News

Twitter Verification Costs More For Middle Eastern Firms

Businesses and organizations in several MENA countries will be charged more for verification than their counterparts in the USA.

Published

1 year ago

April 8, 2023

Nour Nasir

twitter verification costs more for middle eastern firms

Twitter’s blue badge system, Twitter Verification, is the company’s way of signifying whether a public interest account is authentic. Last year, after Elon Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of the social media platform, the blue tick was removed from accounts and replaced with subscription-based badges.

In December, Twitter introduced three new verification badges in different colors:

A gold tick for business organizations.
A gray tick for government-affiliated accounts.
A blue tick for individuals.

However, as the new verification system rolls out, Twitter users in Saudi Arabia have noticed that prices are an estimated 6.7% more than for US businesses.

The standard price for a business or organization is $1,000 for a monthly subscription and an additional $50 per month for each affiliate. On the other hand, Saudi Arabian organizations will have to stump up $1,066.67 and $53.55, respectively.

Also Read: Web Summit Expands With New Middle East Event In Qatar

UAE organizations will also have to pay more for verification, with monthly subscription costs climbing to $1,007.49. Qatar accounts will also pay more at $1,016.48, while those in Egypt will be charged $1,003.35. Interestingly, all other MENA countries will pay the standard $1,000 per month subscription and $50 monthly affiliate fee.

News

NASA Forms New Partnership With Saudi Space Agency

The pair will collaborate on the Center for Space Futures, advancing space tech by bringing together public and private stakeholders.

Published

2 days ago

May 16, 2024

Nour Nasir

Saudi Space Agency

Saudi Arabia’s space industry is on the brink of substantial expansion after generating $400 million in revenue in 2022, according to a report by the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission.

Now, in a new venture with NASA, plans for a “Center for Space Futures” are set to further drive the Kingdom’s aspirations of becoming a leading player in space exploration and technology.

Capturing moments from the joint delegation visit with leaders from the Saudi and American Space Agencies @NASA to @PSU_RUH, along with scenes showcasing the audience's engagement. pic.twitter.com/oB1cFTiRNl

— وكالة الفضاء السعودية (@saudispace) May 14, 2024

The partnership between NASA and Saudi Arabia goes beyond economic advantages. The pair have already cooperated on preliminary work for the Artemis II lunar mission, which is slated for a September 2025 launch and aims to land astronauts near the moon’s South Pole.

Also Read: Plans Underway For Massive Middle East Autonomous Freight Network

During a visit to the capital, Riyadh, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized in a TV interview the broader objectives of the collaboration, which encompass “returning to the moon and then [to] Mars” while utilizing space exploration to glean important insights into climate change. The NASA spokesman also reiterated the space agency’s dedication to collaborating with Saudi Arabia on other future ventures.