Pointing in the Right Direction!
Riyadh: The Saudi Ministry of Defence announced the interception and destruction of nine drones.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted Ministry of Defence Spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Malki as saying that the drones were intercepted and destroyed in the Eastern Region.
Kuwait city: Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) said on Friday that Shuwaikh Port came under an overnight hostile drone attack, but there were no casualties.
According to Emirates News Agency, in a press release carried by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the Kuwait Ports Authority stated that initial reports indicated the drone attack resulted in only material damage.
Kuwait city: Kuwait’s Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port infrastructure came under a drone and missile attack early Friday, said the Kuwaiti Ministry of Public Works.
According to Emirates News Agency, in a press release carried by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the ministry stated that initial reports showed the drone and missile attack caused no casualties, but only material damage.
Manama: The General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force announced the successful interception and destruction of 154 ballistic missiles and 362 drones aimed at the Kingdom of Bahrain since the onset of hostile Iranian aggression.
According to Emirates News Agency, the air defences of Bahrain have been actively engaged in countering these threats, which target civilian areas and private property. The General Command highlighted that such attacks are a violation of international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter. These actions are seen as a direct threat to regional peace and security.
Abu dhabi: ADNOC and OMV announced the executive leadership team and Supervisory Board of Borouge Group International AG, a global polyolefins company to be established through the merger of their stakes in Borouge Plc and Borealis, followed by the acquisition of NOVA Chemicals.
According to Emirates News Agency, the new executive team brings together extensive senior leadership experience in the international chemicals, commodities, and refining sectors, along with comprehensive commercial and operational experience from Borouge Group International AG’s constituent businesses. The executive team will take up their roles once the Borouge Group International AG transactions are finalized, which are anticipated to close by March 2026.
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, and Executive Chairman of XRG, has been appointed as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Borouge Group International AG. Dr. Al Jaber stated, “Borouge Group International is set to become a leading global industry powerhouse that will drive the next wave of industrial growth and deliver long-term returns for our shareholders, aligned with the long-term strategic vision of ADNOC and OMV.”
Roger Kearns, currently President and CEO of NOVA Chemicals, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Borouge Group International AG. He emphasized the company’s resilience, innovation, and operational strength, stating, “Our priority will be continuity for customers, confidence for shareholders, and disciplined execution as we build a leading global polyolefins champion.”
Dr. Stefan Doboczky, currently CEO of Borealis, will become the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Dr. Hasan Karam, with extensive experience in refinery and petrochemical operations, will take on the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Daniel Turnheim, presently CFO of Borealis, will be the interim CFO at Borouge Group International AG until a permanent CFO is appointed by May 2026.
ADNOC and OMV also revealed the shareholder-nominated members of Borouge Group International AG’s Supervisory Board. The board includes representatives from both ADNOC and OMV, with Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber serving as Chairman. Other members include Mussabeh Al Kaabi, Fatema Al Nuaimi, Dr. Rainer Seele, and Klaus Froehlich from ADNOC, and Dr. Alfred Stern, Reinhard Florey, Martijn van Koten, Dr. Edith Hlawati, and Georg Knill from OMV.
Borouge Plc will maintain its listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) until the proposed tender offer converts Borouge Plc shares to Borouge Group International AG shares. Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi, Jan-Martin Nufer, and Roland Jannsen will continue in their respective roles at Borouge Plc during the transition period.
The announcement marks a significant step in creating a global polyolefins powerhouse, with Borouge Group International AG set to leverage a geographically diversified platform, integrating production across three continents to serve international customers. This global reach, along with strong shareholders and a robust capital structure, is expected to ensure resilience and sustainable shareholder returns throughout the business cycle.
United arab emirates: United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), celebrating its 50th anniversary, has solidified its global academic reputation by ranking among the world’s leading universities in 21 subjects in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
According to Emirates News Agency, the 2026 edition evaluated over 18,300 academic programs across more than 1,700 universities in 100 locations, encompassing 55 disciplines and five broad faculty areas. UAEU showed improvement in eight subjects and maintained its presence across all five broad subject areas for the fourth consecutive year, with four areas demonstrating progress. Its global rankings include Engineering and Technology at 216, Social Sciences and Management at 272, Natural Sciences at 303, Life Sciences and Medicine at 310, and Arts and Humanities at 391.
At the national level, UAEU achieved first place in the UAE for Life Sciences and Medicine and Social Sciences and Management, and second place for Engineering and Technology and Natural Sciences. The university also topped the UAE rankings in seven individual subjects and shared first place in three others. It is among the top 200 globally in four subjects, showcasing its growing international influence.
The QS rankings are determined by factors such as academic and employer reputation, research impact through citations per paper and the H-index, and the International Research Network measuring global collaboration. Across the UAE, 96 programs from 14 institutions were ranked, underscoring the strength of the country’s higher education sector.
Prof Ahmed Ali Alraeesi, Vice Chancellor of UAEU, remarked, “As we mark 50 years of UAEU’s legacy, these results reflect our continued commitment to academic excellence, impactful research and global engagement.” He further added, “Our performance in the QS Subject Rankings 2026 highlights the dedication of our faculty, researchers and students, and reinforces UAEU’s role in advancing knowledge and innovation in the UAE and beyond.”
UAEU stated that its performance mirrors its strategic vision to provide high-quality education, advance research, and contribute to national and global development.
Abu dhabi: Presight and NodeShift, a sovereign AI company that participated in Presight’s inaugural AI Accelerator Program, have announced a strategic partnership. This collaboration includes joint go-to-market efforts and investment support to expand the adoption of sovereign AI solutions across international markets.
According to Emirates News Agency, NodeShift has secured investment through Presight’s venture capital arm, the Presight-Shorooq Fund I. This global AI innovation fund aims to invest US$100 million in the next generation of AI innovation.
As part of NodeShift’s involvement in the AI Accelerator Program, the company underwent a six-month evaluation covering technology readiness, data sovereignty, regulatory compliance, enterprise scalability, and market fit. Following this process, the Presight-Shorooq Fund I made a significant investment in NodeShift, reflecting a strong belief in the company’s technology, leadership team, and long-term growth potential.
This strategic partnership combines Presight’s commercialization capabilities, global enterprise and government relationships, and applied AI expertise with NodeShift’s secure and compliant sovereign AI infrastructure. Together, the companies aim to enable organizations to deploy AI solutions that meet stringent data sovereignty, privacy, and regulatory requirements.
Magzhan Kenesbai, Chief Growth Officer at Presight, stated that from the initial pitch during the Presight AI Accelerator Program, it was evident that NodeShift had the vision and ambition to build something differentiated. This partnership underscores the value of the accelerator in identifying high-potential AI technology and scaling it through commercial engagement.
Since joining the accelerator, NodeShift has engaged with prospective customers across multiple sectors and is currently delivering a proof of concept with the Central Bank of the UAE. The company is also in discussions with additional Presight customers, demonstrating the platform’s applicability in mission-critical and regulated environments.
Mihai Marcuta, Co-Founder and COO of NodeShift, expressed that the partnership and investment from the Presight-Shorooq Fund I represent a significant milestone. Presight’s global reach and sector expertise enhance NodeShift’s ability to scale while delivering AI solutions that meet high standards of security and compliance.
NodeShift is a sovereign generative AI platform that enables organizations to use leading open-source and commercial AI models through a governed interface. Deployed on-premises or in air-gapped environments, NodeShift ensures sensitive data remains secure, while delivering AI assistants, document intelligence, and collaboration tools in both Arabic and English.
Through this strategic partnership and investment, Presight and NodeShift are positioned to meet the growing global demand for sovereign AI by combining advanced infrastructure, investment backing, and coordinated market execution across sectors and geographies.
Dubai: Dubai’s Events Security Committee has confirmed its full readiness, in coordination with all strategic partners, to secure the 30th edition of the Dubai World Cup 2026 horse racing event, set to take place on Saturday at Meydan Racecourse. The prestigious event will feature 101 horses from 16 countries, with total prize money reaching US$30.5 million across nine races, including US$12 million for the main Dubai World Cup race.
According to Emirates News Agency, this announcement was made during a joint administrative and field coordination meeting organised by the Events Security Committee in collaboration with the Dubai Resilience Centre and the Dubai Racing Club. The meeting aimed at reviewing final preparations for securing the global event. Held at Meydan Hotel, it was attended by Expert Ahmad Atiq Burqiba, CEO of the Dubai Resilience Centre; Brigadier Musabeh Saeed Al Ghaffli, Director of the General Department of Protective Security and Emergency and Deputy Chairman of the Events Security Committee; Brigadier Obaid bin Yarouf Al Ketbi, Deputy Director of the same department; and Ali Abdulrahman Al Ali, Board Member and CEO of Dubai Racing Club, along with several representatives from government and semi-government entities.
Participants reviewed security enhancement measures and operational readiness for the internationally recognised event, which attracts millions of viewers and is broadcast across global media platforms. Attendees were also briefed on comprehensive preparations for the Dubai World Cup, followed by an on-site inspection at Meydan Hotel and the racecourse to assess final arrangements.
Brigadier Al Ghaffli emphasised that the meeting reflects the ongoing commitment to coordination among all strategic partners to ensure the success of the event, showcasing the UAE’s distinguished reputation in organising world-class events. He added that the Dubai World Cup is one of the emirate’s most prominent events, attended by high-level officials from within the UAE and abroad. He stressed the importance of all committee members exerting maximum effort, expertise, and resources to secure the event and deliver it to the highest standards.