Saudi Arabia condemns bombing of security checkpoint in Pakistan
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has condemned Friday’s bombing of a security checkpoint in northwest Pakistan, in which at least 16 people were killed, most of them security personnel. The foreign ministry reaffirmed the country’s “firm rejection of violence, terrorism and extremism in all their forms” and ex»»»
No breakthrough as Rubio and Lavrov meet in Manila amid hardening Kremlin line
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met on the sidelines of an ASEAN foreign ministers' gathering in Manila on July 23, in the highest-level US-Russia contact in months on ending the war in Ukraine — but both sides signalled no breakthrough and little optimi»»»
Aster Hospital brings next-generation heart imaging to region
Dubai: Aster Hospital Mankhool has become the first hospital in the Gulf to use a new heart imaging system that gives doctors highly detailed, real-time views from inside the arteries during complex heart procedures. The hospital, ranked fourth in the UAE in Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals 2026 l»»»
New general education law approved by royal decree
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s General Education Law has been approved by royal decree. The new law overhauls how the sector is governed, provides the enablers needed to meet its objectives, and aims to raise the quality of the educational environment and its outcomes, spanning educational stages, the Gene»»»
Wildberries: Russia's Amazon that became a target for Kyiv
Moscow: Ukraine has hit the warehouses of Russia's largest online retailer Wildberries -- Moscow's equivalent of Amazon -- at least three times in a week, killing several employees, causing fires and business losses. Kyiv accuses the e-commerce giant -- which employs thousands of people and has bec»»»
Indonesia in talks to expand cross-border digital payment system to Saudi Arabia, India
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s central bank is working to expand its digital payment system to Saudi Arabia, India and Hong Kong, as it seeks to further promote economic connectivity across Asia. In Southeast Asia, Indonesia has been leading the adoption of payments using quick-response code, or QR, part of »»»
The UAE passport has retained its title as the world's most powerful, offering access to 182 destinations.
The UAE has retained its position as the world's most powerful passport in the 2026 Passport Index published by Arton Capital, ranking first globally for travel freedom and outperforming passports from many of the world's leading economies. The Emirati passport achieved an overall mobility score of»»»
Romania’s industrial investment boosted by infrastructure development, resilient demand
Romania’s modern industrial and logistics real estate sector achieved a major landmark in the first quarter of 2026, with the nationwide stock officially crossing the 8 million sqm threshold. Driven by robust transactional momentum, strategic infrastructure expansions, and a structural shift toward»»»
5 factors behind Saudi Arabia’s continued regional leadership in digital government
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has attributed its continued lead in the E-Government and Mobile Government Services Maturity Index across the Middle East and North Africa region for the fourth consecutive year to five key factors, according to Abdulwahab Al-Baddah, official spokesperson for the Digital Gover»»»
Flying through the Gulf? Europe's aviation regulator extends high-risk airspace warning
Dubai: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has extended its safety advisory warning airlines against operating in the airspace over the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and parts of the Gulf of Oman until August 31, citing the continuing risk posed by military activity across the region. Si»»»
Ukraine drone attack sparks fire at Russian e-commerce giant's warehouse near Saint Petersburg
At least three people were wounded after a Ukrainian drone attack sparked a fire at a warehouse belonging to Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries near Saint Petersburg early Friday, regional officials said. Kyiv has struck five Wildberries warehouses since July 18, killing eight night-shift workers»»»
Chief of Staff meets NATO Secretary General's Special Representative
Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces H E Major General (Pilot) Jassim bin Mohammed Al-Mannai met H E Javier Colomina, the Special Representative of the NATO Secretary General for the Southern Neighborhood, and the accompanying delegation, during his visit to Qatar. During the meeting, the late»»»
Maldives FM meets Qatar’s envoy
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives H E Iruthisham Adam met with Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of the Maldives H E Hamad bin Mohammed Al Dosari. During the meeting, cooperation relations between the two countries were reviewed.»»»
Abu Dhabi taxi fares enter discussions following DTC’s National Taxi takeover
Dubai: Dubai Taxi Company has started discussions with the Abu Dhabi Government over a revision of taxi fares following its acquisition of National Taxi, although no change has been approved and the final decision rests with the authorities. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Bala»»»
Outgoing Indian Ambassador hails strategic partnership with Qatar
Doha, Qatar: The outgoing Ambassador of India to Qatar H E Vipul has described his three-year tenure in Doha as both productive and deeply rewarding, highlighting the elevation of India-Qatar relations to a strategic partnership and significant progress in political, economic and energy cooperation»»»
Qatar payment systems hit 75.135 million transactions worth QR99.101bn in June
Doha, Qatar: Qatar witnessed a total value of transactions across various payment systems worth QR99.101bn with total number of transactions reaching 75.135 million in June this year. The data released by Qatar Central Bank (QCB) yesterday highlighted notable shifts in the country’s payment ecosyst»»»
Ukraine drone attack hits ‘Russia’s Amazon’ warehouse
SAINT PETERSBURG: Ukrainian drones hit a warehouse for a Russian e-commerce giant near Saint Petersburg early Friday, triggering a fire that sent smoke pouring over the historic city, according to local officials and an AFP reporter. Kyiv has targeted Saint Petersburg as it steps up long-range dron»»»
QLC holds future leaders and changemakers summer camp in Singapore
Singapore: The Qatar Leadership Centre (QLC) is organising the third edition of its Future Leaders and Changemakers Summer Camp in Singapore, as part of QLC’s efforts to prepare a promising generation of national leaders capable of contributing to Qatar’s development aspirations. The program runs f»»»
Government approves stragey for Better Regulation Strategy for 2026-2034
At its weekly meeting on Thursday, the Government approved, by decision, the 2026-2034 Better Regulation Strategy, which sets out how public policies and decisions will be prepared, consulted upon and evaluated over the coming years.According to a Government press release, the strategy represents a»»»
Security Command Programme equips leaders for challenges
Doha, Qatar: Assistant Director of the Arab and International Police Communication Department at the Ministry of Interior Major Staff Mohammed Abdullah Al Buainain, has highlighted the importance of the Security Command and Staff Programme, describing it as one of the most significant advanced stra»»»
Dubai taxi trips picked up in June after a difficult start to Q2
Dubai: Dubai’s taxi and limousine market began to recover in June after a difficult second quarter, with the year-on-year decline in trips narrowing to 11.2% from 36.7% in April. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The improvement came after weaker airport and tourism-rela»»»
Dubai taxi trips rebound in June after Q2 profit drops 90%
Dubai: Dubai’s taxi and limousine market began to recover in June after a difficult second quarter, with the year-on-year decline in trips narrowing to 11.2% from 36.7% in April. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The improvement came after weaker airport and tourism-rela»»»
UAE fuel prices for August: Will petrol prices rise again after oil tops $100?
Dubai: UAE motorists could see fuel prices fluctuate again in August after global oil prices surged back above $100 a barrel, dimming the prospect of a second month of relief at the pump. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.International benchmark Bre»»»
Travelling to India from the UAE? Here's what you need before applying for a tourist visa
Dubai: Travellers in the UAE planning a holiday to India can now follow a new step-by-step guide issued by the Indian Consular Application Centre (ICAC), detailing how to apply for a tourist visa, the documents required and the fees payable. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News a»»»
Ukraine strikes more Wildberries warehouses
Ukrainian drones struck Wildberries logistics hubs in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk overnight, with the Nevinnomyssk facility left fully ablaze, Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim said on Telegram on July 22, adding that staff had been evacuated and some workers injured. The strikes are the latest in an »»»
Brazil to seek new markets in face of U.S. tariffs, Lula says - UPI.com
July 23 (UPI) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said his government will continue negotiating with the United States despite an additional 25% U.S. tariff on Brazilian products. Lula also said his country will seek to expand exports to other markets if the talks fail. Speaking during»»»
Jeddah moves toward smarter mobility with JTC-HopOn partnership
JEDDAH: Jeddah Transport Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi smart mobility provider HopOn Mobility to enhance first and last-mile connectivity and support the integration of shared micromobility services into the city’s public transport network. The partnership aims to impr»»»
Superbrands Romania announces the research results of the 2026–2027 edition, “The Innovation Legacy”
Superbrands Romania announces the main results of the research conducted as part of its 12th edition, 2026–2027, “The Innovation Legacy,” which are relevant to the local branding landscape and the key developments across the Consumer and Business sectors. The concept of this edition brings to the f»»»
Jana Nayagan box office Day 1: Vijay’s farewell film opens to packed houses, targets Rs800 million worldwide debut
Dubai: Thalapathy Vijay's swansong, Jana Nayagan, has hit cinemas with the kind of fanfare reserved for the biggest stars. Directed by H. Vinoth, the political action drama opened to packed theatres across Tamil Nadu and key overseas markets on Thursday, with fans celebrating the release with firew»»»
Ukraine strikes more Wildberries warehouses
Ukrainian drones struck Wildberries logistics hubs in Krasnodar and Nevinnomyssk overnight, with the Nevinnomyssk facility left fully ablaze, Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim said on Telegram on July 22, adding that staff had been evacuated and some workers injured. The strikes are the latest in an »»»
President of Republic of Maldives receives credentials of Qatar’s Ambassador
President of the Republic of Maldives H E Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has received the credentials of H E Hamad bin Mohammed Al Dosari as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar (non-resident) to the Republic of Maldives. The Ambassador conveyed the greetings of Amir H H Sheikh Ta»»»
China reaffirms commitment to Gulf peace, defence ties with Qatar
Doha: China has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peace, stability and deeper defence cooperation with Qatar and the Gulf region as it marked the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Speaking at a reception commemorating the occasion yesterday, the Ch»»»
Snap Inc. to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi digital spending shifts focus to returns
LONDON: The Saudi Digital Advertising Maturity Framework, launched by Snap Inc. and Kearney, identifies an eight-percentage-point gap between growth in digital advertising spending and e-commerce growth in the Kingdom, pointing to scope for more efficient investment and a clearer link to measurable»»»
Indian community bids emotional farewell to Ambassador Vipul
Doha, Qatar: The Indian community in Qatar accorded a warm farewell to Ambassador of India to Qatar H E Vipul, at the conclusion of his three-year tenure, with the envoy expressing gratitude to Qatar’s leadership and the Indian diaspora while reaffirming the strength of the India-Qatar partnership.»»»
Qatar and Ecuador discuss cooperation in Quito talks
Quito: Acting President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Ecuador H E Esteban Torres met Tuesday with Ambassador of Qatar to the country H E Fahad Ahmed Jassim Al Hamar. The meeting focused on exploring ways to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between the two nations.»»»
Major visa-free update: India’s passport journey in 20 years - from 71st rank to 81st
India’s passport ranking has fluctuated over the past two decades, reflecting changing global mobility trends, visa policies and diplomatic ties. In the latest Henley Passport Index 2026, India ranks 81st globally, with passport holders having access to 55 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations.»»»
Four pillars of trusted innovation to secure the UAE’s digital future
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a defining capability of modern economies. Around the world, nations are embracing AI as a catalyst for economic growth, innovation, and national transformation. The UAE is taking this one step further by embedding AI as a foundational capability across g»»»
Indian expats in UAE: Change your PAN status to NRI before filing your next ITR
Dubai: UAE-based Indians should check whether their residential status is correctly recorded in India’s Permanent Account Number database, particularly before filing an Income Tax Return or carrying out a major financial transaction in India. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News »»»
US Threats Against Iran's Nuclear Facilities Violate Int'l Law - Iranian Foreign Ministry
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Statements from the US that it might bomb Iran's nuclear facilities violate international law, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Wednesday. "The repeated US attacks and threats against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities not only constitute a flagrant viola»»»
Iran Warns US of ‘Powerful’ Response if Nuclear Sites Attacked - Al-Manar TV Lebanon
Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Iran Warns US of ‘Powerful’ Response if Nuclear Sites Attacked 22-07-2026 11:23 AM Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has warned the Uni»»»
QC explores strengthening trade relations with Azerbaijan
Doha, Qatar: First Vice-Chairman of Qatar Chamber (QC), Mohammed bin Twar Al Kuwari, met at the Chamber’s headquarters yesterday, with Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the State of Qatar, H E Dr. Adish Mammadov. During the meeting, the two sides discussed trade and economic cooperation b»»»
AlRayan Bank reports net profit of QR687m for H1
Doha, Qatar: AlRayan Bank released yesterday its consolidated financial statements for the six-month period ended 30 June 2026 with net profit attributable to the equity holders of the bank of QR687m. H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of the Board commented: “Our strategic»»»
What is Pickaxe Mountain, home to Iran’s underground nuclear site threatened by Trump
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly issued threats to bomb an under-construction Iranian nuclear site buried deep under a mountain as the two nations exchange blows over the Strait of Hormuz. The site, known as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, or “Pickaxe Mountain,” lies on the south side of Iran’s Natanz»»»
Iran says it hit radar sites in Kuwait as US strikes continue
DUBAI: Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) said on Wednesday it had struck several radar systems in Kuwait as part of its latest retaliatory operation against the United States. Iranian state media also reported fresh US strikes in several provinces early Wednesday. The IRGC said it targeted an early»»»
UAE passport’s historic 20-year journey: From 35 to 188 visa-free destinations
The UAE passport has climbed to second place among the world's most powerful travel documents, marking the biggest rise in the 20-year history of the Henley Passport Index. The July 2026 index, based on exclusive IATA Timatic data, shows Emirati passport holders now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arriv»»»
Landmark Group announces winner of the ‘Shukran Millionaire – Shop & Win’ campaign in Qatar
Doha, Qatar: Landmark Group, the region’s leading retail and hospitality conglomerate, proudly announced the winner of its highly successful “Shukran Millionaire – Shop & Win” campaign in Qatar, reaffirming its commitment to rewarding customers and creating exceptional shopping experiences The gran»»»
Attorneys’ Admission Committee holds meeting
Doha: The Attorneys’ Admission Committee met yesterday under the chairmanship of Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi, to discuss the items on its agenda. During the meeting, three new lawyers took the legal oath after completing their train»»»
Taking vitamins ‘just in case’? UAE doctors explain the risks — and what to do instead
When you walk into a pharmacy, supermarket or health store, the choices for supplements are overwhelming. There are supplements for energy, immunity, hair, skin, sleep, focus, bones and just about every other wellness concern. Feeling tired? A quick Google search may point you towards iron or vitam»»»
MOSCOW BLOG: Hitting the Wildberries warehouse is a lot more painful than it looks
The tit-for-tat missile war escalated at the weekend after Ukraine hit the largest distribution centre belonging to Wildberries, the “Amazon of Russia.” The Kremlin hit back the next day with a massive drone and missile barrage. The war has entered a new and brutally destructive phase with both sid»»»
Trump threatens to strike Pickaxe Mountain tunnel complex in central Iran 'pretty soon'
US President Donald Trump said that the United States could strike Iran's heavily-fortified Pickaxe Mountain tunnel complex "pretty soon," escalating pressure on Tehran as tensions over its nuclear programme and regional military activities continue to rise. Speaking to reporters, Trump suggested t»»»