Author: Arabian Media staff

Image: Supplied UAE-based telecom provider du has become the country’s first telecom operator, and only the second in the GCC, to achieve ISO 20400 certification, a globally recognised standard for sustainable procurement. The certification marks a key milestone in du’s commitment to embedding environmental, social, and economic sustainability throughout its supply chain and procurement operations. It also reinforces alignment with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 initiative and the broader push for responsible sourcing practices across industries. “Achieving the ISO 20400 certification is a milestone in our journey for excellence in sustainability and our commitment to responsible operations that extend…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Shares in Barratt Redrow fell more than 10 per cent on Tuesday morning after the UK housebuilder said it had sold fewer homes than forecast in the year to the end of June. The company, one of Britain’s biggest housebuilders, said it had sold 16,565 homes in the year, down from its April guidance of between 16,800 and 17,200.The company said the shortfall was “mainly due to the impact of fewer international and investor completions than expected” in its London business. Demand had…

Image: Getty Images Diriyah Company has awarded a SAR2.249bn ($600m) contract to Salini Saudi Arabia, a subsidiary of the Webuild Group, for the construction of Diriyah Square — a flagship retail district at the heart of the Diriyah masterplan. Part of the wider “City of Earth” vision, Diriyah Square will feature over 400 retail, dining, and leisure brands within a pedestrian-focused setting that blends modern experiences with Najdi-inspired architecture. The project aims to redefine the retail and lifestyle offering in Diriyah and, more broadly, in Riyadh. The contract marks Salini’s third major engagement on the Diriyah Square development. The company…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Brussels plans to impose tariffs on Boeing aircraft, cars and bourbon as part of a proposal for further retaliation against €72bn of annual US imports if trade talks with Washington fail.The European Commission, which runs EU trade policy, drew up the list — seen by the Financial Times — after US President Donald Trump over the weekend declared he would levy 30 per cent so-called “reciprocal” tariffs on the bloc on August 1.The total amount is lower than an earlier list of…

Image: Supplied As social media becomes an integral part of family life, TikTok is stepping up its efforts to promote digital literacy and wellbeing across generations. In this interview, Ilunga Mpyana, head of Public Policy Programmes for the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Pakistan and South Asia at TikTok, discusses the platform’s Family Academy initiative, how it’s helping parents and teens navigate the digital world together, and why responsible digital citizenship is a shared responsibility. What inspired the launch of the Family Academy initiative, and how does it reflect the platform’s long-term vision for digital wellbeing? TikTok is committed to ensuring…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.The Bank of England has announced a one-year delay to key provisions in the post-financial crisis banking reforms as part of a raft of changes designed to ease capital requirements for UK lenders.The central bank said on Tuesday it would delay from 2027 to 2028 the application of the part of the so-called Basel III package that applies to the wholesale trading activities of investment banks, to allow more time for the US to decide how to apply them.The delay, which comes…

Image credit: WAM/Website Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has announced seven new destinations as part of its continuing strategy to expand point-to-point connectivity and bring more travellers directly to Abu Dhabi. The new routes include Almaty (Kazakhstan), Baku (Azerbaijan), Bucharest (Romania), Madinah (Saudi Arabia), Tbilisi (Georgia), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), and Yerevan (Armenia)—each chosen for its cultural significance, tourism potential, and growing demand for travel. Read-Etihad launches flight to Atlanta, US; other route announcements Flights to these destinations will go on sale in the coming days, with services beginning in March 2026. However, Madinah will launch earlier, in November…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Renewable energy myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.India said it had reached its Paris Agreement target of 50 per cent of non-fossil fuel power capacity five years ahead of its 2030 pledge, even as the world’s most populous country and third-biggest carbon emitter remains heavily reliant on coal for power generation.The milestone indicates the concerted push by the Modi government for new clean power installation, despite the large gap between installed capacity and power generation.Pralhad Joshi, India’s new and renewable energy minister, made the announcement in a social media…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Thames Water has estimated that it will take at least a decade to turn around the heavily indebted utility and reported a full-year pre-tax loss of £1.65bn.Thames, which has been battling to secure new investment to avert nationalisation, said in a statement on Tuesday that its “current gearing is too high” but that it is making progress on efforts to recapitalise the business. “This will come with a requirement to reset the regulatory landscape and acknowledge it will take at least a decade…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Mining group Rio Tinto has named Simon Trott as chief executive following the surprise exit of Jakob Stausholm in May.The FTSE 100 company said on Tuesday that Trott, who heads Rio’s iron ore business, will take the top job on August 25.Dominic Barton, the chair of Rio, said: “Simon and the Board are aligned that Rio Tinto’s next phase is about unlocking significant value for shareholders from our portfolio, driven by operational performance, and cost and financial discipline.”This is a developing story…