Latest news with #Saudi-based
Time Out Abu Dhabi
3 days ago
- Time Out Abu Dhabi
No Wizz Air, no problem: Here's where you can still get cheap flights from Abu Dhabi
Wizz Air might be winding down its Abu Dhabi operations by September 1, but that doesn't mean affordable getaways are off the table. The ultra-low-cost carrier may have been a favourite among UAE travellers for wallet-friendly fares and direct routes, but thankfully, it's not the only game in town for cheap flights. From short hops to Saudi Arabia to summer escapes in Salalah, there are still plenty of airlines offering cheap flights from Abu Dhabi and nearby airports. Whether you're planning a quick break, visiting family, or escaping the heat, these budget carriers are keeping the UAE skies open (and affordable). Here's where to look if you still want to fly cheaply. Cheap flights from Abu Dhabi Flyadeal: From Dhs189 to Riyadh Saudi-based Flyadeal is one of the most affordable options out there, with flights from Dubai to Riyadh starting at just Dh189. It's perfect for a weekend city escape or a quick business trip across the border. Flynas: From Dhs272 to Madinah Another low-cost Saudi airline, Flynas offers fares to Madinah from Dh272. Ideal for religious travel or visiting family, especially during peak pilgrimage periods. SalamAir: From Dhs321 to Salalah Oman's SalamAir continues to be a top pick during Khareef season, with flights from Dubai to Salalah starting at Dh321. If you're craving misty mountains, cooler temperatures and lush green landscapes, this one's for you. Air Arabia: From Dhs312 to Baku Air Arabia flies to dozens of destinations – and Baku is one of its most popular routes. With fares starting at Dhs312, it's a solid option for Abu Dhabi travellers looking to explore the Caucasus without stretching the budget. IndiGo: From Dhs311 to Delhi Heading to India? IndiGo offers flights from Abu Dhabi to Delhi from Dh311. It's no-frills flying, but still one of the most cost-effective ways to travel home or take a cultural city break. Fly Jinnah: From Dhs230 to Karachi A newer name on the low-cost circuit, Fly Jinnah offers Sharjah-to-Karachi flights starting at Dh230. It's a great pick for travellers heading to Pakistan on a budget. Etihad Airways: From Dhs142 to Kuwait Flying out of Abu Dhabi to Kuwait City, Jazeera Airways offers fares from Dhs142. Quick, convenient and still on the lower end of the price spectrum. If you're wondering about other ways to save on flights, it all comes down to timing and flexibility; avoiding checked bags can save you a lot, as can exploring alternative airports. And don't forget to sign up for fare alerts and download airline apps – many flash sales are announced with little warning. Wizz Air's exit may be a blow for some frequent flyers, but the good news is that the UAE remains a hub for affordable travel. With a little planning and flexibility, your next adventure could still be just a few hundred dirhams away. Need some travel inspo? Travelling from Abu Dhabi is about to be so much faster Zayed International Airport is the world's first airport to make this change 18 countries offering visa-on-arrival to UAE residents Here's where to go UAE citizens now get visa-on-arrival for India: a game-changer for travellers That quick trip to India just got even easier
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
ASICS and Saudi Sports for All launch startup pitch to boost sports innovation in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH — ASICS, the global athletic footwear and apparel brand, has teamed up with the Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) to launch the ASICS Innovation Pitch 2025 — a nationwide startup competition aimed at accelerating digital innovation in health and fitness across the Kingdom. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to advance Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals of fostering a healthier, more active society. The program invites Saudi-based startups to submit digital-first ideas that inspire movement and improve well-being. Applications are open until July 31, 2025, with six finalists selected to pitch their solutions live in Riyadh on November 2. Eligible startups must be at least two years old, primarily based or registered in Saudi Arabia, and offer a product or service that is either market-ready or approaching launch. Finalists will receive mentorship and the opportunity to collaborate with ASICS's global innovation, R&D, and marketing teams. Travel and accommodation for up to two team members per startup will be provided. The top three finalists will also be considered for future collaboration opportunities with ASICS, including investment prospects through ASICS Ventures, the company's innovation-focused investment arm. This marks ASICS's first open innovation program in the Kingdom and reflects the brand's increasing regional footprint following the opening of its first Riyadh store in 2023. The SFA, led by Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, continues to leverage partnerships and technology to build a nationwide culture of physical activity. Startups can apply via the official ASICS Innovation Pitch website before the July 31 deadline. — SG
Campaign ME
3 days ago
- Business
- Campaign ME
Platinumlist reveals Saudi consumer ticketing trends
Platinumlist, a Saudi-based online ticketing platform, examines key changes and trends in the industry. Over the past few years, Vision 2030 and the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) initiatives have driven major investment in cultural and entertainment projects. Saudi Arabia's entertainment sector is expected to reach about SAR 17.36 billion by 2030, driven by digitalisation, diversified event formats, and changes in audience behaviour. According to Platinumlist, 70 per cent of tickets are now purchased via mobile, with 31 per cent bought on the same day, reflecting a shift toward spontaneous, mobile-first experiences. Event formats have multiplied and diversified at an unprecedented rate. Between 2016 and 2017, Arabic pop concerts accounted for nearly 100 per cent of all public events, which was both culturally acceptable and logistically feasible at the time. Consumer behaviour and trends Platinumlist's internal data reveals that, as of now no single category dominates. Audiences are engaging with a much wider range of events like experiential formats (attractions, immersive zones, seasonal festivals – 24 per cent), Arabic Music & Concerts (23 per cent) Family & Cultural Content (kids events, lifestyle, national days – 13 per cent), Youth & Niche Segments (EDM, anime, gaming, underground – 13 per cent), business & conferences (3 per cent). 'The primary purchasing pattern involves pairs or small groups, with an average of 2.2 to 2.6 tickets per order, although this varies by event category. Consumer interest in comprehensive entertainment formats is characterised by group attendance (average tickets per order: 2.7 for Attractions, 3.3 for Kids Events),' said Moayad Qudus, Senior Business Development Manager at Platinumlist. He adds, 'Arabic events consistently demonstrate high demand over many years, reflecting stable cultural preferences.' Individual purchases are more typical for event categories such as EDM (1.9), Art (1.7) and Anime & Gaming (1.7). Men aged 25–34 remain the dominant and growing segment of ticket buyers, accounting for 25.2 per cent in 2025. The fastest growth is demonstrated by women in the same age group (25–34 years), whose share has increased to 16.1 per cent, making them a key emerging audience. What's more important, the female audience has risen significantly, from just 1.7 per cent of the tracked digital audience in 2017 to 42.4 per cent in 2025. Stable, moderate interest in ticket purchases persists among men and women aged 35–44. Older age groups (55+) show a consistent decrease in activity, reaching a very low level of engagement in the last year (3.8 per cent). As the young audience is the core segment, mobile sales now account for over 70 per cent of all transactions, with dynamic QR codes ensuring secure entry and cutting ticket fraud by 85 per cent. Accessible same-day ticketing is dominant Ticket-buying behaviour has transformed, with a major shift from dominant mid-range planning (73 per cent in 2017) towards last-minute purchases (51 per cent in 2025) and a notable rise in long-term planning in recent years. The report highlights the following buying behaviour changes: Last-Minute Decisions (Same day or 1 day before): from 12.2 per cent in 2017 to 51.0 per cent in 2024, keeping the trend in 2025 Early Purchases (2-4 days before the event): 14.7 per cent in 2017, peaking during 2020 at 42.3 per cent, and then normalising to 19 per cent in 2024 and 2025. Mid-Range Planning (5-14 days before): dominant purchasing behaviour (73.0 per cent) in 2017, with a drop tendency in the last three years to 21.3 per cent in 2025. Long-Term Planning Purchases (14 days+): almost negligible (less than 1 per cent till 2023) at the start, this segment shows growth in 2024 (14.72 per cent) and 2025 (18.85 per cent). 'This rise in last-minute purchases may reflect enhanced event accessibility and spontaneous decision-making', said Moayad Qudus, Senior Business Development Manager at Platinumlist. 'At the same time, the growth in long-term planning could be driven by an increasing number of high-demand international events that require early ticket acquisition.' Accessibility has improved both in price and frequency. Average ticket order values have fallen from SAR 1,400 in 2018 to around SAR 250 today. This means that events become a more affordable and frequent part of everyday life, and are open to a new audience mix, including families, students, and youth segments. That's why the most affordable and popular categories in the last three years are attractions (SAR 109 on average) and Festivals (SAR 213 on average). With the entertainment sector projected to grow at a 10.44 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), Saudi Arabia holds significant potential to shape the global entertainment landscape. Combining its unique cultural heritage with innovative approaches, the Kingdom is well-positioned to achieve its vision of becoming a hub for world-class events and tourism.
CairoScene
3 days ago
- Business
- CairoScene
Wittify.ai Raises $1.5M to Advance Arabic-First Conversational AI
The Saudi platform is developing Arabic-native speech tech covering over 25 dialects, with integrations for businesses across channels. Jul 16, 2025 a Saudi-based conversational AI startup, has secured $1.5 million in pre-seed funding from a group of angel investors and business leaders in the Kingdom. Founded in 2024, the company is developing an Arabic-first voice and text AI platform with a strong focus on natural speech, regional dialects, and enterprise-grade integrations. Now live in beta, Wittify's platform allows businesses to create multimodal AI agents - text, voice or both - that can be embedded into websites, social media platforms, CRM systems and call centres. The platform's emphasis on cultural fluency and linguistic accuracy is tailored to the specific demands of Arabic-speaking users, while remaining scalable for global application. Beyond conversational logic, Wittify is investing in core Arabic-native speech technologies, including automatic speech recognition (ASR) and text-to-speech (TTS), capable of handling more than 25 regional dialects. The aim is to deliver natural, human-like interactions that are locally intuitive yet powered by advanced AI models. The startup is currently supported by three accelerator programmes and positions itself as an AI-native venture building for long-term regional impact.
India.com
4 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Major relief in Nimisha Priya case: Last-minute negotiations postpone Kerala nurse's execution in Yemen
Major relief in Nimisha Priya case: Last-minute negotiations postpone Kerala nurse's execution in Yemen It was a tense and emotional race against time. Just one day before Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya was supposed to be executed in Yemen, long and careful discussions finally brought a ray of hope as her execution has now been put on hold. This relief came after several people and organizations worked together. The Indian government, some Saudi-based groups, and even the Grand Mufti of Kerala, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, helped in the talks. He even contacted a friend in Yemen's Shoora Council to request support. Finally, late on Tuesday, an official order was issued by the Yemeni court and prison authorities, saying the execution would be delayed until further notice. Indian diplomats who were part of the talks said that India has done everything possible to get this temporary relief, and negotiations will now move to the next stage, discussing blood money (a compensation paid to the victim's family under Yemeni law). Nimisha's husband, Tomy Thomas, shared his happiness but added that more efforts are still needed. Sabu M. Jerome, who helped coordinate the peace talks, thanked the governments of Yemen, India, and all others who helped. He also said that many things being reported in the media are not true and strongly praised the huge role played by the Indian government in getting this stay order. Why is Nimisha Priya facing death penalty? Priya is currently in a Yemeni prison facing the death penalty for allegedly killing her former business partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi, back in 2017. Her situation became very serious when her execution was scheduled for Wednesday. However, a wave of support and last-minute efforts has given her a chance at life. Talks are underway involving Yemen's Chief Justice, a senior religious leader from the Shoora Council, and members of Mehdi's family. The main goal of the talks is to convince the family to accept 'blood money,' a legal provision under Islamic law where the victim's family can choose to forgive in exchange for compensation. This could delay or cancel the execution. In her hometown in Palakkad, Kerala, local leaders and community members are staying hopeful as discussions continue. Support has also come from high places: Kerala Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar spoke to India's Ministry of External Affairs. Kerala's Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, reached out to contacts in Yemen to help mediate. Prominent businessman M.A. Yusuf Ali has offered to provide financial help if needed. Politicians from all parties in Kerala have requested the President of India and the Union government to act urgently. Nimisha Priya's Story: A Life Hanging in the Balance Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to earn a living and support her family. She started by working in hospitals and later opened her own clinic. But things took a tragic turn in 2017 after a serious dispute with her business partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi. In an attempt to get back her confiscated passport, Priya allegedly gave him sedatives. Unfortunately, the sedatives caused his death. She was caught while trying to leave Yemen and was arrested. In 2018, she was convicted of murder, and in 2020, she was given the death sentence. Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council confirmed this sentence in November 2023. However, the court has left a window open: under Islamic law, if the victim's family agrees, they can accept 'blood money' instead of demanding execution. Nimisha's case has attracted both national and international attention, raising concerns about the safety of Indian workers in war-affected countries. Her mother, Prema Kumari, has been a strong voice in this fight. She even travelling to Yemen to try and speak directly with the victim's family. She's not alone. A group of NRI activists and social workers, called the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, is actively working to help her get justice and bring her back home safely. (With IANS inpus)
