Muslim-focused wearables launched at CES

Muslim-focused consumer technology will appear alongside mainstream global wearables at CES 2026 as iQIBLA unveils its third-generation smart device lineup at the event. The products address daily religious practice, continuous health monitoring, and physically-demanding environments, reflecting how connected devices are increasingly being designed around real cultural and environmental needs.

Source: iQIBLA. The iQIBLA third-generation smart wearables: (from left) the Zikr Ring J03 smart ring, Qwatch S6 smart watch, and the Hajj Band.

Founded in 2021, iQIBLA created the smart dhikr (ذِكْر, remembrance of god) ring category and has since shipped more than 3.5 M devices worldwide, with particularly strong uptake across GCC markets including KSA, the UAE, and Kuwait. There has been broader adoption across the Middle East and Southeast Asia, iQIBLA said.  

The Zikr Ring J03, iQIBLA's third-generation smart ring and the first to integrate Qibla direction into a ring-based wearable. Designed for discreet, continuous use, the device supports nine dhikr channels, touch controls, text display, prayer time reminders, and daily activity tracking.

Also featured is the Qwatch S6, a third-generation Bluetooth smart watch equipped with medical-grade sensors. The device monitors heart rate, blood oxygen levels, sleep quality, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour. Alongside these health functions, it includes Quran access, prayer time reminders, qibla direction, a tasbih counter, multiple dhikr channels, and a Hijri calendar.

Completing the lineup is the Hajj Band, developed specifically for Hajj, umrah, and other high-exertion, high-density environments. The wearable continuously collects vital-sign data, uploads health information in real time, and issues alerts as physical strain increases, supporting users during prolonged walking, heat exposure, and crowd-intensive conditions.

"From the beginning, our focus has been on building technology that fits naturally into daily life," said the founder of iQIBLA, Jack Shao. 

"Many of our real-world use cases come directly from the Middle East. CES gives us a platform to show how these products sit naturally alongside the wider global consumer technology industry."

Plantronics adds Apple Watch and Android Wear controls for premium headsets

Plantronics, an audio and wearable technology specialist, announced that the latest version of its Plantronics Hub for iOS and Android now supports the Apple Watch and Android Wear, broadening the company’s reach to include other devices within the growing mobile device ecosystem.

With the new smart watch extension, people can now manage the headset experience directly from their wrist. Plantronics Hub v3.5 for iOS and Android lets users manage, customise, and control premium Plantronics Bluetooth headsets, including the Voyager Focus UC headphones. Supported controls include muting and unmuting the headset, volume control, battery status, and ending calls. 

Interested?

Plantronics Hub v3.5 for iOS and Android with smart watch support is free and available* now at the Apple App store and Google Play.

*Plantronics Hub for iOS requires iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6, 6 Plus and iOS 8.3; Plantronics for Android requires OS v2.3.3 and later

Du running 30 Days of Sharing campaign, umrah call privileges for Ramadhan

UAE telco du is celebrating the values represented by the month of Ramadhan with its 30 Days of Sharing campaign throughout the month. Social media users can use the hashtag #30DaysofSharing on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to share what makes Ramadhan special to them.

The company will donate AED10 for every post made using the #30DaysofSharing hashtag to its annual iftar tables initiative, du said, in which iftar meals (meals for the breaking of the fast after sunset) will be distributed to those less fortunate at three locations across the UAE.

The campaign is part of a number of Ramadhan initiatives for the company, including activities for employees and sponsorship of the Al Majlis Ramadan tent at Madinat Jumeirah. Du has also invited the public to help to distribute the iftar meals, and allocated AED1.57 million, 5% of the monthly fees from its Emirati Plan subscriptions, to employ 25 Emirati women to cook meals for distribution through the Mawaed Al Rahman locations.

Du has also created a Ramadhan offer specially for umrah. Customers travelling to Saudi Arabia during Ramadhan will enjoy unlimited free incoming calls on all networks. The offer is automatically activated as soon as the customer activates roaming on their mobile before travelling, the telco said.

There is also a Smart Plan offer in force this month. Subscribers can select a preferred local national, mobile or landline number and get 300 minutes free to call that number anywhere in the UAE, on any network, during Ramadhan with the with The Smart Plan 300, 600 and 1000. Subscribers which opt in can also enjoy more minutes for the month: 600 flexible minutes for AED300 per month, 1,200 flexible minutes for AED600 per month or 2,500 flexible minutes for AED1,000 and up to 12GB of data.

Hashtag: #30DaysofSharing