WhatsApp has announced a suite of new features for its Updates tab, introducing monetisation options for Channel creators and new advertising tools aimed at businesses, while maintaining its focus on user privacy.

Read-New WhatsApp features updates: What’s changing in your app

The Updates tab—home to both Status and Channels—has seen rapid adoption, with more than 1.5 billion users visiting it daily, according to the company. Meta-owned WhatsApp says the new features are designed to help users discover new content and enable organisations to grow their presence on the platform, a WhatsApp blog reported.

“We’re encouraged by the enthusiasm for the Updates tab and want to help admins, organisations, and businesses grow on WhatsApp,” the company said in a statement.

Three major additions

The latest updates include three key features:

• Channel Subscriptions: Users will soon be able to subscribe to their favorite Channels for a monthly fee to receive exclusive content.
• Promoted Channels: A new discovery mechanism will allow Channel admins to pay for greater visibility in the directory, helping them reach a wider audience.
• Ads in Status: WhatsApp will introduce advertising in the Status section, enabling users to interact with businesses directly from the ad.

WhatsApp emphasised that these features will be confined to the Updates tab, keeping users’ personal messaging experience unchanged.

“If you only use WhatsApp to chat with friends and loved ones, there is no change to your experience at all,” the company noted.

Privacy protections still in place

WhatsApp reiterated its commitment to privacy, stating that all personal messages, calls, and statuses remain end-to-end encrypted.

“To show ads in Status or suggest Channels, we’ll use limited information like your city, language, or which Channels you follow,” the company explained. “For users who have linked their WhatsApp with Meta’s Accounts Center, ad preferences and activity across Meta apps may also influence what is shown.”

Importantly, WhatsApp stressed that it will never share or sell users’ phone numbers to advertisers, nor will it use messages, calls, or group activity to target ads.

New opportunities for businesses

Businesses and Channel admins are being encouraged to take advantage of the new features. WhatsApp positions the Updates tab as a key area where brands can connect with users without intruding on private conversations.

“Over 1.5 billion users visit the Updates tab daily. That’s a huge opportunity for businesses to be discovered and grow,” the company stated.

Through ads in Status, businesses can promote products or services using temporary photo, video, or text updates. These ads will allow users to initiate conversations with businesses directly in-app.

Meanwhile, Promoted Channels will allow organisations to increase visibility within the Channels directory, which offers one-way broadcasts of text, media, stickers, and polls.

Carefully calibrated move

WhatsApp has long resisted introducing ads into its core messaging interface. With this rollout, the company is attempting to balance monetisation with user trust.

“We’ve been talking about our plans to build a business that does not interrupt your personal chats for years,” WhatsApp said. “We believe the Updates tab is the right place for these features.”

Google contributed Dhs21.8bn to the UAE economy in 2024, according to a new report by UK-based research consultancy, Public First.

The findings reflect the growing role of Google’s products — powered by artificial intelligence — in supporting digital transformation, business growth, and individual productivity across the country.

The Google Economic Impact Report, launched today, outlines the contribution of tools such as Google Search, Ads, Play, Maps, YouTube, and the Gemini AI assistant to people, businesses, and communities in the UAE.

According to the report, Google’s Search and Ads products alone were responsible for Dhs20.2bn in economic activity in 2024, helping thousands of local businesses reach customers and grow their operations.

“We’re incredibly proud to be a partner in the UAE’s boundless ambitions,” said Anthony Nakache, MD for Google in the Middle East and North Africa.

“The report reflects our investment in accelerating the country’s ambitious journey towards a diversified, AI-powered economy. Through strategic investments, local partnerships, and our AI-powered tools, we’re bringing substantial economic value and empowering individuals, businesses, and communities in the UAE,” he added.

Training and skills development

The report notes that more than 430,000 people in the UAE have received training in digital and AI skills since 2018 through Google’s Maharat Min Google initiative. These efforts support the UAE’s broader vision of becoming a knowledge-based economy.

The Android and Google Play ecosystem also contributed significantly to the UAE’s digital economy in 2024, supporting around 30,000 jobs and generating Dhs455m in revenue for local developers.

Impact on daily life and consumer productivity

Public First estimates that Google services deliver an average monthly consumer benefit of Dhs683 per user.

In the UAE, 63 per cent of adults said they had used Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, and 90 per cent of those users agreed it improved their productivity. Additionally, 71 per cent said Gemini was easier to use in Arabic than other AI chatbots.

Other widely adopted tools include Google Maps and Waze, with 89 per cent of adults saying they found them useful for navigation. Meanwhile, 90 per cent of users noted that mobile payment platforms such as GPay and GWallet improved everyday convenience.

Half of all adults surveyed said that Google Search was essential to their daily routines.

Business productivity and AI adoption

AI usage among UAE businesses is on the rise, with 91 per cent of companies reporting that they use at least one AI tool in their workflows.

Nearly all public sector respondents (97 per cent) agreed that Google’s AI-powered tools helped them be more productive.

Consumer behaviour also reflected strong digital engagement:

• 94 per cent use Google Search monthly to compare prices

• 86 per cent consult Google reviews before visiting businesses

• 80 per cent use Google Maps or Waze to locate local venues

• 73 per cent of 18–24-year-olds browse or shop online via Search weekly

Creative and developer ecosystem

The UAE’s creative economy is also benefitting from Google’s platforms. More than 600 UAE-based YouTube channels now have over one million subscribers — a 15 per cent increase year-on-year.

In addition, more than 20,000 journalists and journalism students across the MENA region, including the UAE, have been trained by the Google News Initiative.

Methodology

The report is based on surveys conducted in March 2025 with 1,110 UAE-based online adults and 389 business leaders, carried out in English and Arabic.

Results were weighted to ensure national representation.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has announced new technical regulations aimed at enhancing food transparency and empowering consumers to make informed dietary choices when dining out. The regulations will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Read-Job seekers alert: Saudi announces new employment rules

Under the new rules, food establishments—both physical and online—must include detailed nutritional information on all menus. Among the key requirements is a new “saltshaker” label for meals high in sodium, visible caffeine content disclosures for beverages, and an indication of the estimated physical activity time needed to burn off the calories in a dish.

These regulations also extend to digital food ordering platforms, a Saudi Press Agency report said.

According to the SFDA, the initiative is designed to promote healthier food options, raise awareness of dietary habits, and help consumers manage their salt and caffeine intake in accordance with global health recommendations.

World Health Organisation (WHO) advise

The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that adults should limit sodium consumption to no more than 5 grams of salt per day—roughly one teaspoon. For caffeine, WHO recommends a maximum of 400 mg per day for adults and 200 mg for pregnant women.

To support both compliance and public awareness, the SFDA has made resources available. Consumers and food establishments can access a “Caffeine Calculator” on the SFDA website to monitor intake levels.

The full technical regulations, covering high-salt meal labeling, caffeine disclosures, and calorie burn indicators, can be downloaded from the SFDA’s “Mwasfah” platform. For further information, the SFDA can be contacted via its unified hotline at 19999.

Holy Mosques authority urges health measures for safe worship

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque is also urging visitors to follow health and safety guidelines while performing their religious duties in Makkah.

Worshippers are encouraged to wear face masks, use hand sanitizers, wash hands frequently, avoid sharing personal items, and stay well-hydrated, especially during peak heat hours. Visitors should also avoid overcrowding at entry and exit points and seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms.

Three emergency health centers operated by the Makkah Health Cluster remain open 24/7 to serve visitors. The authority emphasized that these precautions reflect the Saudi government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring a safe and comfortable worship experience for all.

Gold prices gained on Thursday, June 19, as the Iran-Israel tension entered its seventh day, while platinum rose to a more than 10-year high on expectations of a supply shortfall.

Spot gold was up 0.1 per cent at $3,371.15 an ounce, as of 0526 GMT. US gold futures fell 0.6 per cent to $3,388.60.

Read-Gold gains as Israel-Iran crisis lifts safe-haven appeal

“Gold has made a modest bounce as we await the next steps in the Israel-Iran conflict. If the US does decide to get directly involved, this could raise the geopolitical stakes,” KCM Trade Chief Market Analyst Tim Waterer said.

Gold edges up amid heightened geopolitical tensions

Gold is often used as a safe store of value during times of geopolitical and financial uncertainty.

Meanwhile, the US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday. Fed policymakers still forecast slashing rates by half-a-percentage point this year, but they have slowed the pace of future cuts.

However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell cautioned against putting too much weight on this outlook, warning of “meaningful” inflation ahead as higher import tariffs loom.

Elsewhere, platinum rose 1 per cent to $1,336.08. Earlier in the session, the metal hit $1,348.72, its highest level since September 2014.

Platinum surges to 10-year high on supply concerns

“Platinum lease rates are high, so the refineries are not looking to manufacture because the cost is much higher. So demand is coming, but there’s not enough supply… above ground inventory is tight,” said Brian Lan, managing director at GoldSilver Central, Singapore.

Platinum lease rates refer to the cost of borrowing platinum for a set period of time. High lease rates can indicate a shortage of platinum in the market.

The Executive Council of Dubai has approved the launch of the ‘Dubai Orchestra’ to enhance the emirate’s global cultural profile and expanding opportunities for Emirati and international talent in the arts sector.

The project was approved under the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.

“Art is a universal language that connects people, and Dubai is a hub for initiatives that build bridges between cultures and celebrate creativity,” said Sheikh Hamdan. “We continue to support and empower the cultural and artistic sectors by establishing an integrated and sustainable infrastructure that promotes the growth and prosperity of cultural and creative industries.”

The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority will lead the implementation of the project in collaboration with public and private sector partners.

By 2033, the orchestra aims to include Emirati talent in 50 per cent of its membership. The project also supports wider cultural and economic goals outlined in the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy, the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and the Dubai Social Agenda 33.

Dubai Orchestra to embody emirate’s ‘creative’ ambitions and support Emirati talent

Sheikh Hamdan described the orchestra as a reflection of Dubai’s cultural identity and an initiative that embodies the emirate’s creative spirit. “We have approved the ‘Dubai Orchestra’ project as a key avenue for expanding international cultural collaboration. It contributes to developing the cultural and arts sectors, further highlighting Dubai’s rich and diverse cultural landscape and heritage.”

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said the approval marks a significant step in reinforcing Dubai’s presence on the global arts stage.

“This project is a powerful reflection of Dubai’s creative scene, celebrating local talent, shaping a distinctive musical identity, and enhancing the city’s global standing in the cultural sector,” said Sheikha Latifa.

The initiative will also launch a series of community-focused programmes, including education and youth outreach initiatives designed to build long-term engagement with music and the arts.

These activities aim to promote artistic expression, support emerging musicians, and preserve regional musical heritage.