Image: Getty Images/Image for illustrative purpose
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The United States has issued fresh security alerts through its embassies and consulates across the Middle East, urging American citizens to “exercise heightened vigilance” as Washington launched a new round of military strikes against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), raising fears of further regional escalation.
The warnings came shortly after US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on X that American forces had begun striking IRGC targets in Iran.
In its statement, CENTCOM said: “Today at 12 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran. The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region.”
The alerts, published on Tuesday by multiple US diplomatic missions, warned that the security environment remains volatile and that Americans in the region should be prepared for potential flight cancellations, airspace closures and other travel disruptions.
The warnings come after a sharp deterioration in the regional security situation, with the US launching additional strikes against Iranian targets in response to attacks on commercial shipping and American forces. Iran has vowed to respond, raising concerns that the conflict could widen further.
From startups to unicorns: The LEAP formula turning connections into global growth stories
Basma Dawwas, director LEAP events, says exhibition success is no longer defined by booth location but by strategic engagement, purposeful networking and sustained follow-up, as the global tech event introduces new initiatives to drive meaningful business connections
For years, exhibitors have debated one key question before major industry events: does securing the best location on the exhibition floor guarantee better results? According to Basma Dawwas, director LEAP Events, the answer is changing.
At a global technology gathering on the scale of LEAP, success is no longer determined simply by where a company’s booth is located. Instead, businesses that create meaningful engagement, build anticipation and develop strategic connections before the event are increasingly the ones achieving the strongest outcomes.
With LEAP bringing together more than 201,000 visitors and 1,800 exhibitors in 2025, Dawwas believes the future of exhibitions is moving away from passive visibility and towards purposeful interaction. “Location certainly influences visibility, but it no longer determines success,” Dawwas said.
Creating demand beyond the exhibition floor
Dawwas explained that successful exhibitors are adopting a more proactive approach to participation. Rather than depending solely on visitor traffic, leading companies are creating their own momentum through targeted campaigns, product announcements, speaking opportunities and pre-arranged meetings.
“Businesses that announce product launches, secure speaking opportunities, schedule meetings in advance and build anticipation through their own marketing consistently outperform those who simply wait for footfall,” she said.
This shift reflects a broader change in how companies measure exhibition success. The traditional approach of attracting large crowds to a booth is increasingly being replaced by strategies focused on relevance, engagement and high-value conversations.
“As LEAP has evolved, we’ve also invested heavily in making business connections more intentional,” Dawwas added. For 2026, LEAP will introduce LEAP Connect, a dedicated platform designed to support curated meetings and networking opportunities. The initiative aims to help companies build relationships based on shared objectives rather than relying on chance encounters across the exhibition floor. “Today, relevance beats proximity. The right conversation will always outperform passing foot traffic,” Dawwas said.
The real value begins after the event ends
While exhibitions often focus on what happens during the event itself, Dawwas highlighted that the weeks following LEAP can be even more important for businesses looking to convert conversations into opportunities.
“The most successful exhibitors understand that LEAP isn’t the finish line, it’s the beginning of the relationship,” she said. According to Dawwas, repeat exhibitors stand apart because they act quickly after the event, identifying their strongest leads, personalising follow-ups and maintaining engagement while discussions remain fresh.
“The weeks immediately after the event are often where the greatest commercial value is created,” she said.
Rather than measuring success through the number of business cards collected, leading companies focus on the strength and longevity of the relationships they establish.
“The companies that generate the greatest long-term return don’t measure success by the number of business cards they collect. They measure it by the quality of the relationships they continue building long after the exhibition closes,” Dawwas said.
“In many cases, what happens after LEAP determines whether the event becomes a cost, or a catalyst for growth,” she said.
LEAP’s growth stories
One of the most significant outcomes of LEAP’s evolution, according to Dawwas, has been watching companies grow through the opportunities created at the event.
She highlighted the journey of Ejari as an example of how participation can support long-term business development. After first connecting with investors during LEAP 2023, the company secured an initial $400,000 investment before raising further funding. The company is now returning to LEAP 2026 with a Unicorn Booth.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of reaching our fifth edition is seeing businesses that first joined LEAP as startups return years later as scale-ups, industry leaders and even unicorns,” Dawwas said.
A platform connecting multiple technology frontiers
Dawwas said LEAP’s ability to bring together multiple technology sectors under one platform is one of its defining characteristics. “LEAP differentiates itself by bringing together multiple technology industries that might often sit in separate forums,” she said. The event focuses on demonstrating how technology applications can create practical solutions across industries, moving beyond traditional discussions and presentations. “LEAP also pioneers immersive and experiential activations that go beyond traditional panels,” Dawwas said. “From AI-guided robotic surgery simulations to brain–computer interfaces translating neural signals into speech, visitors are not just hearing about future technologies, they are interacting directly with the organisations building them.”
The rise of new global technology markets
Dawwas also pointed to a major transformation taking place across the global technology landscape: the rise of emerging markets as centres of innovation.
“One of the biggest shifts in global tech is that innovation is no longer concentrated in a handful of traditional hubs,” she said.
Markets that were once considered secondary are increasingly becoming destinations where companies launch products, secure investment and expand internationally. She believes LEAP reflects this changing environment by providing a platform where startups, investors and technology leaders can experience the growth of the Middle East’s technology ecosystem firsthand.
As technology events continue to evolve, Dawwas believes the winners will be companies that look beyond visibility and focus on building meaningful connections, creating experiences and sustaining relationships long after the exhibition doors close.
Image: Getty Images/Image for illustrative purpose
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Qatar Airways is expanding its Saudi Arabia operations this winter with the resumption of flights to four destinations and a double-digit increase in capacity, as the airline looks to meet growing travel demand across the Kingdom.
Services to Qassim will restart on October 25, followed by Taif on October 31, while Yanbu and Tabuk will rejoin the network on January 2 and January 3, respectively. Each destination will initially be served with two weekly flights.
The expansion will see Qatar Airways operate more than 155 weekly flights to Saudi Arabia during the winter schedule, representing an increase of more than 10 per cent compared with the summer season.
Saudi market demand drives expansion
The airline said it carried more than 2.3 million passengers between Saudi Arabia and its global network over the past 12 months, underlining the Kingdom’s importance within its regional strategy.
Earlier this year, Qatar Airways increased services to Riyadh from 35 to 49 weekly flights, offering passengers more connectivity through Hamad International Airport in Doha.
With the latest additions, the carrier’s Saudi network will comprise 13 destinations, including Abha, AlUla, Dammam, Hail, Jeddah, Madinah, Qassim, Riyadh, Tabuk, Taif, The Red Sea and Yanbu. Services to NEOM are expected to resume during the second half of 2027.
Starlink rollout continues
The airline is also expanding its onboard digital offering across the Kingdom.
Passengers travelling on selected widebody services to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam can access complimentary gate-to-gate Starlink Wi-Fi, with Qatar Airways operating more than 685 Starlink-equipped flights across the three routes during July alone.
Winter schedule
Qassim (from October 25, 2026)
Sundays, with an additional Friday service from October 30.
Taif (from October 31, 2026)
Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Yanbu (from January 2, 2027)
Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Tabuk (from January 3, 2027)
Thursdays and Sundays.
Bookings for all four routes are now open through the airline’s website and mobile app. Passengers travelling on eligible flights can also earn and redeem Avios through Qatar Airways Privilege Club, including for upgrades, extra baggage and purchases at Qatar Duty Free.
French environmental services company Veolia has signed three strategic memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power, Ma’aden and Khazeen to accelerate water efficiency, hazardous waste management and industrial decarbonisation across the Kingdom.
The agreements support Saudi Vision 2030 by advancing circular economy initiatives, strengthening environmental infrastructure and expanding local capabilities in water, waste and energy management.
Collectively, the partnerships target some of Saudi Arabia’s most strategic sectors, including desalination, mining and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage.
Improving desalination efficiency with ACWA
Under its agreement with ACWA Power, Veolia will collaborate on improving the performance of seawater desalination plants through enhanced energy efficiency, chemical optimisation, improved water quality and the deployment of advanced digital and operational technologies.
The collaboration will build on previous joint projects and support ACWA’s existing and future desalination portfolio, which currently has a production capacity of 9.7 million cubic metres of water per day.
According to Veolia, the partnership has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by up to 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually while lowering operating costs and strengthening regional water security.
Supporting circular mining with Ma’aden
Veolia’s partnership with mining giant Ma’aden will focus on improving water management and industrial waste treatment across mining operations.
The companies will explore opportunities to increase industrial water reuse while reducing waste generation and recovering valuable materials to create new circular economy opportunities.
The agreement is aimed at supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to develop its mining sector as a key pillar of economic diversification.
Decarbonising LPG infrastructure
The third agreement, signed with Khazeen, a subsidiary of National Gas and Industrialization Company (GASCO), focuses on deploying environmental technologies across the company’s LPG storage infrastructure.
The partnership covers industrial water treatment, hazardous waste management and the development of integrated facility management services spanning water, energy and waste for Khazeen’s customers.
Supporting Saudi Vision 2030
Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, said the agreements reflect the growing importance of environmental infrastructure to economic competitiveness.
“Environmental security has become an essential condition for the sovereignty, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy of territories. In Saudi Arabia, this involves the ability to preserve every drop of water, decarbonise industrial development, and turn waste into resources.
“Through these agreements, and thanks to our cutting-edge technologies and solutions, we are taking action on a large scale to turn challenges into concrete and effective solutions, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.”
Veolia has operated in Saudi Arabia since 1975, providing water, waste and energy services across the Kingdom. The company has been involved in industrial wastewater treatment at Jubail, one of the world’s largest industrial complexes, and continues to support projects focused on industrial water reuse, hazardous waste management and energy efficiency.
France imposes new fast-fashion fees targeting Shein and Temu
The fees add to Shein’s difficulties as the end of duty-free access for cheap e-commerce parcels in the European Union and the US caused the company’svaluation to plunge ahead of its stock market debut in Hong Kong
France started imposing fees on the extreme end of fast fashion on Tuesday to try to curb a surge in sales of cheap clothing sold by e-commerce sites including Shein and Temu.
The charges, part of a fast-fashion law passed in June that aims to address environmental concerns from overproduction, range from €0.25 (30 US cents) for a pair of boxer shorts or socks to €12 ($14) for a coat, with the amount capped at 50 per cent of the product’s pre-tax sales price.
“These platforms are false champions of consumer purchasing power. They sell at low prices, yet their products often fail to meet standards and lack durability,” Commerce Minister Serge Papin told local newspaper Ouest France.
The fees add to Shein’s difficulties as the end of duty-free access for cheap e-commerce parcels in the European Union and the US caused the company’svaluation to plunge ahead of its stock market debut in Hong Kong on Tuesday.
Neither Shein nor Temu responded to requests for comment on the fees. Shein’s spokesperson in France, Quentin Ruffat, has previously said the fast-fashion charges would hurt customers by pushing prices up.
China’s commerce ministry has described the French law as discriminatory and a trade barrier, saying it could be violating WTO principles.
Formula for fees is based on various factors
The French fees, set to increase further from 2030, are calculated using a formula that takes into account the number of products available under a brand, their prices, and their repairability.
France is the first EU country to penalise retailers based on the number of items they offer on their website.
Shein’s product selection included more than 2 million items as of March 31 this year, with 4,700 new apparel styles each day, according to its prospectus.
European retailers, such as Inditex’s Zara and H&M, which offer a smaller range of products on their websites, are not expected to be impacted, according to a briefing by officials on Monday.
Under the EU textile Extended Producer Responsibility directive, all member states must introduce fees by April 17, 2028 that are collected from producers by an association to fund sorting, waste, and recycling of discarded clothing.
In France’s case, the association, Refashion, will manage collection of the new charges and determine who is liable to pay them.
Some other member states have also already set up textile EPR associations, including the Netherlands. However its body, Stichting UPV Textiel, will collect fees from retailers based on the volume of clothing they sell in the country, not the size of their range, according to its website.
Tech, talent and trillions: LEAP East delivers a powerful Hong Kong Debut
The Inaugural edition drew 25,000 attendees, attracted investors managing more than $6.5tn in assets and secured a three-year commitment to keep the event in Hong Kong
The inaugural edition of LEAP East concluded in Hong Kong after three days of discussions, investment announcements and partnership agreements, reinforcing the city’s position as a growing bridge between Asia and the Gulf for technology, innovation and cross-border investment.
Held from July 8-10 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, LEAP East brought together more than 25,000 attendees, including 340 speakers, 450 exhibitors, 300 startups and 600 investors representing more than $6.5tn in assets under management.
The event marked LEAP’s first expansion outside Saudi Arabia, building on the success of the Riyadh technology conference, which has become one of the world’s largest technology gatherings since its launch in 2022. Organised by Tahaluf in partnership with Hong Kong’s Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB), LEAP East served as a platform to connect governments, investors, technology companies and entrepreneurs from Asia, the Middle East and international markets. Discussions centred on artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, smart cities, fintech, healthcare, sustainability and emerging technologies, reflecting growing demand for cross-border technology collaboration.
Image credit: Supplied
Governments reinforce technology ties
The event opened with senior government leaders from Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong underscoring their commitment to strengthening innovation and investment ties between the two regions.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah Alswaha, highlighted Asia’s growing role in the global technology economy, noting the region’s $34tn in economic activity and leadership in artificial intelligence.
Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan emphasised the complementary strengths of both markets.
“Both of us are gateways to our respective regions. There is enormous potential for Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia to do more together, connecting ideas, capital and opportunities across regions and cultures,” Chan said.
Hong Kong’s Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, highlighted the Hong Kong SAR Government’s continued investment in innovation, noting that the city’s startup ecosystem has expanded by nearly 40 per cent since 2021 to more than 5,200 startups in 2025.
“Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has opened extraordinary opportunities for technological development, digital transformation, and new industries. Hong Kong is well-positioned to serve as a super-connector and facilitator for international exchange,” Sun said.
Image credit: Supplied
Partnerships and investment momentum
Commercial partnerships emerged as a key outcome of the event, with Saudi digital solutions company Elm announcing a strategic partnership with Huawei to strengthen cooperation across artificial intelligence, smart city applications, IT infrastructure and technology-driven operational support.
Majid bin Saad Al Oraifi, vice president of Strategic Relations at Elm, said the agreement reflected
the company’s strategy to deepen its presence in Asia while expanding Saudi digital innovation into international markets.
The event also highlighted accelerating commercial ties between Asia and Saudi Arabia, with Saudi companies, startups and investment organisations showcasing technologies while exploring opportunities across Asian markets. Participants included Invest Saudi, Aramco Digital, Made in Saudi and investment organisations such as HUMAIN, PIF and 500 Global.
Amal Dokhan, managing partner for MENA at 500 Global, said investors were increasingly seeking founders capable of building globally scalable businesses.
“The Asia-Middle East corridor is becoming one of the most exciting pathways for the next generation of globally relevant startups,” she said.
The growing relationship was also reflected in Asian companies expanding into Saudi Arabia. Hong Kong-listed technology company Newborn Town highlighted its decision to establish a regional headquarters in Riyadh, citing Saudi Arabia’s long-term growth potential and expanding digital economy.
Hong Kong secures long-term hosting rights
One of the event’s most significant announcements came at its conclusion, when ITIB, the Hong Kong Tourism Board and Tahaluf agreed to a three-year strategic partnership that secures Hong Kong as LEAP East’s exclusive Asian host city through 2029, with the next edition scheduled for December 2027.
Professor Sun said the partnership would strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a two-way platform connecting mainland Chinese enterprises with Saudi and Middle Eastern companies while creating new opportunities for international collaboration.
Dr Peter Lam, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said the agreement demonstrated international confidence in Hong Kong as both an innovation hub and a global meeting destination.
Meanwhile, LEAP East’s Rocket Fuel startup competition awarded $100,000 in equity-free funding to three emerging companies. Finland’s ROTOBOOST claimed the top prize, followed by Saudi Arabia’s Uvera Inc and Hong Kong’s Meinong Robot, with the competition showcasing innovations spanning energy, agriculture and advanced manufacturing.
Annabelle Mander, executive vice president of Tahaluf, said the inaugural edition had exceeded expectations. “The scale of engagement, quality of conversations and level of investment interest underline Hong Kong’s strategic importance as a bridge between Asia and the Middle East. The partnerships and investment commitments announced this week reflect the real business outcomes generated by the event,” she said.
For Tahaluf, the strategic alliance between Informa PLC, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones and the Events Investment Fund, LEAP East represents the international expansion of a Saudi-born technology platform that has announced $44.8bn in investments since 2022. Its Hong Kong debut signalled a new chapter in connecting capital, innovation and technology ecosystems across Asia and the Gulf, while positioning the city as a long-term hub for cross-border partnerships and investment.
