Arab

Arab countries are taking it away

by

What we understand by luxury It is no longer what it was. Its meaning has evolved, and with it our way of consuming. We prioritize the result —a search for outstanding in an almost arithmetic sum of factors such as price, quality or experience— more than the historical lineage of a great house French like Dior or Chanel. The truth is that the young consumer does not have as much attachment to the heritage of the brands that, perhaps, they hope to have by divine mandate; However, that does not stop us from continuing to pay attention to the high-end of iconic brands with cosmetics for one hundred euros. The difference is that today we can find an alternative on the market that provides us with a similar experience (the already famous dupes) has become a small personal triumph. So much so that not hesitating to publish the experience on networks ends up creating a call effect more powerful than twenty advertisements on Christmas Eve. Not so long ago, any allusion to “imitation” had connotations that we tried to avoid, but the reality is that the consumer now has no complexes. And the same thing happens in perfumery. A few years ago, talking about olfactory luxury automatically led us to French names, campaigns with the actors of the moment and bottles that easily exceeded one hundred euros. Today, however, we are directly witnessing a democratization of luxury, specifically in the field of perfume. Success comes from the Arab world On this occasion, this democratization does not come from perfumery dupes, the classic versions inspired by iconic fragrances and at more affordable prices that help remove the thorn of that high-end perfume or niche. The novelty is that the revolution comes, in large part, from the Emirates (they have not stopped with the Dubai chocolateno), with proposals for original perfumes that maintain the sophisticated aesthetic and olfactory character, but in which, in addition, the price is not a barrier at all. Thus, Arab perfumes have burst onto the market with force and have established themselves as a phenomenon that has filled cities with stores specialized in the sector and social networks of recommendations from these brands. Now brand names like Amouage, Afnan or Lattafa rub shoulders with classics like Dolce & Gabbana or Burberry and lead this transformation. According to data from Circana, global perfume sales grew by 17% in the first half of 2025 largely thanks to demand for Arabic fragrances. Lattafa herself increased its sales on TikTok Shop at the end of 2025 174% compared to the previous year, while the Omani house Amouage reported a 30% increase in sales in 2024 compared to its figures from the previous year. These numbers support a success that is based on a compendium of multiple factors that match current consumer trends. The keys to the global consolidation of Arab perfumes are clear: long-lasting and intense thanks to raw materials such as oud or musk, their pompous design and a price within reach of most pockets (around 30-40 euros). But, without a doubt, another of the factors that has consolidated the triumph of these perfumes is their massive presence on networks. Influencers continually recommend fragrances from these Arab houses, generating an appeal that, in combination with that price, favors impulsive purchasing by consumers, also sponsored by the striking and novelty of the product. In fact, searches on TikTok and Google for the term “Arabic perfumes” have grown more than 60% in 2025. The networks tell you how you should smell Until now it was very common for the algorithm to stuff us with hauls clothing, recommendations outfits or miracle makeup products like a base that lasts all day. Now there is an influencer sector that has been able to identify this new demand in the market and our way of consumption, making perfume recommendations for each occasion, depending on the intensity or olfactory notes that we are looking for. @marcelperfumes 5 Arab Perfumes You Must Have: 1. Mahd Al Dhahab 2. Rayhaan Terra 3. Kayaan Terra 4. Titan Khadlaj 5. Ravine Ginger #perfumes #Perfume #marcelperfumes ♬ peace – mindset So, it doesn’t hurt to say that yes, the algorithm is redefining perfumery. The call blind buywhich is nothing more than blind shopping on the internet, is no longer limited to clothing but also to perfumes. The reality is that many users decide to choose an Arabic perfume that appears in their “for you” because the bottle is beautiful and their trusted influencer claims that it will smell like lemon cake or give off notes of vanilla. We already know the benefits of accessing quality products in exchange for an affordable price, but also its risks. As happens with the skincare or makeup low costthe attractive price can lead us to spend even more. If we get a dupe of a lipstick that costs 40 euros for only 5, that feeling of savings leads us to complete the entire set and end up falling into the trap of micro spending. With perfumes, especially thanks to being a trend on social networks, exactly the same thing can happen. It is true that these Arabic fragrances are reasonably priced, but the context in which they are consumed has completely changed. For example, on TikTok videos about layeringThat is, combining several perfumes to create your own aroma with notes that you want, or enhancing the one you like the most and, to achieve this, you obviously have to add several scented products to the cart. @dyanbay Why should you mix your perfumes? And how to do it like a professional?😏🔥 Here I teach you everything I have learned studying in Paris and in the masterclass in Milan so that you don’t get confused. Tell me what combinations you make✌🏻💛 #dyanbay #perfumetok #humor #deinfluencing #antihaul ♬ original sound – Adrián Carrera👃🏻🩷 Perfume has become something totally modular and from networks we are encouraged to vary the fragrance according to our mood or the weather, as if … Read more

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates import millions of tons of sand every year despite living on immense deserts

by

The story is striking in itself: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two countries closely associated with the desert, import tons and tons of sand every year. So striking, in fact, that the first intuition is that it is false. But, as soon as you get closer to it, you discover that not only is it true, but it is more interesting than it seems. Because yes, these countries import a lot of sand. In 2023, only the United Arab Emirates bought more than six million tons. And it is surprising, of course, because these are two countries located on enormous deserts. The explanation, however, is simple: the sand they have is not suitable for certain things. At a technical level, what is known as “eolian sand” (that which the wind accumulates in dunes) is very fine, very uniform and very rounded. That makes it a poor sand for making glass, concrete or other industrial products. It is not that it cannot be used, but it requires adjusting the mixtures, controlling the granulometry and impurities (fines), and carefully balancing the manufacturing processes. That is to say, the process ends up becoming so expensive that it is cheaper to import sand that is more suitable for standardized processes. And this, ultimately, should not surprise us. Sand is, today, the second most exploited resource in the world (only after water). The United Nations Environment Program estimates that every year 50,000 million tons of sand and gravel are used. What’s more, the lack of sand is so obvious that there are criminal networks that traffic with her internationally. However, we are not talking about just any sand. There are, as is evident, many types of sand. For what is not interesting today we can distinguish natural sand (HS 250590) and siliceous/quartz sand (HS 250510). The Gulf countries import, above all, the second. Emirates, to give an example, is spent half a million a year in the first and 87 million in the second. That is to say, although they are countries ‘rich’ in sand, they do not have the sand they need. A sand, moreover, with very specific specifications (granulometry, purity, humidity, fines, contaminants, consistency of supply) and that are basic for glass, foundry, filtration or the chemical industry. However, they also import natural sand. And this is interesting because, as they point out in the UNthis only makes clear the significance of the problem of governance and externalities. Despite having usable sand, in many cases it is preferred to buy from other countries (such as Oman) to avoid the negative externalities of draining sand from their coasts and deserts. Something that can alter livelihoods (fishing, agriculture due to salinization, coastal tourism) and increase vulnerability to storms. In the summer of 2019, the couple who became famous was arrested in Sardinia for hiding 40 kilos of sand in his trunk. That was the anecdote, the problem was another: that beyond mass tourism, the tensions on the sand are increasingly greater. It is something that has only grown and is normal. The world is not here to do without one of its most valuable resources. Image | Lars Portjanow In Xataka | We are running out of sand. And there are already traffickers who negotiate with it in India or Morocco

The average price of Mb/s in each country in the world, arranged in a graph in which there is a unicorn: United Arab Emirates

by

Accessing the Internet is a necessity. In an increasingly connected world and in which we trust practically all aspects of our lives to online applicationshave a good coverage and speed It has become something essential. In fact, a server “blackout” like him recently lived with those from AWS demonstrates to what extent we depend on this connection. However, although the Internet is global, there is a huge digital divide. To the point that there are some who pay a cent per Mbps… and others exceed four euros for the same amount. The graph. With data from We Are Socialthe graph prepared by Visual Capitalist compare the price of megabit per secondor Mbps, in more than 60 countries in 2025. Before commenting on individual cases, because there are very striking ones, it must be said that the estimate is that the average price of Mbps worldwide is around 45 cents. The global average is also around 40 euros, but as we can see in the data, there are countries above and below that completely distort that average. And something important to understand is that the price of Internet responds to infrastructure and population density (it is expensive to bring broadband Internet to remote populations), but also to factors such as competition and tax policies. One question: United Arab Emirates. The United Arab Emirates perfectly exemplifies those last two points. It almost seems incredible, but the price of Mbps in the country exceeds four euros. Data from We Are Social puts it at $4.31 per Mb/s, almost double what is paid in the next most expensive country: Ghana with its $2.58 per Mb/s. On average, an Emirati pays between 100 and 140 dollars just to have Internet, and the big question is what is happening to make that happen. The answer? Politics and competition. In the UAE there are only two companies that provide the service, so this lack of real competition means that they do not have a need to lower the price. Do you want Internet? Well, take it or leave it. Plus, there is the political part. The State forces operators to transfer up to 30% of their profits to the country’s coffers, and it is something that directly affects the price of the final bill for the consumer. The speed not bad (an average of 300 Mbps), but it is evident that the price is prohibitive for many, potentially generating the aforementioned digital divide. The Romanian secret. In it opposite side On the spectrum we have the countries of Eastern Europe, specifically in a country whose flagship company we know well in Spain: Romania and DIGI. The average prices for fiber optics in the country are around 10 euros and the price of Mb/s is just 0.01 dollars. Russia and Poland are not far behind, and what has caused this is precisely the opposite of what is happening in the UAE. After the fall of communism, dozens of private operators They began to deploy decentralized fiber optic networks. Taking advantage of community wiring in cities and building blocks, the “last mile” problem was solved, allowing Internet to be offered to a large number of people with minimal costs. It is estimated that almost 90% of Romanian homes have high-speed Internet and DIGI has exported that “policy” outside its borders, offering the longed for 10 Gbps at the price of 1 Gbps in countries like Spain. Above the dollar. Commenting on each country is a complex process because there are multiple factors that come into play, but I find it almost more interesting to see which countries are whose Mbps exceeds the dollar. In fact, these countries perfectly exemplify everything that comes into play when it comes to offering a cheap connection: Swiss: The average price is just over two dollars per Mbps due to the dominance of a single operator and the country’s salary structure: high salaries and, therefore, high maintenance costs. Kenya: averages about $1.54 per Mbps due to its poor fiber infrastructure that makes the country depend to technologies like starlink or the google balloons. Now, the competition is increasing little by little. Morocco: its $1.16 is explained by uneven infrastructure and just three companies that dominate the market. Australia: At its $1.33 per Mbps, the tremendously dispersed geography comes into play, with rural areas very far from each other. Germany: It is the one that is around a dollar per Mb/s and is not the fastest connection in Europe, far from it. In fact, it is a paradoxical situation as it is a power in Europe while having a worse cost/speed ratio than its neighbors. Reason? A large operator that dominates the sector and an old infrastructure, with many areas in which copper continues to be the trend. The Spanish situation. Within our borders, Spain has a comfortable position. There is enough competition so that prices are affordable, with an average of about 10 cents per Mb/s and 1 Gbps packages that are around 30-40 euros per month, depending on the company. Unlimited data is not uncommon on smartphones either. There are many companies that compete in a controlled and regulated environment, with obligations such as sharing infrastructure, and all of this has caused Spain to be a benchmark in the fiber deploymenteven in rural areas. In Xataka | How to improve your WiFi signal in seven easy steps

TSMC wants to build a chip factory in United Arab Emirates. Or convinces the US or your plan will fail

by

TSMC is evaluating the possibility of building an integrated avant -garde circuit manufacturing plant in United Arab Emirates. This Taiwanese company, The biggest chips manufacturer on the planethe has embarked on An ambitious expansion plan of its manufacturing infrastructure Beyond Taiwan’s borders to protect yourself from a possible armed conflict between China and its place of origin. It is currently building new semiconductor production plants in USA, Germany, Japan and Taiwanand this possible factory of Arab Emirates would contribute to cement its avant -garde plants network beyond the borders of the island from which it proceeds. However, the conversations that TSMC and the Emirati government are presumably holding They started many months agoin September 2024. TSMC and Arab Emirates win. It is not clear that the US also does At the end of September The Wall Street Journal and Reuterstwo media that have a proven credibility, revealed that several executives of TSMC and Samsung had moved to Arab Emirates to negotiate the possibility of building several manufacturing plants of integrated avant -garde circuits in this country of the Middle East. According to these two sources, the Emirati government is willing to take over the financing of these plants. And it is because Like Saudi ArabiaArab Emirates needs to diversify its economy in forecasting The very likely loss of relevance in the medium term of oil. And technology at the current situation It’s a safe bet. In addition, the growth potential of the semiconductor industry is overwhelming. We just need to look at the hardware market for artificial intelligence (AI) to observe it. In 2031 the Chips Market for IA will invoice more than 263,000 million dollars According to The AMR consultant (Allied Market Research) In 2031 the chips market for AI applications will have a turnover volume of More than 263,000 million dollars. It is a real barbarity, especially if we are in mind that in 2021 its business amounted to just over 11,000 million dollars. It is evident that at the current TSMC situation and Arab Emirates win. However, this project will not come to fruition if this Taiwanese company does not obtain the US approval. A good part of Photolithography teams and wafering processing that TSMC uses in its factories uses American origin technologies. And some of its production processes also They turn to patents held by the US. This agency is what gives the power to the government led by Donald Trump to support or prohibit the construction of one or several manufacturing plants of avant -garde chips not only in Arab Emirates, but also in any other country. Currently the relationship sustained by US administrations and Emirates is good, but this last nation also has a narrow link with China and Iran. If in the future the geopolitical situation causes Arab Emirates if it will move away from the US and approach these last two countries, the presence of one or more factories of avant -garde semiconductors that would not be under the control of the United States would represent a security problem for this last nation. The US government has allowed Nvidia to sell its GPU to its Emirati customers, and also that OpenAi is installed in this eastern country, but right now it seems unlikely that this TSMC project supports. Image | TSMC More information | Bloomberg In Xataka | Saudi Arabia is on the blacklist in the United States with China. You have a plan to get out of it and buy NVIDIA GPU

The fascinating network of “Arab Cuevas”

by

Brihuega is the name of a municipality in Guadalajara that may not tell you anything. But it may sound to you if I tell you that it is the ‘Spanish lavender capital‘. This town of the Alcarriaof just 2,800 inhabitants, multiply its population during July thanks to Lavender festival. But under the surface of Brihuega There is more, much more: Almost eight kilometers of tunnels that make up the largest underground labyrinth in Spain. Arab Caves. The caves, tunnels or galleries always have a fascinating point. They are natural or excavated by humans, imagine the stories that occurred among its narrow walls always have a point of attractiveness. Visit a mine, How can Almadén’sIt is always interesting … and a business. Capadocia with its secret citiesAnd tunnels knows it well, but it turns out that you don’t have to go to Türkiye to see something similar. Between the 10th and XI centuries, in the municipality of Brihuega, the inhabitants They built An intricate tunnel system. It is a complex maze of about eight kilometers in total that travel practically the entire subsoil of the town, as well as parts that give abroad. And, although they are called ‘Arab caves’, the symbology found in the galleries is not Mudejar. War and peace. As in this type of structures, they are naturally protected from inclement and a constant temperature of about 12 degrees Celsius throughout the year is maintained. This allows, traditionally, galleries have been used as a food warehouse. In some parts of the tour, in fact, you can see great jars that would have been used to store food or drink, each with the potter’s label that built them. However, they have not only used in peace times, and they will probably be initially built as an escape and refuge. Brihuega was a Strategic point In the face of toledo by Christians in the reconquest, and what allowed the tunnels was that, in times of siege, the population could escape outside the perimeter of the walls. Brihuega also witnessed a homonymous battle in December 1710, during the Spanish Succession War. Civil war. Let’s say that, in any conflict of this type, the population has an insured escape and refuge, and it is something that they also took advantage of during the civil war. During the conflict, one of the battles was to Guadalajara. In March 1937, the nationalist troops, with the support of Italian forces and tanks, tried to penetrate Madrid through the north. In a Televisilla-La Mancha television report, it is noted that there are parts near the breathing rooms that have soot on the roofs. They are the points where the population, taking refuge from the siege of the Italian troops, lit fires to cook and heat. Tourist interest. Currently, Brihuega caves are the memory that the history of some cities is not only on the surface, but unfortunately you cannot travel the eight kilometers of galleries. They have only enabled about 700 meters for visits subject to schedule and payment of three euros per person. The tour lasts a little less than half an hour and it is always interesting to visit these sites … unless you have claustrophobia. Images | Millars and Benjamín Núñez González In Xataka | “Look dad, ox”: the curious story of how an eight -year -old girl unwittingly discovered the paintings of the Altamira cave

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.