in AI, cybersecurity, healthcare, education, and law. All new programs have received approval from the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), and are aligned with national goals to foster a diversified, knowledge-based economy in the UAE. In a statement, Professor Ghassan Aouad, Chancellor of ADU, said: “With our students being at the core…

Thales has achieved a key milestone in the rapidly expanding Internet of Things (IoT) landscape by earning the GSMA Security Assurance (eSA) certification for its latest eSIM solution, designed to comply with the SGP.32 IoT standard. With over 5.8 billion IoT cellular connections projected globally by 2030 (according to GSMA Intelligence), the need for secure, scalable and easily deployable connectivity has become critical. Thales’ newly certified solution is tailored to meet these demands, enabling seamless remote activation of eSIM-enabled IoT devices — without the need for physical SIM cards or smartphone intermediaries. The SGP.32 standard, developed by GSMA, introduces a…

The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa has unveiled its newly transformed Beach Villas with Pool, marking a significant upgrade in design, space, and guest experience. Replacing the former Beach Bungalows, these fresh beachfront retreats now offer twice as much outdoor space, a larger pool, and a light, breezy design inspired by the colours of the sea and sun. Designed with couples, honeymooners, and young families in mind, each Beach Villa offers uninterrupted ocean and lagoon views, alongside a tranquil layout that blends indoor and outdoor living. Accommodating up to three adults or two adults and two children (under…