Solana Partners with VARA to Accelerate Crypto Growth in Dubai
Solana and Dubai Collaborate to Create Blockchain Startup Zone
This partnership outlines concrete objectives and key areas of collaboration. These include initiatives focused on talent development, industry data sharing, and hosting workshops tailored for cryptocurrency project founders. As part of the agreement, the IDO will assist the Solana Foundation in establishing a dedicated 'Solana Economic Zone' in Dubai, which will serve as a hub for Solana-affiliated startups, developers, and entrepreneurs.
Cryptocurrency remains a core focus of Dubai's forward-thinking initiatives. The city, already recognised globally as a leading digital asset hub, benefits from Solana's alignment with VARA. This collaboration strengthens Dubai's position by connecting international blockchain professionals with the emirate's regulatory framework, promoting both innovation and security.
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The National
5 hours ago
- The National
Dubai travellers tell of days in limbo due to Air Canada strikes
Air Canada may have agreed a deal with striking cabin crew and resumed flights, but the dispute caused − and is still causing − major disruption to passengers' travel plans. More than 10,000 flight attendants walked out on Saturday, triggering a standoff with the Montreal-based carrier. return to work order from the government on Sunday did not end the dispute over pay and conditions. However, early on Tuesday, Air Canada said it would 'gradually restart' operations after reaching a mediated agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees. 'Our priority now is to get them moving as quickly as possible. Restarting a major carrier like Air Canada is a complex undertaking,' Air Canada president and chief executive Michael Rousseau said, acknowledging that the full restoration of operations might 'require a week or more'. From Dubai, Air Canada operates a daily flight to Toronto at 1.25am. Data from Dubai Airports shows that Wednesday's flight still marked as cancelled. Refund rights Grace Guino, a Dubai resident, was booked for the Tuesday flight, having purchased the ticket on June 14. On Monday, she received an email from Air Canada at 4.34pm, which she shared with The National, informing her that her flight was cancelled due to a 'labour disruption [that] is impacting our operations … outside our control'. The airline said at the time it was searching for rebooking options on more than 120 carriers for up to three days after the cancelled flight. Ms Guino was also given the option to refund, which she took. Affected customers should check airline policies around refunds and cancellations, as well as any attached penalties for doing so, said Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research. He added that passengers should not be penalised for seeking compensation. 'Others might elect to defer and rearrange travel – but that will be predicated on how quickly this strike is concluded. If it drags on, those wanting to travel into or out of Canada will simply rebook elsewhere,' he told The National. Ms Guino's full ticket cost was about C$1,530 ($1,106), which included a C$300 voucher. However, Air Canada refunded her C$1,830, meaning she received both the full cost of the ticket plus the voucher. 'As soon as I saw the news [of the government intervention] over the weekend, I was hopeful the situation would be resolved immediately,' she told The National. Ms Guino – who was travelling to attend a concert by English rock band Oasis – was forced to then find an alternative flight; she was able to book one on Emirates, but to Montreal and at a cost of about Dh8,400 ($2,290). 'It was frustrating, of course. But at least I got my refund immediately … and I was able to plan earlier,' she said. 'It was chaos' Meanwhile, a Canadian resident who travelled to Dubai for work said he was stranded in Venice on the way to Toronto from Dubai due to the cancellation of Air Canada flights. The passenger travelled to Venice from Dubai on an Emirates flight on Saturday morning and was supposed to take an Air Canada flight to Toronto on Sunday, after a 20-hour layover at Venice. However, that turned into a more than two-day stay amid the cancellations. 'Probably five or six hours before the departure of the flight, Air Canada announced the cancellation of flight,' he told The National. 'The first thing was how to get the luggage out and it was a hassle. We called Air Canada and their numbers were off. Finally, I called Emirates; they helped me get our luggage and what needed to be done, and then, finally, an Air Canada representative offered us a stay for a night in Venice.' However, when they reached the airport, the flight on the following day − Monday − was also cancelled. An Air Canada representative helped him find seats on Air France to travel to Paris, and from there to Detroit on Delta Air Lines. After reaching Detroit, he planned to take a bus to travel to Windsor in Canada and drive to Toronto to reach his final destination. For all the re-bookings and extra transport, he had to shell out an additional C$2,000 to get to Toronto. 'It was chaos,' said the passenger. Another Air Canada passenger, Zee, a Czech national who has been living in Dubai for the past 10 years, said his wife and children are stuck in Canada because of the situation. 'They were supposed to have reached Dubai on Sunday evening from Toronto but will only reach there tomorrow [Wednesday] morning on a different flight, because of the current situation with Air Canada,' Zee told The National. 'They were in limbo with the Air Canada app saying that the flight was scheduled and on time, while there's an email communication saying everything is cancelled. It was not helpful, because they were on standby waiting … overall, terrible communication from Air Canada … terrible timing,' he said. Mr Zee said his family plans to seek a refund from Air Canada for the cancelled journey once the strike ends and the family returns. 'Overall, it is a sad situation and frustrating. My wife was supposed to have [resumed work] on Monday but will now start on Wednesday, soon after reaching Dubai.' The strike at Air Canada, or for any other carrier that may experience the same situation, is also a lesson and opportunity for its rivals, Mr Ahmad said. 'While the strike continues and Air Canada's reputation lies in tatters, rival airlines will do whatever they can to accommodate travellers and poach that traffic away in the short term,' he said. 'The longer this drags on, the impact on Air Canada could well result in the airline losing regular and coveted loyal business customers that often pay top dollars to fly them – given the competition across the Atlantic in particular, Air Canada isn't the only game in town to reach Canadian cities – and they'll be well aware of that.'
Zawya
6 hours ago
- Zawya
Raya Electronics and the AUC's Onsi Sawiris School of Business partner on research Project
Raya Electronics, a subsidiary of Raya Trade and Distribution, which is a portfolio company of Raya Holding, has concluded a four-month research collaboration with Onsi Sawiris School of Business at The American University in Cairo. The initiative offered students a hands-on opportunity to observe and analyze the customer journey across both traditional and digital sales channels—from brand awareness and the purchasing experience to post-sale services. The study also focused on the company's implementation of its omni-channel retail strategy aimed at delivering a seamless and integrated shopping experience. This collaboration reflects Raya Electronics' ongoing commitment to supporting education by connecting academic theory with practical experience. The project was conducted as part of the students' graduation project under the supervision of Dr. Ayman Ismail, Abdul Latif Jameel Endowed Chair of Entrepreneurship at AUC, and Dr. Moataz Darwish, Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Management at AUC. The experience enabled students to gain deeper insights into consumer behavior and market dynamics, enhancing their understanding of the electronics retail sector in a rapidly evolving competitive landscape. The study also offered strategic insight into Raya Electronics' ambition to become the go-to destination for consumer electronics in Egypt. Bassem Megahed, CEO of Raya Trade, commented: 'We're pleased that this initiative gave students direct exposure to the retail sector and allowed them to engage with various sales channels. It helped bridge the gap between academic concepts and real-world business practices. We believe such initiatives are essential for equipping future professionals with the skills needed to thrive in today's market. This study also marks a pivotal step toward evaluating how Raya Electronics can further strengthen its position as a leading destination for customers—across both physical and digital platforms—through integrated strategies that ensure a smooth and connected shopping journey.' The CEO added: 'This fruitful collaboration also offered Raya a meaningful opportunity to harness the momentum of fresh ideas introduced by emerging talent, enriched by cutting-edge academic perspectives. At Raya, we firmly believe that innovation is not limited to internal capabilities—it flourishes through embracing the vitality and modern outlook of the next generation. Such engagement enriches our strategic direction and enhances our adaptability as we prepare to meet the future with agility.' Dr. Ayman Ismail added: 'The customer journey is one of the most critical areas for businesses to understand, as it helps them comprehend how consumers make purchase decisions across different sales channels. This collaboration with Raya Electronics allowed our students to dissect each stage of the journey—from initial brand exposure and marketing engagement to purchase decisions and post-purchase evaluation.' Dr. Moataz Darwish also noted: 'What sets this study apart is how it enabled students to track customer interactions across both digital and physical touchpoints, and explore how these channels integrate within an omni-channel strategy. The project included an analysis of online and in-store sales processes, customer segmentation, and targeted marketing strategies based on purchasing behavior. This hands-on experience gave students a real-world understanding of market mechanisms and enhanced their ability to evaluate and apply modern marketing strategies—preparing them to meet the challenges of today's business environment.' About Raya Electronics Raya Electronics, a subsidiary of Raya Trade and Distribution, which is a portfolio company of Raya Holding, is one of Egypt's leading retailers and distributors of consumer electronics. Since its establishment, the company has built a strong market presence through a nationwide network of over 70 retail outlets, in addition to its comprehensive e-commerce platform, Rayashop. Raya Electronics adopts an omni-channel retail strategy to ensure a unified and consistent customer experience across both digital and physical sales points. The company offers a wide range of electronic and electrical products from top global and local brands—including mobile phones, home appliances, and cutting-edge electronics—supported by robust after-sales services to ensure a complete and satisfying customer journey. About The American University in Cairo (AUC) Founded in 1919, The American University in Cairo is a premier English-language institution of higher education, accredited in both Egypt and the United States. AUC serves as a vibrant hub for cultural, social, and intellectual exchange in the Arab world. It fosters global dialogue and understanding, acting as a bridge between East and West and connecting Egypt and the region to the world through research, academic partnerships, and international education programs. AUC offers 40 undergraduate programs, 52 graduate programs, and two doctoral programs. Its liberal arts-based curriculum encourages critical and analytical thinking, empowering students to develop innovative solutions to regional and global challenges. AUC is an independent, non-profit, non-sectarian, and multicultural institution that provides equal opportunities for all students. All its academic programs are accredited by Egypt's Supreme Council of Universities and recognized by U.S. accrediting bodies.
Zawya
6 hours ago
- Zawya
South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal Education embarks on employee verification programme
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education will be embarking on a rigorous employee verification process to ensure that the correct number of employees are legitimately receiving remuneration through the Department's persal systems. This process has been necessitated by instances where delays in the administrative termination of employees—due to retirement, resignation, or death—have resulted in continued salary payments long after the individuals have exited the Department. Upon identifying these discrepancies, the Department engaged the Provincial Treasury to assist with the necessary IT infrastructure to facilitate this large-scale verification exercise and to ensure the quality and integrity of the process. The initiative, initially launched by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, has since been adopted as a national programme by the National Department of Basic Education. It will be implemented across the country under the leadership of the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC), commencing with KwaZulu-Natal. The Department welcomes the support of the National Department of Basic Education, as this approach will help standardize processes across the education sector. The outcomes of the verification will guide future policy decisions and preventative measures. 'We are confident that the verification process will enhance transparency, accountability, and good governance,' said the MEC for Education, Mr. Sipho Hlomuka. He also called for the full cooperation of all Department employees to ensure the success of the initiative. Details of the verification process will be communicated in due course. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.
