AMMAN — The Social Security Investment Fund (SSIF) increased its assets to approximately JD19.7 billion by the end of June 2026, up from JD18.7 billion at the end of 2025, marking growth of JD1 billion, or 5.4 per cent, during the first six months of the year.The fund said in a statement that the i»»»

WASHINGTON: Iraq has announced its readiness to play a mediating role between the United States and Iran as part of a diplomatic effort aimed at ending the war and paving the way for renewed dialogue, with Baghdad expressing its willingness to help bridge differences, particularly on economic issue»»»

Riyadh: Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), today condemned in the strongest terms the treacherous Iranian attacks that targeted the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, alongside the targeting of infrastructure »»»

RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi on Saturday condemned Iran’s recent attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, describing the strikes on civilian infrastructure as “war crimes.” He also said Iran’s actions “constitute a highly dangerous escalation, a grave vi»»»

Dubai, July 18 (SANA) Most Gulf stock markets ended the trading week lower as rising military tensions between the United States and Iran weighed on investor sentiment following a new round of U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) gained 0»»»

KHARTOUM: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center recently distributed 1,681 food baskets to displaced families and returnees in Khartoum state, Sudan, benefiting 11,327 individuals, as part of the 2026 Madad Project in Sudan. Meanwhile, the aid agency distributed 400 personal care kits »»»

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia has launched the pilot phase of its new Tourism Package Visa, allowing visitors to obtain an electronic visa as part of a single package that includes flights, accommodation and insurance booked through authorized travel providers. The initiative, introduced by the Ministry of »»»

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Ports Authority (Mawani) on Saturday signed seven agreements with national and international companies to establish and expand logistics centers at Jeddah Islamic Port and Al-Khumra Logistics Zone, with total investments approaching SR1 billion ($267 million). The signings we»»»

Dubai: The Middle East crisis intensified on Saturday as the United States and Iran exchanged strikes for a seventh consecutive night, with tensions rising around the Strait of Hormuz and concerns growing over regional security. The escalation has triggered flight disruptions, security alerts and i»»»

MANILA: Saudi oil giant Aramco has opened its first branded gas station in the Philippines, less than a year after acquiring a 25-percent equity stake in Unioil, one of the country’s largest fuel retailers. The station, on Sucat Road, Paranaque City in the Manila capital region, was inaugurated on »»»

Dubai: Travellers flying from the UAE to Kuwait are facing flight disruptions after operations at Kuwait International Airport were affected amid the ongoing Iran-US regional tensions. Emirates has cancelled multiple Dubai-Kuwait services through July 19, while Etihad Airways has listed its Abu Dha»»»

RIYADH: The Red Sea Film Foundation made a notable showing at the 14th “Final Cut” program, part of the Venice Film Festival, after five films it supported were selected to take part in the initiative, which is dedicated to backing upcoming film projects from the Middle East and Africa. According t»»»

Dubai: Saudi authorities have introduced a new digital service allowing worshippers and pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Mecca to monitor crowd levels in the Mataf and Masa'a areas in real time, helping them choose less congested routes for Tawaf and Sa'i. The General Authority for the Care of the A»»»

Anniqa Jamal Iqbal has been crowned Miss World Pakistan 2026 and is set to compete at the Miss World pageant after representing the Miss Pakistan World Organisation at several international beauty competitions. The 24-year-old master's student in Accounting & Auditing has previously competed at Mis»»»

RIYADH: Reforms across logistics, governance and business environment could see trade more than double between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Caucasus and Central Asia regions. A report published by the International Monetary Fund, and supported by experts speaking to Arab News, set out that »»»

RIYADH: Five Saudi women have been recognized among the world’s most influential figures in women’s sport, highlighting the Kingdom’s growing role in shaping the sector both regionally and internationally. Adwa Al-Arifi, Rasha Al-Khamis, Princess Nouf Al-Saud, Alanoud Althonayan and Lamia Bahaian h»»»

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s jiu-jitsu team raised its medal tally at the Asian Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan to nine after winning two golds, one silver and one bronze in the men’s division on Friday. Brothers Omar and Abdullah Nada claimed gold medals in the 94 kg and 85 kg categories, the Saudi Ji»»»

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s jiu-jitsu team raised its medal tally at the Asian Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan to nine after winning two golds, one silver and one bronze in the men’s division on Friday. Brothers Omar and Abdullah Nada claimed gold medals in the 94 kg and 85 kg categories, the Saudi Ji»»»

Colorado City: The families of two men who discovered through DNA tests that they were switched at birth 38 years ago are accusing a North Dakota hospital of robbing them of the lives they were supposed to lead. Kyle Bylin discovered his birth family after taking an at-home test he chose randomly d»»»

ABHA: The annual appearance of the Sirius star marked the beginning of the traditional autumn season in Saudi Arabia’s Asir region on Thursday, heralding a crucial period for the area’s unique agricultural calendar, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Known locally as “Alb,” the July 16 emergenc»»»

FIFA President Gianni Infantino hands President Donald Trump the FIFA World Cup trophy after announcing the 2026 World Cup draw in the White House. File Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI | License Photo July 17 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Friday told FIFA officials they should pick the United St»»»

Dubai: A proposal by Iran and Oman to introduce transit charges for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz could create one of the world's largest maritime revenue streams while adding a fresh cost to global energy trade. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The propose»»»

RIYADH: Riyadh Air launched its inaugural nonstop flight to Madrid on Friday, expanding its European footprint to boost economic and tourism ties between Saudi Arabia and Spain, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Flight RX0531 touched down at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, marked by a re»»»

RIYADH: Saudi authorities welcomed the announcement on Friday by Jordan of regular commercial flights between Amman and the Yemeni capital Sanaa. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said Royal Jordanian Airlines would operate the route and work is underway to complete the necessary technical and logistical p»»»

TAIF: Round two of the 2026 Saudi Toyota Championship Hill Climb got underway on Friday at Aqabat Al-Muhammadiyah in Al-Shafa, Taif, with 54 competitors taking part in the opening day of action. Organized by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, and managed by Bakhashab Motorsport in part»»»

WASHINGTON: After months of a regional war that has left Iraq once again caught between Iran, the Gulf and the US, Baghdad is attempting an ambitious diplomatic pivot — hosting talks it hopes will transform the country from a battleground into a broker. The proposal, announced by Iraq’s Foreign Min»»»

TABUK: The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has launched mobile honey sorting and packaging units in Tabuk to serve beekeepers in natural pastures and popular sites across the region’s villages and governorates. These mobile units provide on-site honey analysis, sorting, and pac»»»

TABUK: The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has launched mobile honey sorting and packaging units in Tabuk to serve beekeepers in natural pastures and popular sites across the region’s villages and governorates. These mobile units provide on-site honey analysis, sorting, and pac»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Venezuelan counterpart, Felix Plasencia, in Riyadh on Thursday. During the meeting, Prince Faisal congratulated Plasencia on his recent appointment to the position, wished him success and expressed his aspiration to continue worki»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam recently destroyed 4,573 landmines and other unexploded weapons in Yemen’s Abyan governorate. The controlled demolitions took place in the Wadi Dofs area, the project said on Friday. The devices included artillery shells, antipersonnel and antitank mines, hand g»»»

London: The mother of a British Sikh man imprisoned for fatally stabbing a white student was jailed by a court Friday for trying to hide the ceremonial knife used in the killing. Henry Nowak was handcuffed by police in December as he lay dying, after his attacker, Vickrum Digwa, falsely claimed tha»»»

NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia has established an advanced model for sustainable urban development, progressing from planning and policymaking to implementation and measurable impact, Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail has said. Guided by the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom»»»

RAFHA: The hottest period of summer in Saudi Arabia has begun, with several weeks of peak annual temperatures expected in most regions of the Kingdom. Barjas Al-Fulaih, of the Afaq Society for Astronomy, said this part of the season, which runs from mid-July until early August, is traditionally kno»»»

JEDDAH: Muslim World League Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa opened Al-Rahman Mosque in Auckland, New Zealand, and delivered its first Friday sermon. Al-Issa also led worshippers in prayer following the mosque’s official in»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Sayyed Majid Mousavi: Our effective and»»»

MAKKAH: Saudi artist Basher Al-Khamali has forged a name for himself in the world of mural art in the Kingdom, with his 1,000-square meter mural of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman adorning a wall in Tabuk. It was one of his biggest projects which took him just six days to complete. Speaking to Ara»»»

A massive public rally was held today, Friday, in Saada Governorate, Yemen, as part of the “Friday of Mobilization” campaign, in response to a call from Ansarullah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi. Participants chanted slogans such as “Aggression for aggression, siege for siege” and “With our un»»»

Dubai: Brent crude may need a prolonged disruption through the Strait of Hormuz or clear evidence of tightening global inventories to break above $90 a barrel, despite heading for its biggest weekly gain since April. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.The global benchmark»»»

RIYADH: Artificial intelligence can now create images that are nearly impossible to distinguish from traditional photographs. But if no camera ever captured the scene, what makes it a photograph? The question is becoming increasingly relevant as AI-generated images blur the boundaries between photo»»»

PARIS: The Riyadh-based International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics called for the responsible and inclusive use of AI during a global science conference at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris this week. ICAIRE participated in the first Global Conference of the International Dec»»»

RIYADH: Tuwaiq Academy has announced the launch of a new set of “Tuwaiq Executives” programs, set to run at its headquarters in Riyadh from July to December. The programs aim to develop leaders and decision-makers and equip them to keep pace with emerging technologies through partnerships with lead»»»

RIYADH: A Saudi security guard who became the target of online mockery has sparked a wider conversation about the dignity of work, with many Saudis rejecting attempts to belittle the profession and describing it as an honorable role that serves both people and the country. Mousa Al-Saad, who has wo»»»

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said the two-decade-long campaign to restrict weapons solely to state authorities and bolster national sovereignty has yielded significant milestones. In an interview published Friday in the Saudi daily Okaz, Geagea lauded the Lebanese Cabinet, arguing that its p»»»

Dubai: Saudi Arabia on Thursday entered the period known as “Jamrat Al Qaydh”, traditionally regarded as the most intense phase of the summer, when temperatures across much of the kingdom approach their annual peaks. The period, which typically begins in mid-July and lasts until early August, is ex»»»

The US and Iran exchanged fresh strikes on Friday, with attacks reported across the Gulf region, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan. UAE residents are advised to follow official updates, check travel notices and avoid sharing unverified information. Get updated faster and for FREE: Downloa»»»

BusinessIranIran's threat extends beyond the Strait of Hormuz Timothy RooksOil and gas producers in the Gulf are seeking alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz as traffic again comes under fire. But is Iran also turning its attention to the pipelines meant to bypass the waterway? https://p.dw.com/p/5»»»

RIYADH: While most people know Prince Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud as the first Arab and Muslim astronaut to travel into space, the years that followed were devoted to a different mission: reviving Saudi Arabia’s heritage and documenting the people whose lives helped shape the Kingdom’s history throug»»»

Dubai: The creator economy, once shorthand for influencers and viral videos, has quietly become one of the fastest-growing digital sectors in the Gulf. Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balances.At its core, the creator economy refers to individuals who build audiences online and»»»

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has inaugurated the world’s largest truck marshalling area, spanning 1 million sq. meters, at Jeddah Islamic Port while the Saudi Ports Authority signed seven agreements with companies worth investments exceeding SR1 billion ($266.9 million) on the sidelines of the launch. The »»»

Dubai: Many UAE travellers are still going ahead with their summer holidays, but many are changing how they book. A vast majority of travellers, at least 70 per cent according to one travel agent, who have pre-booked their tickets and hotel bookings for the holidays are going ahead with their trave»»»