RIYADH: When picking up a pencil or paintbrush to create an artwork, self-taught Saudi artist Dana Almasoud channels her inner child. “As soon as a child picks up a pencil, they attempt to draw or capture a sense of what they see through their eyes on paper. The majority of them stop at some point … Read more
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani top leaders, including the prime minister, president and foreign minister, said on Tuesday the ongoing visit of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to Islamabad would help transform a longstanding friendship between the two nations into a strategic and commercial partnership. Prince Faisal arrived in Pakistan on Monday on a two-day visit … Read more
CAIRO, Egypt: Compared with other ongoing conflicts, Sudan’s crisis, now entering its second year, is a forgotten calamity, overshadowed by the more geopolitically significant wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. The power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces under Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by Mohammed Dagalo has more … Read more
Startup Wrap – Regional venture capital activity flourishes in first week of Ramadan CAIRO: Startups across the Middle East and North Africa experienced a surge in funding, bucking the trend of the typically slower business pace during the holy month. Contrary to expectations, the region’s venture landscape saw an impressive array of deals, indicating robust … Read more
DUBAI: Former champion Andy Murray dug deep to edge out Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 in front of a jubilant center court crowd at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Monday night. The come-from-behind victory saw Murray — who claimed a solitary Dubai title in 2017 — register a landmark 500th career win … Read more
JEDDAH: Al-Balad, Jeddah’s historic district, was alight with youthful energy as Vogue Arabia magazine’s first block party, Hai Vogue, came to town. On Feb. 8 and Feb. 9, the space was filled until the small hours with mini activations and expertly curated spaces showcasing talks, performances and, of course, the big reveal of the February … Read more
DUBAI: Spain’s top diplomat has expressed his desire to grow the country’s already-strong ties with Saudi Arabia into a strategic partnership, eyeing developments in renewable energies. Jose Manuel Albares, minister of foreign affairs, European Union, and cooperation, said Spain’s collaborations with the Saudi government had already shown that the two work “very well” together. “(Now) we … Read more
RIYADH: Multiple agreements were signed during the second day of the Public Investment Fund’s Private Sector Forum to enhance the local economy, tourism, and telecommunication sectors. These deals included contracts awarded by King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Co., which is wholly owned by PIF, the soverign wealth fund’s subsidary Asfar. stc Group also signed … Read more
RIYADH: Saudi family businesses, pivotal in driving the Kingdom’s economy with around 95 percent ownership, are set to secure additional funding and governance support through newly-inked agreements. The deals will facilitate increased collaboration between the family business community, the Public Investment Fund, and the Center for Governance, allowing for enhanced support and growth opportunities. In an interview … Read more
RIYADH: Topian, the NEOM food company working to future-proof food systems, marked the first day of the Saudi International Marine Exhibition and Conference with three strategic agreements, aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in sustainable aquaculture. On Sunday Topian signed a key agreement with the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program … Read more