Spanish president wants parliament to recognize Palestine state by July
"We have to think seriously about doing it this semester," Sanchez told a group of Spanish journalists accompanying him on a tour of three Middle East countries Sanchez had said on March 9 he would propose that parliament vote in favor of this recognition by the end of the current...
Arab, Israeli countries deepen cooperation ahead of Biden visit
The United States, Israel and four Arab countries agreed to closer cooperation and annual foreign ministers' meetings on Monday, two weeks before President Joe Biden's first visit to the Middle East.Jordan’s FDI in 2021 reaches $622million, Arab region’s $53 billion
The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Jordan amounted to $622 million in 2021, constituting 1.2 percent of the Arab region's total FDI. The Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (Dhaman) issued data Tuesday which confirmed this. The Arab region's FDI in 2021 went up by 42 percent to $53...Abu Dhabi bourse records highest trading value in Arab markets: AMF
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) recorded the highest increase in trading value among Arab financial markets in May 2022 at 292.64 percent while the Palestine Exchange topped the list in terms of trade volume increase, according to Arab Monetary Fund (AMF). The AMF noted in its monthly newsletter that covers...Jordan’s Petra sees 86,000 visitors in May 2022
The figures showed that 60,640 of the visitors were of foreign nationalities, while 25,670 were of Arab and Jordanian nationalities.Jordan ranks first in Arab world on budget transparency survey
Jordan ranked first in the Arab world and 32nd globally on the budget transparency, according to the Open Budget Survey (OBS) 2021, which was published by the International Budget Partnership. Jordan scored 61 out of 100, exceeding the global average of 45 out of 100, according to the International Budget...Saudi presidency of ARADO Executive Council renewed for 2022-24
The General Assembly of the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO) renewed the presidency of Saudi Arabia for the organization's Executive Council for the period 2022-2024. The renewal came at ARADO's  57th session held on May 19, 2022, at the organization's headquarters in Cairo, where also the memberships of the UAE,...Top film bodies part of Saudi contingent at Cannes Festival
Saudi Arabia will participate in the 75th Cannes International Film Festival, which will be held during the period from 17 to 28 May, with a national pavilion supervised by the Film Commission. The Ministry of Investment, the Red Sea Film Festival, the Al-Ula Film, the King Abdulaziz Center for World...TOP CEO 2022 Winners List: And the award goes to…
The most transparent and credible business awards in the Arabian Gulf celebrate leaders of the stock market-listed companies in the region.Arab women journalists brave war reporting challenges
War journalism takes its toll on media persons, but the qualities that characterize women may paint their work with extraordinary colors, says Arizh Mukhammed, a reporter for Skynews and speaker at TOP CEO.Arab nations at UN seek probe of killing of Al Jazeera reporter
Arab countries at the United Nations called Wednesday for an independent, international probe into what they called the assassination of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot dead as she covered an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank.190k tourists visit Jordan during Eid al-Fitr, says official
Jordan witnessed active tourist movement during the vacation, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities spokesperson Ahmad al-Rifae said.KSA converts its deposit with Central Bank of Mauritania into soft loan
The move comes as an extension of the Kingdom’s continuous support for the people and government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.Foreign Direct Investment into UAE reaches $20.7 billion in 2021
UAE received $20.7 billion in Foreign Direct Investment in 2021, recording a 3.9 percent growth over 2020. The country’s FDI balance now stands at AED 630 billion ($171.6 billion) by the end of 2021, a 13.7 percent growth over 2020. Over the past ten years, FDI inflows into the country...Yair Lapid says Iran wary of Israel’s alliance with Arab states
The deepening alliance between Israel and several Arab states "intimidates and deters" Iran, Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said Monday as he hosted an unprecedented meeting with four Arab foreign ministers.Qatar blasts Netherlands coach for World Cup criticism
Qatar's top World Cup organizer has hit back at Louis van Gaal for criticizing the decision to hold the event in the Gulf state, saying the Netherlands coach has failed to understand the Arab world's passion for football. Many journalists and officials will be in the state on April 1...Iran FM welcomes Arab-Syria normalization efforts
Iran's top diplomat on Wednesday welcomed efforts to "normalize relations" between some Arab countries and Syria, days after President Bashar al-Assad made a surprise visit to the UAE. Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks on a visit to Damascus during which he met Assad.90 percent of Arab transactions made in six currencies: AMF director general
Six currencies account for 90 percent of transactions in the Arab world, said Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al Hamidy, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF). The currencies are the Emirati Dirham, the Saudi Riyal, the Egyptian Pound, the Jordanian Dinar, the...GCC members lead Arab nations in happiness report
Four of the six GCC members feature within the top 50 of the World Happiness Report, and are atop the rankings among the Arab countries.Bahrain top Arab country in the World Happiness Report 2022
The annual report is published by the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network.Moroccan carrier launches Israel flights after Covid delay
Royal Air Maroc took off from Morocco's economic capital Casablanca bound for Tel Aviv on Sunday, in the carrier's first direct flight to the Jewish state since the two countries normalized ties in 2020. Aviation sources and local media sources said a Moroccan business delegation was on the inaugural flight,...Tunisia to initiate harsh action against food speculators
Tunisian President Kais Saied declared war Wednesday on food speculators amid a shortage of products such as wheat and semolina -- key staples in a country already mired in a political-economic crisis.Ukraine crisis threatens Arab wheat supplies
A look at the Arab countries that are dependent on wheat imports from Ukraine and Russia.Egypt appoints its first woman judge to a top court
Radwa Helmi made history on Saturday as the first woman judge to sit on the bench of Egypt's State Council, a top court in the Arab country. Egypt has hundreds of women lawyers but it took decades for one to move up the judicial ladder and become a judge.Israelis, Arabs, Iranians in harrowing exodus from Ukraine
More than 10,000 Arab students have also attended university in Ukraine, drawn to the former Soviet republic by its low cost of living.Is GCC inflation getting out of control?
Central bank action and risks to financial stability must be carefully monitored and managed as loose monetary policy is unwound. A sudden rise could cause a shock to the Gulf economies leading to a recession.Arab world may suffer shortage of bread
Russia's invasion of Ukraine could mean less bread on the table in Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere in the Arab world where millions already struggle to survive.Arab countries review discussion topics for IPU Conference in Cairo
The speakers of the parliaments and councils of the Arab countries, in a meeting, reviewed the topics to be discussed in the 32nd Conference of Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). They also discussed the reports prepared by the Arab IPU general secretariat, its specialized committees, and its executive committee. The officials...Trade between Brazil and Arab countries grew by 44 percent in 2021
Trade between Brazil and Arab countries grew by 44 percent during 2021, with food exports alone reaching an estimating $14 billion, its highest since 2012, said Tamer Mansour, CEO of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. This comes as Arab countries, especially in the Gulf region, are combating the pandemic...Israeli PM starts first-ever Bahrain visit
The visit is the latest such initiative following the US-brokered 2020 Abraham Accords.The proverb-ial road to success
After all, what is considered traditional wisdom — and therefore infallible — has at times been known to run counter to present-day business intelligence and management tactics. So, business-owners would do well to know which saying to adopt, and which one to steer clear of.On social media demand, Kuwait to ban film starring Israeli actress
Kuwait will ban a new film adaptation of Agatha Christie's whodunnit "Death on the Nile" with a cast of Hollywood stars including Israeli actress Gal Gadot, authorities said Sunday. The film, directed by and co-starring Kenneth Branagh, is due for release this month in the United States. The story is...Non-Jordan investors buy less, sell more at Amman bourse
The net of non-Jordanian investments during January 2022 showed a negative value of JD5 million ($7.05 million).UAE-Bahraini Light-1 CubeSat launched into orbit from ISS
The UAE-Bahraini Light-1 CubeSat was successfully launched into orbit from the International Space Station, in cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Light-1 CubeSat is a collaborative initiative of the UAE Space Agency, Bahrain’s National Space Science Agency, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, and New York University (NYU)...Qatar ranks 2nd in Gulf countries on corruption perceptions index
The index draws its data from a number of indicators issued by reputable international organizations, such as the World Competitiveness Yearbook.Three-day ALESCO meet to discuss promotion of Arab integration
The Executive Council of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) are likely to discuss strategic directions to establish a transitional phase for the ALECSO and the promotion of Arab integration at a three-day meeting, beginning Wednesday. The meeting will be held in the 116th session of ALECSO...Israeli film revisits 1948 massacre of Palestinians
Israeli director Alon Schwarz concedes he might face a backlash over his documentary, but says the Jewish state's citizens need "to understand our history".Cairo International Book Fair to host Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center
The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre will also hold a ‘Cultural Retreat’ at the eventKuwait steps in to undo Lebanese rift with its Arab neighbors
Kuwait's foreign minister said Sunday that he has given Lebanese authorities a list of suggested measures to be taken to ease a diplomatic rift with Gulf Arab countries. The proposal were delivered to Lebanon's PM Najib Mikati and President Michel Aoun by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister.Tunisia’s Ennahdha urges Friday protests, defying Covid ban
Tunisia's Ennahdha party has reiterated calls for demonstrations on Friday marking the anniversary of the country's revolution, defying tightened coronavirus restrictions it says are politically motivated. Ennahdha is the biggest party in a parliament that was suspended by President Kais Saied in July 2021, and has staged a string of...FANA flays attempts to block info on Palestine, approves 2022 budget
The Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA) has stressed on the significance of the Palestinian cause and flayed the attempts of some agencies to block the information related to the issue. FANA approved a memo on dealing with global platforms on the conclusion of its 48th General Assembly on Wednesday,...Arab Parliament for the Child to hold a session remotely
Ayman Othman Al Barout, Secretary-General of Arab Parliament for the Child (APC), has announced the third session of the Parliament will be held remotely in February.UAE hosts a conference of Arab ministers of higher education
The UAE is hosting the 19th Conference of Arab Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which is organized by the Ministry of Education in cooperation with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).Several Gulf countries renew weather advisories after heavy rains
Authorities in several Gulf countries renewed weather warnings on Sunday as several days of heavy rains batter the usually arid region. Gulf countries usually experience mild winters, with the exception of rare and brief episodes of flooding rains between November and January. Such weather is highly disruptive in the region,...Dubai Racing Club to celebrate #DubaiDestinations initiative on 1 Jan
The Dubai Racing Club announced that its seventh race meeting at the Meydan Racecourse on 1 January 2022 will be dedicated to celebrating the #DubaiDestinations initiative that was launched recently to highlight the exceptional events and activities offered by the emirate. The move is part of the government's efforts aimed...Council of Arab Ministers declares Muscat Arab Digital Capital for 2022
Oman's capital Muscat will be the Arab Digital Capital for 2022, the Council of Arab Ministers for Communications and Information has announced following a decision at the 25thsession of the Arab minister's council. The event was hosted via videoconferencing by the Arab League’s technical secretariat general of Arab Ministers of...UAE, Morocco discuss cooperation in investment and economy
The two sides talked about Expo 2020 Dubai and the importance of the Arab countries' participation therein.Where do Arab countries stand, according to GDP?
The most common way to quantify the economic health of a country is by calculating its gross domestic product (GDP).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 Salman Al Khalifa became the first emir of the country.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 the country.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 Twitter.