Sharjah has committed Dh750 million to a package of road projects designed to ease one of the UAE’s busiest commuter corridors and create more direct links with Dubai, including a new tunnel beneath Al Taawun Roundabout, the opening of Noor Road and improved access to Expo Centre Sharjah. The projects were announced by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler […]
Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, held talks in Muscat with Harsha Amarasekera, Chairman of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission, on opportunities to link the two countries’ zone-development strategies. The discussions covered commercial and real estate development, mechanisms to improve the business environment, and ways to draw high-quality investments into projects designed to support sustainable growth.
The meeting marks a targeted attempt to move bilateral economic ties beyond conventional trade into the management, promotion and regulation of investment destinations. Both sides reviewed experience in developing and administering special economic zones and examined international practices that could raise operational efficiency, improve investor services and strengthen competitiveness.
For Oman, the engagement fits a wider policy push to make economic zones central to diversification under Vision 2040. OPAZ, established in 2020, supervises key destinations including the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, Sohar Free Zone, Salalah Free Zone and Al Mazunah Free Zone, while promoting a network of industrial estates and logistics-led investment sites. The zones offer incentives such as full foreign ownership, capital and profit repatriation, customs advantages and tax exemptions that can run up to 30 years for qualifying projects.
The policy framework was reinforced by Royal Decree 38/2025, which brought special economic zones and free zones under a unified law that took effect in April 2025. The legislation replaced separate legal regimes for free zones and Duqm, introduced clearer provisions for foreign ownership and licensing, and strengthened the case for a one-stop system to cut procedural delays for investors.
Duqm has become the most visible test of that strategy. Oman signed ten agreements and memoranda this month for projects in the zone with estimated investments of $7.5 billion, including a $4.2 billion green hydrogen development by ACME Group. The package underlines how Muscat is using zone-based infrastructure to capture capital in clean energy, downstream industry, logistics and export-linked production.
Sri Lanka approaches the talks from a different but complementary position. The island’s post-crisis recovery has made investment promotion a policy priority, with foreign direct investment crossing $1 billion in 2025. The Board of Investment approved 146 projects worth about $1.9 billion during the year, with manufacturing, port development and tourism accounting for the largest shares of inflows.
Colombo Port City gives Sri Lanka a flagship platform for the dialogue with Oman. Built on 269 hectares of reclaimed land next to Colombo’s central business district, the project is structured as an international service-oriented special economic zone, with an initial investment of $1.4 billion and expected overall investment of about $20 billion when fully developed. Its commission acts as a single-window facilitator for investors and grants incentives for businesses of strategic importance.
The Omani-Sri Lankan conversation also highlighted small and medium-sized enterprises, an area where both economies are seeking wider participation in export growth and innovation. Sri Lanka’s SME base is tied to apparel, services, technology, tourism and light manufacturing, while Oman is trying to deepen local supply chains around ports, industrial estates and energy projects. Collaboration could extend from investor promotion to training, supplier development and zone management systems.
The timing is significant. Sri Lanka remains under an IMF-backed reform programme after its 2022 financial crisis, with fresh financing approved in May to support reserves and policy stability. Growth remains exposed to external pressures, including energy-price volatility and climate shocks, making durable foreign investment more important than short-term inflows. Oman, meanwhile, is positioning itself as a stable Gulf logistics and production base as investors reassess supply chains.
Greenlogue/AP Dubai returned 23 rescued sea turtles to the Arabian Gulf, including a one-flipper survivor named Foxy whose release marked a fresh milestone in the emirate’s two-decade marine conservation effort. The release, staged from the Dubai coastline ahead of World Sea Turtle Day on June 16, brought together 22 green turtles and one hawksbill turtle after months of rehabilitation. Foxy, a green turtle that had lost a […]
This marks the third year that Fortune has published its Southeast Asia 500 ranking. The list ranks companies based on total revenue across seven countries in the region, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia.
According to Fortune, Vingroup ranked as the No. 1 private enterprise in Vietnam and No. 26 among the 500 largest companies in Southeast Asia. This year’s Southeast Asia 500 recognizes companies that are well positioned to capitalize on shifts in global supply chains and the rapid growth of strategic industries such as electric vehicles and artificial intelligence.
In addition to its scale of assets, Vingroup was highly recognized for its financial performance and operational efficiency. According to Fortune, in 2025, Vingroup recorded revenue of USD 12,760.6 million, representing year-on-year increases of 69.1% compared to the figures reflected in the 2025 ranking. Vingroup recorded net profit of USD 436.5 million and total assets of USD 42,536.4 million.
Vingroup is a diversified conglomerate operating across Industrials – Technology, Real Estate and Services, Infrastructure, Green Energy, Culture and Social Enterprises.
Within the Industrials – Technology pillar, VinFast reinforced its leading position in Vietnam’s automobile and electric two-wheeler markets while continuing its global expansion.
In 2025, VinFast delivered nearly 200,000 electric vehicles worldwide, up 102% year-on-year. The result exceeded the Company’s 2025 target and marked the highest annual delivery volume since its inception. In the first quarter of 2026, VinFast delivered 58,577 electric vehicles across all markets, representing a further 61% increase compared with the same period last year.
Within the Real Estate and Services pillar, Vinhomes maintained its market-leading position with 32 residential developments in operation, home to approximately 650,000 residents. In 2025, Vinhomes recorded contracted sales of VND 205.3 trillion, up 98% year-on-year, with more than 34,000 units delivered. Its unrecognized contracted sales backlog reached VND 186.4 trillion, providing a solid foundation for future growth. Consolidated net revenue totaled VND 153.3 trillion, up 49.8% from 2024, while net profit after tax reached VND 43.3 trillion, up 23.6% year-on-year and exceeding the Company’s annual target.
In 2026, Vinhomes launched a series of large-scale urban developments across Vietnam, including the 6,200-hectare Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long in Quang Ninh Province, the 512-hectare Vinhomes Hai Van Bay in Da Nang, and the 1,080-hectare Vinhomes Saigon Park in Ho Chi Minh City. These developments are expected to reshape Vietnam’s urban landscape while contributing to the sustainable growth of the real estate market.
Meanwhile, Vinpearl continued to lead Vietnam’s hospitality, tourism and entertainment sector, operating 60 facilities across 20 provinces and cities. Its ecosystem includes more than 17,500 rooms across a network of five-star hotels and resorts; 15 VinWonders theme parks; six championship golf courses; and three international-standard convention centers and theaters under the VinPalace brand. The portfolio also features two semi-wildlife conservation parks and an equestrian academy. In addition, Vinpearl’s signature live-action performances in destinations such as Nha Trang and Phu Quoc attract millions of visitors each year.
Within the Infrastructure pillar, VinSpeed has commenced construction of Vietnam’s first two high-speed rail projects: the Ben Thanh – Can Gio line in Ho Chi Minh City and the Hanoi – Quang Ninh line. Launched in April 2026, the Hanoi – Quang Ninh route is the country’s first interregional high-speed railway project. Beyond creating a powerful growth engine for Northern Vietnam’s key economic region, the project represents an important step toward enhancing the nation’s long-term competitiveness.
Within the Green Energy pillar, VinEnergo announced its expansion plans across Asia and Europe, supported by a renewable energy project pipeline with a total capacity of 10 GW that has already secured development agreements. In Vietnam, the company has obtained investment registration certificates for four renewable energy projects.
Within the Social Enterprises pillar, VinUniversity became the youngest university in Vietnam to receive the FIBAA Quality Seal in March 2026. In healthcare, Vinmec inaugurated its 10th hospital, spanning over 31,000 sqm, with 114 inpatient beds and a designed capacity of 135,000 patient visits annually.
At the end of 2025, Vingroup launched its Culture pillar to preserve and promote Vietnamese cultural values and bring them to the world. In May 2026, the Group introduced V-Film, a film and television production and distribution company, with the goal of supporting the development of a professional, modern, and globally integrated Vietnamese film industry.
Looking ahead, Vingroup remains committed to accelerating its core business activities, leveraging the strengths of its diversified ecosystem, enhancing operational efficiency, and expanding its international presence. Through these efforts, the Group aims to achieve its 2026 targets while further strengthening its position as one of the region’s leading enterprises.
Hashtag: #Vingroup
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Intersec Saudi Arabia has formed two advisory committees to steer the conference agenda for its 2026 edition, bringing senior security, aviation, infrastructure, fire-protection and emergency-management figures into the planning of the Future Security Summit and the Fire Protection & Technology Summit. The move places artificial intelligence, cyber-physical security, critical infrastructure resilience, predictive risk management and next-generation fire protection at the centre of the Riyadh event, scheduled for […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Doha’s 12th Islamic Finance Conference opened on Tuesday with artificial intelligence moving from a technology sidebar to the centre of debate over Shariah-compliant banking, waqf, zakat and digital markets. The one-day gathering at Al Majlis Hall in the Sheraton Grand Doha was held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and carried […]
Pinterest has committed US$4 billion to Amazon Web Services through 2031, expanding a long-running cloud partnership as the visual discovery platform accelerates artificial intelligence tools for search and shopping. The agreement, announced on 4 June, is the largest infrastructure commitment in Pinterest’s history and places AWS custom silicon at the centre of the company’s next phase of product development. Pinterest plans to increase its use of AWS […]
The jump, flagged at an IBPC Dubai logistics session, reflects a wider disruption in maritime corridors linked to Middle East tensions, fuel-cost volatility, security-risk surcharges and capacity constraints. Paras Shahdadpuri, Governor of IBPC Dubai and Chairman of Nikai Group, said the disruption had tested businesses while reinforcing confidence in the UAE’s ability to respond effectively. “Freight rates have risen from $1,000 to $7,000, putting pressure on businesses, but the speed of response here has helped maintain confidence in uncertain times,” he said.
The impact is being felt most sharply by businesses with thin margins or long replenishment cycles. Consumer electronics, appliances, automotive parts, food products, textiles, building materials and pharmaceutical consignments are among the categories most exposed to higher freight, delayed vessel schedules and tighter booking windows. Importers face a difficult choice: absorb added costs, renegotiate supply contracts, delay shipments or pass part of the burden to consumers.
Dubai’s response has centred on route diversification, customs facilitation and closer coordination among ports, logistics operators, carriers and government agencies. The Green Corridor linking Dubai and Oman has become a critical pressure valve, allowing cargo arriving through Omani ports and airports to move overland through streamlined procedures. Customs declarations through the corridor rose from about 12,000 in March to nearly 100,000 in April, while the value of goods moved increased from Dh1 billion to more than Dh8 billion.
The corridor has helped sustain flows for containers destined for Jebel Ali, goods entering the local market and re-export cargo bound for other destinations. More than 100,000 TEUs have already moved through Green Corridor initiatives, underlining how quickly shippers have adapted to alternative supply routes. Food security shipments and refrigerated cargo movements have remained stable, a key benchmark for a market dependent on uninterrupted imports.
Freight inflation is not confined to the UAE lane. Global container benchmarks have moved higher as peak-season demand started earlier than usual and conflict risk reshaped vessel deployment. The World Container Index climbed to $3,549 per 40ft container in mid-June, while Asia-Europe and transpacific routes also recorded rate increases. Fuel costs, insurance premiums and route deviations have widened the gap between contracted and spot-market pricing.
The UAE’s logistics model has so far avoided the deeper breakdown seen during earlier global supply-chain shocks. Jebel Ali remains central to regional trade, while Fujairah, Khor Fakkan and Omani gateways have gained strategic importance as alternative access points. Cargo owners are mixing sea, land and air solutions to balance cost against reliability, making multimodal logistics a boardroom issue rather than a back-office procurement function.
The pressure comes at a sensitive time for India-UAE trade, which has expanded under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that entered into force in 2022. Bilateral trade reached $101.25 billion in FY2025-26, with the UAE ranking as India’s third-largest trading partner and second-largest export destination. Higher freight costs risk eroding some of the tariff and market-access gains achieved through the pact, particularly for mid-sized exporters and distributors operating on fixed price commitments.
Business groups say the crisis is accelerating changes that were already under way. Importers are adding supplier options in Southeast Asia and the GCC, splitting shipments across ports, increasing buffer stocks for critical items and using digital tracking tools to manage delays. Logistics providers are offering blended products that combine ocean freight, bonded trucking and air cargo, while retailers are reviewing inventory cycles before the next seasonal demand peak.
The strain is also prompting fresh attention to contract design. More companies are inserting freight-adjustment clauses, separating shipping costs from product pricing and seeking clearer force-majeure language for geopolitical disruption. For smaller traders, the biggest challenge is cash flow: a container that once required a modest upfront freight payment can now tie up several times more capital before goods even reach the warehouse.
Nvidia has raised $25 billion through its largest bond sale, drawing a wave of investor demand that underlines Wall Street’s confidence in long-term artificial intelligence spending despite rising questions over the cost of the global data-centre buildout. The Santa Clara-based chipmaker priced the investment-grade deal on June 15 after initially targeting at least $20 billion. Orders reached about $85 billion, allowing the company to expand the transaction […]
The Mumbai event is scheduled for PVR Icon IMAX at Phoenix Palladium in Lower Parel, with the exact premiere date still to be announced. Universal Pictures International has positioned Mumbai alongside London, Paris and New York in the rollout for Nolan’s mythic action epic, a rare move that underlines the growing importance of premium-format cinema audiences in the country’s theatrical market.
Damon plays Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, while Holland plays his son Telemachus. Thomas, Nolan’s long-time creative and producing partner at Syncopy, will accompany the director for the premiere. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, Himesh Patel, Jon Bernthal and John Leguizamo, giving Universal one of the most star-heavy studio releases of the year. Hathaway and Zendaya are not part of the announced Mumbai travelling delegation, making the confirmed attendance narrower than the wider ensemble publicity campaign around the film.
The Odyssey adapts Homer’s foundational epic about Odysseus’s long voyage home after the fall of Troy, as his household in Ithaca comes under pressure from suitors pursuing Penelope. Nolan has written and directed the film, extending his run with Universal after Oppenheimer, which won best picture and best director at the Academy Awards and reaffirmed his box-office pull for large-format cinema.
The new film has been promoted as the first feature shot entirely with IMAX cameras, using technology developed to make large-format shooting more practical for dialogue-heavy scenes. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, who worked with Nolan on Interstellar, Dunkirk, Tenet and Oppenheimer, returns for a project filmed across several international locations. The technical pitch has become central to the campaign, with IMAX positioned not as an add-on but as the intended viewing format.
Advance IMAX sales have already turned the release into a premium-ticket event. Bookings in India opened this month for select screenings, with some Mumbai and Pune seats listed around ₹3,000 and late-night premium shows touching higher levels. Despite the pricing, early demand has been strong, with several shows moving quickly as Nolan’s fan base and the cast’s appeal combine with a scarcity-driven IMAX rollout.
The Mumbai premiere also carries symbolic weight because Nolan has had a visible, if selective, relationship with the country. He visited Mumbai in 2018 for a film-preservation event centred on celluloid and met leading figures from the film industry. He later filmed portions of Tenet in Mumbai, while The Dark Knight Rises included scenes shot at Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur. Damon also has an earlier connection with the country through The Bourne Supremacy, parts of which were filmed in Goa, and through later humanitarian work linked to water access.
For exhibitors, the premiere arrives at a time when Hollywood event films are relying heavily on premium screens, fan-led advance bookings and limited-format urgency to counter uneven theatrical attendance. Nolan’s films have proved especially effective in that segment because his marketing places the cinema experience at the centre of the product. Oppenheimer showed that serious adult-skewing films could still generate major theatrical demand when paired with IMAX exclusivity, strong reviews and cultural momentum.
The Odyssey faces a crowded July window, but its positioning differs from franchise-led superhero and animation titles. The film is being sold on Nolan’s authorship, the scale of Homer’s story and the appeal of a cast that bridges prestige cinema and younger fandom. Holland’s presence is expected to widen interest among younger audiences, while Damon’s casting as Odysseus gives the project a veteran leading figure associated with earlier Nolan work, including Interstellar and Oppenheimer.
The India premiere gives Universal a high-visibility platform before the global release and could help consolidate Mumbai’s role in international studio publicity campaigns. For local exhibitors, it offers a test of how far premium pricing can go when attached to a filmmaker whose audience has shown a willingness to seek out specific formats, screen sizes and projection standards.
Abu Dhabi’s AED55 billion public-private partnership programme is set to redraw the emirate’s infrastructure funding model by bringing private capital deeper into transport, water, flood protection, education, healthcare and community assets over the next two years. The pipeline, launched on May 11 by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre, covers 24 projects scheduled to be brought to market during 2026 […]
Abu Dhabi sovereign investor Mubadala has acquired $200 million of Equitix’s stake in Greenlink, deepening its exposure to European energy infrastructure as power markets seek stronger cross-border capacity and more flexible grids. The transaction gives Mubadala a place alongside Equitix and Baltic Cable in Greenlink, the operator of a 504MW subsea electricity interconnector linking Great Britain and Ireland. The deal was announced on Tuesday and follows regulatory […]
Dubai’s latest trophy land sale has come under scrutiny after public property records indicated that the Dh560 million beachfront acquisition announced by Dubai Sotheby’s International Realty may have been assembled through four separate land transactions rather than recorded as a single deal. The brokerage said this month that it had completed the UAE’s largest land acquisition, involving a European buyer and a beachfront estate of more than […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 June 2026 – Lanson Place is proud to announce that seven of its hotels and serviced residences across Asia-Pacific have been recognised in the 2026 Tripadvisor Awards.
Leading this year’s achievements across the region is Lanson Place Parliament Gardens, Melbourne, which has received Tripadvisor’s highly coveted Best of the Best Award 2026, an accolade which places the property among the top one percent of hospitality listings worldwide.
This distinction represents Tripadvisor’s highest level of recognition and is only reserved for properties that consistently receive outstanding guest reviews and ratings over an extended period.
Six Lanson Place properties have also won a 2026 Travellers’ Choice Award, placing them among the top ten percent of listings globally. The awards are based on authentic traveller feedback and experiences that have been shared on Tripadvisor throughout the year.
2026 Tripadvisor Best of the Best Award
2026 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award
“To be recognised by Tripadvisor is especially meaningful because these awards are determined by the people who matter most, namely our guests,” said Michael Hobson, Chief Executive Officer of Lanson Place.
“Lanson Place Parliament Gardens, Melbourne receiving a Best of the Best Award, ranking in the top 1% globally, is a particularly rewarding achievement after its first full year of operation. These awards are testament to the passion and dedication demonstrated every single day by our teams across Asia Pacific. We are thrilled that travellers continue to choose Lanson Place and share such positive experiences of our personalised hospitality.”
A Melbourne Landmark
As Tripadvisor’s most prestigious accolade, the Best of the Best recognition for Lanson Place Parliament Gardens, Melbourne ensures that the hotel joins an elite group around the world which are recognised for delivering exceptional guest satisfaction and memorable stays.
Since opening in Melbourne’s historic Parliamentary Precinct as the city’s first five-star boutique hotel, it has distinguished itself through its beautifully designed residences, personalised service and ability to blend hotel comfort and convenience with the warmth of a private home.
Regional Recognition
The six Travellers’ Choice Award-winning properties also underline the strength and consistency of the Lanson Place portfolio across Asia Pacific.
In Hong Kong, both Lanson Place Causeway Bay and Lanson Place Waterfront Suites received recognition, while Two MacDonnell Road further reinforced the group’s strong reputation in its home market.
Across Southeast Asia, Lanson Place Bukit Ceylon in Kuala Lumpur, Lanson Place Winsland in Singapore, and Lanson Place Mall of Asia in Manila were similarly honoured, reflecting the brand’s ability to deliver exceptional hospitality experiences tailored to each destination.
Together, these awards highlight the consistency of the Lanson Place experience across its growing portfolio, where personalised service, thoughtfully designed living spaces, and genuine care remain at the heart of every guest stay.
Hashtag: #LansonPlace
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Lanson Place is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wing Tai Properties Limited (Wing Tai), a publicly listed company in Hong Kong (HKEx stock code: 369). The transformative hospitality management company currently manages eight properties under the Lanson Place brand, comprising Personal Hotels and Residences in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Melbourne. Additionally, it manages Two MacDonnell Road in Hong Kong as well as Yiju Apartment in Shenzhen.
Lanson Place provides comfortable, personal sanctuaries for both short-term and extended-stay guests at central locations in major global cities. Infused by a family-like service tradition, Lanson Place creates warm and sheltered places with a club-style feel where communities form and bond. Guests can enjoy a true home-away-from-home experience.
The Group aims to grow the Lanson Place brand across the Asia-Pacific region and continues to explore both investment and management opportunities in major gateway cities.
Lanson Place is a proud member of the 
Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) and recognises its guests through one unified loyalty programme, Lanson Place DISCOVERY, part of GHA DISCOVERY.
Website: lansonplace.com
Social Media: Instagram – 
@lansonplace
Facebook – 
@LansonPlacePersonalHotels&Residences
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Riyadh Air has secured US permission to operate flights to and from the United States, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for the PIF-owned carrier as it accelerates its challenge to established Gulf aviation rivals. The US Department of Transportation approved the airline’s authority after Riyadh Air applied last month for a foreign air carrier permit and exemption authority covering scheduled and charter services […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 June 2026 – The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), in collaboration with the Center for Metaverse and Computational Creativity at HKUST(Guangzhou), presents the SURREALITY Mixed Reality (MR) × Artificial Intelligence (AI) Digital Art Cross-City Exhibition. As part of HKUST’s 35th-anniversary celebrations, an exclusive media preview of the world’s first large-scale, cross-regional MR × AI digital art exhibition was held at the University’s Clear Water Bay campus.
Showcasing selected works by renowned international and Chinese Mainland digital artists, as well as faculty and students from both campuses, the exhibition integrates creativity with Virtual Reality (VR), MR, and AI technologies. It transforms the campus into a global hub for arts innovation and technological excellence.
The exhibition will open at HKUST(GZ) tomorrow and run through July 31, 2026, before returning to Hong Kong for public engagement. This exhibition exemplifies HKUST’s visionary commitment to driving cultural mobility and fostering international exchange through innovative technologies.
Prof. Nancy IP, President of HKUST, remarked, “This event signifies a major milestone for HKUST in its pursuit of integrating technology, humanities, and cross-regional innovation. The national 15th Five-Year Plan released this year explicitly supports Hong Kong in deepening its development as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. In 2024, the HKSAR Government also introduced the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development, outlining plans to develop diverse arts and culture industries with an international perspective, and to establish international platforms that foster East-meets-West arts and cultural exchanges. Local universities play a pivotal role in advancing these initiatives.”
“HKUST’s Strategic Plan 2031 identifies the integration of innovation and the humanities as a key direction for the University’s future development. In line with this vision, we established Hong Kong’s first Division of Arts and Machine Creativity, which is committed to creating an innovative platform that fosters the fusion of technology and art while nurturing a new generation of creative talent with strong interdisciplinary perspectives. Hosting initiatives such as SURREALITY and the HKUST AI Film Festival exemplifies this direction and is poised to develop into prominent international platforms that fosters arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world,” she added.
Prof. Lionel NI Ming-Shuan, President of HKUST(GZ), stated, “‘SURREALITY’ is not only the world’s first large-scale MR × AI art exhibition, but also a powerful showcase of the strengths of HKUST and HKUST(GZ) in interdisciplinary studies and computational creativity. As a flagship initiative under the ‘One HKUST, Complementary Campuses’ framework, the two campuses have welcomed artists and young creators from 23 countries and regions, redefining the boundaries of knowledge production and artistic expression through the seamless fusion of the virtual and the real. At a time when the nation is strategically advancing future industries and the Greater Bay Area is accelerating the development of new quality productive forces, the digital ‘Portal’ connecting Clear Water Bay and Nansha represents far more than a technological breakthrough—it embodies a forward-looking model of educational collaboration, where engineering converges with aesthetics, algorithms with poetry, and global vision with local engagement. At thirty-five years old, HKUST remains youthful and dynamic. Guided by this founding aspiration, HKUST(GZ) will continue to advance in step with HKUST, writing a new chapter of integrated innovation and talent development in the Greater Bay Area.”
SURREALITY showcases the integration of AI-generated artworks with the physical campus environment, creating an immersive experience through spatial computing and real-time rendering technologies. Across the two campuses, nearly 50 works by more than 70 digital artists from the United States, Germany, Russia, Australia, Bolivia, Singapore, Korea, the Chinese Mainland, and Hong Kong are featured. Presented in innovative and striking forms, these exceptional works from around the world highlight HKUST’s strong commitment to advancing interdisciplinary integration.
Today, 19 selected works premiered at the Clear Water Bay campus, where MR-enhanced creations transform the HKUST campus into an immersive, technology-driven art space. By wearing MR headsets, visitors can freely explore three exhibition areas: Living Currents, Future Fables, and Beyond Mind. Several projects created by HKUST(GZ) faculty and students stand out as highlights, with The Gate—built on a metaverse concept—emerging as the centerpiece of the exhibition. As the armillary sphere slowly turns and the portal comes into view, visitors can step inside and instantly traverse the virtual spaces of both campuses, experiencing a groundbreaking sense of cross‑campus, seamless connectivity that embodies the vision of “One HKUST, Complementary Campuses.” Another featured work, Kunpeng, symbolizes a spirit of boundless freedom. A giant fish leaps from the nearby Port Shelter in Sai Kung and transforms into a soaring roc that ascends powerfully into the sky. Its majestic presence delivers a striking visual spectacle. The piece The Twinworld Tree creates a dynamic living system formed by the World Tree and virtual life, symbolizing the interdependence of all things, like the tides.
The exhibition also features an MR recreation of a classic work—GFP Bunny, created by internationally acclaimed contemporary artist, Prof. Eduardo KAC, who is also Professor of Art and Technology Studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Since its debut, this piece has sparked global reflection on genetic modification, bioethics, and the boundaries of art. Mr. ZHANG Yishuai, a PhD student in the Thrust of Computational Media and Arts at HKUST(GZ) and a computational artist, presents Echoes of Earth 2.0, offering a forward-looking perspective on AI and interstellar civilizations. This work enriches the exhibition with a visionary reflection on humanity’s aspirations for the future.
Several VR digital art pieces are also on display, including Astra, created by Ms. Eliza MCNITT— Venice Immersive Grand Prize winner and renowned American writer and director—which offers visitors a unique journey of exploration into the universe. Mr. Benedict YU, a VR visual artist from Singapore, presents Mother’s Body Remembers, utilizing LiDAR to capture movements and combining VR with tactile interaction to rekindle visitors’ memories of family connections. The HKUST XRIM Lab‘s work, Unfolding Touch, enables a soft-robot-mediated handshake between the Clear Water Bay and Guangzhou campuses, integrating sensing and tactile replication to create a shared touch experience across distance. Other works include My Flower, which invites viewers to experience the daily challenges faced by people with Alzheimer’s disease. A short animation, The Cat Ghost, which narrates the relationship between ancient Chinese people and cats from the Western world, is also screened.
Prof. Pan HUI, Chair Professor of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas at HKUST, Acting Head and Chair Professor of the Thrust of Computational Media and Arts, and Director of the Center for Metaverse and Computational Creativity at HKUST(GZ), introduced the core concept of “SURREALITY.” He explained that as technologies such as AI, spatial computing, and MR rapidly evolve, digital worlds are transcending screens into real spaces and becoming deeply integrated into people’s daily life. SURREALITY explores a new form of reality that may emerge in the future—a scenario where the virtual and the physical are no longer distinctly separate but collectively form the environments in which we perceive, interact, and live. Through artistic creation and immersive experiences, the exhibition offers audiences a glimpse into this transformative vision, prompting reflection on how technology is reshaping humanity’s understanding of reality.
The exhibited works come from numerous internationally renowned artists, showcasing the remarkable fusion of creative arts and digital technology. Several prominent participating artists also joined today’s event to introduce their works, fostering cross-regional cultural and arts exchanges. They include Prof. Benjamin SEIDE, media artist, VFX expert, and Associate Professor in the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University; Ms. Katerina SEMENKO, a Russian conceptual phygital artist and International Design Award recipient; and Dr. Adam NASH, an Australian digital virtual artist and Honorary Fellow of RMIT University.
Hashtag: #HKUST #HKUST(GZ)
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university known for its innovative education, research excellence, and impactful knowledge transfer. With a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy approach, HKUST was ranked 6th in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, 3rd in the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2024, and 19th globally and 1st in Hong Kong in the Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings 2025. Eleven HKUST subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. In addition, in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026, HKUST’s Computer Science discipline which encompasses areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, has been ranked No. 1 in Hong Kong for ten consecutive years. Our graduates are highly competitive, consistently ranking among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. In terms of research and entrepreneurship, over 80% of our work was rated “internationally excellent” or “world leading” in the Research Assessment Exercise 2020 of the Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee. As of May 2026, HKUST members have founded over 1,900 active start-ups, including 11 Unicorns and 22 exits (IPO or M&A).
Dubai has relaunched its Mallathon as a three-month public fitness drive, turning six of the emirate’s largest shopping centres into morning walking and running venues during the peak summer period. The second edition, running from 15 June to 15 September 2026, is being staged daily between 6am and 10am at Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, Dubai Festival City Mall, City Centre Deira and […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 June 2026 – Building on last year’s success, Beijing Tong Ren Tang’s “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey” school outreach programme has been further deepened and expanded this year. Evolving from in-school learning to a model that integrates and extends into off-campus activities, the programme combines school visits with tours of Beijing Tong Ren Tang’s production and R&D base, opening a new chapter in a comprehensive way and bringing students closer to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) through a lively and interactive engagement.
Two-stage learning: from in-school education to hands-on experience
Through a variety of interactive formats, “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey” offers students an engaging and knowledge-rich introduction to Chinese medicine. Designed around the concept of “from understanding to experience,” the programme combines in-school learning with off-campus visits to Beijing Tong Ren Tang’s production and R&D base. Activities include guided storytelling on the “Tong Ren” story, acupoint-based interactive games, and lively introductions to Chinese medicine culture and basic Chinese medicine knowledge, making the learning experience both enjoyable and informative. Students can also visit Beijing Tong Ren Tang’s production and R&D base in Tai Po, where they tour the museum, learn about the operation of the production line, and explore the Chinese Herbal Garden. In this way, students gain a well-rounded understanding of Chinese medicine and learn how it can be applied in daily life.
Herbal planting activities reinforce learning experience
A special feature of the programme is a planting experience in the Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Herbal Garden. Guided by gardeners and instructors, students take part in a seedling transplanting activity, observing herbal plants up close and experiencing the planting process first-hand. This hands-on experience not only gives them a sense of achievement but also deepens their understanding of what they have learned. Through this enjoyable and educational activity, Chinese medicine culture is brought to life for the younger generation while supporting its preservation and continued development.
In-school learning: “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey” tutorial
During the school visits under “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey,” Chinese medicine practitioners and instructors each led nearly 100 students at a time through a lively one-hour session, using an easy-to-understand approach that combined storytelling and interactive games to explore Chinese medicine knowledge. Topics covered ranged from itinerant physicians to hall physicians, from the acupuncture bronze figure to the meridian system, and from the four diagnostic methods of Chinese medicine to its internal and external treatment approaches. Students were also introduced to Tong Ren Tang’s history of supplying imperial medicine, as well as Chinese medicine concepts such as “monarch, minister, assistant and guide“. These sessions helped students understand Chinese medicine in an accessible way, while interactive acupoint games further strengthened memory and comprehension through play.
Off-campus experience: visits to Beijing Tong Ren Tang’s production and R&D base
After completing the school visit component of “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey,” students also had the opportunity to visit and experience Beijing Tong Ren Tang’s production and R&D base in Hong Kong. During the guided tour, students gained a deeper understanding of the story of Tong Ren Tang, a time-honoured Chinese medicine brand, its imperial medicine tradition and its pharmaceutical culture, while revisiting the core beliefs it upholds: “cultivating benevolence and virtue, and promoting health for the benefit of society” and its corporate motto of “No compromise on cost and labour despite the complexity of processing herbal medicine. No compromise on quality and standard despite the scarcity of medicine ingredients.”
During the visit, students sampled herbal tea as an entry point to understanding Chinese herbs. They then learned about the Chinese medicine production process and took part in a workshop on the traditional pill-rolling technique, an item of intangible cultural heritage. This allowed them to translate theory into practical experience, and to understand how herbs are processed and prepared into medicinal materials for use. Through this, they learned about the development of Chinese medicine from ancient times to the present, as well as the evolution of different dosage forms. Students later moved to the Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Herbal Garden for a herbal planting activity, where they learned how soil, water and sunlight affect plant growth.
Expanded to 20 primary schools, with a comic book supporting school-based extended reading
This year, “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey” expanded to 20 primary schools, reaching approximately 3,000 teachers and students in total. To complement the in-school curriculum and extended reading, Beijing Tong Ren Tang specially wrote and produced the comic book The World of Chinese Medicine – “The Tong Ren Extraordinary Journey”. Featuring the adorable “Little Tong Ren” as the main character and guide, the comic adopts a child-friendly narrative approach to help students understand the meaning of “Tong Ren” and “Tong Ren Tang,” the wisdom of balance emphasised in Chinese medicine culture, and its people-oriented spirit of benevolence and compassionate healing. Beijing Tong Ren Tang hopes that, through more interesting and approachable content formats, Chinese medicine culture can take root on campus and, through students’ reading and sharing, extend into families and communities as a cultural learning journey that can be passed on continuously.
Bringing Chinese medicine into everyday life
Beijing Tong Ren Tang hopes to foster a relaxed and enjoyable learning environment for students, introducing Chinese medicine step by step and encouraging them to share what they have learned with family and friends. By starting from a child’s perspective and focusing on themes such as meridians, herbs and balance, the programme helps integrating the wisdom of TCM into students’ everyday knowledge systems and encouraging them to share and apply these insights in daily life.
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Tong Ren Tang was founded in 1669 and has a 356-year history. The company has always adhered to its corporate motto of “No compromise on cost and labour despite the complexity of processing herbal medicine. No compromise on quality and standard despite the scarcity of medicine ingredients.” This commitment has led Beijing Tong Ren Tang to steady development, lasting through every generation, achieving excellence, and becoming a national treasure while expanding globally.
At the same time, Beijing Tong Ren Tang has taken on the mission of promoting traditional Chinese medicine culture, actively participating in domestic and international traditional Chinese medicine promotion activities, facilitating cultural exchanges around the world, and striving to expand the international influence of traditional Chinese medicine. To date, it has been operating over 160 retail branches in 26 countries and regions overseas, making it one of the most recognized traditional Chinese medicine brands internationally.
Established in Hong Kong in 2004, Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Medicine Company Limited serves as Tong Ren Tang’s development platform outside Mainland China. The Company was listed on the Growth Enterprise Market of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2013 and transferred to the Main Board in 2018. Guided by its corporate spirit of “cultivating benevolence and virtue, and promoting health for the benefit of society” and driven by its mission to “create health for all to share globally,” the Company has built on Hong Kong as its base while expanding its global presence. It is committed to promoting Chinese medicine culture beyond Mainland China, and has accelerated the internationalisation of Chinese medicine through a communication model that integrates medical services with pharmaceutical products and places culture at the forefront. (Beijing Tong Ren Tong Chinese Medicine Company Limited website: https://cm.tongrentang.com)
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