Britain’s air traffic controllers reported a technical issue that disrupted flights at major airports in London and elsewhere in the country on Wednesday, though later said the issue had been resolved.

“Our engineers have now restored the system that was affected this afternoon. We are in the process of resuming normal operations in the London area,” NATS, the country’s air traffic control provider, said in a post on X.

Heathrow Airport said all departures had been paused, and Gatwick Airport said the issue had affected all outbound flights across the UK.

“There are currently no departures from London Gatwick while the situation is being resolved,” it said in a statement on X.

London City Airport also posted on X that flights there were affected by the same issue.

Edinburgh Airport also said departures were currently being held awaiting further information from NATS.

In August 2023, flights across Britain were disrupted after the automatic processing of flight plans malfunctioned.

Britain’s aviation regulator last year said NATS needed to review its contingency plans for outages after the meltdown, after airline bosses said it cost them over 100 million pounds ($133 million) in refunds and compensation.

Yango Group has officially introduced Yasmina, a bilingual human-like AI assistant, to the Omani market. Fluent in both Arabic and English, Yasmina is integrated into Yango’s range of smart speakers — Midi, Mini, and Lite, offering users a natural, intelligent voice interaction experience.

The assistant’s conversational abilities are powered by an upgraded large language model, a key part of YangoAI, the company’s advanced artificial intelligence platform designed specifically for the GCC region.

Localised features that reflect Omani culture

Unlike conventional AI assistants, Yasmina provides features uniquely tailored to the needs of Omani users. Beyond common functionalities such as music streaming and smart home control, Yasmina offers localised content including accurate prayer times for Muscat, traditional recipe recommendations like the beloved Omani Shuwa, and helpful tips for planning family trips to regional landmarks such as Wadi Shab.

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Faith-based functions are a core part of Yasmina’s offerings. Users can listen to Surahs, set Adhans, and receive precise dates based on the Hijri calendar, supporting cultural and religious practices with convenience and respect.

Enhancing education and language skills

Yasmina is designed to foster curiosity and learning for all ages. It simplifies complex topics, supports language development, and provides interactive storytelling, making it a valuable tool not just at home but also in classrooms and on the move. Its bilingual capabilities enable seamless translation between Arabic and English, which benefits bilingual users, language learners, educators, and content creators alike.

Islam Abdul Karim, Regional Head of Yango Group Middle East, emphasized the transformative role of AI in everyday life:
“AI technology is transforming how people live, learn, and connect, and we believe it should be accessible to everyone, everywhere. The Sultanate of Oman has shown strong momentum in embracing AI as a key part of its national digital strategy. We are proud that our ecosystem is expanding with increasingly advanced services designed to enhance the lives of Omani citizens. Through Yasmina and our broader portfolio, we remain committed to delivering innovative solutions that support Oman’s vision for technological sovereignty.”

Echoing this sentiment, the ITHCA Group, the technology investment arm of the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), praised Yango Group’s contribution to the country’s digital ecosystem. “The Yasmina smart speakers will help families, students, and individuals discover the capabilities of AI in ways that feel familiar and practical. We believe that such innovations are well aligned with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040,” the group said.

Step forward in regional digital innovation

The introduction of Yasmina in Oman underscores Yango Group’s dedication to advancing digital innovation across the Gulf region. By bridging cutting-edge AI technologies with local culture and user needs, Yango Group continues its mission to connect communities with tools that enhance everyday living.

Yasmina-enabled smart speakers, Midi, Mini, and Lite, are now available for purchase at various retail and online outlets throughout Oman. To access the full suite of Yasmina’s features, users are required to have an active Yango Play subscription. This AI-powered entertainment super app is currently available across multiple GCC countries and may involve fees and specific terms.

GMG, the global well-being and retail conglomerate, has announced a strategic partnership with Amazon to transform the online shopping landscape across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The collaboration aims to provide customers with competitive prices, curated deals, and seamless access to a wide range of products spanning GMG’s key segments, including Sports, Health & Beauty, and Everyday Goods.

Through the agreement, GMG and Amazon will enhance delivery speeds for high-demand products in grocery, wellness, and lifestyle categories. Shoppers across the region will gain wider access to trusted international and homegrown brands from GMG’s portfolio, all through Amazon’s well-established ecommerce platform.

The move aligns with GMG’s omnichannel vision, which merges its expansive brick-and-mortar presence with advanced digital capabilities. By leveraging Amazon’s strengths in Artificial Intelligence, customer service innovation, and logistics infrastructure, GMG will further scale its ecommerce operations and elevate the digital customer journey.

“This partnership with Amazon represents a pivotal chapter in our digital commerce strategy. As consumer behaviours evolve, we are committed to delivering exceptional experiences driven by technology, speed, and relevance. With the Middle East’s ecommerce market projected to reach $50bn by 2025, this collaboration is timely and strategic. Together, we will establish an unparalleled ecommerce experience that embodies the dynamism and ambition of the retail sector in the Middle East,” said Mohammad A. Baker, deputy chairman and CEO of GMG.

Ronaldo Mouchawar, vice president, Amazon Middle East, Africa, and Turkey, added: “Driven by our customer obsession and long-term thinking, we are proud to collaborate with GMG, a partner who shares our innovative spirit. By combining Amazon’s online retail expertise with GMG’s diverse portfolio, we are making it easier for customers across the region to access the brands and products they love. Together with GMG, we look forward to delighting millions of customers across MENA with this exciting new offering.”

Read: Amazon.ae Prime Day 2025: Your guide to the top deals

With Amazon continuing to expand its product selection and offer services such as same-day delivery, the partnership is poised to set new benchmarks for ecommerce performance in the region. For GMG, the collaboration reinforces its commitment to tech-led retail innovation while accelerating customer reach.

GMG’s retail divisions have seen significant expansion in recent years. GMG Sports operates over 650 stores and represents more than 90 brands, including several proprietary concepts. Its Everyday Goods division runs over 60 stores and manages 10 in-house brands. Meanwhile, GMG Health & Beauty oversees more than 105 stores with four proprietary wellness brands and a selection of globally recognised products.

Customers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt will begin seeing GMG’s product range become available on Amazon.ae, Amazon.sa, and Amazon.eg in the coming months as the rollout begins in phases. This marks the next step in delivering an ecommerce ecosystem that blends scale, convenience, and quality—reflecting the evolving expectations of digitally savvy consumers across the MENA region.

Recently, Dalands, in partnership with Marriott International and supported by Marjan, the master developer of freehold property in Ras Al Khaimah, announced the signing of W Residences Al Marjan Island.

Scheduled to open in Q4 2027, this development will be co-located with the W Al Marjan Island hotel, blending vibrant hospitality with elevated residential living on one of the UAE’s iconic beachfront destinations.

This project marks a new phase in Dalands’ expansion in the UAE, building on its track record in boutique resorts and luxury residences.

In this interview, Saurabh Gupta, CEO of Dalands Holding, discusses how branded residences tied to hotel brands are becoming a more common part of the region’s real estate market.

He explains how hospitality principles are influencing design and service, the growth potential in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, and key trends shaping buyer preferences today and in the near future.

How are hotels influencing branded residences?

Nearly 80 per cent of branded residences globally are linked to hotel brands because the luxury hospitality sector has refined delivering lifestyle-rich experiences.

At Dalands, we draw from hotel design, service culture, and brand storytelling to redefine what ‘living well’ means for residents and investors.

What growth do you expect in hotel-inspired branded residences?

Branded residences have moved beyond niche markets and represent a growing segment.

Globally, the market has increased by 180 per cent in the past decade. Dubai holds 19 per cent of the global inventory and leads the Middle East with 51 operational projects and similar numbers in the pipeline.

Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Marjan Island is also attracting attention due to upcoming developments like the Wynn resort.

How does the experience economy affect this trend?

Buyers today expect convenience, personalisation, and experiences beyond traditional real estate.

We offer triple-layered value: beachfront location, fully furnished and internationally branded residences, and hospitality services through an onsite Marriott hotel.

This integration isn’t just branding for show — it’s reflected in design, construction, and operations.

What can buyers expect from W branded residences?

The offering focuses on three pillars:

• Service excellence with concierge, security, housekeeping, and hospitality on par with top resorts.

• Design distinction, involving global designers working closely with our team and Marriott International.

• Amenity-driven living with wellness, entertainment, and social spaces like infinity pools, screening rooms, and yoga studios.

What’s the outlook for real estate growth in Ras Al Khaimah and other smaller emirates?

Ras Al Khaimah and other emerging emirates are entering a growth phase with government support, key hospitality projects, and investor-friendly policies.

Al Marjan Island is developing into a notable luxury lifestyle destination, and our project signals confidence in the Northern Emirates’ potential.

What real estate trends do you see impacting the sector?

Several trends are shaping the sector. These include:

• Branded living becoming mainstream, with buyers seeking trusted names and curated services.

• A price premium for branded residences, about 30 per cent higher than comparable unbranded properties.

• Unique design aligned with brand identity replacing cookie-cutter styles.

• Wellness amenities and biophilic design becoming standard.

• Mixed-use developments combining residential, commercial, and recreational spaces gaining popularity.

• Millennial and Gen Z buyers influencing design and features as they become dominant market segments.

IBM has released its 2025 edition of the Cost of a Data Breach Report, revealing that the average cost of a data breach in the Middle East declined to $7.29m (SAR27m). This marks a notable 18% drop from $8.86m (SAR32.80m) the previous year. According to the report, the reduction was largely due to increased adoption of AI/ML-driven insights, strong encryption, and a DevSecOps approach.

Lost business remained the most significant contributor to breach costs in the region, averaging $3.14m (SAR11.63m) per incident. This was followed by post-breach response costs at $2.03m (SAR7.50m), detection and escalation at $1.77m (SAR6.55m), and notification costs at $356,400 (SAR 1.32 million).

The financial sector recorded the highest breach costs in 2025, reaching $9.18m (SAR34m), followed closely by the energy and industrial sectors at $8.64m (SAR 32m). These figures highlight the continued financial exposure that organisations face across the entire breach lifecycle.

“It is encouraging to see a meaningful decline in the cost of data breaches in the Middle East this year. It is no coincidence that a region with some of the world’s boldest AI ambitions is also seeing less costly breaches. As organisations accelerate the adoption of AI-driven tools for security, they are improving their ability to detect and contain threats before they escalate. But as attackers grow more sophisticated, continued investment in AI-driven security tools, security talent, and AI governance tools will be essential to sustaining this momentum,” said Saad Toma, general manager of IBM Middle East and Africa.

Read: Why UAE businesses are ahead in AI adoption, reveals IBM’s Lula Mohanty

According to the report, 41% of surveyed organisations in the Middle East have implemented access controls on AI systems to mitigate risks of AI model attacks—compared to just 3% globally. This indicates a proactive regional approach to AI security and governance.

AI governance frameworks are also gaining traction, with 38% of organisations already having policies in place and another 24% developing them. Among those with formal governance, the most common practices include strict approval processes for AI deployments (45%), adversarial testing (44%), and the adoption of AI governance technologies (43%).

On the cost side, organisations with complex security environments saw an average increase of $234,200 (SAR867,378) in breach-related costs. Breaches involving IoT or OT systems added $226,730 (SAR839,750), while cybersecurity staffing shortages led to an additional $221,130 (SAR818,997) per incident.

Third-party vendor and supply chain compromises emerged as the most common initial breach vector, accounting for 17% of incidents, with an average cost of $7.99 million (SAR 29.60 million). Denial-of-service attacks and phishing each represented 14% of cases, with costs averaging $7.34m (SAR 27.20m) and $7.56m (SAR 28m) respectively. Malicious insider attacks, though less frequent at 11%, had the highest cost at $8.91m (SAR33m).

The 2025 Cost of a Data Breach Report draws on analysis of over 600 breaches globally, including organisations in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, between March 2024 and February 2025. Conducted by Ponemon Institute and sponsored by IBM, the report is based on over two decades of research and data from nearly 6,500 real-world breaches.