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Riyadh Air Makes Multi-Billion Dollar Deal With Boeing
The investment will see the Saudi Arabian airline take delivery of up to 72 aircraft.
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air, the airline backed by the county’s Public Investment Fund, has ordered up to 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft in a multi-billion dollar deal.
The order is unprecedented for a new airline and highlights Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a major aviation hub.
The order comprises 39 confirmed aircraft plus another 33 wide-bodied 787-9 Dreamliners. It comes as Saudi Arabia’s national carriers announced their intent to order up to 121 aircraft in total, representing the fifth-largest commercial order by value in Boeing’s history.
The huge Boeing order will help to shuttle a projected 330 million passengers by 2030. His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the PIF and Chairman of Riyadh Air, applauded the move, saying, “This is a momentous day for PIF and Riyadh Air, and highlights our determination to significantly extend Saudi Arabia’s connectivity with the world”.
Also Read: Robots Are Coming To Dubai Airport For Speedier Check-Ins
Riyadh Air is a digital-first airline committed to sustainability, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 toward net zero emissions. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is manufactured to achieve lower CO2 emissions, greater fuel efficiency, and pass stringent noise regulations.
News
Samsung Smart Glasses Teased For January, Software Reveal Imminent
According to Korean sources, the new wearable will launch alongside the Galaxy S25, with the accompanying software platform unveiled this December.
Samsung appears poised to introduce its highly anticipated smart glasses in January 2025, alongside the launch of the Galaxy S25. According to sources in Korea, the company will first reveal the accompanying software platform later this month.
As per a report from Yonhap News, Samsung’s unveiling strategy for the smart glasses echoes its approach with the Galaxy Ring earlier this year. The January showcase won’t constitute a full product launch but will likely feature teaser visuals at the Galaxy S25 event. A more detailed rollout could follow in subsequent months.
Just in: Samsung is set to unveil a prototype of its augmented reality (AR) glasses, currently in development, during the Galaxy S25 Unpacked event early next year, likely in the form of videos or images.
Additionally, prior to revealing the prototype, Samsung plans to introduce…
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The Galaxy Ring, for example, debuted in January via a short presentation during Samsung’s Unpacked event. The full product unveiling came later at MWC in February, and the final release followed in July. Samsung seems to be adopting a similar phased approach with its smart glasses, which are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2025.
A Collaborative Software Effort
Samsung’s partnership with Google has played a key role in developing the smart glasses’ software. This collaboration was first announced in February 2023, with the device set to run on an Android-based platform. In July, the companies reiterated their plans to deliver an extended reality (XR) platform by the end of the year. The software specifics for the XR device are expected to be unveiled before the end of December.
Reports suggest that the smart glasses will resemble Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in functionality. They won’t include a display but will weigh approximately 50 grams, emphasizing a lightweight, user-friendly design.
Feature Set And Compatibility
The glasses are rumored to integrate Google’s Gemini technology, alongside features like gesture recognition and potential payment capabilities. Samsung aims to create a seamless user experience by integrating the glasses with its broader Galaxy ecosystem, starting with the Galaxy S25, slated for release on January 22.