RIYADH — The General Real Estate Authority (REGA) has clarified that the statutory 5% real estate transaction tax applies to all property transfers by both Saudi and non-Saudi buyers across the Kingdom. REGA spokesperson Taisir Al-Mufarrij said property transactions involving non-Saudis within designated geographic zones in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah are also subject to an additional 2% fee in accordance with the relevant law and its executive regulations, in addition to the 5% real estate transaction tax. The authority said the regulations governing non-Saudi property ownership in the four cities are designed to reflect the unique characteristics and development…
Author: Editorial Team
Most people expect older iPhones to become cheaper when Apple is about to launch a new model. But that is not always the case. Mobile traders in Dubai’s Deira market told Khaleej Times that prices of older iPhone models can sometimes rise in the weeks before a new launch. They said that this usually happens when more people decide to buy the current model instead of waiting for the next one, pushing up demand while stocks become limited. That is exactly what they say is happening now. Following reports that the upcoming iPhone 18 could be more expensive in the…
RIYADH — Construction of the Riyadh Metro Red Line Extension Project has completed the manufacturing and factory acceptance testing of its dedicated tunnel boring machine (TBM), ahead of the start of tunneling works connecting King Saud University (KSU) with the Diriyah Gate Development Project. The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) said the machine will arrive in Riyadh soon to begin excavation of the underground corridor, marking significant progress in efforts to expand the capital’s public transport network and improve connectivity between key destinations. The TBM operates using an Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) system and features an 11.16-meter-diameter cutterhead with…
e&’s Carrier & Wholesale Services unit recently joined forces with Lenovo Connect to expand connected vehicle and related IoT services across a host of countries. The partnership is based around combining e&’s international network footprint, 5G capabilities and regulatory knowledge with Lenovo Connect’s technology to provide connectivity for electric vehicles, connected cars and next-generation mobility applications. The pair said the agreement aims to simplify international rollouts by providing secure and scalable connectivity, enabling enterprises to efficiently deploy connected mobility solutions across multiple markets. Beyond connected vehicle deployments, the companies positioned the deal as supporting wider digital transformation initiatives, including the…
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, during its 49th session in Geneva, has officially adopted a new food standard for “Maamoul” (a traditional date-filled cookie). The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), chaired the development of this standard within the Codex Coordinating Committee for the Near East (CCNE). This newly adopted standard establishes unified technical requirements for Maamoul and supports the access of high-quality national products to local and global markets. This is particularly significant given that the Kingdom stands as a leading global producer of Maamoul, one of the main products driving the date-processing…
GENEVA — The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted by consensus a Saudi-led resolution aimed at advancing women’s participation in cybersecurity, reinforcing the objectives of the global “Empowering Women in Cybersecurity” initiative launched by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The resolution, introduced by Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva, was adopted during the council’s 62nd session. The resolution seeks to translate the initiative’s vision into practical international action by promoting women’s participation in the cybersecurity sector, developing their skills, supporting career advancement, and helping address the global shortage of…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia strongly condemned Iran’s reported attack on the Saudi vessel Wadiyan and the Qatari vessel Al Rekayyat while they were transiting the Strait of Hormuz, describing the incident as an assault on international maritime security and global energy supplies. In a statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attacks constitute a serious threat to the safety and security of international navigation and the stability of global energy markets. “The Kingdom affirms that Iran’s continued attacks constitute a grave violation of international law, international norms and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, which guarantee freedom…
JEDDAH — The Saudi Cabinet approved the establishment of a unified national visa platform at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, making it the Kingdom’s official national platform for visa services. The Cabinet also approved agreements between Saudi Arabia and the governments of Hungary, Kazakhstan and Poland on mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, service and special passports. Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman chaired the Cabinet session held in Jeddah on Tuesday. During the session, the Cabinet reviewed the state’s activities over the past several days, particularly efforts to strengthen relations with brotherly and friendly…
Lalamove, the leading on-demand delivery platform, today announced its official launch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This marks a new milestone in the company’s global expansion journey and a key step in expanding across the Middle East, directly fueling Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious national blueprint, by building a world-class logistics infrastructure and non-oil diversification with fast, simple and affordable delivery solutions. Driving SME Growth and Reducing Logistics Costs with Flexible Delivery Solutions Founded in Hong Kong in 2013, Lalamove leverages innovative technology to instantly connect users with driver partners and a wide fleet of vehicles. This system enhances SME operations…
Apple and Broadcom recently agreed to expand their longstanding partnership until 2031. A move that suggests a complete switch to the iPhone-maker’s own C-series chips may still be several years away. According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing on the 6th July 2026, Broadcom will develop and supply a range of custom ASIC chips for use across multiple generations of Apple products. The chips include radio frequency components used in iPhones for cellular connectivity, along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity chips and other networking semiconductors. Broadcom has been a long-standing supplier to Apple. Analysts estimate Apple accounts for…