Dalal Awienat

Dubai-based journalist and digital editor with experience across Arab News, GQ Middle East, and Petra News Agency. Experienced in lifestyle, culture, fashion, and feature writing, with a strong understanding of regional audiences and a passion for telling compelling stories that capture emerging trends, personalities, and cultural conversations.

My Recent Work

Arab News •

Dubai university develops AI tools to accelerate hospital triage and emergency care

DUBAI: Dubai Medical University is developing artificial intelligence systems to speed up hospital triage, guide first aid in remote locations and flag potential illnesses among students, as it expands its healthcare innovation program.Hessa Yahya Lootah, head of AI and innovation at Dubai Medical University, told Arab News the university is working to develop practical applications of AI that could support healthcare professionals, improve emergency response and help identify potential health c...
Arab News •

UNRWA warns of worsening humanitarian situation as 3,000 displaced in Hebron

DUBAI: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has warned of a worsening humanitarian situation in Hebron, where more than 3,000 Palestinians have reportedly been displaced amid an Israeli military operation.The operation followed a shooting attack on Israeli soldiers on October 23 and has involved demolitions of homes and private property, while restrictions have severely limited residents' movement and access to essential services, according to UNRWA. “A near-total lockdown across large parts o...
Arab News •

Creating a supportive community: GMNSM bringing its child-first sports philosophy to Saudi Arabia

DUBAI: Andrej Kuprejev owes his children a debt of gratitude for the success of his business.Today, his Dubai-based martial arts and holistic education network GMNSM is bringing a unique approach to children’s sports in the region by prioritizing character development, motivation and a lifelong appreciation for physical activity over performance alone.. He wanted the best for his own kids, not to mention others.GMNSM is a child-focused sports and development concept that uses activities such as...
Arab News •

Meet the Saudi startup using AI to turn business ideas into reality

DUBAI: A Saudi-based startup is deploying 32 artificial intelligence agents across nine departments to help entrepreneurs turn business ideas into fully fledged startup projects, covering everything from financial planning and market research to website development and marketing.Hatchio AI is designed for non-technical founders, established businesses and startup incubators, bringing multiple business functions together on a single platform. The startup aims to reduce the time and resources requ...
Arab News •

Saudi health tech startup lands runner-up spot in London Business School competition

DUBAI: Saudi owned startup SDM has been named runner up at the London Business School MENA Startup Competition 2026, scooping $15,000 in prize money.The firm is developing AI-powered tools for the early detection of chronic diseases, after witnessing growing challenges diabetic patients face in specialized eye care, particularly in rural and underserved communities.SAARIA, the new AI tech developed by SDM, delivers diagnostic results for eye tests within minutes without requiring a physician to...
Arab News •

Saudi startups reach final of London Business School competition

DUBAI: Two Saudi startups are among 10 finalists competing at the London Business School MENA Startup Competition, highlighting the range of solutions emerging from the Kingdom.Health tech company SDM and fintech startup NSBH are competing for a share of $45,000 in funding, with the contest's final being held on Oct. 14 in Dubai.SDM is developing AI-powered tools for the early detection of chronic diseases, after witnessing growing challenges diabetic patients face in specialized eye care, parti...
Arab News •

WEF leaders call for youth inclusion as AI investment grows in MENA

DUBAI: Young leaders are calling for a greater role in shaping the region’s future as artificial intelligence investment accelerates across the Middle East, discussions at the World Economic Forum in Dubai highlighted.According to the latest WEF report, AI could unlock more than one trillion dollars for the Middle East and North Africa by 2030.Head of Global Shapers community at WEF, Natalie Pierce, told Arab News empowering the youth today requires a focus on the skills for the future and the a...
Arab News •

AI reshaping entrepreneurship but regional technology gaps persist, business leader says

DUBAI: Artificial intelligence means anyone in the Middle East can be a coder and an engineer, a leading female entrepreneur has told Arab News.Wafa Alobaidat, founder and CEO of networking platform Playbook, said AI is not only becoming a key resource for small businesses by allowing owners to automate tasks and cut down on costs, it also provides specialized skills for entrepreneurs to benefit from.Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Dubai, Alobaidat said her company focus...
Arab News •

Morgan Jay turns Abu Dhabi arena into musical comedy party

ABU DHABI: US comedian Morgan Jay delivered a high-energy debut during his Abu Dhabi Comedy Season show on Sunday night.Jay, who returned to the UAE after a successful show in Dubai last year, said that the show was the first arena performance of his career — a career built on TikTok and Instagram where he is known for his short form content.His show relies heavily on crowd work and audience engagement, and he kicked off his performance running through the crowd and doing his most viral segment...
Arab News •

How Gaza’s children are enduring loss and trauma on the war’s third anniversary

DUBAI: War strips away childhood long before it claims young lives. In Gaza, the small, quiet rhythms of growing up have been replaced by the relentless mechanics of survival — hungry bellies, grief for lost parents and bodies missing limbs struggling to endure.Three years after Oct. 7, 2023, and the beginning of Israel’s military assault on Gaza, some 1.9 million people have been displaced, many repeatedly, and more than 1.2 million have been left homeless, according to a 2026 UN, EU and World...
Arab News •

UAE’s 1 Billion Followers Summit unveils $1.1m in prizes for 2027 edition

DUBAI: The UAE’s 1 Billion Followers Summit is launching two new awards as part of its ambitious push to cement the Emirates as the global capital of content creation.The 1 Billion Followers Summit is the largest expo for content creators to share their expertise, network and showcase content.Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office Saeed Al-Eter said on Wednesday that the summit would feature an AI Film award in partnership with TikTok, ByteDance and SeeDance.Applications are currently open...
Arab News •

Hezbollah must be convinced to prioritize Lebanon and not Iran, says Elias Bou Saab

DUBAI: Hezbollah must prioritize Lebanon’s interests over those of Iran for progress to be made on disarming the group and advancing negotiations with Israel, deputy speaker in the Lebanese Parliament, Elias Bou Saab, said on Wednesday, as negotiations remain frozen amid the wider US war on Iran.Lebanon’s government cannot secure a lasting agreement with Israel without Hezbollah's backing for the transfer of weapons to state control Bou Saab said at the Arab Media Summit in Dubai, in a session t...
Arab News •

Syria’s Tartus port could offer alternative to Strait of Hormuz, Al-Sharaa says

DUBAI: Syria’s Tartus port could be an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa said on Tuesday.“Syria has transformed into a geographic location for stability, and a trade pathway and a link between the West and the East,” he said.“UAE is good at targeting the right opportunities. Like the link between Tartus port and Jabal Ali. We are living through the issues in the strait of Hormuz, this is an opportunity for the Tartus port and the region,” he said.UAE’s DP Worl...
Arab News •

Trump will handle Bab Al-Mandab situation ‘calmly and wisely,’ says advisor

DUBAI: US President Donald Trump will deal with the Bab Al-Mandab Strait situation calmly and wisely, said Massad Boulos, senior advisor to the president on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, on Tuesday.“We are dealing with the situation in Bab Al-Mandab seriously but not in panic. Trump is calm and wise and he has the ability to take a historic stance and we will see his interpretation on the ground,” said Boulos.“Today we are talking about Bab Al-Mandab and we are seeing things change in a posit...
Arab News •

As West Bank food insecurity soars, WFP to slash beneficiaries to 200,000

DUBAI: As of September, 200,000 Palestinians living in the West Bank will lose critical food aid after severe funding shortfalls forced the World Food Programme to halve its relief list. “Families who were once thriving and earning a living from their land are now unable to afford enough food,” said Shaun Hughes, WFP Country Director for Palestine.The number of food aid recipients in the West Bank will fall from 400,000 to 200,000 in September, the WFP told Arab News following their announcement...
Arab News •

How climate shocks deepen food and water insecurity across the Arab world

DUBAI: Across the Arab world, climate change is increasingly being felt through shrinking water supplies, damaged crops and rising food prices. Experts warn that a region already among the world’s most water-stressed is becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate-driven hunger and humanitarian crises.

“The Arab world is the most water-scarce region in the world when it comes to per capita availability of fresh water,” Ahmad Mukhtar, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization coordinator...
Arab News •

Israeli forces begin destruction of UNRWA campus in East Jerusalem

DUBAI: Israeli forces began demolition of UNRWA Kalandia Training Centre premises in East Jerusalem with armored vehicles on Tuesday morning. 

“At least four armoured vehicles entered the premises, accompanied by more than 50 Israeli security personnel,” UNRWA told Arab News.

“UNRWA condemns today's unauthorized entry into the KTC. The Kalandia Training Centre is a UN facility enjoying privileges and immunities under international law. It is UNRWA’s oldest vocational training center.

Ov...
Arab News •

Endangered whales, turtles at risk as Oman oil spill reaches coast

DUBAI: An oil spill spreading along Oman’s coast is threatening fragile marine ecosystems that support endangered Arabian Sea humpback whales, critically endangered hawksbill turtles and vulnerable seabirds, raising concerns over the long-term impact on some of the region’s most threatened wildlife.

Crude oil has been leaking from the tanker Caroline Bezengi — a sanctioned tanker believed to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” — that was carrying nearly 1 million barrels of oil when it reporte...
Arab News •

Big Hass celebrates 15 years of ‘Laish Hip Hop’ and championing Arab rap

DUBAI: For Hassane Dennaoui — aka Big Hass — hip-hop was never just music, it was identity, language and resistance. Now, as his radio show “Laish Hip Hop” celebrates 15 years on air, the presenter, music producer, and hip-hop advocate says his mission remains the same: to serve the culture and the voices behind it. 

“Laish Hip Hop” — which airs weekly on Mix FM — is widely credited with introducing Arabic hip-hop to mainstream radio audiences across the region.  Launched in 2011, the program...
Arab News •

‘Even if Gaza becomes ruins, we will still paint’: Gazan artists find hope through murals

DUBAI: With Gaza’s streets reduced to rubble and walls shattered by months of Israeli bombardment, two young Palestinian artists are turning destroyed buildings into canvases, painting murals of global figures as a message of gratitude, resistance and hope amid war.

Obay Al-Qarshli, aged 21, and 23-year-old Ahmed Al-Halabi are painting murals of global figures as messages of gratitude, resistance and hope amid war. They have been in the spotlight after they painted a tribute mural for Spanish...
Arab News •

UN seeks global changemakers for 2026 SDG Action Awards

DUBAI: From refugee mental health platforms to grassroots climate solutions, the UN Sustainable Development Goals Action Campaign is searching for its next “Heroes of Tomorrow” as it opens applications for the 2026 UN SDG Action Awards.

The Heroes of Tomorrow: UN SDG Action Awards is a global initiative led by the UN SDG Action Campaign which recognizes individuals and organizations working towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

Launched as part of the SDG Global Festival of Action...
Arab News •

Dubai churches announce online shift for mass during Easter weekend for safety

DUBAI: Churches in the UAE announced a temporary closure during Easter due to safety concerns amid regional tension.

Churches including St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral said they would be closed due to a directive from the government and that Good Friday services would be held online via their official channels.

“Parishioners are requested to refrain from visiting the church premises, in the interest of safety and community...
Arab News •

How UNRWA’s funding crisis is threatening essential services in Gaza, the West Bank and the region

DUBAI: UNRWA is warning it may soon be forced to scale back essential services in Gaza and the West Bank as a deepening funding crisis threatens the future of the UN agency relied on by millions of Palestinian refugees.

The director of UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank, Roland Friedrich, told Arab News if the agency is unable to continue its operations, it will have a direct impact on the people they serve and the stability in the region. 

Established in 1949, UNRWA provides education, health...
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