11 months ago
Many WhatsApp users in Saudi Arabia reported on Saturday that voice and video calling features had been activated after years of restrictions. However, there has been no official confirmation on whether this is a permanent change or a temporary test. The sudden activation has raised questions, particularly in the absence of an announcement from authorities. Technology expert Abdullah Al Subaie noted that this move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to enhance telecommunications and digital infrastructure, potentially improving communication for users. WhatsApp, one of the world’s most widely used messaging apps, introduced voice calls in 2015 and video calls in 2016. However, these features have been blocked in Saudi Arabia due to regulatory policies. While there have been occasional reports of brief activations, they were typically linked to technical updates rather than policy shifts. In March 2024, speculation arose that the ban had been lifted, but Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission denied the claims, reaffirming that WhatsApp calls remained inaccessible. If the current activation proves permanent, it would mark a significant improvement in connectivity within the kingdom.
12 months ago
There is a forecast that the cryptocurrency market will break away from the traditional ‘4-year cycle bull market’ and continue a long-term bull run. On the 1st, Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Bitwise, stated on his X (formerly Twitter), “The traditional 4-year cycle bull market of the cryptocurrency market is now over,” and “We have entered a new era.” He explained that the pattern of the market rising for three years and adjusting for one year is unlikely to continue, and a long-term bull market may persist. Hougan CIO said, “In the traditional 4-year cycle bull market, an adjustment should come next year, but this cycle is different,” adding, “The U.S. government’s cryptocurrency policy has changed. This policy change will not end in the short term but will form a new upward trend over a 10-year cycle.” There is also a forecast that the U.S. government’s pro-cryptocurrency stance will continue in the long term. Hougan predicted, “The cryptocurrency executive order announced by the U.S. government sets the growth of cryptocurrency as a national priority, establishes a new regulatory framework, and discusses the possibility of a cryptocurrency reserve plan,” adding, “This policy change will lead to the full-scale entry […]
12 months ago
Emirates has been ranked the best brand in the UAE for 2025, according to YouGov’s latest Best Brand Rankings. The airline secured the top position with a score of 60.4. YouGov’s rankings are based on the Index score from YouGov BrandIndex, which measures overall brand health in the UAE. The score is calculated by averaging six attributes: Impression, Quality, Value, Satisfaction, Recommend, and Reputation. Samsung, Almarai follow Emirates in UAE’s Best Brand rankings Samsung ranked second with a score of 56.7, followed by Almarai in third place with 56.0. adidas secured fourth place with 53.9, while WhatsApp rounded out the top five with 52.6. The list also included Samsung Galaxy (51.3), Apple (51.1), YouTube (51.0), and iPhone (50.1). Nike completed the top ten with a score of 49.5. YouGov also identified brands that showed the most improvement over the past year. Louvre Abu Dhabi recorded the highest increase in score with a +7.5 change. Noon Food ranked second among the top improvers with a +7.4 increase, followed by Al Baik at +6.7. Sea World Yas Island (+5.7) and Careem (+5.4) were also among the top five. Other brands in the top ten improvers included TikTok (+5.0), Vimto (+5.0), Talabat (+4.9), […]
12 months ago
TikTok has released its fifth annual What’s Next 2025 Trend Report, providing insights into the evolving preferences of its user community and the direction of marketing strategies on the platform. The report highlights three key trends: Brand Fusion, Identity Osmosis, and Creative Catalysts. The report states that two out of three TikTok users appreciate when brands collaborate with multiple creators. Additionally, 81 per cent of users say they have discovered new topics and trends on TikTok that they did not previously engage with, creating a globally connected and engaged community. General Manager, Global Business Solutions, Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Central and South Asia Shadi Kandil said: “In 2024, we saw brands push creative limits, lean into trends, and connect with their communities in powerful ways, but 2025 is set to take it even further. The creative storytelling opportunities on TikTok are endless, and this year brands and creators will come together to continue shaping culture, sparking fresh ideas, and accelerating business growth by tapping directly into what matters to the TikTok community.” What is brand fusion? Brand Fusion refers to a marketing approach where brands evolve to be more responsive and build lasting relationships with audiences. The report highlights the role of the platform’s Creator […]
12 months ago
The first batch of 80 Rafale fighter jets from France has been handed over to the UAE as part of a “historic deal” that reflects the strategic partnership between the countries, it was announced on Thursday. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) received the jets — which are among the most advanced in the world — from French company Dassault Aviation. This historic Rafale deal, worth 16.6 billion euros (about Dh63.5 billion), is one of the most prominent defence deals in the history of UAE-French relations. It includes the production of 80 fighter jets equipped with the latest defence technologies. The acquisition of this type of aircraft comes as part of a comprehensive plan to modernise the UAE’s defence capabilities, in line with security changes and challenges at the regional and international levels, the MOD said. The aircraft were received during an official ceremony in Paris, attended by Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, along with other top Emirati and French officials. “Our armed forces, thanks to the unlimited support of President Sheikh Mohamed, have achieved a qualitative leap in terms of equipment and modernisation, making them among the most efficient and prepared forces in the region and the world,” […]
12 months ago
Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) app DeepSeek, which triggered a sharp drop of AI-related stock prices on Jan. 27, is showing heavy bias in favor of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to an analysis by The Epoch Times. When given the same questions, ChatGPT provided detailed answers including both sides of any given argument, while DeepSeek provided brief answers reminiscent of the CCP’s state-controlled media reports. It outright refused to answer questions about human rights. Click here to read more
12 months ago
The drone delivery service is expected to kickstart in Saudi Arabia later this year after a US company has become the first such operator to obtain an official approval to deliver the service in the kingdom. Matternet, a California-based developer of commercial drone delivery systems for urban and suburban environments, said the company has been approved by Saudi authorities to operate its M2 drone there, becoming the first operator to receive such approval. The approval was granted by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) after the latter determined that the M2’s Federal Aviation Administration Type Certification issued by the US met GACA airworthi-ness standards. The company noted that its M2 drone delivery system became the first to achieve FAA Type Certification in September 2022. “We are proud to have received this acceptance from GACA and are hon-oured that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recognizes our dedication to safety and operational excellence,” Andreas Raptopoulos, the founder and CEO of Matternet, said in a statement. “The Middle East is an exciting region for drone delivery and Saudi Arabia represents the largest economy. Riyadh will have autonomous drone deliv-ery as a new layer of city infrastructure, enabling ultra-fast, cost-efficient, zero-emissions delivery […]
12 months ago
Kuwait’s state employment agency has introduced an app allowing civil servants to have access to a package of services via their phones including requesting a leave of absence, a newspaper has reported. Al Anba said the Civil Service Commission has developed the app that is being activated gradually to enable all employees working in government institutions that are automatically linked to the Commission’s integrated systems to make use of services via the mobile phone. The report quoted unspecified sources who said that these services include official permissions, a medical review permission, emergency and periodic leaves of absence, career certificates, salary details, leave replacement, suggestions, inquiries, approvals, receiving notifications and contacting the Commission. Previously, the commission notified government employees of the launch of a smart fingerprint app that enables them to record their attendance and departure. Earlier this month, Kuwait, a country of 4.9 million people, introduced an evening work shift for government workers. According to the rules set by the Commission for implementing the new system, the number of the employee’s permission requests to leave the workplace earlier before the end of the shift is limited to twice a month with a six-hour cap. Each government agency is authorized to […]
12 months ago
Saudi education authorities have set guidelines for use of artificial intelligence in the educational process in the kingdom. The step is the result of cooperation between the Ministry of Eudcation and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). The guidelines are designed to upgrade the quality of education and improve its outputs in an “ethical and responsible” way that ensures the preservation of the pivotal role of the teacher, supports the educational process for students, and raises parents’ awareness about the technologies involved in the process, reported the Saudi news portal Akhbaar24. The guidebook focuses on key topics in generative AI in education targeting students, teachers and parents with the aim of to raising awareness about the mechanism of generative AI, and providing guidance for using its tools ethically and responsibly while suggesting appropriate methods for its utilization. The three-part guidebook, among other things, provides a definition of generative artificial intelligence, its outputs, mechanism of action, and education benefits. The second part features guidelines for using generative artificial intelligence and its tools in the educational process. The third introduces students, teachers, and parents to the basics of command engineering linked to generative AI tools. The ministry has banned the […]
12 months ago
Meta Platforms plans to spend $65bn this year to expand its AI infrastructure, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The investment aims to bolster the company’s position against rivals OpenAI and Google in the race to dominate the technology, Reuters reported. As part of the investment, Meta will ramp up hiring for artificial intelligence roles and build a more than 2-gigawatt data centre that would be large enough to cover a significant part of Manhattan. Meta AI spending The company, among the top buyers of Nvidia’s, sought-after AI chips — aims to end the year with more than 1.3m graphics processors and plans to bring about 1 GW of computing power online in 2025. In a Facebook post Zuckerberg said: “This will be a defining year for AI. This is a massive effort, and over the coming years it will drive our core products and business.” Big technology firms have been investing tens of billions of dollars to develop AI infrastructure after the success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Meta’s announcement comes just days after US President Donald Trump announced that OpenAI, SoftBank and Oracle form a venture called Stargate and invest $500bn in AI infrastructure across the US.
30 minutes ago
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