Last year, cash slipped below 20% of in-person retail spend globally for the first time. In the UAE, contactless and digital payments already dominate the checkout. Saudi Arabia which had set a target of 70% non-cash transactions by 2025, crossed that threshold in 2023. Get updated faster and for F»»»

Hamas has held Nikolay Mladenov, the senior Gaza representative at the Board of Peace, responsible for the latest Israeli escalation in Gaza, while confirming that intense talks with mediators and regional parties remain ongoing in an effort to halt the violence. Sources within Hamas in Gaza said a»»»

Doha, Qatar: As the countdown enters its final 10 days, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is moving into its final phase of preparation. Hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, the tournament will break new ground as the first 48-team edition, making it the biggest World C»»»

Arab Finance: Egyptian ports handled a record 11.1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025, marking a 24.3% year-on-year (YoY) increase from 8.9 million TEUs in 2024, according to a statement by the Ministry of Transport. The ministry said Egyptian ports also received the highest number»»»

Arab Finance: The Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority (MRMIA) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Turkiye-based OZ Mining to cooperate on a preliminary study and assessment of gold ore deposits and associated minerals in Egypt's Eastern Desert, as per a statement by the»»»

Millions of people across Europe, the North Atlantic and parts of the Arctic are expected to witness a rare total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, in one of the most significant astronomical events of the decade. According to the European Space Agency, the path of totality will begin over the Arct»»»

Over the past five years, Egypt has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its financial technology sector, with a 5.5-fold increase in fintech startups. According to the FinTech Landscape Report by Entlaq, in collaboration with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and the Dutch Embassy in Egypt, th»»»

Africa’s economies are projected to grow 4.2% in 2026, slightly below the estimated 4.4% expansion recorded in 2025, before rebounding to 4.4% in 2027, according to the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) 2026 African Economic Outlook released at the bank’s annual meetings in Brazzaville. The AfDB sa»»»

Healthcare, Medical Equipment & Services Client : El Salhia Company For Investment & Development The Agricultural Salhia Project Address : New Salhia City Tel.: 02-3202611 Tender : General tender for the supply of veterinary medicine for the chicken production sector Tender documents : EGP250 Openi»»»

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly inaugurated Air Liquide Egypt’s new medical and industrial gases plant in the Integrated Sokhna Zone, part of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone). With an investment of €80 million, this facility underscores Egypt’s commitment to enhancing its industrial infrastruc»»»

Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Charity (QC) has thanked donors for strong support of the Qurbani (Udhiyah) Project, implemented under its seasonal campaign ‘The Greatest Days’. With the support of benefactors, the project was carried out during Eid Al Adha in 43 countries, including Qatar, bringin»»»

Egypt on Sunday strongly condemned Israel’s expansion of ground operations in southern Lebanon, describing the Israeli army’s crossing of the Litani River and advance into areas north of the river as a “complete violation of Lebanese sovereignty” and an attempt to impose a new military reality on t»»»

Gold prices in Egypt fell sharply in May 2026, weighed down by a stronger Egyptian pound and weaker global bullion markets, according to the Gold and Precious Metals Division at the Federation of Egyptian Industries. Division Chairperson Ehab Wassef explained that the local market faced a dual sque»»»

Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Raafat Hindi, held talks with Amr Sobhy, Chairperson of Concentrix Egypt, to discuss the company’s expansion plans in the Egyptian market, efforts to create new employment opportunities, and prospects for strengthening cooperation in di»»»

Egypt’s Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) has issued a new decision reducing the fees charged by Misr for Central Clearing, Depository and Registry (MCDR) for all participants operating within digital platforms dedicated to investment in real estate investment fund certificates. The move is part»»»

Egypt’s Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk announced that EGP 90bn has been earmarked in the 2026/2027 fiscal year budget to expand programmes supporting production, exports, and entrepreneurship. Kouchouk said the allocations include EGP 48bn for export rebate payments and EGP 7bn to support the tour»»»

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has called for strengthening the global competitiveness of Egyptian universities and expanding international academic partnerships as part of broader efforts to position Egypt as a regional hub for higher education, scientific research, and innovation. The di»»»

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has announced a major archaeological discovery at the Panhesy Tomb site in the Matariya district of Ain Shams, unveiling new evidence of funerary practices and daily life in the ancient necropolis of Heliopolis across multiple historical periods. The disc»»»

Egypt has uncovered a rare archaeological cache containing a near complete funerary assemblage, possible gold jewellery and ritual objects at the ancient Heliopolis necropolis in Cairo, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said on Sunday. The discovery was made by an Egyptian archaeological miss»»»

Egypt’s real estate market entered a more measured phase of growth in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, as the sector adjusted following several years of rapid expansion fuelled by aggressive project launches, flexible payment schemes, and strong investment inflows from Gulf markets. According to a n»»»

Henry Kissinger is famously said to have asked: “Who do I call if I want to speak to Europe?” This sardonic remark has since become shorthand for a structural dilemma in international politics: how collective entities are translated into coherent representation, and what follows when they are not. »»»

Israel has recently given Egypt back 2 stolen Pharaonic antiquities, after they were smuggled to East Jerusalem. Egyptian Ambassador in Israel Hazem Khairat received the 2 sarcophagi lids that are dated back to the time between 14 -16 centuries BC. Israeli Embassy released a statement noting that t»»»

RIYADH: Three months after the US and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran, the Middle East remains gripped by instability, stretching from Gaza and Lebanon to Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. For Nomi Bar-Yaacov, the veteran human rights lawyer and international peace negotiator, the ver»»»

Egyptian garlic has become a growing concern for European producers after its exports to the European Union nearly doubled within one year. The development comes as Spanish garlic producers described the Egyptian product as a “dangerous enemy” flooding European markets before the start of the local»»»

Omar Radwan, Chairman of the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), said Egypt’s capital market is entering a new phase of growth and expansion, supported by the government’s IPO programme, an increase in listed companies, wider market tools, and digital transformation. Speaking during his first televised interv»»»

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) said in a statement that it will deduct spare change from cheques and bank remittances. According to the statement, the decision includes the collection of change from amounts below one million Egyptian pounds ($56,500) and 10 Egyptian pounds for remittance which exc»»»

Energy, Power, Electrical & Renewable Energy Client : Akhbar El Youm Organisation Address : 6, Al Sahafa Street, Cairo Tender : General tender No. 7/2017 for the supply of electrical cables and equipment. Tender documents : EGP100 A bid bond of EGP5,000 should be submitted Opening envelopes : 14-2-»»»

It’s the last day to experience Global Village Season 30 in Dubai, with crowds expected to flock for one final evening of entertainment, food and cultural showcases before the season wraps. From live performances to global flavours and high-energy rides, the park is going out with a full schedule o»»»

The state is pressing ahead with a comprehensive education reform program aiming at improving learning outcomes and better preparing students for future labor market requirements. The government has prioritized education as a key pillar of sustainable development, focusing on reducing classroom ove»»»

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has begun implementing the new Wage Protection System (WPS) tomorrow, Monday, 1 June 2026, under which the first day of every calendar month will serve as the unified salary due date for workers in private sector establishments for the prece»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports, including re-exports, rose 18.9 percent in 2025, driven by a sharp increase in re-export activity that helped offset weaker domestic shipments, according to official figures. Data released by the General Authority for Statistics showed non-oil exports reached»»»

Egypt’s airports play a part in the nation’s economic modernization. Facilities such as Cairo International, Hurghada, and Sharm El-Sheikh serve as gateways for millions of travelers each year. Yet, their operational frameworks remain inefficient, limiting Egypt’s ability to fully leverage its geog»»»

By Nagy Rashed CAPTION: Engineer Tareq Mulla at Zohr site reviewing field developments. Engineer Tareq Mulla Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources visited Port Saied Governorate accompanied by assistant secretary, President of the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company, the presidents of Petrob»»»

Sherif Fathy, the civil aviation minister, announced on Saturday that new Sphinx International Airport will be operational next summer serving tourists aiming for a stop to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and the Great Pyramids of Giza. Fathy said the airport, which has been built west of Cai»»»

Monopoly is a form of market domination practiced by dishonest traders in order to make quick profits. They actually choose to burden the citizens, particularly low-income people. The monopoly does not only lead to soaring prices and lack of commodities in the markets but also lead to further short»»»

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) allowed the pound to depreciate against the dollar during its regular auctions on Thursday and Sunday pushing it down to LE7.73, its lowest level since auctions began in December 2012. This is the second round of pound devaluation with the first initiated at January »»»

ANTALYA: Iran have ‌asked FIFA to clarify when tournament visas will be issued following the relocation of their World Cup training camp from Arizona to Tijuana, a senior official from the Islamic Republic’s national football federation (FFIRI) said on Friday. The national team came from behind to »»»

Teresópolis, Brazil: Brazil star Neymar is on course to shake off a calf strain and could even be ready for their opening match of the World Cup, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Saturday. After reports the 34-year-old forward could be out for three weeks, Ancelotti instead insisted Neymar was working»»»

Cairo: Egypt's foreign ministry on Saturday described Egypt-China relations as a "unique model of fruitful cooperation and comprehensive strategic partnership." In a statement marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the ministry said Egypt and China were celebrati»»»

By Rania Imam East Port Said canal inaugurates today 7 Banks to finance the canal infrastructure projects Vice admiral Mohab Mamish, head of Suez Canal association, announced that the new east Port Said canal will be inaugurated today, with the attendance of the prime minister. During the launch of»»»

Dubai: Runaway sacrificial animals, frantic street chases and a bull crashing into a barber shop have become some of the most talked-about moments of this year's Eid Al Adha celebrations, generating millions of views online and providing a mix of shock, humour and relief across the region. In Istan»»»

During the past week, four UAE humanitarian aid convoys entered the Gaza Strip, carrying 60 trucks loaded with more than 930 tonnes of diverse relief supplies, including food assistance and Eid Al Adha clothing, as part of Operation Chivalrous Knight 3. The aid was delivered in support of the Pales»»»

CAIRO: ‌Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s talismanic winger, will head Egypt’s final squad for the 2026 ​World Cup in North America next month, coach Hossam Hassan said on Saturday. The squad lineup featured few surprises, except for the inclusion of rising striker Hamza Abdel Karim. The 18-year-old is on»»»

RIYADH: Is a new chapter beginning for women filmmakers in the region? Rima Mismar, executive director of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, thinks so. Mismar spoke with Arab News about the third “Women in Film: Training Through Practice” event, run in partnership with Netflix. An open call, which»»»

The Suez Canal may have incurred heavy losses due to regional tensions and instability in recent years — from the war in Gaza to the conflict involving Iran — those same disruptions have contributed to a significant surge in activity at Egyptian ports and in transit trade. However, Egyptian economi»»»

ANTALYA, Turkiye: Iran will have an answer from US authorities over their World Cup visa applications “this week,” their football federation vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi said on Friday. The Iranian World Cup squad will be based in Mexico during the tournament in North America, but all three o»»»

PARIS: Mayar Sherif’s journey at this year’s Roland Garros came to an end on Thursday with a second-round defeat to defending champion Coco Gauff but the Egyptian says she leaves Paris feeling “proud” of her performances and “motivated” for what’s to come. Sherif, who won four matches in Paris thro»»»

MEO had the pleasure, to conduct an interview with Mr. Samy Soliman, President of Investors Association in Taba and Nuweiba. Can you tell us more about the investors association in Taba and Nuweiba? Well we are an organised entity that includes several investors who have got investment projects in »»»

Asharq Al-Awsat has obtained a document recently sent by Hamas to mediators regarding the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, where escalating Israeli violations have killed more than 930 Palestinians since the deal took effect on October 10. Israel’s Channel 13 reported on Thursday evening, cit»»»

AUCKLAND: Auckland FC goalkeeper Michael Woud has ‌had to put his wedding plans on hold after being selected in New Zealand’s squad for the World Cup, but he says taking part in soccer’s biggest tournament is not a bad reason to cancel. Woud got engaged a year ago when he had little inkling he woul»»»