News
4 Smartphones Coming To The Middle East This Spring
These are some of the best smartphones making their way to the Middle East over the next few weeks.
The recently introduced iPhone SE 3 is just one of many new smartphones that you should consider if you’re in store for a new device this spring. Let’s take a look at four Android smartphones coming to the Middle East as early as next week.
Samsung Galaxy S22/S22+/S22 Ultra
Since the end of February, buyers in the Middle East have been able to pre-order Samsung’s latest generation of its flagship devices. While not a whole lot has changed over the S21, the end products still represent the very best that Samsung and the Android ecosystem have to offer. The three models differ not only in size but also in terms of features, with the S22 Ultra being the only model that comes with the S Pen.
The Galaxy S22 will be available starting March 20 at $890 USD for the standard model, $1,050 USD for the S22 model, and $1,300 USD for the beefed up Ultra model.
Nokia G11 & G21
Even though the Nokia G11 costs almost ten times less than the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra ($136 USD versus $1,300 USD for the top model), they both have a similar 5,000 mAh battery, enabling them to run for approximately three days on a single charge. The G21 also has a large battery, but it costs $174 because of its slightly better specifications.
The G11 will be available in the Middle East at the end of March, while the G21 has just recently been made available.
Huawei P50 Pro & P50 Pocket
The Huawei P50 Pro and P50 Pocket are the latest and greatest Android smartphones from the Chinese smartphone maker, and they’re both available for pre-order in the Middle East at the time of writing this article. Just like all other Huawei Android smartphones, they don’t come with Google apps pre-installed, but there are many online tutorials that explain how to install them manually.
You can expect to pay $1,100 USD for the P50 Pro, and $1,400 USD for the P50 Pocket.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11/11S/11 Pro/11 Pro 5G
The entire Redmi Note 11 series of Xiaomi smartphones will be available in the Middle East by the early April, offering many attractive mid-range models with above-average specifications. The two top models even have a super-fast 120 Hz screen refresh rate, a feature that is highly sought-after by mobile gamers.
The Note 11 and Note 11S have a refresh rate of 90 Hz, which is decent but not super-impressive these days. The Redmi Note 11 base model will start at $200 USD.
News
UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
Also Read: IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth
The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.