• Middle East to receive millions of Chinese tourists lost in Covid pandemic

    Dubai, UAE-- Outbound travel from China is estimated to almost double this year, compared with 2023 and will only be 22% below its peak pre-pandemic numbers of 155 million tourists in 2019, who spent over $250 billion overseas, according to Oxford Economics Full recovery is expected to materialise in 2025,...
  • Number of journalists killed on job in 2023 declines despite Gaza: RSF

    In the first 11 months of 2023, 45 journalists were killed carrying out their work, down from 61 last year, according to the annual report by RSF. It was the smallest number since 33 died in 2002, largely due to a major drop in Latin America.
  • Tunisian villages grapple with severe water scarcity

    Ouled Omar, Tunisia - Tunisian villager Ounissa Mazhoud ties two empty jerry cans to a donkey and cautiously descends a stony hill towards the last local source of water. The North African country, in its fourth year of drought, is grappling with its worst water scarcity in years. Mazhoud -- like...
  • World Bank to expand climate funding in MENA by $10 billion

    Brhane said the World Bank integrated climate into all its work across the MENA region and is on track to align 100 percent of new operations with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
  • Middle East leaders grapple with post-war Gaza challenges at Doha

    At the annual Doha Forum that ended Monday, Qatar reiterated that no Arab country would send in forces to stabilize the situation after the guns of Israel and Hamas fall silent.
  • Doha Forum debates advantages in Gulf-Europe green ties

    Doha, Qatar-- Oil and gas producers in the Middle East are assessing "challenges and opportunities" available for their economies to grow while depending on hydrocarbon by working to enhance cooperation in the rapid transitions in the European energy field. The eagerness to make a transition toward clean energy and strike...
  • Cloud security challenges haunt firms in UAE and KSA

    Rapid cloud adoption in the two GCC countries is accompanied by increased security risks, leading to costly data breaches, reveals a latest study by Illumio.
  • Arab world to be center for global change in 2024, says Russian intelligence chief

    MOSCOW, RUSSIA - The chief of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, or SVR, believes the Arab world will take center stage in the struggle for a new world order next year. Sergey Naryshkin believes that in the Arab countries "the globalist elites’ ambitions to play the role of an international hegemon,...
  • UK defence minister to visit Middle East to discuss ways to boost Gaza aid

    Shapps will also visit Kibbutz Kfar Aza in southern Israel which was attacked by Hamas on October 7 which killed around 1200 Israelis. So far, around 16,015 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's invasion of Gaza.
  • Blinken, Wang discuss Gaza war in phone call

    Beijing, China - The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday spoke over the phone to discuss the war in Gaza. "The Secretary discussed his recent travel in the Middle East and U.S. diplomatic efforts in the region," the US State Department statement said....
  • Saudi Electricity Company targets net zero emissions by 2050

    Dubai, UAE - The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), the largest producer, transmitter, and distributor of electrical energy in the Middle East and North Africa, announced on Tuesday that it seeks to reach net zero emissions by 2050 in line with the Saudi Arabia’s target to reach carbon neutrality by 2060...
  • Putin senses reviving fortunes as front holds, West frays

    Warsaw, Poland - As Vladimir Putin touches down in the Middle East later on Wednesday for visits to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the Russian leader is brimming with confidence that would have been unimaginable six months ago. A much-touted Ukrainian counteroffensive that was once expected to carve through Russian...
  • Water stress levels vary in Arab countries

    Some countries face more intense competition for water resources, leading to potentially severe environmental impacts. The contrast underscores the diverse challenges they face in water resource management.
  • For a diaspora soccer club in Chile, ‘Palestine exists’

    Santiago, Chile - Thousands of miles from the Middle East, in a stadium in Santiago, Chile, the nation of Palestine exists, if only for the 90 minutes of a soccer match. Chileans and Palestinians created that alternate reality again on Thursday when Club Deportivo Palestino, which traces its origins to Palestinian...
  • Gaza focus as French foreign minister meets China’s PM, FM

    Beijing has this year sought to play a greater role in the Middle East, facilitating a historic rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and sending an envoy to the region to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
  • Middle East’s M&A activity outpaces global trends

    With a focus on economic diversification and technological advancements, the region is setting a precedent for strategic growth and innovation in the post-pandemic era.
  • Does Anghami and OSN+ collab make financial sense?

    A first of its kind in the region, the combination will offer consumers digital services of the best and latest in premium movies, TV shows, music, podcasts.
  • Bayanat, Yahsat, ICEYE increase Middle East satellite fleet to 7

    Abu Dhabi, UAE – Bayanat, a leading provider of AI-powered geospatial solutions, and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat), the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider, on Wednesday announced the expansion of their ambitious Earth Observation (EO) space program from five to seven synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites. The expansion of...
  • UN official calls for probe over human rights violations in Israel-Hamas war

    Geneva, Switzerland - The UN human rights chief on Thursday decried serious allegations of international law violations in the Israel-Hamas war and suggested an international investigation was needed. Volker Turk said "extremely serious allegations of multiple and profound breaches of international humanitarian law, whoever commits them, demand rigorous investigation and full...
  • EgyptAir orders 10 Airbus A350 planes in $3.2bn deal at Dubai Airshow

    The transaction is worth $3.2 billion, reports say.
  • Emirates to build advanced $950m engineering facility at DWC

    Dubai, UAE -- Emirates has unveiled a plans to build a $950 million cutting-edge engineering facility at Dubai World Central (DWC). Spanning 1 million square meters, the engineering complex is set to become the most extensive and advanced facility of its kind operated by any airline globally, Emirates said in...
  • Sustainability in style: UAE’s couture goes green

    The UAE is shifting from Western influences to eco-friendly practices in its apparel market. 2023 marks the nation's commitment to sustainability, with an increasing focus on ethical, high-quality, and environmentally friendly products. However, transparency in sustainability claims is crucial to combat "greenwashing" in the industry.
  • Al Ghurair to use Oracle solution

    This will help HR teams improve business operations.
  • US strikes Iran-linked locations in eastern Syria

    US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that his country's forces carried out precision strikes on facilities in Syria used by Iran's IRGC and Iran-affiliated groups in response to continued attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria. It is the third time in three weeks that the US targeted locations...
  • Russia spreading disinformation on Middle East situation, says Microsoft

    Paris, France - Russia has been spreading "disinformation" about the situation in the Middle East, the president of Microsoft said on Saturday, as tensions soar in the region due to the Israel-Hamas war. Brad Smith, Microsoft vice chair and president, was asked about the role of the US tech giant in...
  • Israeli bombing leaves Gaza with no safe zones, says Russia to UN

    New York, USA - There are no safe zones left in Gaza amid Israeli strikes, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said. "(Israel’s) deliberate strikes on civilian facilities are a blatant violation of international humanitarian law," he pointed out at a UN Security Council meeting on the...
  • Saudi Arabia sets ambitious goals for mining sector

    "We have begun discussions with 80 countries participating in the mining sector. ... An international platform has been established in Riyadh to support the development of the mining sector in the region, ensuring investment flow and aiding African and Central Asian countries in bringing more minerals to the market," he...
  • Blinken ends marathon tour warning ‘more needs to be done’ on Gaza

    New Delhi, India - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a marathon diplomatic push on Friday in India after a whirlwind Middle East trip and G7 talks, saying Israel's pauses in its Gaza offensive would "save lives" but more was needed. "Far too many Palestinians have been killed," Blinken...
  • US won’t hesitate to defend its troops in Middle East: Pentagon

    Washington, United States - Over the last three weeks, Iran-backed militia groups have attacked US bases and facilities in Iraq and Syria 41 times. The US has defended itself against those attacks and will continue to do so, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East said. Following...
  • Iran rejects G7 calls to stop supporting Hamas

    Tehran, Iran - Iran on Thursday rejected a G7 statement which called on Tehran to stop supporting Hamas members and taking actions that "destabilize" the Middle East. Tehran's comment came a day after foreign ministers from the G7 group of advanced economies, meeting in Tokyo, expressed support for "humanitarian pauses and...
  • Arab and Iranian leaders likely to attend Saudi’s dual event on Gaza

    The emergency meetings of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation come after over one month of Israeli bombardment has killed more than 10,000 people in Gaza, many of them children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. With Israel's leaders rebuffing talk of a ceasefire until the captives...
  • Middle East companies moving towards cloud adoption

    Adoption is driven by government initiatives, global cloud providers, and the need for agility and scalability in the region.
  • G7 supports ‘pause’ in Gaza war but stops short of calling for ceasefire

    "We stress the need for urgent action to address the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza... we support humanitarian pauses and corridors to facilitate urgently needed assistance, civilian movement, and the release of hostages," the ministers said in a joint statement after talks in Japan.
  • Batelco launches mobile peering service in MENA region

    Manama, Bahrain - Batelco, part of the Beyon Group, announces its latest service “Mobile Peering” for members of the platform. Batelco is the first in the MENA region to offer a Mobile Peering service, which is an open interconnecting solution, enabling mobile operators and Internet Packet Exchange (IPX) providers to...
  • Stocks extend global rally as US jobs data cements rate hopes

    Hong Kong, China - Markets rallied again Monday following another strong performance on Wall Street, as below-forecast US jobs data fanned optimism that the Federal Reserve had reached the end of its interest rate hiking cycle. After a tough year for traders, the bank's decision last week to pause on monetary...
  • Anti-west boycott waves sweep across Middle East in Gaza solidarity

    Manama, Bahrain - In a convenience store in Bahrain, 14-year-old Jana Abdullah carries a tablet as she shops, checking a list of Western brands to avoid as Israel pounds Gaza in its campaign to destroy Hamas. Jana and her 10-year-old brother, Ali, used to eat at McDonald's nearly daily but they...
  • Russia calls for collective action to end fighting between Israel, Hamas

    Russia called for "collective action" to end fighting between Israel and Hamas, including an international conference, almost a month into the war that has left thousands dead. Russia, which has been waging a large-scale military operation in Ukraine for over 20 months, has also repeatedly criticized Western policies in the...
  • Don’t pause Mideast de-escalation over war, says UAE official

    Dubai, UAE - Middle East powers should maintain their push to de-escalate the region through trade and economic ties despite the Israel-Hamas war, a senior United Arab Emirates official said on Saturday. The sudden flare-up in Gaza, after a deadly attack by Hamas, follows a period of fence-mending in the region including...
  • Iraq event on ‘regional stability’ adjourned over Gaza war

    Baghdad, Iraq - An international summit in Baghdad on "regional stability" planned for late November has been postponed due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, an Iraqi official told AFP on Thursday. The third edition of the Baghdad conference "for economic integration and regional stability", co-organised by France, "is postponed until further...
  • Shell reports rise in profits

    The company announces a buyback of shares worth $3.5bn.
  • Americana Restaurants reports $1,897m revenue

    The company's adjusted EBITDA reaching $446.5 million.
  • Iran urges Muslim nations to suspend trade with Israel

    The bombing campaign by Israel in Gaza has killed more than 8,500 people, two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
  • Saudi Arabia emerges as only bidder for 2034 World Cup

    The Saudi bid comes one year after neighboring Qatar hosted the first World Cup in the Middle East, where the kingdom's national team scored a surprse group stage victory over eventual winners Argentina. It is set to take over from a tri-continental line-up for the 2030 event to be shared...
  • Investors eye gold as safe haven amid Gaza tensions

    The ongoing Gaza conflict has driven gold prices over $2,000/oz, highlighting the deep connection between geopolitical tensions and global financial market reactions.
  • Politics in fashion: Luxury brands react to Gaza crisis

    From L'Oréal's controversy involving model Amena Khan to Chanel's significant financial pledge, the fashion industry is deeply entwined in political discourse amid Gaza conflict.
  • Russia points fingers at ‘external’ forces behind anti-Israel riot

    Moscow, Russia - Russia on Monday blamed "external interference" for an anti-Israel riot that closed an airport in the Muslim-majority region of Dagestan the previous day. "Yesterday's events at Makhachkala airport are, to a large extent, the result of external interference," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Russian police on Monday...
  • Many Western Socialists back Israel in Gaza conflict

    This TRENDS report delves into the nuanced positions of Western political figures, unveiling a multifaceted blend of support, criticism, and calls for humanitarian intervention.
  • UAE and Belgium urge accelerated efforts to ‘restore regional stability’

    Abu Dhabi, UAE-- The UAE and Belgium have stressed the importance of coordinating regional and international efforts to protect civilians and intensify efforts to restore regional security and stability. The sentiments were expressed in a meeting between Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Hadja...
  • Relations sour between Turkey and Israel after Erdogan’s speech

    Israel and Turkey -- an overwhelmingly Muslim nation that forms the bulwark of NATO defenses on the edge of the Middle East -- had only just agreed to reappoint ambassadors last year. But their relations unraveled as Erdogan began to pick up the pace and venom of his attacks on...
  • Middle East conflict may disrupt global trade routes

    Recent developments spark concerns that the conflict, which is spreading across the region, presents a long-term threat to global energy and commercial infrastructure.
  • Oil prices surge 3 percent amid Middle East tensions

    New York, United States - Oil prices experienced a 3% surge on Friday, reaching a one-week high, driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East, raising concerns about potential disruptions in global crude supplies, Reuters reported. Brent crude futures increased by $2.55, or 2.9%, settling at $90.48 a barrel, while...