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Posts tagged as “Saudi Arabia”

You can now use Google Pay in Saudi Arabia via MADA

January 16, 2025

Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and Google have partnered to bring Google Pay to Saudi Arabia in 2025 through the mada payment system. This move supports SAMA’s Vision 2030 goals by boosting digital payments and reducing cash reliance. Google Pay will offer secure and convenient transactions in stores, apps, and online.

The agreement will allow Android users to pay using their Android phones instead of using their MADA card, just like how iOS users uses Apple pay (on their iphone).

Riyadh Metro Orange Line Is Now Open

January 5, 2025

Riyadh Public Transport (RPT) has announced that the Riyadh Metro Orange Line has officially open today, January 5, 2025. The announcement was made on their social media accounts and on Saudi Press Agency, more than a month after King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud inaugurated the Riyadh Metro.

Out of the 22 stations 5 stations will initially be operations; Jeddah Road (11), Tuwaiq (Station 12), Ad Douh (Station 13), Harun Al Rashid Road (Station 29), Al Naseem (Station 30) which connects to the Purple Line Station 21.

Together with the opening of Riyadh Metro Orange Line, RPT also announced the opening of three new stations on the Blue line: Al Murooj (Station 14), Bank Albilad (Station 21) and King Fahad Library (Station 22).

It’s Official Saudi Arabia will host the FIFA World Cup 2034

December 12, 2024

FIFA just announced that the FIFA World Cup 2034 will be hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In their announcement, All 211 FIFA Member Associations convened virtually at an Extraordinary FIFA Congress, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was selected to stage the FIFA World Cup 2034. The news then confirmed by Saudi Arabia and promised to deliver “a tournament of a lifetime.”

Saudi Arabia was chosen at comprehensive bidding process initiated in October 2023.

Together with the World Cup 2034, FIFA also announced that the 2030 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain with three centenary celebration matches to take place in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said: “In today’s divided world, where it seems that nobody can agree any more on anything, to be able to agree on something like that is definitely an incredible message of unity and positivity. And, we need these messages today.

The FIFA World Cup is unique, and it is a unique catalyst as well for positive social change and unity because these tournaments, 2030, the celebration, 2034 – they are tournaments to unite, not to divide. They are tournaments, of course, to discuss, to debate and to act. But most importantly, today, today is a day of unity and a day of celebration.

“Seven countries have won their World Cup today. Congratulations to Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Saudi Arabia. This is your day. So, you should celebrate and we, we celebrate, of course, with you. And you, the 211 FIFA Member Associations that I can see on a giant screen in front of me, you are uniting the world. You are uniting the world truly, through football, because, of course, football unites the world.”

Apple to open its first retail store in Saudi Arabia

December 9, 2024

Apple announced plans to expand in Saudi Arabia, starting with the launch of an online store in summer 2025 and opening physical stores in 2026, including a flagship location in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The expansion includes existing investments in the country, including the Apple Developer Academy in Riyadh, which opened in Riyadh in 2021 in partnership with the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tuwaiq Academy, and Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. The program has trained nearly 2,000 aspiring feamale coders, designers, and entrepreneurs. Apple hosted the country’s first coed Apple Foundation Program. A monthlong course for students from across the country to learn the fundamentals of coding and app development, with a focus on gaming. Apple plans to further expand the coed Foundation offerings, with the next cohort planned for spring 2025.

Apple has emphasizes its commitment to Saudi Arabia, highlighting investments, job creation, and the growth of the app economy, with developer earnings increasing up over 1,750 percent since 2019. Apple Pay is also gaining traction in the country, with Riyadh being the first city in the Middle East to offer Express Mode for transit payments.

Philippines and Saudi Arabia Launch New Job Category for OFW

December 8, 2024

The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has released guidelines for a new job category for Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia: Residential Support Worker/Cleaner. This development follows initial discussions between former DMW Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople and Saudi Minister of Human Resource and Social Development Ahmad bin Sulaiman AlRajhi, aiming to open up employment opportunities while prioritizing the protection of Filipino Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

Key Differences from Domestic Work:

  • Skilled Visa: Residential support workers will be issued a skilled visa, unlike domestic workers.
  • Direct Employment with MRCs: Instead of working for individual households, they will be directly employed by Mega Recruitment Companies (MRCs).
  • Focus on Residential Cleaning: Their primary responsibility will be to maintain the cleanliness of residential areas, excluding childcare or personal care for employers.

Benefits and Protections:

  • Competitive Salary and Allowances: Workers will receive a monthly salary of 1,500 Saudi Riyals (SAR) plus a 500 SAR food allowance. Overtime pay will be provided for work exceeding eight hours per day as per Saudi law.
  • Comprehensive Benefits: MRC employers will provide accommodation, transportation, and health insurance for the workers.
  • No Placement Fees: MRCs are prohibited from charging placement fees to the workers.
  • Wage Increases and Reviews: Wages will automatically increase with any new minimum wage policies issued by DMW or the Saudi government and will be reviewed annually.
  • Protection Against Domestic Work: The guidelines explicitly prohibit workers from being assigned to domestic work duties.
  • Welfare Desk Officer: MRC employers must designate a welfare desk officer to monitor the workers’ conditions and address any employment-related issues.

Reduced Risks and Improved Welfare:
Undersecretary Patricia Yvonne Caunan emphasized that this new framework aims to minimize labor complaints, welfare cases, and exit visa problems by streamlining the employer-employee relationship.

Continuous Expansion of Employment Opportunities:
Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac assured that the DMW, in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development, will continue to expand employment opportunities for Filipino workers in various sectors.

This new job category for Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia represents a significant step towards ensuring safe and dignified employment for OFWs while meeting the growing demand for skilled workers in the Kingdom.

You can read the full text of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Memo# here.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman inaugurated the Riyadh Metro

November 28, 2024

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud inaugurated the Riyadh Metro, a major public transport project in Saudi Arabia. The metro network spans 176 kilometers across 6 lines and 85 stations. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud expressed gratitude to the King for his support and visionary leadership.

Riyadh Metro will initially open 3 lines by December 1st, then another 2 line on the 15th of December and the remaining line on the first week of January.

December 1, 2024

  • Line 1 – Blue
  • Line 4 – Gold/Yellow
  • Line 6 – Purple

December 15, 2024

  • Line 2 – Red
  • Line 5 – Green

January 5, 2024

  • Line 3 – Orange

The project was launched following comprehensive studies on Riyadh’s public transport needs and is designed to meet the city’s current and future mobility requirements. The Riyadh Metro is expected to significantly enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030.

Source: SPA, RCRC

You can now Pre-order the new HONOR X9c in Saudi Arabia

November 21, 2024

Starting today until the end of month, you can now pre-order the new HONOR X9c. Price for the pre-order will be SAR 1,399.00 and it includes freebies worth SAR 636. After the preorder period the HONOR X9c smartphone will retail for SAR 2,135.00

The freebies are;

  • HONOR Choice OWS Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds – SAR 338.00
  • 12 Months Damage Protection – SAR 199.00
  • 12 Months Battery Damage Protection – SAR 99.00

Below are the specs of the new HONOR X9c;

  • Display: 6.78 inches AMOLED display, 19.85:9 aspect ratio, 1.07 billion colors, 2700×1224 resolution.
  • CPU: Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (4xA78*2.2GHz+4xA55*1.8GHz)
  • GPU: Adreno A710
  • OS: MagicOS 8.0 (based on Android 14)
  • Storage: 256GB
  • RAM: 12GB
  • Rear Camera: 108MP Main Camera (F1.75), OIS, 5MP Wide Camera(F2.2), Support 4K video shooting, up to 3840×2160 pixels video resolution and 12000×9000 pixels image resolution
  • Front Camera: 16MP (F2.45), up to 3456×4608 pixels image and up to 2520×1080 pixels image resolution.
  • Network: 5G (NR), 4G (LTE FDD/FDD), 3G (WCDMA) and 2G (GSM)
  • Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/BeiDou/Galileo position.
  • Sensors: Gravity, Fingerprint, Gyroscope, Compass, NFC, Ambient Light and Proximity Sensor.
  • Color: Jade Cyan,Titanium Purple,Titanium Black,Sunrise Orange
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 162.8mm x 75.5mm x 7.98mm
  • Weight: Approx. 189g
  • Battery: 6600mAh Lithium Polymer Battery with 66w charging and 20V/3.3A Standard Charger.

Apple Mac Mini M4 Now Available in Jarir

November 12, 2024

You can now get your Apple Mac Mini M4 from Jarir and below are the pricelist.

M4 Processor (10-core CPU and 10-core GPU

  • 16GB RAM + 256GB Storage – SR2,799
  • 16GB RAM + 512GB Storage – SR3,749
  • 24GB RAM + 512GB Storage – SR4,699

M4 Pro Processor (12-core CPU and 16-core GPU)

  • 24GB RAM + 512GB Storage – SR6,699

Announced last month, the Mac Mini is one of the cheapest Macs that you can buy and the base model M4, 16GB RAM and 256GB Storage is probably the best deal for a new Mac.

Specs of Mac Mini with M4 chips;

  • Dimesnion (DxWxH): 5.0 inches x 5.0 inches x 2.0 inches
  • Processor: M4, M4 Pro
  • 16GB unified RAM, configurable up to 64GB
  • 256GB SSD, configurable up to 8TB
  • Built-in speaker
  • 3.5 mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones
  • HDMI port
  • Two USB-C ports with support for USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s)
  • Thunderbolt 4/Thunderbolt 5 ports
  • USB 4
  • Gigabit Ethernet ports
  • DisplayPort
  • Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Ethernet Connectivity
  • Weight:
    • M4 – 1.5 pounds (0.67 kg)
    • M4 Pro- 1.6 pounds (0.73 kg)

New iMac now available for Pre-order in Jarir in Saudi Arabia

November 1, 2024

he new iMac is now available for pre-order in Jarir.

Below are the pricing;

  • M4 (8-Core CPU/GPU) + 16GB RAM + 256GB Storage – SR5,999.00
  • M4 (10-Core CPU/GPU) + 16GB RAM + 256GB Storage – SR6,949.00
  • M4 (10-Core CPU/GPU) + 16GB RAM + 512GB Storage – SR7,899.00
  • M4 (10-Core CPU/GPU) + 24GB RAM + 512GB Storage – SR8,849.00

    • Pre-order period will be from October 30th until November 8th, 2024 (or while supply last). Shipping and collection will then start between November 8th at 4:00 PM to November 16th, 2024. Unfortunately, the new iMac from Jarir is not configurable.

    New iMac: Blue

    Apple officially announced the new iMac with the new M4 chip last Monday, Oct. 28th.

    Here are the key specs of the new iMac;

    • 24-inches 4.5K Retina display (4480 X 2520) , an optional nano-texture display
    • M4 chip (8-core CPU/8-Core GPU, 10-Core CPU /10-Core GPU)
    • macOS Sequoia
    • Apple Intelligence
    • 12MP Center Stage web camera
    • up to 32 GB of RAM
    • up to 2 TB of storage
    • High-fidelity Six-speaker System, Support for Spatial Audio
    • up to 4X Thunderbolt 4
    • Wi-Fi/Bluetooth
    • Colors: Blue, Purple, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Green and Silver.
    • Dimension (WxHxD): 54.70 cm x 46.10cm x 14.70cm

    Pricing of the New iPad Mini in Saudi Arabia, now available for Pre-order!

    October 21, 2024

    The new iPad Mini is now available for preorder in Saudi Arabia and here are the pricing in the Kingdom.

    Pricing
    Wifi Only

    • 128GB: SAR 2,299.00
    • 256GB: SAR 2,749.00
    • 512GB: SAR 3649.00

    Wifi + Cellular

    • 128GB: SAR 2,299.00
    • 256GB: SAR 3,449.00
    • 512GB: SAR 4,349.00

    Announced last week, the new iPad Mini features the A17 Pro chip and with its advanced neural engine, the new iPad Mini will support Apple Intelligence once the free software update with iPadOS 18.1 becomes available later this month.

    Here’s the spec of the new iPad Mini;

    • Display: 8.3-inch FHD+ (2266 x 1488) Liquid Retina display with Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C) support
    • Processor: Apple A17 Pro
    • Storage: 128GB, 256GB and 512GB
    • Rear Camera: 12MP wide rear camera, Up to 4K video recording
    • Front Camera: 12MP ultra wide front camera, up to 1080p HD video @up to 60 fps
    • Audio: Stereo speakers, 2x microphones
    • Cellular: 5G (sub‑6 GHz) with 4×4 MIMO, Gigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO
    • Wireless: Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO and Bluetooth 5.3
    • Location: (All models) Digital compass, Wi-Fi and iBeacon microlocation, (Wi-Fi + Cellular models) GPS/GNSS and Cellular
    • Sensor: Touch ID, Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer, Barometer and Ambient light sensor
    • Sim:eSIM
    • OS: iPadOS 18
    • AI: Apple Intelligence
    • Battery: Built-in 19.3-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery with 20W fast charging
    • Colors: Space Gray, Blue, Purple, Starlight
    • Dimension: 195.4 mm (Height) x 134.8 mm (Width) x 6.3 mm (Thickness)
    • Weight: 293 grams (Wifi), 297 grams (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

    Preorders will be ship by October 23rd.

    Filipino executed in Saudi Arabia for murder   

    October 9, 2024

    Michelle Abad with reports from Bea Cupin, reporting for Rappler;

    A Filipino on death row in Saudi Arabia has been executed, the Philippine government said on Tuesday, October 8.

    “We regret to confirm the news that a Filipino has been executed in Saudi Arabia for murder,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

    The Philippine government provided legal assistance and exhausted remedies to save the Filipino’s life, including sending a presidential letter of appeal to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman. But the victim’s family refused to accept blood money in return for forgiveness of the Filipino, and so the death penalty was meted, the DFA said.

    According to Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega, the overseas Filipino worker pleaded guilty to the crime. The victim was the OFW’s Saudi Arabian business partner, and the incident happened in 2020.

    Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia release the following statement;

    A very sad moment for all OFW in Saudi Arabia.

    The Rappler also reports that according to DFA there are still “nine Filipinos remain on death row in Saudi Arabia.”

    Riyadh Season 2024 to start this 12th of October

    October 8, 2024

    What is Riyadh Season?
    Riyadh Season is one of the world’s largest winter entertainment event. Variety of food from around the world, courtesy of exclusive restaurants — plus countless exciting surprises. The festivities capture the essence of Saudi, from its Najdi heritage to its present-day dynamism.

    When will it start?
    Riyadh Season will kick-off this October 12th.

    Where to get more information?
    To know more about Riyadh Season and the events, you can go to https://riyadhseason.com/en-US or the Riyadh Season section of https://webook.com/.

    Samsung Galaxy S24 FE now in Saudi Arabia

    October 8, 2024

    Samsung KSA has announced that the Galaxy S24 FE is now available in Saudi Arabia. First announced last month, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is a 6.7-inch smartphone that’s powered by Samsung Exynos 2400e and feature a Dynamic AMOLED display with 1080 x 2340 (FHD+) resolution, 16M color depth and 120 Hz max refresh rate. The also features Samsung’s Galaxy AI, which is an “on-device AI that powers features like real-time translation and image generation.” The Samsung Galaxy AI was first announced at the Galaxy Unpacked July 2024.

    It has a triple rear camera setup (50.0 MP + 12.0 MP + 8.0 MP) and a 10.0 MP front facing camera. The Galaxy S24 FE will have 8GB RAM and the storage will be up to 512GB. The Galaxy S24 FE will be in 4 colors; blue, graphite, marble gray and mint. The price for the new Galaxy S24 FE will start at SAR2,849.00 for the 8GB + 256Gb model and SAR3,349.00 for the 8GB + 512Gb variant.

    You can find the full specs of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE here.

    Sony Playstation 5 Pro now available for pre-order in Saudi Arabia

    September 30, 2024

    More than 2 weeks since being announced, the Sony Playstation 5 Pro is now available for pre-order in Saudi Arabia.

    This is what’s included in the box.

    PS5® Pro Console Box Contents

    • PS5® Pro console
    • 1x DualSense® wireless controller
    • 2TB SSD built-in storage
    • 2 Horizontal Stand Feet
    • HDMI® cable
    • AC power cord
    • printed materials
    • ASTRO’s PLAYROOM (Pre-installed game)

    From Sony World, the official Sony distributor in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said that the PlayStation 5 Pro will be available in store by 7th November 2024 and with a retail price of SAR 3,399.00 or around ₱50,717.15 with the current exchange rate. If the release of the PS 5Pro will be similar to its predecessor, then expect a shortage of the gaming console once it become available, specially this holiday season.

    Price of DJI NEO in Saudi Arabia

    September 26, 2024

    If you’re in Saudi Arabia below are the price of DJI NEO from Advanced Media;

    DJI Neo Drone – SAR 939.55
    Includes;

    • 1x DJI Neo Aircraft
    • 1x DJI Neo Intelligent Flight Battery
    • 1x DJI Neo Propeller Guard (Pair)
    • 1x DJI Neo Spare Propellers (Pair)
    • 4x DJI Neo Spare Propeller Screw
    • 1x Screwdriver
    • 1x DJI Neo Gimbal Protector
    • 1x Type-C to Type-C PD Cable
    • Documents (Quick Start Guide, Safety Guidelines, and DJI Logo Stickers)

    DJI Neo Fly More Combo Drone – SAR 1,589.30
    Includes;

    • 1x DJI RC-N3 Remote Controller
    • 1x DJI RC-N3 RC Cable (USB-C Connector)
    • 3x DJI Neo Intelligent Flight Battery
    • 1x DJI Neo Two-Way Charging Hub
    • 1x DJI Neo Propeller Guard (Pair)
    • 1x DJI Neo Spare Propellers (Pair)
    • 4x DJI Neo Spare Propeller Screw
    • 1x Screwdriver
    • 1x DJI Neo Gimbal Protector
    • 1x Type-C to Type-C PD Cable
    • Documents (Quick Start Guide, Safety Guidelines, and DJI Logo Stickers)

    DJI officially announced the NEO drone earlier this month and claim that the NEO Drone is the “lightest and most compact drone to date.”

    Nothing Ear (open) announced

    September 25, 2024

    Nothing has announced the Nothing Ear (open), the company’s first open-ear wireless earbuds. As reported on Yugatech, the new Nothing Ear (open) features “open-ear, semi-transparent design with wraparound ear hooks.”

    Specs-wise, the Nothing Ear (open) is just like any other earbuds but what separate this ear buds from other ear buds, is the support for “ChatGPT on-the-go,” first-of-its-kind integration within the Nothing ecosystem and the latest Nothing OS.

    Photos

    Nothing released a 15-mins video regarding the new Nothing Ear (open) and OS 3.0.

    The company has yet to announce the availability in Saudi Arabia and Philippines even though it is posted online that the Nothing Ear (open) will retail for 599.00 SR or ₱8,990.00.

    Pricing of the Apple iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max in Saudi Arabia

    September 14, 2024

    The iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max is now available for pre-order in Saudi and below are the pricing.

    iPhone 16;

    • 128GB – SAR 3,799.00
    • 256GB – SAR 4,299.00
    • 512GB – SAR 5,299.00

    iPhone 16 Plus;

    • 128GB – SAR 4,199.00
    • 256GB – SAR 4,699.00
    • 512GB – SAR 5,699.00

    iPhone 16 Pro;

    • 128GB – SAR 4,699.00
    • 256GB – SAR 5,199.00
    • 512GB – SAR 6,199.00
    • 1TB – SAR 7,199.00

    iPhone 16 Pro Max;

    • 256GB – SAR 5,699.00
    • 512GB – SAR 6,699.00
    • 1TB – SAR 7,699.00

    The new iPhones are available for pre-order in any of the local retailer and leading telecom in the Kingdom.

    To know more about the new iPhones, you can checkout the links below.

    Price of AirPods 4 and AirPods Max in Saudi Arabia   

    September 11, 2024

    Pricing

    • AirPods Max – SAR 2,399.00
    • AirPods 4 – SAR 599.00
    • AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation – SAR 829.00

    AirPods 4 and AirPods Max is now available for pre-order starting today and will be available in stores beginning Friday, September 20th.

    You can now preorder HONOR Magic V3 in Saudi Arabia

    September 3, 2024

    Ahead of its official launch this Sept 5th, you can now preorder the HONOR Magic V3 from Jarir and at Extra.

    HONOR Magic V3 (12GB + 512GB) will retail for SAR 6,899 or around ₱104k.

    Here are the specs of the HONOR Magic V3;

    • Display: 7.92 inches (inner)/ 6.43 inches (outer) OLED, 2344×2156 Pixels (inner)/ 2376×1060 Pixels (outer), 1.07 billion colors, DCI-P3 wide color gamut
    • Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Octa-core
    • GPU: Adreno 750
    • RAM:12GB
    • Storage: 512GB
    • OS: MagicOS 8.0.1 (Based on Android 14)
    • Rear Camera:
    • 40MP Ultra Wide Camera (f/2.2)
    • 50MP Wide Camera (f/1.6, OIS)
    • 50MP Telephoto Lens Camera (f/3.0, OIS)
    • Front Camera:
    • 20MP Wide Camera (f/2.2) (Interior screen)
    • 20MP Wide Camera (f/2.2) (Exterior screen)
    • Battery: 5150mAh Lithium polymer battery with HONOR 66W SuperCharge Charger and support for 50W Wireless HONOR SuperCharge
    • Cellular Network: 5G/4G+/4G/3G/2G
    • Dual SIM Support for nano SIM and eSim each
    • Connectivity and Location: Wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be (2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.3, IR Remote Control, GPS(L1+L5) /AGPS/GLONASS/BeiDou(B1I+B1C+B2a)/Galileo(E1 + E5a) /QZSS (L1 + L5)
    • Sensors: Gravity Sensor, Infrared Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyroscope, Compass, Hall sensor, Barometer sensor, Color temperature sensor, NFC, Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor
    • Water and Dust Resistance: IPX8
    • Dimensions HxWxD: 156.6 mm x 74.0 mm (fodled)/145.3 mm (unfolded) x 9.2 mm (folded)/4.35mm (unfolded)
    • Weight: 226g (Black) / 230 g (Others)
    • Colors: Reddish Brown, Green and Black

    You can now preorder Microsoft Surface Pro 11 from Jarir   

    September 2, 2024

    You can find the specs of the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 here.

    Price for the Surface Pro 11 2-in-1 and the Surface Laptop 7 starts at SAR 4,699.00. Price may vary depending on your preferred configuration. Shipping is expected to start between 11 – 20 September, 2024. You can preorder here.

    Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Wifi and 4G now in Saudi Arabia

    August 22, 2024

    Xiaomi Saudi Arabia has announced that the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Wifi and 4G is now available in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    The two new tablets was officially announced earlier this week. Both the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Wifi and 4G have identical specs except for the Wifi and 4G capabilities.

    In a nutshell, the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 is a mid-level tablet that’s perfect for first time tablet buyers and looking for the perfect balance of performance and entertainment. Here are the pricing for the two tablets from Jarir;

    Redmi Pad SE 8.7 (Wifi)

    • 6GB + 128GB – SAR 549.00

    Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G

    • 6GB + 128GB – SAR 599.00

    You can checkout the specs comparison for the Xiaomi Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Wifi and 4G;

    Redmi Pad SE 8.7 Redmi Pad SE 8.7 4G
    Display 8.7″ LCD, 1340×800 resolution, 5:3 aspect ratio, up to 90Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits (Outdoor) brightness, 84.41% screen-to-body ratio. 8.7″ LCD, 1340×800 resolution, 5:3 aspect ratio, up to 90Hz refresh rate, up to 600 nits (Outdoor) brightness, 84.41% screen-to-body ratio.
    Processor MediaTek Helio G8512nm process, octa-core Arm Cortex-A75 @ 2.0GHz/ Arm Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz MediaTek Helio G8512nm process, octa-core Arm Cortex-A75 @ 2.0GHz/ Arm Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
    GPU Arm Mali-G52 MC2 Arm Mali-G52 MC2
    Storage 64GB, 128 GB EMMC 5.1, expandable up to 2TB via microSD 64GB, 128 GB EMMC 5.1, expandable up to 2TB via microSD
    RAM 4GB, 6GB 4GB, 6GB
    OS Xiaomi HyperOS, Android U Xiaomi HyperOS, Android U
    Rear camera 8MP (wide), f/2.0 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording 8MP (wide), f/2.0 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording
    Front camera 5MP (wide), f/2.2 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording 5MP (wide), f/2.2 aperture , 1.12μm pixel size, up to 1080P 1920×1080 30fps video recording
    Audio 1 mic, dual speakers, Dolby Atmos® supported, 3.5mm headphone jack 1 mic, dual speakers, Dolby Atmos® supported, 3.5mm headphone jack
    Network & Connectivity Wi-Fi5 dual-band (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.3, FM band Dual SIM + microSD, 2G (GSM)/3G (WCDMA)/4G LTE (FDD/TDD), Wi-Fi5 dual-band (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.3, FM band
    Sensors Accelerometer, Electronic compass, Hall sensor, IR blaster, Virtual proximity sensor, Virtual light sensor Accelerometer, Electronic compass, Hall sensor, IR blaster, Virtual proximity sensor, Virtual light sensor
    Dimensions (HxWxT) 211.58mm x 125.48mm x 8.8 mm 211.58mm x 125.48mm x 8.8 mm
    Weight 373 gm 375 gm
    Battery 6650mAh battery supports 18W fast charging (USB Type-C) 6650mAh battery supports 18W fast charging (USB Type-C)
    Colors Graphite Gray, Aurora Green, Sky Blue Graphite Gray, Aurora Green, Sky Blue

    Expatriate Dependents Can Now Seek Employment in Saudi Arabia

    July 31, 2024

    Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced a new program allowing expatriate dependents holding dependent visas to find employment in the country, particularly in the healthcare and education sectors. This initiative aims to regulate the employment of dependents within the country without requiring a sponsorship transfer.

    To apply for this free service, individuals can log in to the Ajeer platform, complete the required contract, and obtain a dependent’s permit. Eligibility criteria include the employer being registered and compliant with Ministry regulations, and the dependent being at least 18 years old with necessary qualifications.

    The Ministry has also released a comprehensive guide outlining services provided to expatriates by various government agencies, including information on residency, healthcare, education, and more. This guide details all the services provided to expatriates by other governmental entities. The report includes services from the Ministries of Human Resources and Social Development, Interior, Health, Commerce, Education, Foreign Affairs, Municipalities and Housing, Justice, Media, Hajj and Umrah, Communications and Information Technology, Environment, Water and Agriculture, Tourism, and Islamic Affairs, as well as from the authorities of Zakat, Tax and Customs, Human Rights, Communications and Space Technology, and the Capital Market Authority, along with the Board of Grievances and the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).

    Source: Saudi Gazette, Okaz

    Esports World Cup Draws Large Crowds

    July 31, 2024

    Esports World Cup is still on going and will not conclude until 25th August, so the numbers are still under wraps but as of today, the Saudi Press Agency is reporting that Esports World Cup, which is currently being hosted in Riyadh Boulevard City, saw a large number of “guests and visitors from Gulf and other countries.”

    There are a total of 500 clubs from different countries and more than 1,500 players participating in the Esports World Cup, the largest event in the history of the gaming and esports sector.

    via SPA;

    Amer Al-Marri, a visitor from Qatar, expressed his fondness for the distinguished and global organization of the tournament, indicating that coming from Doha along with a group of friends was specifically to attend this global event. He praised the professional level of competitions thanks to the participation of skilled players and qualified teams around the world. The visitor also expressed his admiration for the atmosphere in the Boulevard Riyadh City, through various entertainment activities and events that fit everyone’s taste.

    Mohammed bin Mubarak, a visitor from Bahrain, explained that he came with his brothers and other relatives to attend the Esports World Cup. He hailed the great efforts of the Kingdom in receiving the participants and the professional and wonderful organization of the tournament, noting that Riyadh has become a global destination for tourism, entertainment, and sports.

    Aside from the usual spots in Boulevard Riyadh City, tourists also explored historical and tourist sites in Riyadh.

    Nothing CMF Phone 1 Now Available in Saudi Arabia, starts at SAR 799.00

    July 23, 2024

    Nothing CMF Phone 1 is now available in Saudi Arabia, just 10 days after the company officially announced the device.

    Nothing’s CMF Phone 1 is a mid-range smartphone powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm) and Mali-G615 GPU. The 6.67” Super AMOLED display boasts a 1080 x 2400 resolution at 395ppi and has a peak brightness of 2000 nits. It also includes an under-display optical fingerprint scanner.

    The CMF Phone 1 features a dual-rear camera setup: a 50 MP, f/1.8 (wide) lens and a 2 MP, f/2.4 (depth) lens. It can capture up to 4K video recording at 30 FPS and 1080p recording at 30 or 60 FPS. The front-facing camera is a 16 MP, f/2.0 (wide) lens that can record 1080p video at 30fps.

    The CMF Phone 1 packs a 5000 mAh non-removable battery with 33W fast charging and supports 5W reverse wired charging. It runs Nothing OS 2.6 (powered by Android 14) and comes with 2 years of major Android updates and 3 years of security updates. You can find the full specs of Nothing CMF Phone 1 .

    The phone measures 164 mm x 77 mm x 8 mm (HxWxD) and weighs 197 g. You can choose from light green, black, or orange colors.

    The CMF Phone 1 is available at Jarir and Extra. It comes in two variants: 8GB RAM + 128GB storage for SAR 799.00 and 8GB RAM + 256GB storage for SAR 1,099.00.

    HONOR 200 and HONOR 200 Pro Now Official in Saudi Arabia

    July 17, 2024

    HONOR has officially launch the HONOR 200 Series in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to kick things up, Honor is offering preorder gifts for those who will preorder the smartphone from July 17th to July 24th.

    The free gifts are HONOR Choice Watch Black worth SAR 249.00 and a 12-month Screen Protection Service (1 time) that’s valued at SAR 599.00. Aside from the free preorder gifts, you can also avail of big discounts if you will also buy HONOR Choice wearables like the Earbuds and Smartwatch.

    Here are the official pricing for the HONOR 200 and HONOR 200 Pro;

    HONOR 200

    • 12GB+256GB- SAR 1,699.00
    • 12GB+512GB- SAR 1,999.00

    HONOR 200 Pro

    • 12GB+512GB- SAR 2,699.00

    Here are the full specs of HONOR 200 and HONOR 200 Pro;

    HONOR 200 HONOR 200 Pro
    Display 6.7   inches FHD+ AMOLED Display with 2664×1200 resolution, 1.07 billion colors,   Equal-Depth Quad-Curved Screen, Aluminosilicate glass 6.78   inches FHD+ AMOLED Display with 2700×1224 resolution, 1.07 billion colors,   Quad-Curved Floating Screen, Aluminosilicate glass
    Processor Snapdragon   7 Gen 3 Octa-core Cortex-A715 2.63GHz Snapdragon   8s Gen 3 Octa-core Cortex-X4 3.0GHz with RF Enhanced Chip HONOR C1+
    GPU Adreno 720 Adreno 735
    RAM 12   GB 12   GB
    Storage 256 GB, 512 GB 512   GB
    OS MagicOS 8.0   (Based on Android 14) MagicOS 8.0   (Based on Android 14)
    Rear Camera 50MP Wide   Camera(f/1.95 aperture, OIS 50MP Wide   Camera (f/1.9 aperture, OIS)
    50MP   Telephoto Camera (f/2.4 aperture, OIS) 50MP Telephoto   Camera (f/2.4 aperture, OIS)
    12MP   Ultra Wide Camera (f/2.2 aperture) 12MP Ultra   Wide Camera(f/2.2 aperture)
    Support for 4K (3840×2160) video recording,   Digital zoom 50x, 8192×6144 pixels Image Resolution, Rear single LED flash,   EIS+OIS Support   for 4K (3840×2160) video recording, Digital zoom 50x, 8192×6144 pixels Image   Resolution, Rear single LED flash, EIS+OIS
    Front Camera 50MP Front   Camera(f/2.1 aperture) with 4k support 50MP Front   Camera(f/2.1 aperture) with 4k support
    8192×6144 pixels Image Resolution, Support for   4K (3840×2160) video recording, Supported 2D face unlock 8192×6144   pixels Image Resolution, Support for 4K (3840×2160) video recording,   Supported 2D face unlock
    Battery 5200 mAh   Lithium polymer battery with HONOR 100W SuperCharge, supports up to 20V/5A   SuperCharge, compatible with 11V/6A,10V/4A 5200 mAh   Lithium polymer battery with HONOR 100W SuperCharge, supports up to 20V/5A   SuperCharge, compatible with 11V/6A,10V/4A with supports up to max 66W   Wireless SuperCharge
    Sensor Gravity   Sensor, Fingerprint (under display, optical), Gyroscope, Compass, NFC,   Ambient Light and Proximity Sensor. Gravity   Sensor, Fingerprint (under display, optical), Gyroscope, Compass, NFC,   Ambient Light and Proximity Sensor.
    Cellular 5G   (NR), 4G (LTE TDD/LTE FDD), 3G (WCDMA), 2G (GSM), dual SIM Support (Nano and   eSIM) 5G   (NR), 4G (LTE TDD/LTE FDD), 3G (WCDMA), 2G (GSM), dual SIM Support (Nano and   eSIM)
    Network and Connectivity Wifi   802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz and 5GHz), 2×2 MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct and Hotspot,   Bluetooth 5.3, Infrared, GPS /AGPS/GLONASS/BeiDou/Galileo, Wifi   802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz and 5GHz), 2×2 MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct and Hotspot,   Bluetooth 5.3, Infrared, PC Data Sync, GPS /AGPS/GLONASS/BeiDou/Galileo, OTG   Support
    Dimension 161.5   mm x 74.6 mm x 7.7 mm (H x W x D) 163.3   mm x 75.2 mm x 8.2 mm (H x W x D)
    Weight Approx. 187 g Approx. 199 g
    Color Moonlight   White,Emerald Green,Black Ocean   Cyan,Moonlight White,Black

    Pricing for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 and Galaxy Z Fold6 in Saudi Arabia

    July 16, 2024

    Samsung official announced the AI powered Galaxy Flip6 and Galaxy Fold6 and if you are in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, these two new folding smartphones from Samsung are now available for preorder and below are the price;

    Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6

    Samsung Galaxy Flip6

    • 12GB RAM + 256 GB Storage – SAR 4,399.00
    • 12GB RAM + 512 GB Storage – SAR 4,899.00

      • Preorders will include 1 Year Samsung Care+, Clear Case with Ring and 15% off Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

    Samsung Galaxy Fold6

    • 12GB RAM + 256 GB Storage – SAR 7,299.00
    • 12GB RAM + 512 GB Storage – SAR 7,799.00
    • 12GB RAM + 1 TB Storage – SAR 8,799.00

      • Preorders will include 1 Year Samsung Care+, Slim S-Pen Case and 15% off Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds

    For specs and other details
    Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

    HONOR 200 Series launch in Saudi Arabia this July 17th

    July 15, 2024

    HONOR KSA will be launching the HONOR 200 smartphone Series in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The announcement was made via their social media accounts as well as the official website of HONOR Saudi Arabia.

    HONOR 200 Series is composed of the HONOR 200 and HONOR 200 Pro, both have virtually identical specs like the display, RAM, storage and, rear and front camera system. The main difference between the two is that the HONOR 200 using the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, while the HONOR 200 Pro will be using Snapdragon 8s Gen 3.

    The HONOR 200 Pro is only available in 512GB storage model, while the HONOR 200 will be available in 256GB and 512GB storage config. Both the HONOR 200 and HONOR 200 Pro will have 12 GB RAM. You can checkout the full specs of the HONOR 200 and HONOR 200 Pro in the table below.

    HONOR 200 HONOR 200 Pro
    Display 6.7   inches FHD+ AMOLED Display with 2664×1200 resolution, 1.07 billion colors,   Equal-Depth Quad-Curved Screen, Aluminosilicate glass 6.78   inches FHD+ AMOLED Display with 2700×1224 resolution, 1.07 billion colors,   Quad-Curved Floating Screen, Aluminosilicate glass
    Processor Snapdragon   7 Gen 3 Octa-core Cortex-A715 2.63GHz Snapdragon   8s Gen 3 Octa-core Cortex-X4 3.0GHz with RF Enhanced Chip HONOR C1+
    GPU Adreno 720 Adreno 735
    RAM 12   GB 12   GB
    Storage 256 GB, 512 GB 512   GB
    OS MagicOS 8.0   (Based on Android 14) MagicOS 8.0   (Based on Android 14)
    Rear Camera 50MP Wide   Camera(f/1.95 aperture, OIS 50MP Wide   Camera (f/1.9 aperture, OIS)
    50MP   Telephoto Camera (f/2.4 aperture, OIS) 50MP Telephoto   Camera (f/2.4 aperture, OIS)
    12MP   Ultra Wide Camera (f/2.2 aperture) 12MP Ultra   Wide Camera(f/2.2 aperture)
    Support for 4K (3840×2160) video recording,   Digital zoom 50x, 8192×6144 pixels Image Resolution, Rear single LED flash,   EIS+OIS Support   for 4K (3840×2160) video recording, Digital zoom 50x, 8192×6144 pixels Image   Resolution, Rear single LED flash, EIS+OIS
    Front Camera 50MP Front   Camera(f/2.1 aperture) with 4k support 50MP Front   Camera(f/2.1 aperture) with 4k support
    8192×6144 pixels Image Resolution, Support for   4K (3840×2160) video recording, Supported 2D face unlock 8192×6144   pixels Image Resolution, Support for 4K (3840×2160) video recording,   Supported 2D face unlock
    Battery 5200 mAh   Lithium polymer battery with HONOR 100W SuperCharge, supports up to 20V/5A   SuperCharge, compatible with 11V/6A,10V/4A 5200 mAh   Lithium polymer battery with HONOR 100W SuperCharge, supports up to 20V/5A   SuperCharge, compatible with 11V/6A,10V/4A with supports up to max 66W   Wireless SuperCharge
    Sensor Gravity   Sensor, Fingerprint (under display, optical), Gyroscope, Compass, NFC,   Ambient Light and Proximity Sensor. Gravity   Sensor, Fingerprint (under display, optical), Gyroscope, Compass, NFC,   Ambient Light and Proximity Sensor.
    Cellular 5G   (NR), 4G (LTE TDD/LTE FDD), 3G (WCDMA), 2G (GSM), dual SIM Support (Nano and   eSIM) 5G   (NR), 4G (LTE TDD/LTE FDD), 3G (WCDMA), 2G (GSM), dual SIM Support (Nano and   eSIM)
    Network and Connectivity Wifi   802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz and 5GHz), 2×2 MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct and Hotspot,   Bluetooth 5.3, Infrared, GPS /AGPS/GLONASS/BeiDou/Galileo, Wifi   802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (2.4GHz and 5GHz), 2×2 MIMO, Wi-Fi Direct and Hotspot,   Bluetooth 5.3, Infrared, PC Data Sync, GPS /AGPS/GLONASS/BeiDou/Galileo, OTG   Support
    Dimension 161.5   mm x 74.6 mm x 7.7 mm (H x W x D) 163.3   mm x 75.2 mm x 8.2 mm (H x W x D)
    Weight Approx. 187 g Approx. 199 g
    Color Moonlight   White,Emerald Green,Black Ocean   Cyan,Moonlight White,Black

    Together with the launch announcement, the company also said that customers can preorder on July 17th as well. The HONOR 200 Series will in retail store and can be purchase online on the 25th of July.

    There will be 3 variants for the HONOR 200 Series;

    HONOR 200

    • 12 GB + 256 GB
    • 12 GB + 512 GB

    HONOR 200 Pro

    • 12 GB + 512 GB

    Details about the pricing have not been announced, since the company is currently running a contest to guess the price and win HONOR 200 Series smartphone. I guess, we will know after 2 days on the pricing of the phones.

    Saudi Arabia to host the first Olympic Esports Games

    July 14, 2024

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Saudi Arabia’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) have announced a 12-year partnership to host the Olympic Esports Games.

    The Esports Games will be held regularly, but details like specific timing, game titles, qualification process, and venue selection are still under discussion by the IOC Session.

    Saudi Arabia is currenting hosting the inaugural Esports World Cup in Riyadh Boulevard City. The Esports World Cup will be 8 week event the started last July 10th.

    You can read the full text of IOC press announcement here.

    POCO F6 Series now in Saudi Arabia

    July 10, 2024

    Xiaomi fans in Saudi Arabia rejoice! Xiaomi’s POCO brand has just introduced the F6 series in the Kingdom. Both the standard F6 and the feature-packed F6 Pro are currently available for preorder on Jarir Bookstore and Noon.

    The POCO F6 boasts a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, while the F6 Pro offers a slightly more powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. As for the display, both models come equipped with a smooth 120Hz, 6.67-inch AMOLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass for added durability.

    The distinction between the two models starts with storage and RAM. The F6 offers up to 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage, while the F6 Pro boasts a maximum of 16GB of RAM and a whopping 1TB of storage.

    The camera systems also differ. The F6 features a dual rear camera system with a 50MP main camera powered by the Sony IMX882 sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide camera (IMX355). The F6 Pro upgrades to a triple rear camera setup with a 50MP main camera using the Light Fusion 800 image sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP macro camera. The F6 also sports a 20MP front-facing camera, while the F6 Pro features a 16MP front camera.

    The POCO F6 and F6 Pro share similar specifications for battery, security, sensors, audio, network, and connectivity. You can check out the detailed specs below for additional information.

    F6 F6 Pro
    Display 6.67″ CrystalRes 1.5K Flow AMOLED DotDisplay, 2400 nits (peak brightness), 2712 x 1220 resolution @446 ppi, Up to 120Hz refresh rate 6.67″ WQHD+ Flow AMOLED DotDisplay, 3200×1440 resolution @526 ppi, 4000 nits at peak brightness, Up to 120Hz refresh rate
    Processor Snapdragon® 8s Gen 3 Mobile Platform
    Octa-core processor up to 3.0 GHz    		 Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform
    Octa-core processor up to 3.0 GHz
    GPU Adreno Adreno
    AI Qualcomm AI Engine
    RAM 8GB , 12 GB (LPDDR5X) 12 GB , 16 GB (LPDDR5X)
    Storage 256 GB, 512 GB (UFS 4.0) 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB (UFS 4.0)
    OS Xiaomi HyperOS Xiaomi HyperOS
    Rear Camera 50MP main camera (Sony IMX882f/1.59)
    8MP ultra-wide camera (IMX355)    		 50MP main camera (Light Fusion 800 image sensor), f/1.6
    8MP ultra-wide camera, f/2.2
    2MP macro camera, f/2.4
    Front Camera 20MP front camera (OV20B -1/4″ sensor size) 16MP front camera
    Battery 5000 mAh with 90W turbo charging (USB-C) 5000 mAh with 90W turbo charging (USB-C)
    Security In-screen fingerprint sensor, AI Face Unlock In-screen fingerprint sensor, AI Face Unlock
    Sensor NFC support, GPS L1, GLONASS G1, Beidou B1, Galileo E1, QZSS L1, Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Electronic compass, IR blaster, Gyroscope, X-axis linear vibration motor NFC support, Proximity sensor, 360° Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Electronic compass, Gyroscope, IR blaster, Flicker sensor, Beidou, GPS , Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS, NavIC, Data network, Wireless network, Sensor Assisted Positioning
    Network and Connectivity Dual SIM support, 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, 4G LTE FDD/TDD, 5G, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax Dual SIM support, 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, 4G LTE FDD/TDD, 5G, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax
    Audio Dual speakers Stereo Dual speakers
    Dimension 160.5mm x 74.4mm x 7.8mm (HxWxT) 160.86mm x 74.95mm x 8.21mm (HxWxT)
    Weight 179g 209g
    Color Black, Green and Titanium White and Black

    For those interested in preordering from Jarir, here are the prices;
    POCO F6
    – 12GB + 512GB – SAR 1,799

    POCO F6 Pro
    – 12GB + 512GB – SAR 2,199

    For additional variations, you can checkout to Xiaomi’s Store in Noon;
    POCO F6
    – 12GB + 512GB – SAR 1,799.00

    POCO F6 Pro
    – 12GB+512GB – SAR 2,199
    – 16GB+1TB – SAR 2,599.00