Lifestyle Bahrain pearls given royal stamp of approval The UK’s Princess of Wales put Bahraini pearls back in the spotlight this week when she wore a pair of earrings made from the precious stone for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. Her timing was perfect as Bahrain aims to re-establish itself as the global centre for sustainable pearls. Catherine, Prince William’s wife, sported […] September 21, 2022
Arab Youth Survey 2022 Arab youth ‘trust Russia and China more than UK and US’ Arab youth see the United States and the United Kingdom as bigger enemies than Russia and China, with the majority blaming the US and NATO for the war in Ukraine, a new survey has said. Close to three quarters (72 percent) of young Arabs describe Russia as either a strong ally or somewhat of an […] September 21, 2022
Lifestyle Saudi crown prince will not attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is not expected to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral on Monday, Reuters reported, citing a source at the British foreign office. The Gulf state will be represented by Prince Turki bin Mohammed al Saud, the source added. Prince Turki is a minister of state and a member of the […] September 19, 2022
Lifestyle Middle East royals and leaders to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral Royals and leaders from the Middle East will attend Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral at London’s Westminster Abbey on Monday (September 19). Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died on September 8 aged 96. Although no official guest list has been issued, media reports suggested invitations have been sent. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is likely to […] September 18, 2022
60 seconds with Lifestyle Medhat Karam, ArpuPlus Medhat Karam is CEO and managing director of ArpuPlus, a telecommunications service which provides entertainment and communication solutions across the Middle East and North Africa. ArpuPlus was set up in 2003 and is a subsidiary of A15, a Cairo-based venture capital firm. What does your company do? Entertainment-wise, we specialise in affordable music, video, gaming, […] September 16, 2022
Opinion Employment If you really want the job, lock down your socials An ill-advised Instagram video or tweet might be the difference between getting an interview and not. Don't give bosses an excuse not to hire you September 14, 2022
Analysis Lifestyle Charles III will build on his mother’s close ties to the Gulf While the great republics of the United States and France, and the governments of China and Russia, grapple for influence in the Arabian peninsula, Britain’s constitutional monarchy has often provided an edge in fostering relations with the Gulf states. Much of the Arab world reacted with deep sadness to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. […] September 12, 2022
Lifestyle Marvel anti-heroes steal the show at Disney’s D23 fan convention The anti-heroes stepped into the spotlight Saturday at Walt Disney Co’s D23 Expo fan convention, as Marvel Entertainment announced casting for “Thunderbolts.” Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige announced that actors Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour and Julia Louis Dreyfus will join the cast of the new film, whose team of villains is akin to […] September 12, 2022
Lifestyle Middle East royals and leaders pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II Middle East royals and leaders have paid tribute to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday 8 September at the age of 96. Her eldest son Charles, the 73-year-old former Prince of Wales, was immediately declared King Charles III following the announcement of her death by Buckingham Palace. The world mourns Queen Elizabeth II: […] September 9, 2022
Saudi bets $80m in gaming sector push Saudi Arabia’s National Development Fund (NDF) has announced a SR300 million ($80m) fund to help develop the gaming and e-sports sector in the kingdom. The budget aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global gaming hub, increasing the sector’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) by providing career paths and new job opportunities as […] September 8, 2022
Lifestyle Justin Bieber puts world tour on hold, including Dubai concerts Pop singer Justin Bieber’s Dubai concerts next month look unlikely to go ahead after the Canadian performer announced he was taking a break from his rescheduled Justice World Tour due to mental and physical health issues. Although no official statement has been issued yet on the Dubai shows, the two concerts were scheduled on October […] September 7, 2022
Lifestyle Music, acting and activism: Life Lessons with Stevie Van Zandt It is rare enough to have one career that becomes part of a pop-culture phenomenon. Stevie Van Zandt has two. As a musician, including as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, and as an actor with “The Sopranos,” Van Zandt has bottled lightning twice. For the latest in Reuters’ Life Lessons series, Van […] September 6, 2022
Amazon says ‘Lord of the Rings’ prequel sets viewership record Amazon.com Inc said on Saturday that its pricey “Lord of the Rings” prequel series was watched by more than 25 million viewers around the world on its first day, a record debut for a Prime Video series. “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” premiered on Amazon’s streaming service on Friday in more […] September 4, 2022
Lifestyle Banks battle back-to-office fatigue with ping pong, indoor gardens Finance bosses are offering more incentives, including free meals, ping pong and “contemplative spaces” as they battle to get staff back to the office, while concerns about the cost and value of commuting to work weigh on attendance worldwide. Hybrid working policies were introduced across the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, but data seen by […] September 2, 2022
Lifestyle Palestinian comedians strike a chord in occupied cities Palestinian American Amer Zahr is on a mission to heal through humour. In 2015 he started bringing fellow Arab American comedians from the United States to perform stand-up across occupied Palestinian cities including Nablus, Bethlehem and Ramallah. Seven years later, Zahr’s now annual Palestine Comedy Festival is still going strong. “Laughter is therapy,” he told […] September 1, 2022
Lifestyle Gulf’s first weekly lottery eyes expansion as revenues rise Sales for Mahzooz, the Gulf’s first weekly lottery, have surged since the game’s format was tweaked to make it easier to win, its operator has told AGBI. The change last November was prompted by the players themselves, according to Farid Samji, co-CEO of Ewings, the Dubai-based company that runs the game. “The feedback we got, […] August 31, 2022
Lifestyle Last Soviet leader Gorbachev, who ended Cold War, dies at 91 Mikhail Gorbachev, who ended the Cold War without bloodshed but failed to prevent the collapse of the Soviet Union, died on Tuesday at the age of 91, hospital officials in Moscow said. Gorbachev, the last Soviet president, forged arms reduction deals with the United States and partnerships with Western powers to remove the Iron Curtain […] August 31, 2022
Parts of Expo City Dubai to open to visitors from September 1 Fans of Expo 2020 Dubai will be able to visit some of the event’s key features and pavilions from September 1, a month ahead of the official reopening of the site as a business and entertainment hub. The Government of Dubai Media Office announced on Monday that two of the site’s most popular pavilions, Alif […] August 29, 2022
Long read Retail From Chauf-fur to diamond dog collars, UAE pet sector booms Whether it’s on a doggie cut and blow dry, a luxury kennel stay, or the finest food and bling accessories, UAE households spend nearly a quarter of a billion dollars on their four-legged friends every year. Market research firm Euromonitor International estimates that the UAE pet care industry will be valued at around AED854.4 million […] August 29, 2022
Lifestyle ‘House of the Dragon’ renewed for second season “House of the Dragon”, the highly anticipated “Game of Thrones” prequel, has been renewed for a second season after its first episode proved a hit. Based on George RR Martin’s “Fire & Blood”, the drama is set 200 years before the events that played out in “Game of Thrones” and focuses on how the House […] August 28, 2022
Chinese censors change ending of latest ‘Minions’ movie Censors have altered the ending of the animated film “Minions: The Rise of Gru” for its domestic release in China, social media users across the country noticed over the weekend. The editing is yet another example of Chinese authorities editing a Hollywood film to make sure on-screen criminals are punished – to the amusement or […] August 23, 2022
Anghami bets on Arabic music to deliver streaming growth Abu Dhabi-based streaming provider Anghami is betting on Arabic content to deliver future growth as it announced a 41 percent increase in subscribers in the first half of 2022. With just one percent of Anghami’s content being Arabic, it is one area that the company is looking to grow significantly, Elie Habib, chief technology officer […] August 17, 2022
