Tesla

Tesla starts laying off employees at Nevada plant

US labour law requires companies with 100 or more employees to notify authorities ahead of mass layoffs

esports and gaming conference Image GettyImages

Transforming the gaming landscape with Web3.0

Dubai’s push to build a global esports and gaming ecosystem is encouraging home grown brands such as GameCentric to offer innovative platforms that bring a diverse audience under one umbrella

Rua Al Madinah (Image: Supplied by Accor)

Accor’s Q1 sales rise 8% as Middle-East, Africa and Asia Pacific demand picks up

The increase was more pronounced in midscale, upscale and economy hotels in the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions

Here’s what you need to know about the US bird flu outbreak

Bird flu, officially called highly pathogenic avian influenza, has increasingly spread to mammals, raising concern of human transmission

Statevolt

Statevolt’s Lars Carlstrom on the upcoming $3.2bn battery gigafactory in UAE

Statevolt will occupy a site spanning 60 hectares in RAKEZ, and is anticipated to generate up to 2,500 direct jobs

DRIFTx: Abu Dhabi, Joby partner to set up, scale electric air taxi ecosystem

DRIFTx: Abu Dhabi, Joby partner to set up, scale electric air taxi ecosystem

The agreement aims to develop a full air taxi ecosystem, including training, infrastructure and flight operations, as well as a manufacturing presence in Abu Dhabi

Red Sea

Red Sea tensions: Another cargo ship targeted in Gulf of Aden

The tensions in the region have led to a sharp drop in commercial vessel voyages through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

Archer, ADIO to accelerate air taxi operations in UAE

Air taxi maker Archer, ADIO to accelerate air taxi operations in UAE

Archer seeks to transform urban travel, replacing 60- to 90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10- to 20-minute electric air taxi flights

Bayanat and Yahsat sign merger to form SPACE42

SPACE42: Bayanat, Yahsat shareholders green-light merger

By leveraging the combined strengths of Bayanat and Yahsat, SPACE42 aims to pioneer innovative solutions that merge satellite communications, geospatial intelligence, and AI

food delivery

Meituan in Saudi Arabia: Chinese food delivery platform looks at expansion

Meituan is hiring under KeeTa, the brand name it uses for food delivery operations in Hong Kong

Aramco, FIFA sign four-year global partnership

Aramco signs multi-year global partnership deal with FIFA

The four-year deal will see Aramco become a worldwide partner of FIFA, including in major tournaments such as the World Cup 2026

ADIO and AD Mobility unveil vertiport at DRIFTx_1 image supplied

Abu Dhabi unveils first operational vertiport for eVTOLs

The temporary vertiport facility aligns with Abu Dhabi’s strategy to deliver one of the world’s most advanced sectors for eVTOLs by 2026

ADIO and Regent join hands to support development and manufacture of electric seagliders Image courtesy REGENT

DRIFTx: ADIO, Regent partner to develop electric seagliders for coastal transport

The seagliders will serve routes of up to 180 miles (300km) with existing battery technology and up to 500 miles (800 km) with next-gen batteries

Schengen visa process to go digital from 2028

Major Schengen visa update for Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and India

Under the new arrangement, nationals of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Bahrain will be eligible for five-year multiple-entry Schengen visas

Render of Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Trojena

Marriott to open Ritz-Carlton Reserve in NEOM’s Trojena

Ritz-Carlton Reserve has only six properties in destinations including Thailand, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, and Mexico

Saudi Arabia hotels sector set for growth -GettyImages-1464744716-1

Saudi Arabia: 320,000 new hotel rooms expected by 2030, reveals report

A development cost of $37.8bn is expected by 2030 toward infrastructure, tourism transformation and real estate, according to industry data released ahead of the Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia

investcorp golden horizon

Investcorp announces $1bn GCC fund along with China’s CIC

This initiative, announced at Investcorp’s China-GCC Investment and Business Cooperation Summit, aims to attract institutional and private investors from the GCC, along with CIC

Egypt-ras al-hekma-UN-HABITAT

Egypt approves establishing special free zone in Ras al-Hekma

Egypt has moved ahead with administrative realignment of the region after the country signed a $35bn FDI deal with the UAE’s ADQ earlier this year

Tesla

Tesla promises ‘more affordable’ cars but India, Mexico plants on hold

The automaker said its plan for new models would let it better control capital expenditures during “uncertain times”

etihad a380 to fly to paris image Etihad airways copy

Etihad to commence A380 service to Paris later this year

With the announcement, the French capital becomes the third destination to which Etihad’s A380s operate

uae-kenya talks

UAE-Kenya deals: ADQ to establish investment framework

In 2023, non-oil trade between the UAE and Kenya rose by 26.4 percent year-on-year to $3.1bn

Miahona to float IPO on Saudi Exchange GettyImages-1179702144-e1705645076672

Saudi IPO: Miahona Company to list shares on Tadawul

Miahona was established as one of the first proponents of the public-private partnership (PPP) model in the kingdom

UAE and Kenya sign investment Mou to boost digital cooperation

UAE, Kenya join hands to boost digital cooperation

Kenya has become increasingly attractive to data centre providers, driven by growing demand for cloud services, improved business conditions

ADQ, QIA to boost tech driven companies and economy through the Jasoor Fund

UAE-Oman: ADQ, QIA launch $180m tech-focused fund

In 2022, ADQ and OIA identified investment opportunities worth over $bn in key sectors of Oman’s economy

ADQ acquires key stake in Australia's Plenary Group

Abu Dhabi’s ADQ acquires key stake in Australia’s Plenary Group

Set up in 2004, Plenary has a portfolio of 21 assets under management valued at over $25bn across Australia and the Middle East

ROSHN launches ALDANAH

Saudi’s ROSHN unveils new residential project in Greater Dammam

Aldanah will feature more than 2,500 homes, spread across 1.7 million square metres, catering to nearly 10,000 residents

UAE-Oman railway Hafeet Rail enters implementation phase

UAE-Oman railway Hafeet Rail enters implementation phase

The passenger train will reach a top speed of 200 km per hour covering the distance between Sohar and Abu Dhabi in 100 minutes

food

What food startups should focus on to succeed in the GCC: Key insights

WOK BOYZ CEO Gaurav Sabharwal provides insights into building and scaling a food startup in the GCC market

banking

Revolutionising banking-as-a-service: BKN301 on bridging financial markets across Europe and MENA

Stiven Muccioli’s insights shed light on BKN301’s mission to revolutionise banking services, underscoring the importance of innovation, adaptability, and cybersecurity in the ever-evolving fintech landscape

Etihad launches A380 service to New York

Etihad Airways debuts A380 service to New York

 The addition of the A380 service demonstrates Etihad’s strategy to meet the burgeoning demand and expand its network in the US