Arabian Records (1st post : Eid Al Fitr – 01st Shawwal 1439 (AH) / 15th June 2018 ) / (BETA testing – Research – starting April 2020 till date, on-going)

• SDM is developing AI-powered tools for early detection of chronic diseases, focusing on challenges faced by diabetic patients in specialized eye care.
• The startup’s technology, SAARIA, provides diagnostic results for eye tests within minutes without needing a physician on-site.
• SDM plans to use the prize money to expand operations and explore further applications in the healthcare sector.

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 be physically present at the examination site.

SDM plans to use the winnings to expand its operations and explore other areas in the healthcare sector which could benefit from its tech.

The firm’s CEO Naif Al-Obaidallah said: “Being named among the top three at the LBS MENA Startup Competition is a proud moment for our team at SDM.

“Pitching alongside so many talented founders from across the region was an inspiring experience.

“We are grateful to London Business School for this opportunity, as well as for the mentorship and support we received throughout the competition.

“This recognition motivates us to continue developing solutions that address healthcare challenges in Saudi Arabia and beyond.”

Selwa Al-Hazzaa, founder and chairman of SDM, told Arab News her experience as an ophthalmologist in the field allowed her to understand the issues within the diagnosis process.

“One of the biggest gaps in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare system is not the lack of medical expertise, but the difficulty of delivering it to every patient at the right time and in the right place,” she said.

Beyond diabetic eye disease, SDM is also developing AI applications designed to identify early risk indicators associated with conditions including hypertension, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease, with the aim of supporting earlier intervention.

UAE-based environmental technology startup Persium took first place in the competition, while Frank AI, which developed an Agent Operating System for independent real-estate professionals across the GCC, secured third place.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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SAUDI ARABIA

Dr Faisal Ahmed Alnoor Elhaj, Sudan Country Director of the Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA), has received the 2026 Ben Qurrah International Award from the National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA) in recognition of his humanitarian work in Sudan.

He received the award on 5 September 2026 at the 48th NAAMA National Medical Covention in Houston, Texas.

In addition to serving as SAPA’s Sudan Country Director, Alnoor also serves as the Acting Director of Maternal and Child Health at the Federal Ministry of Health in Sudan and leads health initiatives in emergency settings.

“As Acting Director of Maternal and Child Health at the Federal Ministry of Health in Sudan, Dr. Elhaj works on the frontlines of global public health. A dedicated PharmD professional, he leads essential healthcare initiatives, strengthening maternal, child, and adolescent health delivery across critical humanitarian and emergency settings. From coordinating international healthcare collaborations to advancing health equity in vulnerable communities, Dr. Elhaj’s selfless service exemplifies the highest ideals of medicine and global health diplomacy,” NAAMA stated.

“With great pride, the Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA) extends its warmest congratulations to its Sudan Country Director, Dr Faisal Ahmed Al Nour, on being selected to receive the 2026 Ben Qurrah International Award, presented by the National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA) during its annual conference in Houston, the US. The prestigious international honour is a source of immense pride for the entire SAPA family and a fitting recognition of Dr Faisal’s tireless efforts and distinguished record of service, particularly his commitment to serving people and alleviating the suffering of communities in the most challenging circumstances. Congratulations, Dr Faisal. A well-deserved honour and a source of pride for us all,” SAPA stated on social media.

SAPA is a nonprofit humanitarian organisation comprising Sudanese healthcare professionals in the United States and worldwide. It works to deliver emergency and essential humanitarian assistance in Sudan, particularly healthcare services, to communities affected by the ongoing war in Sudan.

The Ben Qurrah International Award honours physicians and scientists who show great leadership, clinical excellence, and dedication to public health or vulnerable communities. The Ben Qurrah Award is the highest honour presented by NAAMA to recognise exceptional and distinguished achievements in medicine, science and humanitarian service to communities. It was established in 1998, after an initiative by the then chapter president Dr Imtihan Jawdat, was approved by the board of directors. Dr Jawdat secured the first USD50,000 for the award.

The award is named after prominent Arab scientist, physician and scholar Thabit Ibn Qurrah Marwan Al Harrani (826–901 CE), one of the leading figures of the Abbasid era in translation, medicine, mathematics and astronomy. From Harran, Mesopotamia, he was born in 826, flourished in Baghdad, and died in 901. He received mathematical and medical training in Baghdad and was the personal physician of the Abbasid Caliph (King) al-M’utadid.

source/content: thesudanist.com (headline edited)

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SUDAN

 Sagal Abdi-Wali, a Somali-born refugee who arrived in Britain as a child, won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election on Friday, retaining the parliamentary seat vacated by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the Labour Party.

Abdi-Wali secured 12,292 votes, or 45.17 percent of the ballots cast, defeating Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who received 8,928 votes, or 32.82 percent. The margin of victory was 3,364 votes. Turnout stood at 38.76 percent, lower than the 2024 general election.

Top Three Candidates

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Sagal Abdi-Wali	Labour	12,292	45.17%
Zack Polanski	Green	8,928	32.82%
Ewan Cameron	Conservative	1,922	7.06%

A Personal Journey from Refugee to Parliament

Abdi-Wali was born in Somalia and came to Britain in the early 1990s as a child refugee fleeing the civil war. She settled in Camden, north London, where she has lived for more than three decades.

In May 2026, she became the first Black woman to lead Camden Council, one of London’s most diverse boroughs. Before that, she served as Cabinet Member for Better Homes and helped lead Camden’s work toward achieving Borough of Sanctuary accreditation in 2024.

Speaking after her victory, Abdi-Wali said: “I hope this moment also says something about who gets to belong. For people who look like me, I hope they see themselves reflected in this place and know that their path too belongs here. This is Camden, and this is Britain.”

Her campaign focused on homelessness, opportunities for young people, and nationalising Thames Water. She told the BBC that voters were “looking for hope” and that her message resonated because people want to believe politics can improve their lives.

A Safe Labour Seat Faces Its Strongest Challenge

Labour has held Holborn and St Pancras continuously since the constituency was created in 1983. When Keir Starmer won the seat in 2024, he secured 49 percent of the vote. In this by-election, Labour’s share fell by four percentage points, while the Green Party tripled its vote share from 10 percent in 2024 to nearly 33 percent.

The result was seen as a test for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s leadership of the Labour Party, particularly its ability to retain support among left-wing voters amid growing competition from the Greens.

The by-election was triggered by Starmer’s resignation from Parliament in September 2026, after he stepped down as prime minister in July following a series of political setbacks and the party’s poor showing in May’s local elections.

Significance for the Somali Diaspora

Abdi-Wali’s election is a milestone for Somali representation in Western politics. She becomes one of a small but growing number of Somali-born politicians elected to national legislatures in Europe and North America.

Her victory also drew attention to the Somali diaspora’s engagement with British politics. During the campaign, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf posted on social media questioning her Somali origin. Abdi-Wali responded that she was “less upset, more just a bit sad than disappointed” by such rhetoric, adding that “hope is not naive.”

In her victory speech, she said: “We cannot allow that work, built over generations, to be casually undone by those who seek to divide us. Winning not by making people afraid of each other, but by bringing people together.”

Her election comes amid a broader UK-Somalia relationship that spans security, development, and humanitarian cooperation. The UK has maintained a defence partnership with Somalia focused on military training, capacity building, and counterterrorism, as detailed in FTL Somalia’s coverage of UK-Somali defence talks. The British Embassy in Mogadishu, led by Ambassador Charles Nicholas King, has continued to engage with Somali leadership on security sector reform and support for the African Union Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Beyond security, the UK has been a significant partner in Somalia’s development and humanitarian sectors. The UK Minister for Africa, Baroness Jennifer Chapman, announced £6 million in humanitarian funding during a February 2026 visit to Mogadishu, targeting drought-affected communities [citation:9]. The UK has also supported education and health initiatives, including the Better Lives for Somali Women and Children programme, a £38 million partnership aimed at improving maternal and child health across six regions of Somalia.

Critical Note

Sagal Abdi-Wali’s election to the UK Parliament is a personal achievement and a notable moment for Somali representation abroad. Her path from child refugee to council leader to member of Parliament reflects the integration that the Somali diaspora has achieved in Britain over three decades, even as debates over immigration and belonging remain politically charged.

However, the result also reveals a shifting political landscape. Labour’s vote share fell by four points, and the Green Party’s surge from 10 percent to nearly 33 percent signals that the left-wing vote in Britain is fragmenting. Abdi-Wali won comfortably, but the trendline suggests that Labour’s hold on urban, progressive constituencies is loosening.

For the Somali diaspora, her election is symbolically significant, but representation in one constituency does not translate into policy influence on Somalia or on issues affecting Somali communities in Britain. The practical impact of her tenure will depend on her committee assignments, her willingness to advocate for diaspora concerns, and her ability to navigate a Parliament where the Labour Party faces internal divisions and external challenges. Her victory is a beginning, not a conclusion.

source/content: ftlsomalia.com (FTL) / (headline edited)

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BRITISH / SOMALIAN

Egyptian producer and screenwriter Mohamed Hefzy will receive the inaugural AFMI Luminary Award for Cultural Impact at the 30th edition of the San Francisco Arab Film Festival, where he will serve as guest of honor.

Hefzy will be recognized at a special ceremony ahead of the festival’s opening-night screening. The award celebrates his contributions to Arab cinema and his efforts to bring regional stories to international audiences.

“I am honored to be the first recipient of the Luminary Award for Cultural Impact from the San Francisco Arab Film Festival,” Hefzy said. “This award means a great deal to me at a time when we need as many Arab voices as possible to share our narratives on global platforms.”

With more than 60 feature films to his name, Hefzy’s credits include “Clash” (2016), “Sheikh Jackson” (2017) and “Voy! Voy! Voy!” (2023). His latest project, “The Stories,” is Egypt’s official submission to the 99th Academy Awards.

He founded Film Clinic in 2005, establishing one of the Middle East and North Africa’s leading production houses, with films screening at major international festivals including Cannes, Venice and Berlin.

Hefzy previously served as president of the Cairo International Film Festival for four editions and has sat on juries at events including Sundance and Venice. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The San Francisco Arab Film Festival runs from Nov. 5-14

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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EGYPT

• Abu Hamda also received the Public’s Choice award for his reportage titled ‘What the war leaves behind it’
• Palestinian journalist Anas Baba of NPR won the radio award for his report on the recovery of victims’ bodies in Gaza

Palestinian freelancer Mahmoud Abu Hamda on Saturday won the photography category in the prestigious Bayeux award for war correspondents for his work from Gaza.

As well as the top prize, Hamda, based in the Gaza Strip, also won the Public’s Choice award for his reportage “What the war leaves behind it.”

He was not at the ceremony in Bayeux, northwest France, but sent a video message to the event.

The Washington Post, NPR (National Public Radio, US) and CNN won the top prizes in the print, radio and television categories for reports from Ukraine, Gaza and the West Bank respectively.

The Washington Post team was honored for telling the story of a Ukrainian soldier trapped in a combat zone for 177 days.

Palestinian journalist Anas Baba of NPR won the radio award for a report on the recovery of victims’ bodies in Gaza.

CNN journalists won both the television prize and video image award for their report on Israeli soldiers serving settlers in the West Bank.

Associated Press photographer Jehad Alshrafi took the Young Reporter photography prize for his series “Endless War and Devastation in Gaza.”

One of Alshrafi’s photos, showing footballers playing on a pitch surrounded by rubble in Gaza, sparked controversy in France in August.

It was removed from a sports photography festival in the northern French town of Deauville before a court ordered it reinstated.

Veteran BBC correspondent Lyse Doucet was the president of the Bayeux awards jury.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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Palestinian photographer Mahmoud Abu Hamda delivers a pre-recorded speech displayed on a screen after receiving the international jury’s photo prize and the Prix Nikon in Bayeux, northwestern France, on October 10, 2026. (AFP)

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PALESTINE

The seven exploration blocks are located in Brazil’s Ceará Basin, with QatarEnergy holding a 30% participating interest alongside operator Petrobras.

QatarEnergy, in a consortium with Brazil’s Petrobras, has won seven exploration blocks in the sixth Concession Open Acreage Bid Round organised by Brazil’s National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP).

In a statement on Thursday, QatarEnergy said the awarded blocks are located in the Ceará Basin, along Brazil’s northeastern Equatorial Margin.

QatarEnergy wins seven Brazil offshore exploration licenses #QatarEnergy #YourEnergyTransitionPartner #Qatar pic.twitter.com/OiW8Qi9ika

— QatarEnergy (@qatarenergy) October 8, 2026

QatarEnergy will hold a 30% participating interest, while Petrobras, the operator, will hold 70%.

Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy President and CEO Saad Sherida Al Kaabi said the successful bids would add prospective acreage to the company’s upstream portfolio in Brazil. 

“I would like to thank our valued partner Petrobras, with whom we worked closely on this partnership, as well as ANP and the Brazilian authorities for their valuable support. We look forward to further strengthening our partnership, and to work with all stakeholders for a successful exploration,” Al Kaabi said.

The awarded exploration blocks (CE-M-471, CE-M-473, CE-M-475, CE-M-477, CE-M-537, CE-M-539 and CE-M-665) are located in the Ceará Basin, along the northeastern Equatorial Margin of Brazil.

The blocks cover a combined area of approximately 4,700 square kilometres and are located in water depths of about 2,000 to 3,600 metres off the Ceará Basin.

QatarEnergy will hold a 30% participating interest, alongside operator Petrobras, which will hold 70%

QatarEnergy said the concession contracts would further strengthen and expand its upstream position in Brazil and are expected to be signed in the first half of 2027. 

The latest awards build on QatarEnergy’s existing presence in Brazil.

The company holds a 21% interest in the Sépia field, alongside Petrobras, TotalEnergies and Petronas, according to Brazil’s state oil company Petrobras in a statement published on February 6, 2026.

In May 2024, QatarEnergy announced that the consortium partners in the Sépia joint venture had taken the final investment decision for the second development phase of the Sépia field, offshore Brazil.

The second development phase includes an FPSO with a crude oil production capacity of 225,000 barrels per day and a gas processing capacity of 10 million cubic metres per day.

source/content: dohanews.co (headline edited)

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QATAR

• The valve was developed by Dr. Rakan bin Ibrahim Nazer, a Professor of Cardiac Sciences
• It features three movable leaflets connected to a central mechanism and a peripheral ring

King Saud University has been granted a US patent for a tri-leaflet mechanical heart valve developed by Professor of Cardiac Sciences at the College of Medicine Dr. Rakan bin Ibrahim Nazer.

The invention features a mechanical design comprising three movable leaflets connected to a central mechanism and a peripheral ring.

This configuration enables the leaflets to open and close in a coordinated manner, regulating blood flow and reducing regurgitation.

The invention introduces a novel approach to mechanical heart valve design, focusing on optimizing leaflet kinematics and blood-flow dynamics compared with conventional valve designs.

The patent adds to King Saud University’s track record of medical innovation and represents a further step in advancing mechanical heart valve technology.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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The invention introduces a novel approach to mechanical heart valve design. (SPA)

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SAUDI ARABIA

TechWorks attracted about 100 inventors and start-up companies, enabling them to produce prototypes quickly and at a low cost.

In the age of COVID, Jordanian mechanical engineer Saliba Taimeh pondered how to deal with one contaminated everyday surface: the handrails of escalators in shopping malls and transport hubs.

He came up with a device to sterilise them with a UV ray and this is where TechWorks stepped in.

A wealth of ideas would not have seen the light of day without TechWorks, a Jordanian platform aimed at bringing together youth, ideas and resources to jump-start innovations.

Set up in 2018, TechWorks says its mission is “to plug into entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems” and turn ideas into reality.

It is equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as 3D printers and is affiliated to a foundation set up by Crown Prince Hussein.

Last year, it attracted some 100 inventors and start-up companies, enabling them to produce prototypes quickly and at a low cost.

Taimeh, 39, said TechWorks “provided me with every support, back-up, advice and guidance” to help perfect the sterilising device, after 23 attempts over almost two years.

His invention sterilises the handrails of escalators “from all kinds of viruses, such as coronavirus and bacteria,” he said.

After contacting several international companies, a German firm specialising in health and safety in public places signed up to manufacture the “Brigid Box”.

Weighing in at 7.2 kilogrammes, it can be installed in less than 15 minutes.

Tour de force

Taimeh’s success story is only one of many.

High school student Zain Abu Rumman, 18, has developed a tracking device for elderly patients and people with special needs, worn like a watch or around the neck.

The “SPS Watch” has a battery that lasts eight days and is resistant to water, heat and breakage.

“The device can send alerts to the mobile phone of a family member through a special application in case the person wearing it falls or is hurt, or if he strays from a certain place,” Abu Rumman said.

It took him two-and-a-half years to perfect and he has struck a production accord with a Chinese company.

Omar Khader, 26, works for “Jazri Studio”, an industrial design company which has devised a “smart” plug to protect children from electric shocks.

“TechWorks has advanced equipment, engineers and technicians that help us convert our ideas into successful products,” he said.

From a mere idea into a real product

Other designers, such as 32-year-old civil engineer Malik Nour, still have a long and expensive way to go to refine their products.

Nour’s brainchild is the “Pikler Triangle”, designed as a safe and environmentally friendly children’s toy.

He hopes to attract Swedish furniture giant IKEA to take on his products, which he is already selling over social media to customers in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, under the label of “Fares World”, named after his child.

Ismail Hakki, executive director of TechWorks, said its aim is to provide “a creative environment and all the necessary resources to support and enable young people to transform their projects from a mere idea into a real product”.

The doors of the project’s “Fabrication Lab”, or FabLab, are “open to all; we support students, entrepreneurs and startups”, he said.

FabLab also provides services to doctors and hospitals in the fields of facial restoration, digital dentistry, face masks and sterilisation.

At the request of a doctor, it transformed the chest x-ray of a patient with a malignant tumour close to the heart into a three-dimensional model of the patient’s chest making it easier to operate.

FabLab touts many successes, including a “smart home” which allows a mobile phone user to control electrical appliances inside the house from afar by turning on heating or cooling systems and a piano keyboard to help a blind musician play.

It plans to open two more branches in Jordan to provide technology training and help for school and university students.

source/content: thearabweekly.com (headline edited)

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Saliba Taimeh, a 39-year-old Jordanian mechanical engineer and inventor, holds a demo of his ultraviolet radiation sterilisation device at the TechWorks digital fabrication lab Amman, February 20, 2022. (AFP)

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JORDAN

Shaden Khallaf has received the 2026 Women of MENA Award in recognition of her work in technology, public policy and humanitarian leadership.

Announced in October, the award recognises her career spanning the private sector, international organisations and academia, with a focus on cooperation between governments, businesses and multilateral institutions.

The Women of MENA initiative recognises women whose work contributes to governance, innovation and institutional development across the Middle East and North Africa.

According to the award announcement, Khallaf was selected for her contributions to public policy, digital transformation and humanitarian affairs, alongside her leadership in addressing challenges across these fields.

Khallaf previously served as senior director of public policy, government affairs, social impact and communications at Careem, an Uber company.

Her responsibilities covered digital regulation, artificial intelligence, sustainability, economic development and public-private cooperation.

Before joining Careem, she served as Meta’s head of public policy and global lead for tourism policy and sustainability, working on emerging technologies, digital transformation and regulatory policy across the MENA region.

The announcement highlighted her involvement in youth online safety initiatives that reached tens of millions of people and tourism technology projects viewed by hundreds of millions. It also cited her work in advancing discussions on data protection and responsible artificial intelligence.

Khallaf spent more than 20 years with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), concluding her tenure as senior policy adviser and head of the regional policy unit.

Her work across 17 countries during major humanitarian crises focused on displacement, socioeconomic inclusion, resilience to climate change, and mobilising private-sector resources for humanitarian programmes.

The award also recognised Khallaf’s academic contributions. She has held teaching and fellowship roles at the University of Pennsylvania, the Geneva Graduate Institute, the University of Jordan and the American University in Cairo.

She has also undertaken executive education in climate change policy and economics at Harvard University.

source/content: english.ahram.org.eg (headline edited)

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EGYPT

Samia Henni, assistant professor in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning, has received the 2020 Spiro Kostof Book Award from the Society of Architectural Historians.

Henni, who teaches in the History of Architecture and Urban Development (HAUD) Ph.D. program, was honored for her first book, “Architecture of Counterrevolution: The French Army in Northern Algeria” (2017).

The award, established in 1993 in recognition of the career and writings of architectural historian Spiro Kostof (1936–91), is given to outstanding interdisciplinary studies of urban history that make the greatest contribution to the understanding of the growth and development of cities.

“I am thrilled that my first book is one of the recipients of this eminent award given in memory of Professor Kostof’s influential scholarship and his exceptional approach to architectural history,” Henni said. “This is truly the highest distinction and the most honorable recognition that I can aspire to. I am extremely grateful to the SAH for supporting and endorsing scholarship on the destroyed and built environment resulting from violent colonial practices and military measures, which, to this day, continue to be part of the daily lives of millions of people around the world.”

Henni’s book examines the intersection of French colonial policies and military counterinsurgency operations in architecture in Algeria during the Algerian Revolution (1954–62). During this bloody and protracted armed conflict, the French civil and military authorities reorganized Algeria’s vast urban and rural territory with profound effects. Built environments were drastically transformed by the colonial regime, infrastructure rapidly “implanted” and new settlements were strategically built to keep Algeria under French rule, according to Henni.

Focusing on three interrelated spatial counterrevolutionary measures, Henni’s research provides an extensive analysis of the massive forced resettlement of Algerian farmers, the mass-housing programs designed for the Algerian population as part of Gen. Charles de Gaulle’s Plan de Constantine, and the new fortified administrative town planned for the protection of the French authorities during the last months of the Algerian Revolution. One of the aims of the book is to depict the modus operandi of these settlements, their roots, developments, scopes, actors, protocols, impacts and design mechanisms.

Henni received her Ph.D. in the history and theory of architecture from ETH Zurich. She teaches architectural history and theory with a focus on colonialism, deserts, displacement, intersectionality, gender and war, from the European colonization of the Americas to the present.

Patti Witten is a writer for the College of Architecture, Art and Planning.

source/content: news.cornell.edu (cornell chronicle) / (headline edited)

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ALGERIA