ABU DHABI, UAE – Emirati Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri has announced that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will roll out a unified Gulf tourist visa within the next two years which will grant travelers, access to six countries.Al Marri said the seventh meeting of GCC...

The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also called for the release of some 200 hostages held by Hamas, as well as the restoration of basic services for Palestinians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Some 150 cats have been found left for dead in the desert in the United Arab Emirates, the animal rights group PETA said on Friday.Activists in the oil-rich Gulf state said dozens of the cats had died, while some were rescued alive.PETA called on the UAE...

Manama, Bahrain - A fourth Bahraini soldier has died after an attack this week on his country's contingent in the Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Gulf archipelago's army said.Bahrain had previously announced the deaths of three of its soldiers in Monday's attack near the Saudi border with Yemen. It...

Defending his country's enrichment of uranium to 60 percent purity level, noting that it was a response to European states failing to live up to the 2015 nuclear agreement, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has categorically rejected the Western states' claim that Tehran intends to build nuclear weapons, in an interview...

Armored cars, missiles and thousands of uniformed fighters filed past Houthi dignitaries in a show of strength from the Iran-backed group, as a military jet buzzed overhead. The parade took place two days after a Houthi delegation left Riyadh following "positive" but inconclusive talks aimed at ending a war that has ravaged...

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in New York with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said "ties between the two countries were improving". After more than a decade of tensions, relations have improved with recent high-level visits, including that of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Ankara last year.

Tehran, Iran - Iran has seized two oil tankers allegedly carrying smuggled fuel in the Gulf and arrested their crews, state television announced on Friday."The Revolutionary Guards naval forces seized two ships over the course of the last two days," state television said, citing Mohammad-Sharif Shirali, a Guards commander."The seized tankers......

According to the credit rating agency, a combination of higher interest rates and production cuts by the OPEC is expected to restrain near-term growth prospects for major GCC economies. However, non-oil growth is anticipated to bolster the region's economies, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

According to some activists at least 800 inmates joined the strike, the biggest in Bahrain's history. But Bahraini authorities said only 121 inmates took part. The mass hunger strike was suspended after 36 days in the wake of assurances from the authorities to improve conditions. Activists said some prisoner's health...

Manama, Bahrain--GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi has emphasized the crucial role of the private sector in ensuring a sustainable and resilient Gulf economy. Al-Budaiwi made these remarks during his speech at the 62nd meeting of the Board of Directors of the Gulf Chambers, hosted by Bahrain.The meeting was chaired by Hassan...

New Delhi, India - President Biden, along with the leaders of India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is likely to ink a railway deal to connect the Middle East during the G20 Summit in New Delhi, a report published in Axios.com said. The initiative aims to establish a...

London, United Kingdom - Demarai Gray has left Everton for Al-Ettifaq ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline in the Saudi Pro League.The 27-year-old forward is the latest Premier League player to head to the Gulf nation, joining former Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson at the club managed by Steven Gerrard.Gray's departure from Goodison...

Saudi Arabia and UAE lead the region in rapidly embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, shifting from traditional factories to smart ones.

LONDON, UK - Liverpool have rejected a blockbuster £150 million ($190 million) offer for Mohamed Salah from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, according to reports on FridayEgypt star Salah has been linked with a move to the Gulf State for several weeks and it is believed a verbal offer was made to...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Gulf Federation for Electronic Sports was established Thursday on the sidelines of the Next World Forum, to support, nurture, and develop Gulf talents through annual tournaments hosted by all countries.The launch was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi E-Sports...

Dubai, UAE - An airport terminal able to handle up to 45 million passengers a year will open in Abu Dhabi in November, state media said Thursday, accelerating competition in the crowded Gulf market.Terminal A in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates capital, touted as one of the world's biggest, will be...

War-scarred Iraq, originally mainly a drug transit country, has faced an explosion in narcotics use in recent years, mainly of captagon and crystal meth.

Combining elements of everything from boxing to judo and Muay Thai, mixed martial arts (MMA) had a limited following in Saudi Arabia just a decade ago, but that started to change when the kingdom hosted the popular regional Desert Force competition in 2014.

Sharjah, UAE--Sharjah will host the first-ever Gulf-Iraq Business Forum on 26th and 27th September to boost economic ties between the GCC and Iraq.The event is an initiative of the Federation of GCC Chambers and is being organized in partnership with the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FCCI),...

The South Pars gas field is one of the world's largest natural gas condensate fields. Iran shares the gas field with energy giant Qatar and there are 24 platforms on the side of the Islamic republic which has been developing it in the Gulf since the 1990s.

Gabri Veiga, one of Spain's most promising young players, signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli from Celta Vigo in a move greeted with disquiet in Spain. Clubs in the Gulf state have signed several of football's top veteran stars this summer on huge deals, including Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--GCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi has emphasized the importance of Gulf-US strategic relations that support joint cooperation and coordination across all fields.In a statement today, he highlighted the outcome of the joint meeting which was held last June between the GCC foreign ministers and the USA.The GCC chief...

Mixed Martial Arts became popular in the kingdom since 2014, when it hosted the regional Desert Force competition.

Three thousand additional US personnel on troop-landing warships have already passed through the Red Sea, and US-led maritime forces are warning ships against approaching Iranian waters. The moves follow a spate of capture and attempted capture of ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the U-shaped gateway to the...

Paris, France - Brazil forward Neymar has signed for Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain, the clubs announced on Tuesday, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema as the latest big name lured to the Kingdom."I am here in Saudi Arabia, I am Hilali," Neymar said in a video posted to Al...

"The United States is committed to supporting a resolution to the Yemen conflict as soon as possible. We are working closely with the UN, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and other partners to build on the UN-mediated truce, which has delivered the longest period of calm since the war began, and...

"Vessels are being advised to transit as far away from Iranian territorial waters as possible" to minimize the risk of seizure, US Fifth Fleet spokesperson Commander Tim Hawkins told AFP. The International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), led by Washington, is "notifying regional mariners of appropriate precautions to minimize the risk...

Kuwait City, Kuwait - Kuwait has barred hit film Barbie from cinemas over concerns about "public ethics", officials have said, also confirming a separate ban on a horror movie featuring a transgender actor.Barbie and Talk to Me both "promulgate ideas and beliefs that are alien to the Kuwaiti society and public...

"The situation in Ain al-Helweh camp has now calmed down," Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said referring to south Lebanon's restive Palestinian camp. "Security and intelligence services... have no information that the situation could spin out of control and spill over to other camps," he said.

The film titled 'Talk to Me' features Australian actor Zoe Terakes. (AFP)

BEIRUT, LEBANON - A Lebanese minister on Saturday sought to clarify comments condemned by Kuwait over aid money to rebuild Beirut's grain silos that were destroyed in a devastating port blast three years ago.The oil-rich Gulf state in 2020 said it was ready to rebuild the storehouses, which Lebanon had constructed...

Life in Bahrain largely moves indoors during the summer months, with the ever-present Arctic blast of air-conditioning systems.

Tehran, Iran - Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched naval drills on Wednesday near strategic Gulf islands controlled by Iran but claimed by the United Arab Emirates, state media said.The manoeuvres, which were being held mainly near Abu Musa island but also around Greater and Lesser Tunb, came two weeks after the United...

Paris, France - French winger Allan Saint-Maximin on Sunday signed a three-year deal with Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli after leaving English club Newcastle as the cash-rich and ambitious Gulf kingdom's league snared another top-level player."We pick the best, and he's one of them," Al-Ahli said on social media.The financial terms of the...

Liverpool, United Kingdom - Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson completed his move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq on Thursday, becoming the latest big-name player to be lured to the Gulf state.The England midfielder, who posted a farewell message on Wednesday, has ended a 12-year stay at Anfield, during which he won...

The Gulf emirate, whose revenues rely heavily on hydrocarbons, closed its fiscal balance with a surplus of $21 billion, the ministry said. More than 92 percent of revenues came from oil after prices surged following last year's Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Authorities in Iraq -- a key conduit for the amphetamine-type drug -- regularly announce such operations in which large hauls of captagon are seized, often coming from Syria with which it shares 600-kilometre (370 miles) porous border.

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in March, has further enhanced bilateral economic collaboration. The CEPA sets the stage for increased non-oil intra-trade, job creation, and a significant boost in UAE exports to Turkey.

Kishida and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani discussed "developments related to energy security and supplies," the Qatari leader said in a statement. They will attend a Japan-Qatar meeting that aims to "promote cooperation in energy security and in the field of clean energy and decarbonization," said Japan's foreign ministry.

Haluk Bayraktar, CEO of the drone manufacturer which is co-run by one of Erdogan's sons-in-laws, in a tweet called the deal "the biggest defence and aviation export contract in the history of the Turkish Republic". The value of the deal has not been made public.

Doha, Qatar--Small and medium-sized companies in Qatar have signed deals worth $201 million during the first half of 2023, benefiting from the various services of the Qatar's Export Development & Promotion Agency (Tasdeer). In a report, Tasdeer highlighted the momentum witnessed by the participation of small and medium-sized companies in...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has embarked on a three-state Gulf tour, beginning with Saudi Arabia, as he seeks to attract foreign investment in Turkey's ailing economy. The visit comes as Turkey battles currency collapse and soaring inflation. The Saudi-Turkish business forum was aimed at enhancing trade and investment relations.

The UAE and India vowed to make this year's COP28 conference in Dubai a success, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to the Gulf state. The oil-rich UAE will host the COP28 UN climate talks in November and December, as nations are still far on means to...

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority ($853 billion) and Kuwait Investment Authority ($803 billion) ranked fourth and fifth respectively, while Saudi Arabia's PIF was sixth in terms of assets. ADIA invests, on behalf of the government of Abu Dhabi, in equities, bonds, real estate and infrastructure., with most of its investments concentrated...

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND - Cristiano Ronaldo's Saudi club Al-Nassr are banned from registering new players until unpaid debts are settled, FIFA said on Thursday.The team "is currently prevented from registering new players due to outstanding debts", a FIFA spokesperson told AFP, without revealing the amount of the debts.World football's governing body did...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is the latest star name to make the move to Saudi Arabia after signing a deal to become head coach of Al-Ettifaq.The 43-year-old has been out of the game since being sacked by Aston Villa in October.Gerrard had previously said he had turned...

KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT -  Kuwait reinvited Iran on Monday to talks on their sea borders after Tehran said it was ready to start drilling in a disputed gas field in the resource-rich Gulf.Kuwait insisted it held "exclusive rights" to the maritime field along with Saudi Arabia, after the neighboring countries agreed...

The Pacific bloc represents 12 of 55 votes in the United Nations' Asia-Pacific region, which also includes Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Pacific affairs expert Stewart Firth said "influence comes at a cheap price" in the small, developing economies that make up the Pacific.

MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA- If a landmark reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran has eased tensions in the Gulf, clouds have also lifted at the hajj pilgrimage, where Iranian visitors finally feel welcome again.Seven years of enmity between the Sunni and Shiite powers had made for a cool reception for Iranian pilgrims...