Remains of 5,000-year-old noblewoman found in Peru dig
The woman's funerary trousseau, which was presented to reporters at the culture ministry, included a toucan's beak, a stone bowl...
Arts & Culture
Watch owned by China’s last emperor sells for $5m
Arts & Culture
Iraq artist battles to save old boating tradition
Arts & Culture
Qatar’s ‘Hit Show’ wins $12 million Dubai World Cup
Dubai, UAE -- Qatar's 'Hit Show' triumphed in the 2025 Dubai World Cup's main event at Meydan, the pinnacle of...
Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture
Ben Sulayem first non-European president of International Automobile Federation
Mohammed ben Sulayem became the first non-European to be elected president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on Friday and...
- The 60-year-old Emirati gained 61.62 percent of the votes cast compared to 36.62 percent for his sole rival Britain's Graham Stoker.
- Ben Sulayem, 14 times the Middle East rally champion, was supported by his region, which is becoming increasingly influential in motorsport.
Arts & Culture
World Arabic Language Day on December 18
This year’s theme is “Arabic Language, a bridge between civilizations."
- The Arabic language has been celebrated on December 18 since 2010
- This date being chosen because it was the day in 1973 when the UN General Assembly approved Arabic as an official language
Arts & Culture
Saudi camel beauty pageant hit by cheating
The King Abdulaziz Camel Festival is an annual bedouin event held in the desert northeast of Riyadh that lures breeders...
- As many as 43 entrants were disqualified for botox injections and other cosmetic enhancements.
- The enhancements are made in a bid to make the camels' lips droopier and their humps more shapely -- key attributes in the pageant.
Arts & Culture
Google celebrates Bahrain’s national day with a dedicated animated doodle
The modern state of Bahrain was founded by Ahmed Al Fateh in 1783 and on 16 December 1971, Isa Bin...
- Bahrain was founded by Ahmed Al Fateh in 1783 and on 16 December 1971, Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa became the first emir of the country, marking the national day.
- Traditionally, Bahrain’s historic achievements and culture are celebrated over two days with entertainment such as magic and laser shows.
Economy
Sheikh Mohammed launches largest tourism campaign ‘World’s Coolest Winter’
UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the second season of the World’s Coolest...
- The campaign highlights the diversity of the UAE’s tourism and recreational attractions.
- With an occupancy rate of 64 percent, the UAE outperformed the top 10 tourist destinations in the world.
Arts & Culture
Bahrain’s Fijri makes it to UNESCO heritage list
Fjiri, which commemorates the history of pearl diving, originated on Bahrain's island of Muharraq and is performed in festivals throughout...
- Bahrain's nomination was among 48 from around the world considered for inscription on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
- Fijri was traditionally performed by pearl divers and pearling crews to express the hardships faced at sea.
Arts & Culture
UNESCO adds Arabic calligraphy into heritage list
A total of 16 Muslim-majority countries, led by Saudi Arabia, presented the nomination to UNESCO, which announced the listing on...
- The UNESCO listing "will certainly have a positive impact" on preserving the tradition, said Abdelmajid Mahboub from the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society.
- The number of specialized Arab calligraphic artists had dropped sharply, according to the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society.
Arts & Culture
Curtain falls on Saudi’s first major film festival
The event, where 138 films were screened from 67 countries, was organized four years after the kingdom lifted a decades-old...
- The festival opened a day after Jeddah hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix, also an attempt to portray Saudi Arabia in a different light
- The rise of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in 2017 has ushered in a number of reforms
Arts & Culture
Abu Hamdan sets sights on Jordanian underworld
'Boomah (Owl)' is based on research that has been carried out by Abu Hamdan into three female ‘thugs’ who shook...
- Abu Hamdan has been awarded a $100,000 production grant by the Red Sea Lodge.
- In total, 12 projects were selected to take part in the Red Sea Lodge, including six from Saudi Arabia and six from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Lebanon.
Arts & Culture
Verstappen ecstatic at ‘unbelievable’ last-lap Formula One win
An emotional Max Verstappen described his journey to 2021 Formula One world champion as "insane" after he beat rival Lewis...
- The race marked the end of an epic contest with seven-time champion Hamilton which has seen the two tangle on the track and off it.
- Verstappen and Hamilton went into the last race level on points and it appeared that the Mercedes driver was going to hang on to win an eighth world title.
Remains of 5,000-year-old noblewoman found in Peru dig
The woman's funerary trousseau, which was presented to reporters at the culture ministry, included a toucan's beak, a stone bowl...
Arts & Culture
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Abu Dhabi event transforms global falconry
Arts & Culture
Watch owned by China’s last emperor sells for $5m
Arts & Culture
Iraq artist battles to save old boating tradition
Arts & Culture
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NEOM’s first international exhibition held in Venice
Arts & Culture
Saudi Arabia’s natural reserve makes it to UNESCO heritage list
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve in Saudi Arabia has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage...
Arts & Culture
Sports shift economic goalposts for Middle East
In a bid to diversify their economies, Middle Eastern nations are turning to the sports industry, marked by significant investments...
Arts & Culture
UNESCO adds Djerba in Tunisia to world heritage sites list
Tunis, Tunisia -- UNESCO announced Monday it was adding the Tunisian resort island of Djerba to its list of World Heritage...
Geostrategy

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Arts & Culture
UNESCO adds 15 new sites to world heritage list during Riyadh session
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The UNESCO World Heritage Committee, during its 45th session held in Riyadh, unveiled fifteen new additions...
- Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor, an integral part of the renowned Silk Roads connecting Central Asia's Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, now graces the list
- Approximately 50 sites are queued for potential inclusion to the World Heritage List, segmented into 37 cultural, 12 natural, and two of mixed significance
Arts & Culture
Palestine’s pre-historic Tell al-Sultan site on world heritage list, says UNESCO
The United Nations' cultural organization inscribed the "pre-historic site of Tell al-Sultan" located near the occupied West Bank city of...
- The site was inscribed following a three-year candidacy “during which no state party raised any objections”, a UNESCO official said.
- Tell al-Sultan, which predates Egypt's pyramids, is an oval-shaped tell, or mound, located in the Jordan Valley.
Arts & Culture
Nine works nominated for 9th Katara Prize for Arabic Novel
Doha, Qatar - The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) revealed the lists of nine works that would be included in the...
- This includes published novels, unpublished novels, young adult unpublished novels and unpublished critical studies, with a total reaching 36 novels and critical studies.
- The 9th edition of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel saw 1,491 entries and the number of unpublished novels participating was about 833.

