News

New Samsung Astro Watch Honors Middle East Science Pioneers

The smartwatch will be part of a series of collectable devices exclusive to the region.

Published

3 years ago

August 28, 2023

Nour Nasir

Samsung

Samsung’s Gulf Electronics division has unveiled a limited edition version of its latest Galaxy Watch6 commemorating the Middle East’s contributions to science, astronomy, and timekeeping.

The 47mm Galaxy Watch6 Astro Edition features a rotating bezel with a unique astronomy pattern and a face that shows lunar and solar phases. The device was announced by T.M. Roh, president and head of Samsung’s mobile experience business, in Dubai.

Among those honored by the Galaxy Astro Edition are Muhammad Ibn Ibrahim Al Fazari, a mathematician and astronomer who built the Muslim world’s first astrolabe, and Al Battani, widely accepted as the greatest astronomer of the Islamic Golden Age.

The regular versions of the Watch6 series (base model and Classic) were unveiled alongside Samsung’s latest foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Flip5, at last month’s Seoul Galaxy Unpacked event.

Samsung did not specify the number of Astro Edition watches in the limited-edition run, but Fadi Abu Shamat, head of Samsung Gulf’s mobile experience division, said he was “confident that [they] will sell out within the first weeks of launch,” adding, “The Middle East holds a special place in Samsung’s heart as a region of dynamic innovation and tech-savvy enthusiasts […] The launch of the Astro Edition here is a testament to our commitment to providing tailored solutions that celebrate the region’s rich legacy and cater to the Gulf markets’ preferences and needs”.

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The Galaxy Watch6 Astro Edition is the first in a series of limited-editions specific to the Middle East. Samsung Gulf did not provide a timetable or details for future versions but has noted that they will be available in the “UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and Turkey”.

News

For etisalat, More Bandwidth Is A Matter Of Digital Sovereignty

The etisalat group plans to expand its international capacity from 20 Tbps to more than 500 Tbps by 2030, with new routes designed for speed and resilience.

Published

2 days ago

October 6, 2026

Nour Nasir

for etisalat, more bandwidth is a matter of digital sovereignty

Emirates News Agency

By 2030, etisalat group plans to lift its international connectivity capacity to more than 500 terabits per second (Tbps), more than 25 times the 20 Tbps it has today. The group presented the expansion as preparation for rising AI demand and an important move for the UAE’s digital sovereignty.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, witnessed the launch of the project, which covers the UAE and international markets. Sheikh Mansour is also Chairman of the Emirates Investment Authority, etisalat group’s main shareholder.

He emphasized the role of coordinated national efforts in advancing the UAE’s AI and digital economy ambitions. “AI is a central pillar in our development journey moving forward,” he said, adding that developing the country’s digital capabilities would empower every institution, public and private, to build and innovate with AI “at the scale the coming decade will demand”.

“This project reflects our conviction that the UAE should not simply adopt AI, but govern it and build with it,” said H.E Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman of etisalat group. “That requires digital infrastructure at a scale that would prepare us for the future”. He cast greater international connectivity as a strategic answer to the challenges of processing and moving data globally.

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Beyond raw bandwidth, the expansion will introduce new connectivity routes intended to improve reliability and efficiency, and Alzaabi tied them directly to the sovereignty goal. “Delivered through diversified routes and low-latency design, the project is set to keep the country’s connection to the global digital economy fast, direct and resilient, while ensuring the UAE’s digital sovereignty,” he said.

He also linked the plan to the group’s 50-year commitment to building infrastructure for the nation. The announcement didn’t mention what the expansion will cost. Nor did it name the new routes or say who will build them, the details that would show what digital sovereignty means in practice.