News

Amazon Launches Its Prime Membership Program In Saudi Arabia

Published

4 years ago

February 3, 2021

Amazon

Amazon has announced that it’s making its Prime membership program, which currently has around 150 million members around the world, available to consumers in Saudi Arabia.

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of Amazon Prime in Saudi Arabia, providing customers with the best of shopping and entertainment,” Ronaldo Mouchawar, CEO and co-founder of Souq.com, the largest e-commerce platform in the Arab world, owned by Amazon, Inc. “Customers in Saudi Arabia can now enjoy all the benefits included in this program, starting with free and faster delivery times,” he added.

More specifically, the Prime membership comes with free one-day shipping to all key metropolitan areas; free two-day shipping to cities such as Jubail, Khamis Mushayt, Hail, Abha, and others; and free delivery to all other areas 4 to 6 days.

In addition to free local delivery, Amazon Prime members can order international items from Amazon.sa and have them shipped for free in 2 business days from Amazon UAE or 7 business days from Amazon US (eligible for orders over 200 SAR).

If free shipping doesn’t excite you much, then you might be happy to learn that Amazon Prime membership also includes non-shipping benefits. Prime members can watch popular movies and TV shows on Prime Video (complete with Arabic subtitles and dubbing), get exclusive gaming content on Prime Gaming, and enjoy attractive shopping deals throughout the year.

Also Read: Hyperloop Video Provides A Peek At The Future Of Transportation

All this and more for just 16 SAR per month with monthly billing or 12 SAR per month with annual billing (140 SAR in total). New members can sign up for a 30-day free trial to see what the service is all about before spending any money on it.

News

UAE’s Etihad Rail Launches In 2026 — What You Need To Know

A 1,200 km passenger network will transform public transport, with 11 connected cities, and high-speed trains cutting inter-emirate travel times.

Published

1 day ago

May 19, 2025

Nour Nasir

Etihad Rail

Etihad Rail has confirmed that its long-anticipated passenger train service will officially launch in 2026, ushering in a new era of high-speed, inter-emirate travel. The UAE’s national railway developer shared the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), as work continues on a 1,200 km passenger network set to connect 11 cities across all seven emirates.

The news marks a major leap in public transportation for the country, with passenger trains designed to reach speeds of up to 200 km/h. Travel times will be significantly reduced — Abu Dhabi to Dubai is expected to take just under an hour, while the journey to Fujairah will be cut to around 105 minutes. A separate high-speed line, capable of reaching 350 km/h, is also in the works to link Abu Dhabi and Dubai in just 30 minutes.

The backbone of the network was completed in 2023, when Etihad Rail launched its 900 km freight service linking key industrial and logistics hubs across the UAE, including ports in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Fujairah. Now, the focus has shifted to passenger infrastructure.

The first station will be located in Sakamkam, Fujairah city centre, and a second is confirmed near University City in Sharjah. Dubai’s main station is expected to be adjacent to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station, while Abu Dhabi’s is anticipated along the corridor separating Mussafah Industrial Area and Mohammed Bin Zayed City.

Also Read: UGREEN Nexode Pro Review: Portable Yet Powerful Chargers

Once completed, the passenger network will link cities including Al Sila, Al Ruwais, Al Mirfa, Dubai, Sharjah, Al Dhaid, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Integration with Oman is also part of the long-term vision. A new cross-border project — Hafeet Rail — will span 303 km between Sohar and Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba area. Developed by Etihad Rail in collaboration with Oman Rail and Mubadala, the link is expected to deepen trade and tourism ties between the two countries.

Etihad Rail’s passenger trains will carry up to 400 passengers each and feature Wi-Fi, entertainment systems, charging points, and onboard food and beverage options to ensure a comfortable experience. To further simplify access, passengers will be able to pay with their nol cards, thanks to a partnership between Etihad Rail and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The collaboration aims to integrate fare payments and booking systems under one unified platform.