News

Riyadh’s KAFD To Launch Driverless Monorail By 2027

Saudi planners envisage smarter, more sustainable public transport as the King Abdullah Financial District monorail moves into gear.

Published

1 year ago

August 27, 2025

Nour Nasir

riyadh's kafd to launch driverless monorail by 2027

Following the construction of the Riyadh Metro, another ambitious transport project is on track for the capital. The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) is preparing to add a driverless monorail, designed to improve mobility within one of the city’s most modern business hubs.

Currently in its design stage, the 3.6 km network is expected to be started in late 2025. A consortium including CRRC, CRRC Nanjing Puzhen, and Hassan Allam is driving the project, which was first revealed in October 2023.

Trials are scheduled for early 2027, with public services set to follow later in the year. Once complete, the monorail will be able to move around 3,500 passengers per hour across a circular elevated track. The system will run six two-carriage trains, linking six stations throughout the financial district. Integration with the Riyadh Metro is also planned, making the new line part of a wider mobility ecosystem.

The design emphasizes sustainability and efficiency. Equipped with a fully autonomous driving system, the monorail will reduce congestion inside KAFD while offering quick access between the district’s landmark towers. For the King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC), the project is positioned as a core part of Vision 2030, supporting Riyadh’s transformation into a global financial and investment hub.

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The success of the Riyadh Metro underlines the importance of affordable, reliable public transport. Since launching in December 2024, the metro has already carried over 100 million riders in under nine months. With punctuality at nearly 99.8% and KAFD emerging as a key interchange, the metro has quickly become central to Riyadh’s new transport network.

The upcoming monorail builds on that momentum, promising a next-generation link that will make navigating the financial district faster, smarter, and more sustainable.

News

New Disney+ Streaming App Has Officially Launched In The UAE

The app’s recommendations now factor in what’s popular in the UAE, and a dedicated Junior Mode gives kids their own corner of Disney+.

Published

18 hours ago

October 9, 2026

Dana Saadeh

Disney

A new Disney+ app has officially launched in the UAE, and subscribers can now keep watching their favorite titles when they travel. Disney+ says access extends across supported markets in Europe, the United States and beyond.

The app is built around a dynamic homepage and simpler navigation, with recommendations drawn from each customer’s viewing habits and what’s popular in the UAE. Content from Hulu and ESPN is now easier to find alongside Disney+’s own library, the company says. Audio and subtitles come in up to 25 languages, and supported devices get high-quality video and sound.

For families, the app includes Junior Mode, a dedicated, simplified version of Disney+ for younger viewers, built around age-appropriate shows and movies. It sits alongside existing controls such as PIN-protected profiles, customizable content ratings and account notifications when a profile is changed.

The catalog still spans Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Hulu and FX. Returning series include Season 8 of “The Kardashians,” Season 23 of “Grey’s Anatomy” and Season 38 of “The Simpsons”. Also on the service are the second season of International Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning series “Rivals,” comedy “Only Murders in the Building,” Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootropolis 2” and 20th Century Studios’ “Send Help”.

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Marvel Television’s “VisionQuest” is on the way, and Disney’s live-action “Moana” is due later this autumn. Beyond Hollywood, the Turkish title “Halef” is coming to the platform alongside a lineup of Korean entertainment: Korean-Japanese romantic comedy “Merry Berry Love” is streaming now, and “The Remarried Empress” arrives November 4.

Existing subscribers will be prompted to download the new app and sign in with their current credentials, with on-screen steps covering account confirmation and profile setup. Subscriptions start at AED 49.99 per month and can be canceled at any time.

For UAE subscribers planning to travel, the update will likely be well received, but Disney has left one question open. It confirms Europe and the United States as supported markets but doesn’t yet say which others fall under and beyond.