Author: Editorial team

(L-R) Sherif Azzam, Business Unit Manager, Comstor Saudi Arabia & Alaa Sweidan, General Manager, Taqniyat Saudi Arabia. Alaa Sweidan, General Manager, Taqniyat Saudi Arabia and Sherif Azzam, Business Unit Manager, Comstor Saudi Arabia, highlighted the importance of Cisco‘s Data Centre solutions for the KSA in this exclusive interview. How does Cisco’s Data Centre and Compute portfolio support Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation goals? Sherif: Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation is accelerating rapidly, and modern data centres are a foundational enabler. Cisco’s Data Centre and Cisco Compute portfolio, including Cisco Unified Computing Systems (UCS), provide organisations with a highly scalable, secure, and performance-driven…

[Editor’s Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.] The UAE air defence systems engaged 13 ballistic missiles and 27 UAVs launched from Iran on March 18, 2026. Since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 327 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,699 UAVs. These attacks have resulted in the martyrdom of two members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, as well as six fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi and Palestinian nationalities. A total of 158 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate…

Through food boxes, iftar meals and volunteering, Starbucks worked with Emirates Red Crescent to turn Ramadan giving into tangible support for families across the UAE Published: Wed 18 Mar 2026, 4:31 PM Starbucks, operated by Alshaya Group, partnered with Emirates Red Crescent this Ramadan to translate giving into tangible support for families and communities across the UAE through food assistance and volunteer participation. The programme supported food boxes distributed to 400 families registered with Emirates Red Crescent. “Ramadan is a moment that calls for action, not statements,” said Saleh Alshaya, President, Starbucks at Alshaya Group. “Across our markets, we work…

DUBAI, 18th March, 2026 (WAM) — Most rated insurers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are expected to remain broadly stable in the short-to-medium term, S&P Global Ratings said on Wednesday. “This is thanks to robust earnings generation in recent years, which has contributed to a significant buildup of capital buffers,” the S&P said in a report. The report highlighted that GCC insurers have sufficiently robust capital buffers to absorb a potential increase in capital market volatility and any claims related to the war in the Middle East, as these are either heavily reinsured or subject to exclusion clauses. “Regional…

According to Bloomberg, SK Hynix’s Chey Tae-won has issued a warning to the industry that the global chip shortage will continue for another four or five years. This shortage has in large part been driven by the surging demand for high-bandwidth memory to support AI workloads. The head of the South Korean conglomerate, which is the parent group of SK Group, told reporters on the sidelines of Nvidia’s GTC developer conference the supply of the wafers, required for chip production, is trailing demand by more than 20 per cent, the news agency wrote. Chey expects a shortage until 2030 despite…

DUBAI, 18th March, 2026 (WAM) — Dubai Chamber of Commerce, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has continued its ongoing series of meetings with Business Groups and Business Councils. The meetings are aimed at monitoring current conditions in the local business environment, assessing the outlook for the period ahead, and enhancing the support available to all sectors as they respond to global challenges. During this week, the chamber held 13 meetings with Business Groups and Business Councils operating under its umbrellaa to discuss business continuity requirements and boost resilience across key economic sectors. The…

Residents in the UAE are expected to know the date of Eid Al Fitr soon, as authorities prepare to sight the Shawwal crescent on Wednesday evening. The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai announced that the crescent moon will be observed on the evening of Ramadan 29, in coordination with the UAE Moon Sighting Committee. The observation will take place at the Jebel Nazwa crescent sighting location as part of the country’s approved system for determining the start of Hijri months. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The sighting of the…

DUBAI, 18th March, 2026 (WAM) — His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has approved the allocation of 4,631 residential land plots, valued at AED5.3 billion, for Emirati citizens in Dubai. Spanning over 71 million square feet across Al Eyas, Latifa City, and Mushrif areas, these plots are part of citizen housing packages in Dubai. They follow a development model that reflects Dubai’s approach to creating integrated residential communities, ensuring a sustainable living experience and a high quality of life. The residential plot allocation will be conducted through the Emirati platform…

AI company Anthropic is looking to hire a chemical weapons and high-yield explosives expert in an effort to prevent “catastrophic misuse” of its software tools. The business fears that its AI tools might tell someone how to make chemical or radioactive weapons, and wants an expert to ensure its guardrails are sufficiently robust. In the LinkedIn recruitment post, the firm says applicants should have a minimum of five years experience in “chemical weapons and/or explosives defence” as well as knowledge of “radiological dispersal devices” – also known as dirty bombs. The firm told the BBC the role was similar to…

DUBAI, 18th March, 2026 (WAM) — Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) has opened registration for the sixth cohort of Dubai Future Experts Programme (DEEP), the world’s first initiative for institutionalising foresight practices in government. Jointly developed by The Executive Council of Dubai and DFF, the programme brings together local and international experts to advance foresight in the public sector and help cultivate future-ready government leaders. Through 133 projects to date, the programme has reinforced Dubai’s position as a global leader in future readiness and innovation. “Dubai has recorded transformational leaps and achievements that differentiate it present, and shape its future, all…