Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has announced a new mandatory home delivery permit service for both food and non-food delivery businesses, set to take effect on July 1, 2025. This initiative is designed to enhance consumer confidence and improve the overall quality of life within the Kingdom. The permits will be issued through...
Saudi Arabia has launched an ambitious tourism strategy aimed at establishing the Kingdom as a leading global travel destination, particularly for Asia-Pacific travelers. The strategy focuses on providing rich cultural experiences, regenerative luxury, and accessible travel, all while emphasizing innovation, sustainability, and the empowerment of women travelers. This initiative is part of the country’s efforts...
Saudi Arabia is preparing to welcome over one million haj pilgrims this year, despite the extreme summer heat that has historically posed significant risks in Mecca. The city is notorious for its intense desert temperatures, which have previously led to deadly incidents. To protect the large influx of worshippers, the authorities have combined traditional cooling...
UAE-based fintech firm Qashio has successfully raised US$19.8 million in a funding round that combined both equity and non-equity financing. This funding round was led by existing investor Rocketship VC and saw participation from MoreThan Capital, regional banks, and family offices. Founded in 2021, Qashio offers a spend management platform designed to help businesses monitor...
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Jordan have significantly boosted the Middle East tourism industry, achieving a remarkable increase of over 44% in international arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter of 2025. Despite this impressive surge, the year-over-year growth appeared modest at just 1%. This paradox raises questions about...
Saudi Arabia is actively leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to bolster its cybersecurity efforts as generative AI gives rise to a new generation of cybercrime that is more sophisticated and challenging to detect. The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) in Saudi Arabia plays a pivotal role in this endeavor, utilizing its Cybersecurity Toolkit to protect critical infrastructure...
Hotel101 Global, a subsidiary of DoubleDragon Corp. based in Singapore, has announced a significant expansion in Saudi Arabia, with plans to develop 10 000 standardized hotel rooms. This ambitious project is valued at $2.5 billion, roughly equivalent to ₱137.5 billion, and marks a transformative move in the hospitality sector, aiming to elevate the Kingdom’s tourism...
UAE-based GEMS Education is expanding its footprint in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain by partnering with Spark Education Platform (SEP). This expansion follows the signing of an intellectual property agreement by First School Management (FSM), the advisory arm of GEMS Education. Through this partnership, GEMS Education will be introducing its brand to select schools managed by...
Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with the UK’s National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell in London on Wednesday to discuss the strategic partnership between their countries. The Saudi Press Agency reported that they reviewed the strong friendship and explored areas of cooperation. Credit: During their discussions, Prince Khalid and Powell talked about...
Saudi Arabia is working to boost the number of potential public offerings as part of its strategy to diversify its economy away from oil and enhance its financial sector. The country is focusing on attracting foreign investors through these efforts. Mohammed Al-Rumaih, the chief executive officer of the Saudi stock exchange, stated in an interview...