Tech News
Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Series: Ultra Comfort, from Sleep to Workout
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has introduced the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch8 Classic, establishing an iconic design identity across the entire Galaxy Watch lineup. Building on the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s cushion design, this new series features the thinnest, most comfortable Galaxy Watch ever for continuous health tracking. The Galaxy Watch8 series caters to diverse lifestyles and introduces advanced capabilities, setting a new benchmark for style and personalized health experiences.
“We are committed to empowering billions of people to live healthier lives through our innovative technology,” said TM Roh, President and Acting Head of the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics. “By combining purposeful design with advanced sensor technology and an intuitive AI-powered experience, the Galaxy Watch8 series serves as a starting point for a healthier, more connected life, making it easier than ever to take meaningful steps toward users’ well-being.”
Redesigned Inside and Out for Ultimate Wellness
Reimagined in both form and function, the Galaxy Watch8 series delivers unmatched comfort alongside industry-leading performance, making it the ultimate companion for everyday wellness. The distinctive cushion design, introduced with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, now defines the entire lineup. The internal structure of Galaxy Watch8 has been completely reengineered with a 30% improvement in component mounting capability, resulting in an 11% thinner design. Combined with the Dynamic Lug system, the watch moves naturally with the wrist for improved comfort, stability and health-tracking accuracy.
Despite its sleek profile, Galaxy Watch8 offers powerful performance. Outdoors in bright sunlight, the display is 50% brighter with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits for better visibility. Enhanced battery performance ensures it can keep pace with an active lifestyle. Dual-frequency GPS offers more detailed and precise location tracking, and a new 3nm processor delivers faster speeds and greater power efficiency. The upgraded BioActive Sensor allows deeper and more accurate health insights, offering users a holistic view of their well-being.

Motivation for Lasting Health Changes
Samsung continues to elevate sleep experiences by offering personalized coaching, optimizing sleep environments, and detecting moderate to severe signs of sleep apnea. The Galaxy Watch8 series introduces unique health features through the Samsung Health app to encourage healthy habits with instant, motivational insights across sleep, nutrition, and workouts.
Bedtime Guidance uses circadian rhythm measurements to suggest optimal sleep times for more refreshed mornings. Vascular Load tracks stress on the vascular system during sleep and provides insights across sleep, stress and activity metrics to support a well-rounded health approach.
In a first for smartwatches, Galaxy Watch8 introduces the Antioxidant Index. It allows users to measure carotenoid levels in just five seconds and empowers better lifestyle decisions for healthy aging.
Whether you’re a new or seasoned runner, the Galaxy Watch8’s Running Coach feature assesses your fitness level from 1 to 10 and develops personalized training plans with real-time guidance and motivation. The updated Together feature now supports running, allowing users to gamify their fitness journey by challenging friends and family.
To help manage stress, High Stress Alert notifies users of sustained stress levels, prompting timely breaks. The Mindfulness Tracker lets users log their mood and access guided breathing exercises, all directly from their wrist.
The AI-powered Energy Score provides a snapshot of both physical and mental energy levels, helping users better manage their day.
Easier Watch Interaction with Wear OS and Gemini
Developed in close collaboration with Google, the Galaxy Watch8 series is the first smartwatch to launch with Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, and is powered by Wear OS 6. Users can interact with Galaxy Watch apps like Samsung Health, Calendar, Reminder, and Clock through natural voice commands. For instance, you can ask Gemini to find a nearby café and text a friend to meet you there, or start a 30-minute workout simply by saying, “Start a 30-minute run.”
With the new One UI 8 Watch, the user interface is optimized for the size and shape of the watch face. Multi-Info Tiles offer quick access to health stats, weather, events and more at a glance. The Now Bar and depthless notifications place key activities front and center.
Tailored to Match Every Lifestyle
Galaxy Watch8, Galaxy Watch8 Classic and the new Galaxy Watch Ultra are available for pre-order in select markets now, with general availability beginning July 25.
The Galaxy Watch8 features a minimalist, everyday wellness-focused design. Available in 44mm and 40mm sizes and in Graphite or Silver, it combines comfort and style. The Galaxy Watch8 Classic offers a more traditional aesthetic with modern features like a rotating bezel and a quick-access button, and comes in 46mm sizes in Black or White. Both models support a wide range of stylish bands to suit different lifestyles.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung’s most advanced and durable model yet. It is available in four titanium finishes, including the new Titanium Blue. It boasts the longest battery life and most rugged performance in the lineup.
For those seeking a discreet wearable with continuous health tracking, the Galaxy Ring offers superior comfort and up to seven days of battery life. It is available in Titanium Black, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Gold, and in sizes 5 through 15.
Galaxy Watch8 Series Specifications
| Galaxy Watch8 | Galaxy Watch8 Classic | ||
| Color | – 44mm: Graphite, Silver – 40mm: Graphite, Silver | 46mm: Black, White | |
| Dimension & Weight | – 44mm: 43.7mm x 46mm x 8.6t (34.0g) – 40mm: 40.4mm x 42.7mm x 8.6t (30.0g) | 46mm: 46.4mm x 46mm x 10.6t (63.5g) | |
| Display | Sapphire Crystal – 44mm: 1.47-inch (480×480) Super AMOLED, Full Color Always On Display – 40mm: 1.34-inch (438×438) Super AMOLED, Full Color Always On Display | Sapphire Crystal – 46mm: 1.34-inch (438×438) Super AMOLED, Full Color Always On Display | |
| Processor | Exynos W1000 (5 Core, 3nm) | ||
| Memory & Storage | 2GB memory + 32GB storage | 2GB memory + 64GB storage | |
| Battery (typical) | – 44mm: 435mAh – 40mm: 325mAh | 445mAh | |
| Charging | Fast Charging (WPC-based wireless charging) | ||
| OS | Wear OS Powered by Samsung (Wear OS 6) | ||
| UI | One UI 8 Watch | ||
| Sensor | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal Sensor + Electrical Heart Signal + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal Sensor + Electrical Heart Signal + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor, 3D Hall sensor | |
| Connectivity | LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz, NFC, L1+L5 Dual-Frequency GPS (GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo) | ||
| Durability | 5ATM + IP68 / MIL-STD-810H | ||
| Compatibility | Android 12.0 or higher and with more than 1.5GB of memory | ||
Tech News
IT services spend in MENA set to reach up to 28% of total IT budgets as services-led transformation accelerates
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is entering a decisive, services-led growth phase in its IT sector, as enterprises and governments accelerate large-scale digital transformation initiatives. Investments in cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), data centres, and cybersecurity are reshaping technology priorities, with implementation, integration, and managed services gaining prominence over traditional software-led models.
Industry analysis by Grand View Research (GVR) reveals that IT services currently account for around 21–22% of total IT spending across MENA, a share expected to rise to between 26 and 28% by the end of the decade. The region’s professional IT services market, valued at USD 33.9 billion (Dh124.5 billion) in 2024, is forecast to grow to nearly USD 58.3 billion (Dh214 billion) by 2030, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.5%.
Sourav Bhanja, Middle East Head of GVR, said: “Many B2B IT services firms in the region continue to underinvest in digital engagement. Professional platforms such as LinkedIn remain underutilised, while company websites often lack strong case studies, sector-specific storytelling, and clear positioning.”
Government-led digitalisation programmes, sovereign cloud deployments, smart city initiatives, and national data strategies, coupled with rising enterprise adoption across sectors such as banking and financial services, healthcare, energy, logistics, and public infrastructure, are driving this shift. As hyperscalers and global technology firms expand their regional footprint, demand for localised integration, migration, and managed services continues to accelerate.
Bhanja also emphasised the importance of leadership visibility in the region’s competitive IT market: “Technical capability alone is no longer enough. Firms that combine deep technical expertise with consistent marketing, strong leadership visibility, and clear communication of value are the ones most likely to succeed in the MENA market.”
The analysis highlights that with growing competition among IT services providers, market visibility and differentiation have emerged as critical growth drivers. Integrated, always-on digital marketing strategies are increasingly vital, as many B2B IT services firms underutilise channels such as LinkedIn, websites, thought leadership content, newsletters, blogs, infographics, and short-form video to engage decision-makers.
Market data also indicates a broader shift towards digital-first engagement. Digital advertising spend in the Middle East, estimated at USD 32 billion (Dh117 billion) in 2024, is projected to rise sharply to USD 81.4 billion (Dh298.9 billion) by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 16.7%. In contrast, the regional events and conferences market is expected to expand at a more modest 7.1% CAGR, reflecting changing enterprise marketing priorities.
Grand View Research concluded that IT services firms combining technical depth with strong market communication, data-driven marketing, and visible leadership will be best positioned to capture the next phase of growth across MENA.
Tech News
Loylogic Shares 2026 Vision to Advance the Global Rewards Marketplace
Advanced AI innovation, intelligent marketplace design, and trusted global infrastructure position Loylogic for continued leadership in rewards and loyalty commerce.

As the Middle East loyalty market is projected to reach $3.27 billion in 2025, expanding 16.3% year-on-year, and digital-first, personalized, and coalition-based models reshape the industry, brands face rising expectations around relevance and engagement. Against this evolving landscape, Loylogic, a leader in global loyalty rewards management, today shared its 2026 strategic outlook, outlining how the company is evolving its global rewards marketplace to support brands navigating rapidly changing loyalty expectations.
The company enters the year with a renewed focus on continued investment in AI-powered rewards marketplace intelligence, enhanced catalogue curation, and deeper integration capabilities designed to improve reward relevance, partner value, and member experience across industries and geographies. Rather than simply expanding choice, Loylogic’s approach centres on intelligent rewards marketplace design, aligning consumer relevance, operational efficiency, and long-term value creation within a single global platform.
To support enterprise scale deployment, Loylogic continues to operate under a robust compliance and security, compliance and governance framework. The company adheres to internationally recognised standards ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI DSS, and AES-256 encryption, ensuring secure and trusted data handling across every layer of its technology while maintaining alignment with the European Accessibility Act 2025 and WCAG 2.0. All platforms remain adaptable to regional data residency and regulatory requirements.
“As loyalty programs mature, brands are looking beyond scale alone,” said Gabi Kool, CEO of Loylogic. “They want reward ecosystems that are smarter, more relevant, and commercially sound. Our focus for 2026 is about advancing how global rewards marketplaces are designed, governed, and experienced, combining intelligence, trust, and flexibility.”
Advanced AI innovation is central to Loylogic’s next phase of growth. Loylogic continues to enhance its use of advanced analytics and machine learning to support smarter reward discovery, improved marketplace performance, and deeper insights for loyalty operators, while maintaining strict standards for privacy, security, and compliance.
“Our innovation efforts are focused on making rewards marketplaces more intelligent and adaptive,” said Amit Bendre, COO of Loylogic. “This means better insight, better decision support, and better experiences, without compromising on trust, transparency, or regulatory rigor.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Loylogic plans to deepen collaboration with global partners, engage more actively with industry stakeholders, and selectively strengthen capabilities across commercial, product, and technology functions, supporting a growing pipeline of enterprise clients across financial services, travel, and consumer sectors. With a proven global infrastructure, deep marketplace expertise, and a clear strategic direction, Loylogic continues to help leading brands transform everyday engagement into meaningful, long-term loyalty.
About Loylogic
Loylogic is a leader in global rewards marketplaces for loyalty and incentives management, enabling brands to deliver scalable, flexible engagement experiences through a modern commerce platform. Its global catalog and redemption marketplace support meaningful engagement across B2C, B2E, and B2B programs worldwide. With deep expertise in sourcing, fulfilment, and patented points-plus-cash innovation, Loylogic has enabled over 200 billion points and miles transactions, delivered more than $1 billion in commerce, and shipped experiences spanning 100+ categories across 190 countries to more than 10 million loyalty members worldwide.
Tech News
Webook.com Strengthens UAE Footprint, Bringing World-Class Entertainment Experiences
Webook.com, one of the fastest-growing platforms for booking lifestyle and entertainment experiences in the Middle East, is deepening its footprint in the United Arab Emirates following strong traction across the country.
Founded with a vision to transform how people discover and book experiences, webook.com continues to elevate convenience through a unified platform that brings together entertainment, dining, and leisure in a seamless digital journey.
Within the UAE, webook.com has rapidly expanded its user base while curating a lineup of world-class experiences. From comedy nights with Bassem Youssef to electrifying Teddy Swims concerts and the magic of Disney on Ice, webook.com continues to bring some of the region’s most unforgettable events to audiences across the UAE. Beyond these major hosted events, users can also book global entertainment experiences, including MDLBEAST, Riyadh Season, AFCON and other leading events happening across MENA.
Commenting on the expansion, Nadeem Bakhsh, CEO of webook.com, said: “Webook.com was built to curate the experiences that matter most, from front-row access to world-class entertainment to discovering hidden local gems. Expanding our footprint to the UAE allows us to bring a carefully selected lineup of events and experiences to the region. Our goal is to continue providing variety, quality, and seamless access to unforgettable moments.”
As the platform widens its presence across the UAE, it continues to strengthen partnerships with top entertainment brands, cultural institutions, and iconic venues, enabling users to access an unmatched selection of events and experiences.
Webook.com’s technology has proven itself across multiple markets, handling millions of transactions during major events, tournaments, and high-demand ticket releases. With real-time queueing, robust infrastructure, and flexible integration, webook.com delivers landmark events with unmatched reliability and scale.
With momentum accelerating in the UAE, webook.com aims to transform how people discover, plan, and enjoy experiences, turning every booking into the start of a memorable story. Beyond expanding its presence, webook.com is shaping a movement centered on connection, culture, and the joy of shared moments.
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