Author: Editorial Team
Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation is no longer measured simply by the technologies it adopts, but by how confidently people use them. Over the past few years, the Kingdom has become one of the region’s most advanced digital economies. Government investment, a thriving fintech ecosystem, and widespread adoption of digital payments have fundamentally changed how consumers interact with businesses. According to the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), electronic payments accounted for 85% of all retail payment transactions in 2025, a milestone that reflects the rapid shift toward a more digital economy. But while technology continues to evolve, consumer confidence remains the factor…
For nearly two years, Abdul (name changed), a 42-year-old corporate executive, struggled with severe tiredness, weight gain and brain fog that made it difficult for him to focus at work. He thought the problem was workplace burnout. He was also treated for depression, but his symptoms did not improve. Further tests later showed that he had low morning testosterone and undiagnosed sleep apnoea. Once the sleep disorder was treated, his hormonal balance improved. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. In another case, a 38-year-old man believed his persistent headaches and low libido were…
JEDDAH — The total solar eclipse occurring on Wednesday will not be visible from Saudi Arabia; however, the Perseid meteor shower will be visible that night through dawn on Thursday. Jeddah Astronomy Society head Majed Abu Zahra said the total solar eclipse will be visible from parts of Russia, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and Portugal, with the maximum period of totality lasting approximately two minutes and 18 seconds. The eclipse will begin globally at 15:34 GMT, with totality starting at 16:58 GMT and reaching its peak at 17:46 GMT. Totality will end at 18:34 GMT, while the partial eclipse will…
There was a time when professional filmmaking was largely defined by the size of the production. A compelling story often depended on access to specialist equipment, dedicated crews and significant budgets, but that picture looks very different today. Across the UAE and the wider Middle East, a new generation of creators is building production businesses, launching educational platforms, documenting cultures and producing commercial campaigns that reach audiences around the world, often with lean teams and highly agile workflows. The creator economy has become one of the region’s most dynamic growth stories. According to RedSeer Strategy Consultants, the GCC is home…
WASHINGTON — An Iranian assassination threat prompted US President Donald Trump to secretly switch planes in Turkey last month, with Air Force One serving as a decoy while he flew out on a smaller military aircraft, according to US media reports. Top administration officials engaged in an elaborate deception after the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8 to spirit the president out into a catering container, which then ferried him to a small C-32A military jet that took him to the United Kingdom, The Washington Post and The New York Times reported. Trump and other officials had said publicly…
GPT-5.6-Cyber gives approved defenders advanced capabilities for vulnerability research, while global security partners bring the technology into governed enterprise services and workflows OpenAI has expanded its Daybreak cybersecurity programme with two access tiers, introduced the specialised GPT-5.6-Cyber model and established a global partner network to bring frontier AI capabilities into enterprise security operations. The developments come amid growing concerns that threat actors could use AI to identify vulnerabilities, develop exploits and navigate complex systems with greater speed, scale and autonomy. Security teams, meanwhile, face a rising volume of weaknesses across the software and infrastructure under their protection. OpenAI said the…
Hotels across the UAE are stepping up staycation deals, discounted room rates and value-added packages to attract domestic and GCC travellers, as operators look to support occupancy and position the hospitality sector for recovery, according to JLL. The consultancy said hotels introduced family- and leisure-focused offers, dining credits, spa access and extended-stay packages during the second quarter as softer international arrivals weighed on demand. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. JLL said the measures form part of a broader push by operators to offset weaker overseas demand while preserving revenue during the traditionally…
RIYADH — The Ministry of Energy recorded 964 violations during more than 9,263 inspection visits conducted by its supervisory teams in July 2026. The inspections aimed to monitor compliance and ensure the security and reliability of petroleum and petrochemical material supplies. The violations involved breaches of the Petroleum and Petrochemical Materials Law and the Dry Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Distribution System for Residential and Commercial Purposes. Among the most notable violations were conducting petroleum or petrochemical operations without a license and transporting and selling petroleum products through unlicensed carriers. Violations also included the unlicensed retail sale of liquefied petroleum…
TORONTO — A Porter Airlines flight in Canada has been canceled after a young child refused to wear a seat belt, sparking debate about the etiquette and safety procedures reating to children traveling on planes. The flight was preparing to travel from Victoria to Toronto on Aug 6 when it returned to the terminal after the child stood in their seat and refused to secure the seat belt, Porter Airlines said. “Attempts by the accompanying parent and crew to address this were unsuccessful,” the airline said. “The aircraft could not take off in this unsafe condition, so the crew elected…
At just 10 years old, Saiyette Aima watched cancer change her family. Her grandmother, whom she describes as the “emotional centre” of the family, had noticed what appeared to be a small, pimple-like mark on her neck. It did not seem serious at first. But after medical investigations, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. Saiyette, now 17 and living in Dubai, was young and thousands of kilometres away from her grandmother in Delhi, but the experience stayed with her. “I watched her go through chemotherapy and radiation and saw how cancer affected not just her health, but our…