Patients with schizophrenia in the UAE will soon have access to a long-acting treatment that only needs to be administered once every six months, after Emirates Health Services (EHS) introduced the therapy at Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital, making it the first government hospital in the country to offer the option. The treatment, BYANNLI, is designed to support sustained symptom control while reducing the need for frequent doses. Health officials say the move could help improve treatment adherence, lower the risk of relapse and ease the burden on patients, their families and caregivers. Dr Essam Al Zarooni, Executive Director of the…
Author: Editorial Team
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has been appointed to lead the ISO/TC 357 technical committee responsible for developing global standards for wound dressings and wound compresses, becoming the first country in the region to do so. The Kingdom’s international milestone to chair an international technical committee under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) stems from collaboration between the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO). Represented by the SFDA, Saudi Arabia will serve as the committee’s secretariat and lead its technical work to develop international standards covering terminology, safety and performance requirements, testing…
RIYADH — More than 63,000 Saudi families moved into their first homes during the first half of 2026 as part of ongoing efforts to expand homeownership and provide suitable housing, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing announced. The ministry said 63,076 Saudi families moved into their first homes during the first six months of the year, including 12,004 families in June, as it continued expanding access to a range of housing and financing solutions. It added that 48,631 Saudi families benefited from housing support services during the first half of the year, including 10,160 families who received support in June.…
The Saudi Swimming Federation honored national team swimmer Hassan Ali Al-Shalati following his bronze medal performance in the men’s 50m freestyle event for the 13–14 age category at the Asian Aquatics Championships, held in Thailand from July 17 to 22. Al-Shalati won the bronze medal with a new personal best and championship-best time of 25.15 seconds, marking a notable achievement for Saudi swimming at the continental level. The recognition ceremony was held on the sidelines of the Saudi Swimming Championships at the Ministry of Sport swimming pool in Riyadh. Source: Riyadh Daily
A new trend is sweeping across X, and it is making users stop scrolling. Known as the “press and hold” or “tap and hold” trend, posts invite people to long press an image on the X mobile app. What first appears to be an ordinary AI-generated picture suddenly transforms into a much sharper, more detailed version as the higher resolution image loads, creating the illusion of a hidden reveal. The trend has exploded over the past few days, with creators posting fantasy landscapes, anime characters, portraits and surreal artwork alongside simple captions such as “Press and hold” or “Long press.”…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s merchandise exports increased 3.9 percent in May 2026 compared with the same month last year, driven by a 19.5 percent increase in oil exports, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The report showed that the merchandise trade surplus also surged 328.8 percent year-on-year. Non-oil exports, including re-exports, declined 26.1 percent compared with May 2025, while national non-oil exports, excluding re-exports, fell 27.3 percent. Re-exported goods also decreased by 24.4 percent, driven by a 32.4 percent decline in machinery, electrical equipment and parts, which accounted for 46.2 percent of total re-exports. GASTAT’s figure showing the…
RIYADH — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held separate phone calls with his Qatari and Egyptain counterparts to discuss supporting efforts aimed at de-escalation and the safety of maritime corridors in the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea. During the Prince’s separate calls with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, the ministers discussed the latest regional developments. They also reviewed ways to continue supporting efforts aimed at de-escalation and advancing diplomatic solutions, in a manner…
JAZAN — More then 68,000 tablets subject to medical circulation regulations were seized by the Border Guard land patrols in the Al-Daer Sector of the Jazan Region. Jazan’s patrols foiled an attempt to smuggle 68,100 tablets and completed the necessary preliminary legal procedures. The authorities said the seized tablets were handed over to the competent authority. The security authorities urged the public to report any information related to drug smuggling or trafficking by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, 999 in all other regions of the Kingdom, 994 for the Border Guard, or 995 for the General…
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continues distributing food baskets to displacement centers across southern Gaza as part of its humanitarian efforts to strengthen food security and support families in need. The assistance helps ease daily hardships while bringing moments of joy to children amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The food baskets provide beneficiary families with essential food supplies to help meet their basic needs. The smiles on the children’s faces as they receive the assistance reflect the project’s humanitarian impact and its support for the most vulnerable members of the community. The initiative…
RIYADH — Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held separate phone calls with his counterparts from Türkiye and South Africa to discuss military and defense cooperation, regional developments, and efforts to strengthen peace and security. During a call with Turkish National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, Prince Khalid discussed ways to enhance and develop military and defense cooperation between the two brotherly countries. The two ministers also reviewed their joint efforts to promote peace in the region amid current developments and discussed a number of regional and international issues. In a separate call with South African Minister of Defence and…