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WhatsApp Channels Has Started Rolling Out Across The MENA Region
The one-way broadcast tool allows account admins to send text, photos, videos, and stickers to followers, and create polls.
WhatsApp Channels is now being rolled out across the MENA region, with countries including Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Morocco soon to benefit from the broadcast service.
Soon, people across much of the Middle East and North Africa will benefit from private updates from their favorite celebrities, creators, artists, and sports teams without having to leave WhatsApp.
Moon Baz, Creator Partnerships Lead, Africa, Middle East, and Turkey at Meta, was excited to announce the update, “We’re starting to roll out WhatsApp Channels globally and adding thousands of new channels that people can follow in WhatsApp. We’re also welcoming some of your favorite celebrities, sports teams, artists, creators, and thought leaders that people can follow right within WhatsApp”.
According to Moon Baz, Channels allow admins to send one-way broadcasts via text, photos, videos, and stickers. Users can find Channels in a new WhatsApp tab labeled Updates, which is separate from their regular chats with friends, family, and communities.
WhatsApp users will be able to see recommended Channels based on popularity and region. Similar to regular chats, they will also be able to use emojis to react to updates — though users won’t be able to see someone else’s reaction.
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Channel updates will not be available indefinitely. Meta will store data on their servers for up to 30 days. Admins will also be able to block screenshots and forwards from their channels.
Overall, WhatsApp Channels look set to become an effective tool for getting in touch with your target audience — whether you’re an influencer or a business looking for marketing opportunities.
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.
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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.