Latest news with #Gulfregion
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE travel: Etihad Airways begins direct flights to Egypt's Al Alamein
UAE's flagship carrier Etihad Airways on Thursday, July 17, marked the launch of its inaugural flight to Al Alamein, adding the Egyptian coastal city to its list of seasonal summer destinations. As the aircraft touched down in Al Alamein, it was given the traditional water salute. The new direct service brings travellers closer to one of the Mediterranean's most alluring seaside destinations, with twice-weekly flights from Abu Dhabi to Al Alamein. The conveniently timed flights operate on Thursdays and Sundays enabling a quick weekend getaway or longer break away. The new service will be operated by Etihad's Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring eight Business seats and 150 Economy seats, combining comfort, convenience, and the airline's renowned hospitality. The addition of Al Alamein is part of Etihad's ambitious 2025 network expansion, which includes 27 new destinations spanning Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa. The Egyptian coastal city will be the sixth seasonal destination for Etihad this summer, following the resumption of popular summer hotspots: Nice, Malaga, Mykonos, Santorini, and Antalya. Hidden gem Nestled along the Mediterranean and within reach of Alexandria, Al Alamein is a hidden gem, poised to become a major leisure destination for travellers from the UAE, the wider Gulf region, and beyond. Its unique blend of seaside luxury, scenic shoreline, and upscale retreats make it an ideal location for leisure travellers seeking relaxing beach holidays and rejuvenating getaways. On July 15, the Abu Dhabi-based had announced seven new destinations across the Gulf, Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia regions. The new destinations are Almaty, Kazakhstan; Baku, Azerbaijan; Bucharest, Romania; Madina, Saudi Arabia; Tbilisi, Georgia; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; and Yerevan, Armenia.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE among three countries where every adult resident owns a phone
The UAE, along with Norway and Libya, is among the only three countries in the world where every adult resident owns a mobile phone, according to a new study. In the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman follow closely with 98 per cent mobile phone ownership among adults, while Kuwait stands at 95 per cent, according to the World Bank's Global Findex 2025 report. Several developed countries also report high mobile phone penetration. In Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Lithuania, Italy, Denmark, and Estonia, 99 per cent of adults own a mobile phone. The figure stands at 98 per cent in the United States, Cyprus, Algeria, Hong Kong (China), Latvia, Mongolia, and Vietnam. In most other developed nations, mobile ownership typically ranges in the mid-90 per cent range. Among major developing countries, the numbers are notably lower: 66 per cent in India, 63 per cent in Pakistan, 78 per cent in the Philippines, 85 per cent in Egypt, and 92 per cent in the United Kingdom. 'Mobile phones and the internet have become widespread and essential to daily life in economies around the globe. As of 2024, 86% of adults worldwide own a mobile phone,' the World Bank noted. 'For many people, barely an hour passes without using a mobile device — whether to make a call, send a text, read the news, conduct business, post on social media, make payments, play games, or search for information. As digital connectivity expands, online interaction is becoming a top priority for individuals, businesses, and governments alike.' Internet usage is also high across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), ranging between 86 per cent and 99 per cent over the past three months. This trend is reflected in the 2025 Global Digital Shopping Index, which found that the UAE leads the world in mobile-driven online shopping, with 37 per cent of purchases made via mobile devices. This surpasses Singapore (34.8 per cent), the UK (27.6 per cent), and Brazil (24.4 per cent). Commissioned by Visa Acceptance Solutions and conducted by Pymnts Intelligence, the study also found that 67 per cent of UAE consumers used a mobile device in their most recent retail purchase — a 23 per cent increase since 2022. Additionally, 38 per cent of UAE shoppers completed their latest retail transaction online using a mobile phone or computer for home delivery. 'The UAE's approach shows what is possible when all stakeholders work together to build the future of commerce,' said Salima Gutieva, vice-president and country manager for Visa UAE. A separate study by Syrve Mena highlighted the continued dominance of food delivery apps in the region. Around 75 per cent of mobile orders from surveyed restaurants were processed through platforms like HungerStation, Talabat, and Deliveroo. The remaining 25% were handled through call centers, proprietary apps, or restaurant websites — further underscoring the central role of mobile technology in the daily lives of UAE residents.
Arabian Business
03-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Blackspire Partners expands Gulf operations with regional lead Omar Abdelmonem
Blackspire Partners, the international public relations and marketing firm known for delivering high-impact, guaranteed media coverage, has announced the expansion of its presence across the Gulf region. Omar Abdelmonem, who now heads the agency's regional operations, is leading this strategic move. Omar, who has lived in Dubai for most of his life, brings a unique blend of cultural insight and analytical acumen to the role. A graduate in Physics from the University of St Andrews—one of the United Kingdom's most prestigious and historic universities—he combines technical precision with a nuanced understanding of the Gulf's fast-evolving media and business landscape. While Blackspire Partners has already delivered successful campaigns for clients from the UAE to Lebanon, Omar's leadership marks a new chapter in the agency's regional strategy—offering fully bilingual campaign execution in both Arabic and English, tailored to clients in sectors ranging from real estate and finance to entertainment, consumer goods, and tech. 'Omar's appointment strengthens our ability to operate on the ground with deep regional context,' said Edward Bruce, co-founder of Blackspire Partners. 'The Gulf is a key market for us, and with Omar at the helm, we're equipped to deliver best-in-class PR for brands looking to grow their presence locally and internationally.' Known for its transparent pricing model and contractual guarantees on media deliverables, Blackspire Partners is rapidly gaining traction among Gulf-based clients seeking both strategic clarity and measurable impact. With growing regional partnerships and a dedicated local lead, Blackspire is now actively onboarding new clients across the Gulf seeking a fresh approach to public relations and media strategy.
Reuters
13-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Trump starts Gulf visit seeking big economic deals
RIYADH, May 13 - U.S. President Donald Trump will arrive in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning to kick off a four-day swing through the Gulf region, a trip that will focus more on economic deals than on the security crises besetting the region, from the war in Gaza to the threat of escalation over Iran's nuclear program. With a who's who of powerful American business leaders in tow, including Tesla CEO and Trump adviser Elon Musk, Trump will first visit Riyadh - where the Saudi-US Investment Forum is taking place - and continue to Qatar on Wednesday and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. Trump has also said he may travel on Thursday to Turkey for potential face-to-face talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Trump's second foreign trip since taking office again - his first was to Rome for Pope Francis' funeral - comes during a moment of geopolitical tension. In addition to pressing for a settlement to the war in Ukraine, the Trump administration is pushing for a new aid mechanism for war-torn Gaza and urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree a new ceasefire deal there. Over the weekend, U.S. and Iranian negotiators met in Oman to discuss a potential deal to curb Tehran's nuclear program. Trump has threatened military action against Iran if diplomacy fails. But - potential Turkey side trip aside - those matters are not the focus of Trump's Middle East swing as it is currently scheduled. The U.S., Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE are expected to announce potentially trillions in investments. Saudi Arabia already committed in January, opens new tab to $600 billion in investments in the U.S. over the next four years, but Trump has said he will ask for a full trillion. In addition to Musk, business leaders including BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser will make the trip. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will travel with the president. During the Riyadh stop, Trump is expected to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth well over $100 billion, sources told Reuters, which could include a range of advanced weapons including C-130 transport aircraft. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia are expected to avoid the topic of normalization between Riyadh and Israel altogether, sources told Reuters, even as it is Trump's most enduring geopolitical goal in the region. Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said last week that he imminently expected progress on expanding the Abraham Accords, a set of deals brokered by Trump in his first term under which Arab states including the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco recognized Israel. But opposition by Netanyahu to a permanent stop to the war in Gaza or to the creation of a Palestinian state makes progress on similar talks with Riyadh unlikely, sources told Reuters. Trump's second and third stops - in Qatar and the UAE, respectively - are similarly expected to focus on economic issues. Qatar's royal family is expected to gift Trump a luxury Boeing 747-8 plane to be outfitted for use as Air Force One, an arrangement that has been met with scrutiny by ethics experts. Trump is expected to donate the plane to his presidential library for use after his term ends.
