Amazon on Tuesday announced the expansion of its fastest delivery service yet, Amazon Now, offering deliveries of everyday essentials in as little as 15 minutes across the UAE as it builds more micro-fulfilment centres to bring products closer to customers.

The new service, now available to all Amazon.ae customers, will deliver a range of items including groceries, fresh produce, electronics, and personal care products, while Prime members receive free delivery on orders above Dhs 25.

The company said some customers in select areas have already received deliveries in under six minutes.

“We are continuing to take convenience to the next level with Amazon Now, our fastest delivery service yet in the UAE,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, VP of Amazon Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. “Every innovation at Amazon starts with our customers, and Amazon Now is designed for their pace of life here, bringing everyday essentials to customers in minutes.”

The company is embedding micro-fulfilment centres within neighbourhoods across the country to shorten delivery distances and ease traffic congestion.

The service operates 24/7 across major areas including Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Business Bay, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Abu Dhabi Central, among others.

Amazon launches two-hour delivery option

Alongside Amazon Now, the company also launched a two-hour delivery option for thousands of items across more than 30 categories, including electronics, grocery, health, and baby products.

Both services are part of Amazon’s broader push to speed up last-mile delivery and improve convenience for UAE shoppers.

Prime members can access free two-hour delivery on orders above Dhs100 or pay Dhs3 for smaller orders. Amazon said that customer adoption has been strong, with daily orders growing by more than 40 per cent month-on-month and Prime members doubling their shopping frequency after using Amazon Now.

“Customers get even more value through exclusive savings, faster delivery, and added benefits on top of what they already enjoy year-round,” Mouchawar said.

The new micro-fulfilment network uses advanced inventory systems and proximity-based logistics to anticipate hyperlocal demand and optimise delivery routes.

The company said the initiative is part of its ongoing commitment to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability by reducing delivery distances and congestion.

Read: Amazon Bazaar launches in UAE: products as low as Dhs4

Kuwait’s Ministry of Public Works has signed a contract with Turkish construction company Kuzu to build a wastewater treatment plant and its related works for the South Al Mutlaa city project, it said on Tuesday.

The contract, valued at KWD149.6m ($488.9m), will use a hybrid system combining conventional and renewable energy sources, ministry spokesperson Ahmed Alsaleh told Reuters.

Read more-Kuwait moves ahead: Gulf rail link design contract signed

The signing of the contract coincides with a visit by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to Kuwait, during which he will hold talks with the Emir and sign agreements covering the defence industries, energy, investment, and trade.

The plant will serve residents of the Al Mutlaa city development and produce around 400,000 cubic metres of tertiary-treated water per day for agricultural and other uses, the ministry said in a statement.

The Al Mutlaa city project is located in northern Kuwait, about 40 km from Kuwait City, and includes more than 28,000 housing units.

Flydubai has announced the signing of seven new interline agreements, further strengthening its global reach and expanding its list of interline partners to more than 40. The strategic move significantly enhances travel options for flydubai customers, particularly across Europe and Asia, as it aims to boost seamless connectivity and international trade routes.

Through these partnerships, flydubai passengers now have access to over 30 destinations across Europe via Aegean Airlines, Greece’s flagship carrier, and ITA Airways, the national airline of Italy. Travellers heading to the Far East and South-East Asia can benefit from enhanced connectivity to more than 90 destinations through agreements with Myanmar Airways International, along with Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, and Sichuan Airlines, according to a report from WAM.

Read more-UAE travellers alert: Free first-class tickets, seat sales and millions of miles

These interline agreements will allow passengers to enjoy a unified travel experience with single-ticket itineraries and through-checked baggage, underscoring flydubai’s continued investment in providing convenience and flexibility to its growing customer base.

With more than 135 destinations in its own network, flydubai now offers access to over 300 global destinations through its expanding list of interline and codeshare agreements.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO at flydubai, commented on the development:

“Since 2009, we have remained committed to enhancing connectivity and facilitating free flows of trade and tourism, which is why we are pleased to have added seven new interline partners. These agreements will provide our passengers even more flexibility and choice when planning their travel, offering access to our partners’ route networks across key markets in Asia and Europe. At the same time, more passengers will be able to access Dubai as a leading destination for tourism and business, reaffirming its position as an international aviation hub.”

Emirates adds 6 weekly flights to London Heathrow ahead of winter travel surge

Meanwhile, flydubai’s codeshare partner Emirates is preparing for a busy winter travel season by adding six weekly flights to its existing London Heathrow schedule, starting 26 October 2025. The decision comes in response to record demand and heightened travel activity during the year-end peak, according to an official release from Emirates.

Emirates currently operates six daily flights to and from London Heathrow, all using its flagship Airbus A380. The additional six flights will bring the total to 48 weekly flights, providing travelers with more flexibility and choice. Operated with a Boeing 777-300ER, each flight will offer over 350 seats in a three-class configuration—First, Business, and Economy.

The new flights will operate on all days except Fridays and are strategically scheduled to align with key departure and arrival windows. Overnight departures from London to Dubai will offer smooth onward connections to popular destinations including Durban, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Jakarta.

The additional flights will also benefit travelers arriving in London from major West Asian and Middle Eastern cities such as Ahmedabad, Lahore, Maldives, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bahrain, Dammam, and Riyadh, as well as Chinese hubs Beijing and Shanghai.

Key flight details include:

• Flight EK41: Departs Dubai at 13:40hrs on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday; arrives at Heathrow at 17:40hrs
• Flight EK42: Returns from Heathrow at varying times based on the day, with all flights arriving in Dubai the following morning
• Thursday schedule: EK41 departs Dubai at 12:55hrs and arrives in London at 16:55hrs; EK42 departs at 21:20hrs

All times are local to their respective departure and arrival cities.

The twin announcements by flydubai and Emirates reinforce Dubai’s strategic focus on aviation-led connectivity and its commitment to maintaining its status as a global travel and business hub. With robust interline partnerships and increased flight frequencies to key international destinations, both airlines are positioning themselves for continued growth amid rising global travel demand.

At GITEX Global 2025, du positioned itself as a strategic sovereign AI partner under the theme “AI’s not just the future. With us, it shapes your next step.” The company demonstrated how its expanding portfolio of AI, connectivity, and digital infrastructure solutions are enabling both public and private sectors to accelerate their AI transformation journeys.

Located at Digital Cities Hall 19, du’s showcase presented a forward-looking view of how sovereign AI ecosystems and next-generation connectivity will shape the UAE’s digital economy. Two standout exhibits at this year’s event were du Tech’s AI Park and du Business’ Maritime and Offshore Connectivity Services — both underscoring du’s mission to drive innovation across land and sea.

du Tech: powering sovereign AI innovation

At the heart of du’s technology showcase was the AI Park — a 44-hectare facility in Warsan that aims to position Dubai as a global hub for AI research, innovation, and deployment. The Park will feature liquid-cooled hyperscale data centres capable of delivering up to 1.5 GW of compute capacity, supporting the most demanding AI workloads in a secure, sovereign environment.

Beyond infrastructure, du’s AI Park is designed to host AI research laboratories, start-up incubators, and sovereign hybrid AI production clusters — providing a unified environment where innovators can prototype, scale, and deploy AI applications safely within the UAE.

Complementing this vision, du Tech also introduced its National Hybrid AI — an integrated platform that extends du’s National Hypercloud capabilities. It allows enterprises and government entities to develop AI applications across multiple cloud environments and deploy them securely on du’s sovereign infrastructure. By combining sovereign data compliance, advanced 5G and fibre networks, and strategic hyperscaler partnerships, du is offering a scalable, investment-light path for organisations to drive innovation.

du Business: advancing maritime and offshore connectivity

Another highlight of du’s GITEX presence was its Maritime and Offshore Connectivity Services showcase under du Business. Through a partnership with Elcome, a Tier 1 Starlink Authorized Reseller, du is delivering next-generation maritime connectivity solutions that ensure uninterrupted communication from deep sea to shore.

Vessels equipped with Elcome’s integrated systems benefit from Starlink’s high-speed satellite service during offshore operations and seamlessly transition to du’s 4G and 5G mobile networks upon approaching UAE shores. This intelligent network switching — powered by AI and real-time data applications — supports continuous connectivity for critical operations, crew welfare, and vessel monitoring.

The integration of satellite and terrestrial networks reduces communication downtime, enables data-driven decision-making, and enhances safety across maritime routes. For the UAE, it represents a significant step in reinforcing its status as a global maritime hub while accelerating the digital transformation of the shipping sector.

Through its dual focus on AI and connectivity at GITEX 2025, du demonstrated how sovereign infrastructure and intelligent networks can underpin national-scale innovation — shaping not just the future of AI, but the next phase of the UAE’s digital evolution.

Livestreaming, defined as the real-time broadcasting of audio-visual content over the Internet, is transforming the way creators, businesses, and consumers interact. Unlike traditional broadcasting, livestreaming allows for instantaneous communication, building a deeper sense of immediacy, authenticity, and community between creators and audiences.

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, this transformation is accelerating rapidly. According to Kearney’s report, “The Livestreaming Entertainment Revolution: What’s at Stake?”, entertainment livestreaming is experiencing explosive growth and creating significant economic and societal value. Countries across MENA now have a clear opportunity to harness this momentum and establish themselves as key production hubs in this fast-growing space.

While traditional video formats, like pay TV and linear broadcasting, continue to exist, they are rapidly being eclipsed by newer, interactive digital alternatives. Livestreaming stands out among them, combining entertainment with engagement, and appealing to a global audience increasingly drawn to personalised, real-time experiences.

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MENA’s most advanced digital economies, such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, are already seeing strong adoption. These countries are emerging as early leaders in a digital wave that is reshaping entertainment, commerce, and entrepreneurship.

One of the biggest drivers of this shift is TikTok LIVE, which has become an essential tool for brands, creators, and entrepreneurs in MENA.

The platform’s livestreaming capabilities allow real-time interaction, bringing audiences closer to brands and creators in new, emotionally resonant ways.

“TikTok LIVE complements traditional e-commerce channels by driving discovery, brand affinity, and purchase intent,” said Sami Kobayter, head of Business Partnerships for Consumer Industries, Global Business Solutions at TikTok MENA. Through live sessions, brands can conduct product demos, hold Q&A sessions, and engage users in interactive experiences that foster trust and loyalty.

This has proven especially effective in MENA, where consumers increasingly prefer immersive content formats that reflect local culture and habits. Livestreaming creates a sense of intimacy and transparency that static posts and traditional ads simply can’t replicate.

UAE brands tap into TikTok’s engagement power

Businesses across the UAE have been particularly proactive in leveraging TikTok LIVE to deepen customer relationships and drive sales. From fashion to electronics, retailers are using livestreaming to deliver a dynamic experience that bridges entertainment and commerce.

They’re showcasing products in real-time, offering tips and tricks, and delivering behind-the-scenes insights that demystify offerings for consumers. This strategy helps to build credibility, especially in local markets where consumers value direct, authentic interaction.

UAE businesses are also employing strategic techniques like flash sales, exclusive livestream discounts, and time-limited promotions to create urgency and boost conversions. Many are partnering with trusted content creators who resonate with niche communities, helping brands tap into hyper-targeted audiences.

A standout example is Samsung, which has embraced TikTok LIVE to drive both brand awareness and product sales. The brand launched a series of highly effective livestreams ahead of Ramadan and Eid, called “Ramadan Souq”, co-hosted by popular tech influencer Ahmad Boarki (@slorks). These sessions revealed exclusive Eid offers and giveaways, blending cultural relevance with commercial appeal.

Samsung also capitalised on its presence at the Dubai Esports and Games Festival by livestreaming from its Gaming Zone on-site. Hosted by well-known Emirati gamer Mohamed Aamer (@mohdaamer), the sessions allowed online audiences to feel immersed in the festival and directly engage with Samsung’s gaming products, promotions, and giveaways.

By integrating livestreams with on-the-ground activations, Samsung created a seamless experience that combined community engagement with measurable business outcomes. These campaigns demonstrate how TikTok LIVE can serve as a powerful engine for both digital and physical sales.

“LIVE is proving to be a powerful tool for businesses, for brand storytelling, audience building, long-term customer engagement, and even sales,” Kobayter noted.

Driving the creator economy across MENA

Beyond corporate use, TikTok LIVE is enabling a new class of digital entrepreneurs to thrive across MENA. The platform is empowering creators to monetise their creativity, build personal brands, and engage audiences without needing traditional studios, production companies, or intermediaries.

According to Yahya Munir, TikTok LIVE Trust & Experience manager for MENA, livestreaming has evolved beyond just content creation, it is now a critical income channel. Creators across the region are increasingly using LIVE to connect with their followers, promote services, and even sell products directly through the platform.

This creator-first model is breaking down longstanding barriers to economic participation, making the digital economy more accessible than ever. The democratisation of content creation, enabled by mobile-first technology, means that anyone with a phone, an idea, and an audience can tap into real economic opportunity.

In the UAE alone, over 115,000 creators go live on TikTok every single day, highlighting the platform’s deep integration into the region’s cultural and digital fabric.

$17.8bn industry by 2030

Kearney’s report forecasts that by 2030, livestreaming will contribute up to $17.8bn to the MENA region’s digital economy. This immense growth will be driven largely by creator-led content and the multiplier effect it generates through related industries.

This impact is already visible in Saudi Arabia, where the livestreaming sector is expected to support 76,000 full-time jobs directly and an additional 60,000 indirect jobs within the broader ecosystem by 2030. Egypt, too, is seeing strong results, with livestreaming and its induced economic activities currently contributing 0.3 per cent of the country’s GDP, a figure projected to hit $4.7bn by the end of the decade.

The broader implication is clear: livestreaming is not just a trend, it is a foundational pillar of the region’s emerging digital economy. It supports job creation, entrepreneurship, GDP growth, and tax revenue, while also modernising the entertainment sector.

The livestreaming boom aligns closely with regional transformation agendas such as Saudi Vision 2030 and UAE Vision 2031, both of which prioritise innovation, entrepreneurship, and the growth of the digital and creative economies.

By enabling grassroots creators and small businesses to thrive, platforms like TikTok LIVE support national goals around economic diversification, youth empowerment, and job creation. The accessibility of the format further ensures that growth is inclusive and far-reaching.

TikTok’s ongoing investment in creator success

To further support this fast-growing ecosystem, TikTok has introduced a suite of features and initiatives aimed at helping creators scale. Programs like LIVE Fest highlight top creators and showcase the cultural and commercial impact of real-time content.

Globally, tools such as the Creator Chat Room, Creator Inbox, and LIVE safety features have been rolled out to help users better manage their livestreams. In MENA, TikTok has tailored support to local needs, launching training initiatives and campaign support during key cultural moments like Ramadan.

These efforts reinforce TikTok’s commitment to creator empowerment, not just as a platform for entertainment, but as a true economic enabler.

“It’s this combination of accessibility, empowerment, and platform investment that’s turning TikTok LIVE into a launchpad for the region’s next generation of digital entrepreneurs,” said Munir.