Author: Arabian Media staff

Image credit: Getty Images The new school year in 11 regions of Saudi Arabia is scheduled to begin on August 24, according to the Ministry of Education. On Tuesday, August 12, the educational supervisors and administrative staff returned to schools across the country, excluding Makkah and Madinah, to begin early preparations for the academic year. Read-Sharjah’s 2025-2026 school year: Changes that parents should know about Teachers in these 11 regions are due to return on Sunday, August 17, giving them a full week to get classrooms and lessons ready. However, in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif, both…

Image: Supplied Taraf, the real estate arm of UAE investment holding group Yas Holding, has officially commenced construction on KARL LAGERFELD VILLAS, marking the brand’s first residential project in the Middle East. The development, located in the heart of Meydan and overlooking Dubai’s lagoons, will feature 51 signature villas designed to reflect the Parisian style of the late fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by senior representatives from Taraf, design and construction partners including RSP Architects and Dar Al Handasah, as well as enabling contractor Pinnacle and infrastructure contractor Dar Alwad. KARL LAGERFELD VILLAS: Brand’s fourth residential…

Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes The Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) asset management industry grew to $2.2tn in assets under management (AuM) in 2024, representing a 9 per cent increase from the previous year, according to Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) 23rd Global Asset Management report, titled From Recovery to Reinvention. The report highlights Saudi Arabia and the UAE as the principal contributors to retail mutual fund growth, while Abu Dhabi and Kuwait’s sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) manage the largest volumes of assets in the region. Lukasz Rey, MD and partner and Middle East head of Financial Institutions at BCG, said:…

Muhammed Yesilhard/Image: Supplied EverGive, the organisation pioneering a Bitcoin Reserve to provide sustainable, long-term charitable funding, has appointed co-founder Muhammed Yesilhark as president. An experienced investor and digital assets expert, Yesilhark has been instrumental in shaping EverGive’s mission to free charitable funding from the constraints of high time preference and misaligned incentives. In his new role, Yesilhark will oversee strategy for EverGive’s Bitcoin Reserve – currently valued at £1.55m ($2m) – with the goal of surpassing £10m ($13m) by the end of 2025. His remit includes guiding investment decisions, forging strategic partnerships, and ensuring the reserve delivers maximum long-term impact…

Image: Supplied Dubai-based fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate, Apparel Group has inked a strategic partnership between its flagship loyalty programme, Club Apparel, and PRYPCO Blocks, the Dubai-based fractional real estate ownership platform. The collaboration introduces Spend to Invest, a programme enabling shoppers to convert everyday purchases into steps toward property ownership. Club Apparel, which has grown to nearly four million members in the UAE, has traditionally offered points, personalised rewards, exclusive experiences, and access to a portfolio of fashion, footwear, beauty, and lifestyle brands. Under the new initiative, members can use points earned through purchases to acquire a share in…

Image credit: Getty Images The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched a new toll-free cloud call service (8001111935) to guide Umrah pilgrims during their visit to the Prophet’s Mosque. This initiative is part of broader efforts to elevate the spiritual and logistical experience of pilgrims in Madinah, a Saudi Press Agency report said. Read-Saudi Arabia: How many have arrived for Umrah since June 12? The new service, introduced through the Scientific and Guidance Affairs Agency, includes the deployment of 30 direct phone guidance points throughout the mosque. These stations…

Image: Getty Images/ For illustrative purposes Dubai Municipality has rolled out a new smart application, Eltizam, designed to give selected government officials the power to detect and record public cleanliness violations, part of the city’s push to maintain its position as the world’s cleanest city. The app grants judicial officer status to authorised personnel, enabling them to take photos, tag locations automatically and add notes when documenting breaches of regulations. The initiative targets offences, from spitting in public areas and improper disposal of chewing gum to dumping waste in the sea and lighting fires in unauthorised places. A milestone in…

Dining and flexible opening hours are reshaping how people in Dubai use shopping malls, according to a Nielsen-backed survey commissioned by Al Ghurair Centre that tracked the habits of more than 750 visitors. The study found that 97 per cent of respondents now cite food and beverage as a key reason for visiting malls, putting dining on par with retail and grocery shopping as a primary draw. The report said food halls offering varied cuisines and price points in shared social settings are gaining traction. Evenings remain peak hours, with 76 per cent of visits taking place between 5 pm…

du HQ/Image: Supplied du, UAE’s telecom and digital services provider, has announced the successful deployment of 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technology on its live network, making it the first operator in the region and positioning the UAE as the first country to roll out this next-generation capability. The milestone, achieved in collaboration with Huawei, underscores du’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge innovations that enhance customer experience and advance national digital ambitions. As part of its strategic roadmap, du first envisioned and initiated the concept of the 64T64R Dual Band Active Antenna Unit (AAU) operating in the 3.7 GHz (N78) and 2.6 GHz (N41)…

Amr Kazimi, manager, public sector practice, Arthur D. Little Middle East/Image: Supplied As Gulf nations accelerate their economic diversification efforts, nurturing and scaling research-driven start-ups has become a vital benchmark for regional innovation leadership. The Gulf’s innovation engines are gaining speed – but moving from momentum to measurable global leadership now depends on making sharper, more targeted interventions. From how early-stage capital is deployed to how talent is sourced and retained, the next phase of policy and investment will define the region’s long-term competitiveness. R&D start-ups play a pivotal role in creating transformative technologies and new market opportunities across sectors…