ATM research reveals more must be done to meet UN tourism-related sustainability goals

● The UAE leads regional interoperability through the Riayati platform, unifying nearly 5,000 healthcare facilities under the National Unified Medical Record (NUMR)

● GCC EMR adoption is rising, but adaptable cloud-agnostic HIEs are needed to support regulatory diversity and cross-border collaboration while mitigating fragmented systems

Dubai, UAE – 24 November 2025: As the population grows, chronic disease rates rise, and digital modernization converges, the GCC is in the process of a healthcare transformation. Yet, fragmented data systems continue to slow collaboration, continuity of care, and clinical decision-making. Secure interoperability – effective in connecting hospitals, clinics, and ministries seamlessly – is the region’s answer to unifying patient data, accelerating referrals, and reducing medical errors.

With GCC countries on pace to see their collective populations surge by 30% from 2020 through the end of the decade, advanced healthcare infrastructure is increasingly essential . Interoperability platforms are central to this effort, addressing chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which account for 70–80% of total healthcare expenditure.

The UAE’s Leading Stature in Connected Care

HIEs directly support government strategies for digital transformation and integrated care. This is demonstrated by the UAE’s success with Riayati, the National Unified Medical Record (NUMR) platform. According to the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), Riayati connects nearly 5,000 healthcare facilities as of late 2024, serving more than 100,000 clinicians and holding 14 million unique patient records across the country. It has been successfully integrated with Dubai’s NABIDH and Abu Dhabi’s Malaffi systems, making 1.9 billion medical records accessible via Riayati. This progress has positioned the UAE as a leader for healthcare interoperability in the region.

Cloud-Agnostic Interoperability is the Next Step

Unlike traditional systems tied to a single vendor or cloud provider, interoperability software with cloud-agnostic designs ensures adaptability to countries’ individual regulatory and infrastructure requirements. With healthcare data laws varying widely across the region, this flexibility is critical as governments balance data sovereignty with multi-cloud authorization efforts. Interoperable systems can prevent the vendor lock-in that has slowed down other large-scale health data projects, enabling quick adaptation to local infrastructure and policy requirements.

Rain Stella Technologies (RST) is supporting this shift with its next-generation health information exchange (HIE) platform, Constellation, built on top of proven technology deployed in the United States and now reimagined for the flexibility needed in emerging markets.

Sidra Shahbaz, Sr. Director of Product for Constellation, said: “We are advancing Constellation to shape the GCC’s healthcare future by creating a secure, flexible, and trusted network that enables seamless collaboration among hospitals, clinics, and ministries. By uniting regional leaders around integrated, patient-centred care, Constellation empowers healthcare systems to connect across borders, accelerate referrals, improve outcomes, and build lasting patient trust, paving the way for a resilient, digitally empowered healthcare ecosystem.”

Toward a Unified, Resilient GCC Health Ecosystem

Across the GCC, the need for interoperable health systems is growing rapidly as countries pursue Vision 2030-style agendas to modernize healthcare, reduce data fragmentation, and enhance patient outcomes. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are investing heavily in national health information networks that can benefit from the UAE’s interoperability example. Adopting cloud-agnostic architectures and cross-border data standards will be essential to ensure continuity of care, operational efficiency, and resilience, creating a digitally connected GCC where patient data flows securely, collaboration accelerates, and healthcare systems remain future-ready.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - NOVEMBER 23, 2025 — The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards unveil today the industry-leading jury panel for the 2026 edition, returning to Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City from June 8—11, 2026.

Now entering their fourth year, the Awards continue to spotlight emerging talent and to provide them with the creative momentum to push forward their careers. Established by Creo in partnership with Sony, this annual program for short films celebrates the bold new voices reshaping cinema and gives them the opportunity to forge connections across the international filmmaking community. Shortlisted creators are flown to Los Angeles to attend an exclusive industry program of engaging and interactive sessions and masterclasses, where they are given backstage access through a carefully curated program of screenings and workshops. This unique convergence of insight, craft, and community provides emerging storytellers with the tools to propel their careers forward on a global stage. Free for all to enter, the competition is open for submissions until December 16, 2025.

Leading the selection of this year’s winners is a jury of trailblazers from across the industry: Golden Globe-nominated director and producer Will Gluck (Anyone But You, Peter Rabbit, Easy A), acclaimed producer and President of Film and Television at Pascal Pictures Rachel O’Connor (Challengers, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Little Women), animation co-director Adam Rosette (The Wild Robot, Orion and the Dark, upcoming GOAT), and award-winning director Justin Chadwick (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, The Other Boleyn Girl, upcoming Sierra Madre), who returns as jury chair for the fourth consecutive year.

Justin Chadwick, award-winning theater, television and film director and Chair of the Jury said:

“The shortlist last year brought together 30 exceptional filmmakers whose distinctive voices and compelling narratives earned them a place at the beating heart of Los Angeles’ creative community, giving them unprecedented access to how cinema is evolving in real time. We have a remarkable jury line-up this year, and I speak for us all when I say that we’re searching for films that challenge conventions, spark genuine emotion, and transform how audiences perceive the world around them. As we head into the 2026 edition, we’re eager to discover that kernel of originality and vision that elevates good filmmaking into something extraordinary.”

This year’s shortlisted filmmakers will be announced on April 30, 2026, and flown to Los Angeles for the four-day program at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City from June 8—11, 2026. Led by Sony Pictures executives, these sessions invite the filmmakers to learn more about essential aspects of the industry; from production, to navigating talent deals, and the studio’s film acquisition process, through to working with publicists, animation techniques, and the art of soundtracking a story, as well as cutting-edge technology demonstrations. The program is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to connect with industry leaders and fellow creators from around the world, becoming part of a dynamic network of international filmmakers. The event culminates in a gala ceremony on June 11, 2026, where the category winners will be unveiled and awarded a range of cash prizes and Sony Digital Imaging equipment.

For the 2026 competition, filmmakers can submit short films across five categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Animation, Student, and Future Format – challenging filmmakers to respond to a technical brief that explores the creative possibilities of bold and innovative storytelling. This year Future Format invites entrants to submit shorts created specifically for vertical viewing (9:16 aspect ratio). Also returning to this year’s Awards is the Sustainability Prize, set up by Creo and Sony to spotlight a short film that creatively communicates how themes of environment, accessibility, diversity, equality and inclusion can encourage us to act together to ensure a positive future for the planet.

For more information on the Awards please visit sonyfuturefilmmakerawards.com.

Abu Dhabi, UAE – November 20, 2025 – G42 welcomes the White House’s decision to authorize the export of advanced AI semiconductors to G42. The move marks a pivotal transition from planning to deployment within the UAE–U.S. AI corridor - a collaboration that reflects the strength of bilateral trust and a shared commitment to secure, scalable AI infrastructure.

This milestone accelerates foundational projects already underway in the UAE, including Stargate UAE, the 1-gigawatt AI compute cluster being built by G42 for OpenAI in partnership with Oracle, Cisco, NVIDIA, and SoftBank Group, which is part of the larger UAE–U.S. AI Campus, a 5-gigawatt AI infrastructure hub designed to deliver compute capacity and low-latency inferencing for the wider region. It also supports the expansion of technology collaborations with leading U.S. hyperscalers and chipmakers, including Microsoft, AMD, Qualcomm, Cerebras, and others.

The licensing of advanced chips builds on a common operating picture developed through close U.S.–UAE collaboration to enable the secure global diffusion of American technology. Their deployment will be governed by the Regulated Technology Environment (RTE), a world-class technology and compliance framework pioneered by G42 and approved under U.S. Department of Commerce and Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) guidelines.

Peng Xiao, Group CEO of G42, said: "This announcement marks a defining moment for G42 and our partners as we move from planning into execution. Our shared infrastructure model sets a new benchmark for secure, high-performance compute that is designed to serve the needs of both nations. What we build in the UAE, we will continue to match in the U.S., maintaining symmetry and trust at every layer."

The UAE remains the only nation in the region to have already undertaken this scale of infrastructure development in alignment with U.S. regulatory frameworks, export controls, and governance protocols.

Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council, added: "This decision affirms the depth of trust that underpins the UAE–U.S. relationship. It reflects a shared strategic outlook - where technology is not merely a tool of progress, but a platform for stability, economic resilience, and long-term cooperation. The UAE is proud to play a constructive role in shaping that future."

G42’s deployed, and operational AI infrastructure includes three of the Top500 supercomputers globally, the #2 and #3 in the region, in addition to recently announcing its Maximus-01 supercomputer in New York that ranks 20th globally.  G42’s expanding AI infrastructure footprint now spans Abu Dhabi, France, and multiple locations across the United States, including California, Minnesota, Texas, and New York.

Discounts across every category this White Friday Sales from November 21 to 30 on www.amazon.sa/whitefriday, including daily flash deals from 08:00 PM to 10:00 PM (KSA time), with Same-Day and One-Day Delivery options on thousands of eligible items.

Enjoy 50% off everything at Bazaar with code BWF50, from trendy fashion to home and lifestyle picks.

Maximize your savings with instant bank discounts using Al Rajhi Bank cards, flexible payment options, and Prime-exclusive deals, including early access starting November 20 at 12:01 AM (KSA time).

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 20, 2025: The countdown is on for Amazon.sa’s White Friday Sale, marking one of the most anticipated shopping events this year. Returning from November 21 to November 30 on www.amazon.sa/whitefriday, White Friday is brining customers in Saudi Arabia thousands of deals, exclusive discounts, and fast, reliable delivery options across every category, including electronics, fashion, beauty, home, games, kitchen, grocery, and Amazon Devices. Customers can also shop an extended range of offers on international selections from Amazon US, UK, and Germany, available through the Amazon.sa Global Store.

This White Friday returns with even more excitement, featuring daily flash deals live from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM (KSA time), offering limited-time savings on top picks from popular local and international brands, all with Same-Day and One-Day Delivery on eligible orders.

Additionally, Customers can explore Bazaar, Amazon.sa’s must-visit destination for affordable, trendy fashion, home, and lifestyle finds. During this White Friday Sale, shoppers can enjoy an extra 50% off all Bazaar items with the code BWF50 at checkout, via the Amazon app or at www.amazon.sa/bazaar.

Abdo Chlala, Country Manager at Amazon Saudi Arabia, highlighted the company’s approach, saying: “At Amazon, our focus every White Friday is on delivering a seamless, rewarding shopping experience for customers in Saudi Arabia. This year, we’re bringing even more value with thousands of deals and deep discounts across every category, along with exciting daily flash offers from 8:00 PM to 10:00 on global brands and local favorites, all backed by fast, reliable, or even free delivery on eligible orders to customers throughout the Kingdom. With so much on offer, White Friday on Amazon.sa is a can’t-miss opportunity for customers to shop smart and save big”.

Shop Early, Save More

Prime members can make the most of White Friday with exclusive early access to deals starting November 20 at 12:01 AM (KSA time), unlocking special offers, instant bank discounts, and fast, reliable, or even free delivery on eligible items. Not a member yet? Join at www.amazon.sa/prime for just SAR 16/month or SAR 140/year to enjoy year-round shopping and entertainment benefits.

More Ways to Save This White Friday

• Instant Bank Discounts: Shoppers on Amazon.sa can enjoy exclusive White Friday savings with eligible Al Rajhi Bank cards, up to 20% off for all customers, and up to 25% off for Prime members.

• Buy Now, Pay Later: Customers on Amazon.sa can enjoy hassle-free and affordable shopping with Tabby and Tamara, offering the convenience of splitting payments into 4 interest-free installments, T&Cs apply.

• Amazon Gift Cards: Purchase an Amazon.sa eGift Card for SAR 400 and get up to SAR 40 promotional credit to shop your favorite products this White Friday, T&Cs apply.

• Bank Instalment Plans: Customers in the Kingdom can also opt to 0% instalment plans on eligible purchases from select banks at checkout on Amazon.sa, making payments easier and more flexible, T&Cs apply.

Get ready to shop big this White Friday. Download the Amazon app or visit Amazon.sa/whitefriday to discover incredible deals, and head to Amazon.sa/prime to unlock exclusive Prime offers.

Riyadh, KSA 19 Nov. 2025– Dsquares has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with stc Group to upgrade how Saudi consumers experience rewards and everyday benefits. The collaboration centres on making loyalty more useful in real daily life through instant, personalised digital rewards offered across categories that matter most to consumers.

The agreement integrates Dsquares’ loyalty technology into stc’s ecosystem to support a broader shift in the Kingdom toward customer-centric digital services. The new model aims to provide people with faster access to relevant e-vouchers, easier redemption journeys, and offers that reflect their habits and preferences, moving loyalty from a promotional add-on to a practical part of day-to-day spending.

Marwan Kenawy, Co-founder and CEO of Dsquares, highlighted the long-term vision saying: “We are honoured to partner with stc to power the discount platform for “qitaf,” one of the most trusted and widely used loyalty programs in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. By managing and implementing the “qitaf” e-voucher ecosystem, we’re not just deploying technology; we’re building solutions that enhance everyday experiences for millions of Saudi consumers. This deep commitment to digital transformation ensures that loyalty programs become more accessible, practical, and rewarding across the Kingdom.”

“This collaboration comes at a time when the loyalty sector in the region is undergoing major transformation, as brands shift from traditional, points-based and transaction-driven programs to more human-centric experiences powered by data and behavior, placing the user’s needs at the heart of every feature and value delivered.”

Mohamed El Fahad, General Manager of Loyalty at stc, commented on the new value proposition saying: “This partnership is fundamentally about enhancing value and utility for our members. The collaboration with Dsquares allows us to inject intelligent solutions into our loyalty ecosystem, aiming to provide exclusive, relevant discounts delivered seamlessly as electronic vouchers directly through the new “qitaf” application. This strategic move ensures personalized rewards are instant and practical for our 19 million+ customers, reinforcing “qitaf's” position as a leader in customer appreciation.”

By bringing together a major telecom operator and a regional loyalty specialist, the collaboration reinforces a broader shift underway in Saudi Arabia: moving from traditional, points-heavy loyalty schemes to smarter, behaviour-driven ecosystems. The partnership is designed to give “qitaf” members a more intuitive, practical, and personalised rewards experience, one that integrates smoothly into their everyday spending.

Industry data reflects this momentum: the loyalty market in the Middle East is expected to grow by 16.3% in 2025 to reach USD 3.27 billion, with the wider MENA region forecast to expand from USD 5.85 billion to USD 9.38 billion by 2028. This rapid growth underscores the shift toward more sophisticated, consumer-centric loyalty ecosystems, making initiatives like the stc–Dsquares partnership increasingly critical to meeting evolving expectations.

As part of the agreement, Dsquares will implement the digital infrastructure that powers “qitaf’s” e-voucher ecosystem and curate the expanded “qitaf” Marketplace. This ensures members receive timely, relevant discounts based on their points balance and shopping patterns, making “qitaf” a more useful companion in daily life.