عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

UAE Request Delay of Expo 2020 until October 2021 due to Coronavirus

An aerial view taken after the recent crowning of Al Wasl dome shows the progress of construction at the Expo 2020 site in Dubai, UAE, in this undated picture obtained Sept. 19, 2019. (Reuters)
An aerial view taken after the recent crowning of Al Wasl dome shows the progress of construction at the Expo 2020 site in Dubai, UAE, in this undated picture obtained Sept. 19, 2019. (Reuters)
TT
20
TT

UAE Request Delay of Expo 2020 until October 2021 due to Coronavirus

An aerial view taken after the recent crowning of Al Wasl dome shows the progress of construction at the Expo 2020 site in Dubai, UAE, in this undated picture obtained Sept. 19, 2019. (Reuters)
An aerial view taken after the recent crowning of Al Wasl dome shows the progress of construction at the Expo 2020 site in Dubai, UAE, in this undated picture obtained Sept. 19, 2019. (Reuters)

The United Arab Emirates has officially requested to postpone the start of the Expo 2020 Dubai until October next year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) said on Saturday.

"Following consultations with the BIE, participating countries and key stakeholders, the UAE has proposed 1 October 2021 - 31 March 2022 as the new opening dates of Expo 2020 Dubai."

Expo is a major business and cultural event held every five years in cities around the world selected by the BIE based in Paris.

The UAE government also requested approval to continue using Expo 2020 Dubai as the event's official name.

The BIE said in a statement it would hold a virtual meeting on April 21 to discuss "options for a change of dates".

"The request of the UAE government has been sent following in-depth discussions by the Expo 2020 Dubai steering committee with the organizer and the BIE on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," said the statement.

"A final decision on a change of dates can only be made by a two-thirds majority vote of BIE member states."

The Expo following Dubai is due to be held in Osaka, Japan, in 2025.

Dubai organizers last month backed a proposal to postpone the event due to start on Oct. 20 this year and run until April 10 because of the pandemic.

Two-thirds of the BIE’s 170 member states must support the proposal for the dates to be changed. A final decision is expected in June when member states meet.

"Many countries have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and they have therefore expressed a need to postpone the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai by one year," Expo 2020 Dubai director-general Reem al-Hashimi said in a statement.

"The UAE and Expo 2020 Dubai have listened. And in the spirit of solidarity and unity, we supported the proposal to explore a one-year postponement."

The UAE has reported 1,505 COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths. It has enforced extensive lockdown measures to curb the spread of the disease including an ongoing nighttime curfew.

Most Viewed

 
Business

Canada to Remove Many Retaliatory Tariffs on US Goods, Says Carney

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Metis Major Projects Summit in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada August 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Metis Major Projects Summit in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada August 7, 2025. (Reuters)
TT
20
TT

Canada to Remove Many Retaliatory Tariffs on US Goods, Says Carney

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Metis Major Projects Summit in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada August 7, 2025. (Reuters)
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at the Metis Major Projects Summit in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada August 7, 2025. (Reuters)

Canada will remove many retaliatory import tariffs on US goods and intensify contacts with the United States on striking a new trade and security relationship, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday.

Canadian tariffs on US autos, steel and aluminum will remain for now, he told a press conference in Ottawa.

Carney noted that the United States had recently made clear that it would not impose tariffs on Canadian goods that were compliant with the three-nation US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, something he called a positive development.

"In this context and consistent with Canada's commitment to USMCA, I am announcing today that the Canadian government will now match the United States by removing all of Canada's tariffs on US goods specifically covered under USMCA," he said.

"Canada and the US have now re-established free trade for the vast majority of our goods," he added, reiterating that compared with its trading partners, Canadian exports were still subject overall to a low level of US tariffs.

Business

Snapchat Strategy Backs Saudi Arabia’s Digital Economy, Tech Transformation

Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih during the inauguration of the company’s office (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih during the inauguration of the company’s office (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
20
TT

Snapchat Strategy Backs Saudi Arabia’s Digital Economy, Tech Transformation

Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih during the inauguration of the company’s office (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih during the inauguration of the company’s office (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Snapchat has reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation, unveiling a strategy that aligns closely with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.

According to Abdullah Al-Hammadi, Snapchat’s General Manager in Saudi Arabia, the company sees not challenges but opportunities in the local market, aiming to be a central partner in national development.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Hammadi explained that Snapchat’s strategy in the Kingdom rests on three key pillars: developing human capital, contributing to GDP by enabling creators to earn sustainable income, and strengthening ties with customers and partners through a local presence. The opening of Snapchat’s first Saudi office in the JAX District in Diriyah marked a major step in that direction.

“Our strategy begins with investing in people,” said Al-Hammadi, highlighting programs such as the 12-month Graduate Development Program, digital marketing workshops for Saudi businesses, and the Snap School initiative designed to support local content creators.

The second pillar, he noted, is driving economic impact. This includes empowering content creators to monetize their work and helping local advertisers expand their reach in the digital economy. The third pillar focuses on proximity: the new Saudi office hosts the region’s first “Snap Council,” a forum for creators to collaborate and innovate.

Snapchat formally inaugurated its Riyadh office in November 2024, in an event attended by co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel, along with Saudi Ministers Abdullah Al-Swaha (Communications and IT) and Khalid Al-Falih (Investment).

25 Million Active Users
The Kingdom remains one of Snapchat’s most dynamic markets, with over 25 million monthly active users who open the app more than 50 times a day. Around 90 percent of users fall between the ages of 13 and 34.

Company data shows that 54.5 percent of users are male and 45.5 percent female, while 60 percent of the most engaged users are over 25 years old. Meanwhile, 71 percent of Saudi parents actively use the platform.

“Saudis express themselves on Snapchat at a rate more than 2.2 times higher than on other platforms,” said Al-Hammadi. Over 85 percent of users interact daily with augmented reality (AR) lenses, which have become a defining feature of the platform.

National Day as a Digital Economy Driver
Al-Hammadi pointed to Saudi National Day as an example of Snapchat’s growing economic role. Traditionally a cultural celebration, the holiday has evolved into a major commercial season aligned with Vision 2030’s emphasis on the digital economy. In 2024, 94 percent of Saudi Snapchat users participated in National Day activities through the app.

September has also become a key shopping period: 85 percent of Saudis prepare shopping lists in advance, 72 percent plan bulk purchases, and 76 percent expect brand discounts. “National Day has become the second-biggest shopping season after Ramadan,” Al-Hammadi said. “On Snapchat, advertisers and shoppers come together in a shared moment of economic vitality through innovative campaigns.”

AI-Powered Experiences Ahead
Looking to the 2025 National Day, Snapchat anticipates a new wave of innovation driven by AI-enhanced AR. Features such as the Arabic Sign Language lens launched at the Riyadh International Book Fair in 2023, interactive book experiences, and child-focused filters demonstrate how AI can transform AR into more personal, inclusive, and immersive experiences.

Business

Turkish Foreign Visitor Arrivals Drop 5% in July 

Tourists use umbrellas to shelter against the sun outside Hagia Sophia mosque during a hot summer day in Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP)
Tourists use umbrellas to shelter against the sun outside Hagia Sophia mosque during a hot summer day in Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP)
TT
20
TT

Turkish Foreign Visitor Arrivals Drop 5% in July 

Tourists use umbrellas to shelter against the sun outside Hagia Sophia mosque during a hot summer day in Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP)
Tourists use umbrellas to shelter against the sun outside Hagia Sophia mosque during a hot summer day in Istanbul, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP)

The number of foreign visitors arriving in Türkiye fell 5% from a year earlier to 6.97 million in July, tourism ministry data showed on Friday.

That compared with 7.33 million visitors in July 2024 and 7.14 million in July 2023.

Most visitors during the month came from Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, Poland and Netherlands, the data showed.

Tourism sector representatives have said higher prices in Türkiye has hit demand.