$20 million rare blue diamond goes on show in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates -- A rare blue diamond valued at $20 million went on pre-auction display on Tuesday...
Business
Israel releases Palestinian Oscar winner after West Bank detention
Jerusalem, Undefined - Israeli police on Tuesday released Oscar-winning Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, detained a day earlier for "hurling rocks"...
Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture
Literature finds unlikely social media partner in TikTok
The #BookTok trend has exploded in recent times, with a growing number of readers posting reviews and engaging with writers.
- To some, it seems counter-intuitive -- a platform known for short and often light-hearted videos is not the obvious place to encourage a contemplative activity like reading.
- But videos with the hashtag have racked up billions of views, while bookshops are rushing to set up stands where creators can film videos.
Arts & Culture
King Abdulaziz University best in Arab world in QS World Rankings
QS World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds.
- QS World University Rankings is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds
- The university recently ranked 101 in the world, according to Times World University Rankings 2023
Analysis
Crypto betting sites on sports gain popularity as game prediction market grows across MENA
Crypto betting in sports has become a booming market due to the increasing number of sports fans and their desire...
- Crypto betting in sports has become a booming market due to the increasing number of sports fans and their desire to wager on athletes and tournaments
- There has been a rise in the number of betting sites accepting crypto and new blockchain-based betting sites
Geostrategy
Kuwait chooses new ministers for oil and foreign affairs
Kuwait City, Kuwait— Kuwait has brought in a new oil minister in a new cabinet reshuffle after the September elections....
- Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was appointed as foreign minister and Ammar Muhammad Ammar Al-Ajmi was given the minister of state for housing and urban development
- The first parliament session after the September elections in Kuwait has been postponed to Oct. 18
Arts & Culture
Louvre Abu Dhabi celebrates fifth anniversary with art show
To mark the fifth anniversary of the opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi, a major exhibition of impressionist art opened in...
- Louvre Abu Dhabi director Manuel Rabate said one of the "fundamental missions" of the museum was to "present the great movements of the history of art such as Impressionism"
- French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2007 in the Emirates, one of the world's leading oil exporters
Geostrategy
Kuwait puts off first parliament session until mid-October
Kuwait City, Kuwait— Kuwait has decided to postpone the convening of the first parliament session after elections to Oct. 18,...
- The Gulf state’s crown prince re-appointed Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al-Sabah as prime minister on Wednesday and later approved a new Cabinet following legislative polls
- The government has not taken the constitutional oath because of the objection of more than 40 members of parliament
Geostrategy
Morocco triples migrants’ jail terms over border storming
The 18 migrants -- among more than 60 arrested following the Melilla tragedy -- had initially been sentenced to 11...
- The migrants had been convicted of "illegal entry into Morocco", "violence against law enforcement officers", "armed gathering" and "refusal to comply"
- The Moroccan Association of Human Rights denounced the ruling in a tweet, blasting what it described as a "repressive judicial system"
Arts & Culture
Algeria boosts English tuition in blow to colonists’ French
Language is a sensitive topic in the North African country, where French is still widely spoken six decades after independence...
- The status of French has been a hotly debated issue for decades in Algeria, which has only Arabic and the Berbers' Tamazight as official languages
- French infuses public life, is used for teaching science and business, and is spoken by millions of diaspora Algerians, particularly in France
Arts & Culture
After long renovation, Qatar reopens Museum of Islamic Art
Looking to showcase Islamic culture and art and history, Qatar has unveiled its landmark Museum of Islamic Art after an...
- Constructed on a purpose-built island on Doha's waterfront promenade, the building is the work of the late US architect I.M. Pei
- Qatar has spent billions of dollars on new stadiums for the first football World Cup in an Arab country, which kicks off on November 20
Investigation
Exclusive: ‘Cheerleaders’ hired to clap during FIFA Cup
Young Arab boys and girls from countries such as Lebanon are being flown to Qatar and paid $800 to cheer...
- Young Arab boys and girls from countries such as Lebanon are being flown to Qatar and paid $800 to cheer during the upcoming World Cup, TRENDS Investigation reveals
- Whoever had a valid passport and got three doses of Covid-19 vaccination jumped on the ‘clapping’ bandwagon, one of the clappers flying to Qatar tells TRENDS
Most Read
Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
$20 million rare blue diamond goes on show in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates -- A rare blue diamond valued at $20 million went on pre-auction display on Tuesday...
Business
Company News
Latest News
Archaeology talks unravel past’s influence on future
Arts & Culture
Strategic investments accelerate KSA’s esports market
Vision 2030 is fueling Saudi Arabia's esports surge, with NEOM World Cup 2024 set to elevate its status as a...
Arts & Culture
7,000 digital marriage contracts delivered in Abu Dhabi since Oct
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has introduced a new service that allows marriage contracts to be...
Arts & Culture
Middle East dish Harees inscribed on UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The popular traditional food Harees is now inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural...
Arts & Culture
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Arts & Culture
Sharjah’s ‘Mleiha’ and ‘Al Dhaid’ added to Islamic World Heritage
Sharjah, UAE - The Islamic World Heritage Committee of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) added the...
- The Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA) has completed the nomination dossier of the Mleiha archaeological site titled "Mleiha: The Pre-Islamic Period in Southeast Arabia"
- The nomination highlights the historical and archaeological value of Mleiha and its archaeological and architectural elements that were unearthed during continuous excavations
Arts & Culture
Saudi Arabia’s Noor Riyadh festival sets 6 Guinness World Records
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Noor Riyadh Festival 2023 has secured six new Guinness World Records, making it its third consecutive...
- The records were set during the closing presentation of an art installation, after the 17 days of celebration, held from November 30 to December 16, 2023.
- Artist Christopher Bauder's artwork titled "Dialogue" set a record for "the most lights used in a temporary light and sound show".
Arts & Culture
UNESCO places Ramadan’s ‘iftar’ in intangible cultural heritage
Tehran, Iran - The UN cultural agency on Wednesday recognized iftar, the meal that breaks the daytime fast during the Muslim...
- The application for the sociocultural tradition was jointly submitted by Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan to the UNESCO
- The age-old community tradition was recognized by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage