Economy Dubai unveils $56bn plan to improve standard of living Dubai has unveiled a AED208 billion ($56.64 billion) ten-year strategy aimed at making the city one of the top three in the world for standard of living. There are also plans to double the number of Emirati families and triple the number of citizens working in the private sector by 2033. “We aim to double […] January 5, 2024
Media & Advertising Coming to a movie theatre near you … AlUla It would make the perfect setting for Star Wars or Indiana Jones, but AlUla is developing production facilities that will expand its reach beyond sci-fi and desert adventure movies, making it one of the region’s prime locations for international shoots. The tourist location in northwest Saudi Arabia is fast developing into a mini-city with an […] December 24, 2023
Opinion Real Estate The dark side of life in Los Angeles The economic record of California will come under global scrutiny December 22, 2023
People & Lifestyle Saudi art blooms with the kingdom’s transformation The arts have undergone profound changes in Saudi Arabia over the past decade as the country has enacted wide-ranging reforms, according to a leading Saudi artist. Once silenced by religious forces and a conservative culture, female artists in particular have come to the fore through a raft of government and private sector initiatives to encourage […] December 18, 2023
People & Lifestyle Gwyneth Paltrow slides door on films to focus on Goop Gwyneth Paltrow has all but closed the door on her acting career, giving her more time to focus on her wellness brand Goop and to explore new countries such as Saudi Arabia, the Oscar winner told an audience at the Red Sea International Film Festival. “For the foreseeable future I’m at Goop. I have a […] December 18, 2023
Food & Drink Think Jeddah, think fish For generations of pilgrims travelling to Mecca and Medina, the thriving port city of Jeddah on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast is known as the gateway to the two Holy Mosques. With protein and nutrition comes strength and in the harsh conditions of Arabia it’s the fittest and strongest who thrive. No wonder then that […] December 18, 2023
Lifestyle Living like the Jetsons: Middle East homes go smart It has been six decades since the American animated sitcom The Jetsons offered a glimpse into a future filled with robots and smart kitchens. Now reality seems poised to beat this once-fanciful vision. Today, voice-activated assistants seamlessly control everything – from adjusting lights and thermostats to automating tasks such as unlocking doors or turning on […] December 17, 2023
Opinion Employment Get creative to lure workers back to the office The look and feel of agency offices can help define the work that comes out of them December 11, 2023
Tech No need to fear AI, says Indian music legend New technologies such as artificial intelligence should be embraced, famed Indian composer A.R. Rahman said at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah this week. “It’s not new… human beings are constantly evolving, they will rise up to something that they can do.” AI has become something of a bogeyman in people’s minds, but […] December 8, 2023
Opinion Employment Clocking off: the pros and cons of a four-day week A shorter working week can boost productivity but will companies take the plunge? December 7, 2023
People & Lifestyle Saudi Arabia wins bid to host World Expo 2030 Saudi Arabia will host the World Expo 2030 in Riyadh, surpassing bids from Busan in South Korea and the Italian city of Rome. A total of 119 countries endorsed Riyadh’s candidacy during the 173rd general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) held in Paris, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. The World Expo […] November 29, 2023
Tourism Ancient rock art to draw modern tourists to Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is funding research and excavation of the ancient rock art in its caves and mountains as it seeks to develop cultural tourism, an archaeologist has told AGBI. Dr Majeed Khan, who acts as a consultant to the kingdom’s Ministry of Culture, has been researching its petroglyphs – images carved out of rock thousands […] November 12, 2023
People & Lifestyle The Gulf has a rich musical heritage – it needs an audience When the Saudi National Orchestra made its New York debut in September, a centrepiece of the 80-member ensemble was a large green oil barrel. While serving as a wry reference to the US-Saudi special relationship, it also made a serviceable drum. For an evening, the pounding rhythms of majrour, samri and liwa brought the traditional […] November 5, 2023
Video length: 07:13 Opinion Lifestyle Hold on to your wallet – the Aston Martin bicycle is here The so-called hyperbike is just the thing to be parked next to your supercar November 3, 2023
People & Lifestyle Hollywood mogul is AlUla’s hero in Saudi movie twist The ancient city of AlUla in Saudi Arabia has turned to a former Warner Bros movie mogul to further its ambitions to become a world-class hub for the film and creative industry. Film AlUla, the Royal Commission for AlUla’s film agency, has signed a three-year deal with Stampede Ventures, led by founder and CEO Greg […] October 29, 2023
Construction Aldar to break ground on first Dubai project next year Aldar Properties, Abu Dhabi’s largest developer, has launched its first Dubai residential project, Haven, with construction of the first phase starting in the second quarter of 2024. The project will be developed with its joint venture partner Dubai Holding on the land opposite Al Habtoor Polo Resort in Dubailand. Aldar’s Haven will be built in […] October 27, 2023
Leisure & Hospitality Five completes $322m deal for Ibiza hotel business Five Holdings, the UAE real estate and hospitality group, has completed the purchase of the hotel and nightclub businesses of Ibiza’s Pacha Group in a deal worth $322 million. The acquisition was confirmed in a note on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). It includes the Pacha Nightclub, Destino Pacha Hotel, El Hotel Pacha, Toy Room […] October 13, 2023
Analysis Tech Gulf accelerates longevity push with AI and healthtech The Gulf is establishing itself at the forefront of the world’s fast-growing “longevity” sector. Saudi Arabia and the UAE in particular are making strides in the global race to prolong life, investing in health technologies that can predict medical risk and help develop medicines. They are investing in healthtech, building laboratories to support research and […] October 12, 2023
Real Estate Super-rich choosing Dubai for second homes Dubai has become a second-home paradise for the super-rich as the number of wealthy residents in the emirate continues to soar. The city boasts more than 500 centi-millionaire second-home owners. It features ahead of locations such as Palm Beach and West Palm Beach in the US, Sydney, Nice and Napa, according to the latest wealth […] October 11, 2023
Analysis Lifestyle Orientalist art defies fashions A girl in a yellow dress pouts as she adjusts her headscarf in the mirror. It might be the portrait of a young TikToker preparing for an evening out were it not for her opulent Ottoman surroundings. A Look in the Mirror by the Turkish painter Osman Hamdi Bey (1842-1910) sold for €1 million ($1.05 […] October 1, 2023
Real Estate Dubai developer releases first Palm Jebel Ali villas The first villas available to buy on Dubai’s billion-dollar Palm Jebel Ali man-made island project have been released by developer Nakheel. The 13.4 sq km mega-project – twice the size of Palm Jumeirah – will add 91km of coastline to the emirate and provide homes for about 35,000 families. The inaugural properties for purchase are […] September 18, 2023
Opinion Lifestyle Unpacking the allure of Dubai’s branded residences Buyers can expect to pay 60 per cent more for branded homes September 18, 2023
