Author: Editorial Team
Taco Bell is officially making its UAE comeback, 14 years after the American fast-food chain left the country. Americana Restaurants announced on August 30 that it had signed an exclusive development agreement with Taco Bell UK and Europe Ltd to bring the brand back to the UAE, with plans to eventually expand across other GCC markets. There is still one important detail missing, though: exactly when UAE residents will be able to get their hands on a Crunchwrap again. Luckily, the country’s Mexican food scene looks very different from when Taco Bell departed in 2012. From quick burrito bowls and…
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration plans to impose sanctions on another bank this week as it intensifies efforts to economically isolate Iran, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday. “This is going to be financial violence if we have to,” Bessent told the Associated Press in an interview. “We are showing people that we know who you are, you know who you are, and this has got to stop.” The announcement comes just days after Washington said it would cut off the UAE operations of Banque Misr from the US financial system after accusing Egypt’s second-biggest bank of doing…
Srikrishna Shankavaram, Head of AI Security, Zebra Technologies, outlines the delicate balancing act between securing AI agents and governing them as digital identities in this exclusive feature. 2026 is touted as the year AI moves from speculation and interest to real-world deployment and value. Yet one global analyst firm predicts 40% of agentic AI projects will be cancelled by the end of 2027, due to escalating costs, unclear business value, or inadequate risk controls. It suggests more and better advice, and an ecosystem of support are needed to make agentic projects a success, which must include addressing new security considerations. There are early signs that the rise of agentic AI is transforming how organisations operate. In…
Saudi Arabia reached a significant homeownership milestone in 2025, with the national rate rising to 66.24%, exceeding the annual target of 65% and moving closer to the Saudi Vision 2030 target of 70%. During the year, 107,000 housing units and developed land plots were provided, expanding the choice available to Saudi homebuyers. Buyer intent is also evident at Cityscape Global. At the 2025 edition, 62% of visitors were active home seekers, while 42% of homebuyers were interested in properties valued between $300,000 and $2.6 million. For developers, this creates access to a qualified audience actively considering property purchases across a…
Coyote vs. Acme is finally making its way to cinemas, nearly three years after Warner Bros. decided to shelve the completed film. The live action and animation hybrid, starring Will Forte, John Cena and Lana Condor, opens in UAE cinemas today, August 27. But its journey to the big screen has been anything but straightforward. Warner Bros. announced in November 2023 that it would not release the film, despite production having already been completed. The studio planned to take a tax write off, with the decision coming as it shifted its strategy away from projects originally intended for streaming. The decision…
SINGAPORE — The US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln sailed past Singapore early on Sunday as it headed home after a grueling deployment in the Middle East. It’s expected to stop in Thailand for a port visit. Journalists on the Indonesian island of Batam, across the Singapore Strait, spotted the massive vessel as it transited waters near Singapore just after 1 a.m. local time. The Lincoln, one of the US Navy’s largest warships, was supporting the US war against Iran. Its deployment included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 250 days. Concerns have grown about the Lincoln’s…
The Saudi Space Agency has launched an informational guide highlighting key astronomical events and phenomena expected to be visible in the skies over Saudi Arabia from 2026 to 2030. The guide is part of the agency’s efforts to raise awareness of space and astronomy. It provides accessible scientific content to help the public and enthusiasts learn about celestial phenomena, their timings, and scientific characteristics. The guide features 62 astronomical events over five years, including solar and lunar eclipses, meteor showers, planetary conjunctions and oppositions, as well as equinoxes and solstices. It provides simplified information and definitions for each event to enhance understanding…
Behind every earnings report and expansion plan in today’s UAE sits an unquantified line item: the psychological cost of operating amid sustained regional uncertainty. The country’s economic fundamentals remain comparatively strong, but the human nervous system does not read balance sheets. Dr Joseph El-Khoury, Co-founder, CEO and Medical Director of The Valens Clinic in Dubai, is urging boards, founders and chief executives to treat leadership mental health as a governance and business-continuity issue — not a private concern to be managed behind closed doors. For the entrepreneurs, executives and workforces who animate the UAE economy, prolonged instability can exact a…
DAMASCUS — Syrian forces killed a former Assad-era commander during a security operation east of Tartus, authorities said on Sunday, as the government intensifies its campaign against armed groups linked to remnants of the former Assad regime. Firas Abdul Karim Hammoud, known as “al-Khal”, was the former commander of special forces in the unit once known as the 25th Division, the Syrian Interior Ministry said in a statement. The ministry said Internal Security forces raided Hammoud’s hideout in the town of Safita in Tartus province after tracking his movements across several areas. It said Hammoud opened fire on the forces…
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, represented by the Program for Communication with Yemeni Scholars, organized a scholarly symposium in Makkah entitled “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its Role in Preserving Yemeni Unity.” During its sessions, the symposium addressed Saudi Arabia’s efforts to support the Yemeni people and preserve Yemen’s security, stability, and territorial integrity. It also discussed the role of scholars and preachers in raising awareness of the Kingdom’s positions and efforts. The symposium was attended by several scholars, preachers, and members of the program. The symposium forms part of the scholarly and awareness programs implemented by the ministry…