https://www.middleeastmonitor.com Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa Tue, 08 Aug 2023 10:49:55 +0000 en-GB Middle East Monitor 30 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com 32 32 116394717 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230807-uae-bear-sedated-after-escaping-cargo-crate-from-iraqi-airways-plane/ Mon, 07 Aug 2023 13:39:40 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658318 An Iraqi Airways plane travelling from Baghdad to Dubai was delayed on Friday, after a bear escaped from its crate in the cargo hold on Friday at Dubai International Airport. In a statement, Iraqi Airways said: "The company apologises to the passengers of the flight from Baghdad International Airport to Dubai Airport for reasons beyond the control of the company, regarding a shipment in the cargo hold." "Upon arrival to Dubai Airport, the animal escaped the crate specified for its shipment," the airline said, adding that the animal was being transported in line with international animal welfare guidelines: "The plane crew co-ordinated with UAE's authority who sent a specialised team to sedate the animal and take it off the plane." […]]]> 658318 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230806-will-saudi-arabia-make-friday-a-working-day/ Sun, 06 Aug 2023 15:45:33 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658192 In a thought-provoking op-ed published on Friday by Saudi Arabian daily newspaper Okaz, entitled "Friday is a working day," writer Mona Al-Otaibi questions whether the Kingdom's traditional Friday-Saturday weekend needs an overhaul, igniting a debate on social media. The piece highlighted the potential financial losses incurred due to Friday being an important workday in the financial world, and it has sparked discussions about whether Saudi Arabia should consider shifting its weekend to Saturday-Sunday, following in the footsteps of neighbouring UAE which made the controversial change last year, after plans were announced in 2021. At the time, the Emirati the government said it would "ensure smooth financial, trade and economic transactions with countries that follow a Saturday-Sunday weekend, facilitating stronger international […]]]> 658192 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230806-iraq-seeks-interpol-alerts-for-former-officials-over-2-5bln-graft/ Sun, 06 Aug 2023 14:46:18 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658183 Iraq plans to ask Interpol to issue international alerts seeking the arrest of former senior officials including an ex-finance minister and an ex-intelligence chief over the alleged theft of more than $2.5 billion from the country's Tax Commission, Reuters reports. The scandal centres on suspected illegitimate cash withdrawals from the Commission between 2021 and 2022 totalling around $2.5 billion, according to Iraqi officials – a staggering amount even in a country that regularly ranks among the world's most corrupt. Iraq's top anti-corruption official, Integrity Commission chief Judge Haider Hanoun, announced the move to seek so-called Interpol Red Notices on Sunday. Hanoun said the judiciary would also ask for notices to be issued for the private secretary and a political adviser […]]]> 658183 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230806-egyptian-uae-presidents-discuss-bilateral-relations-regional-issues/ Sun, 06 Aug 2023 10:28:39 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658153 Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is on an official visit to Egypt, Anadolu reports. According to a statement from the Egyptian presidency, the two leaders met in the city of Al-Alamain and discussed regional and international issues. The meeting discussed ways to strengthen the frameworks and mechanisms of joint cooperation between the two countries. The two also underlined the 'importance of intensifying joint Arab action to confront the growing regional and global challenges.' READ: US senators call for withholding of military aid to Egypt over human rights record]]> 658153 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230805-tunisia-eager-to-strengthen-relations-with-uae-president/ Sat, 05 Aug 2023 15:19:03 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=658136 Tunisia's president highlighted the importance his country attaches to strengthening relations with the United Arab Emirates, the Tunisian Presidency said Friday, Anadolu reports. Kais Saied received Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, at the Carthage Palace, it said on Facebook. During the meeting, Saied pointed to the solid foundations of the promising bilateral relations for partnerships between the two countries in various sectors, including renewable energy, seawater decontamination, health, digital transformation, education, tourism and infrastructure, the statement noted. READ: Tunisia rescues 15,000 migrants in first half of 2023 Emphasizing that his country cares about strengthening and diversifying relations with the UAE, Saied emphasized that UAE investments in various […]]]> 658136 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-uk-foreign-office-urged-to-provide-apology-to-national-over-failure-to-recognise-uae-torture/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 18:34:00 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657948 A parliamentary watchdog has called on the United Kingdom's Foreign Office to formally apologise to a British national who was detained and tortured by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), stating that the government department failed to act immediately and to notice signs of torture. Matthew Hedges, an academic from the UK, was detained in the UAE between May and November 2018, after Emirati authorities accused him of conducting espionage and working for the British intelligence agency, MI6, while he travelled to the country to carry out research for his PhD. Hedges was then sentenced to life imprisonment before being given a presidential pardon only days later, securing his release and return to the UK. He later revealed to the press […]]]> 657948 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-brazil-president-supports-accession-of-saudi-arabia-uae-to-brics/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 11:41:45 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657845 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has expressed his support for more countries joining the BRICS group. Lula said in the capital, Brasilia, yesterday that he supports countries such as Argentina, Saudi Arabia and the UAE joining the group. BRICS, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is due to hold a summit in Johannesburg from 22-24 August. He also described the seven leading industrialised countries as a "club" that should not exist, considering that its form in terms of geopolitical affairs is outdated. The UK, US, France, Italy, Japan, Canada and Germany make up the group of Western industrialised countries, known as the G7. Some 22 countries have "formally" asked to join the BRICS group, while […]]]> 657845 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-uae-president-discusses-regional-developments-with-king-of-jordan/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 10:05:32 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657817 UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan met today with King Abdullah II of Jordan to review bilateral ties and explore opportunities to further strengthen the longstanding partnership between the two nations, the official Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported. The two leaders also discussed a number of regional and international developments. The meeting took place at Basman Palace in Amman, where the leaders discussed various aspects of UAE-Jordan cooperation and "opportunities to build on the deep, historic ties between both nations." Their talks explored ways to expand and strengthen cooperation across key strategic sectors, with a particular emphasis on economic partnerships, investment and development opportunities, and other key areas aimed at fostering sustainable development and prosperity in both countries. His Highness and King […]]]> 657817 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230803-iran-president-invites-uae-counterpart-to-visit-tehran/ Thu, 03 Aug 2023 09:42:32 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657810 The President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, received an official invitation from his Iranian counterpart, Ibrahim Raisi, to visit Tehran. This came during a meeting between the UAE Minister of State, Khalifa Shaheen Al-Marar, yesterday evening, and the Iranian Ambassador to the Emirates, Reza Ameri, at the General Court of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi. And the official Emirates News Agency (WAM) said that Al-Marar "received a letter of invitation addressed to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, from the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to visit Iran." She added: "This came during Al-Marar's reception of Reza Amiri, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the UAE, at the […]]]> 657810 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230802-iran-navy-reveals-new-vessels-with-missiles-reaching-600-km/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 19:31:50 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657561 Iran's Navy has unveiled new vessels equipped with missiles possessing a range of 600 kilometres, amid increasing tensions in the waters of the Gulf. According to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency today, the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) Naval Forces announced the new vessels during a military exercise off the coast of Abu Musa island, one of three Gulf islands under Iranian control but disputed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Navy Commander, Alireza Tangsiri, stressed Tehran's ownership of the islands during the unveiling, stating that "the islands of the Persian Gulf are part of Iran's honour and we will defend them". READ: US deploying F-16 jets to Strait of Hormuz to deter Iran navy He also struck a […]]]> 657561 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230802-5-yemen-soldiers-killed-in-al-qaeda-attack-on-abyan/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 11:03:25 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657229 At least five Yemeni soldiers were killed in armed clashes with Al-Qaeda militants yesterday in the southern province of Abyan. The slain were said to be fighters loyal to the secessionist Southern Transitional Council (STC), according to spokesman Mohammed Al-Naqib. In a statement, Al-Naqib said the dawn attack took place in Wadi Omran in Abyan province and targeted Southern Armed Forces who were "tasked with confronting Al-Qaeda" in the region. The spokesman said "five troops were killed and four others were wounded" in the attack that involved heavy fire from artillery, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. "The terrorist elements retreated to their hiding places after failing to seize control of the area," he added. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) as […]]]> 657229 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230801-saudi-arabia-to-grant-yemen-1-2bn-in-economic-aid/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 14:41:22 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=657115 Saudi Arabia has approved a $1.2 billion grant to Yemen's internationally-recognised government, led by the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), as part of efforts to prop up the war-torn country's flagging economy, AFP reported citing two officials. According to the sources, Yemen's finance minister and central bank governor as well as the Saudi ambassador are expected to disclose details of the grant at a signing ceremony in Riyadh at 5pm (1400 GMT). News of the grant was reported by Reuters earlier today citing a Saudi source who disclosed that the support will contribute to strengthening security and preventing a return of military clashes. The substantial funds would encourage dialogue on all sides to reach a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis, the source added. […]]]> 657115 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230801-uae-offers-jobs-to-israel-doctors-amid-strikes-over-judicial-reform/ Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:01:53 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656966 The UAE is looking to attract Israeli doctors to the country according to a report by the Times of Israel today. Against the backdrop of popular protests and strikes across Israel over the initial passing of controversial judicial reforms, "thousands of doctors" are said to have joined a Whatsapp group chat seeking advice on how to relocate overseas, with some having already received lucrative offers to move to the Gulf state, the report said, citing Channel 12. The group chat started after the Knesset passed a law to limit court oversight of the government last week, attracting at least 3,000 physicians. The offers reportedly came from official sources in the UAE, as well as Bahrain – both countries were among the first two Arab states to […]]]> 656966 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-uae-oil-giant-raises-climate-goal-ahead-of-key-un-summit/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:38:47 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656725 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company brought forward its net zero carbon emissions target by five years to 2045, on Monday, as OPEC member, the United Arab Emirates, prepares to host a major UN climate conference in December, Reuters reports. The UAE state oil giant, which aims to expand its oil and gas output in the coming years, also disclosed for the first time the emissions from its operations, which reached about 24 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2022. The disclosure comes months before Dubai hosts the United Nations COP28 climate summit, whose incoming president is ADNOC Chief Executive, Sultan Al-Jaber, a choice which has drawn criticism from climate activists. The United Arab Emirates supplies nearly 3 per […]]]> 656725 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230730-saudi-spending-has-changed-football-transfer-market-says-pep-guardiola/ Sun, 30 Jul 2023 13:21:25 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656495 Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola has said Saudi Arabia has "changed the football transfer market" following Riyad Mahrez's move on Friday to join Jeddah-based football club Al-Ahli in a deal worth almost $40 million, becoming one of the latest high-profile Premier League player to play in the Saudi Pro League. Guardiola who led City to win their historic treble last season, made the comments yesterday while the club is on a pre-season tour of South Korea. It is worth noting that City is heavily backed by the UAE and are owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, a member of the ruling family. "The Saudi league has completely changed the market" Pep Guardiola says more big names will move to […]]]> 656495 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230729-algeria-newspaper-indicates-uae-role-in-niger-coup/ Sat, 29 Jul 2023 10:05:48 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656400 French-language Algerian newspaper Le Soir d'Algerie reported that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may have played a role in the attempted coup against Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum. The newspaper pointed out that all eyes were on the current Niger ambassador to the UAE, who was the army's chief of staff before Bazoum dismissed him. The newspaper noted that the presence of the former chief of staff of the Niger army in the UAE may have given him the "boldness" to turn the table on Bazoum, especially if he was supported by senior officials in Abu Dhabi. This report comes in the wake of an unprecedented attack by the Algerian media on the Emirati role in the region. Algerian newspaper El […]]]> 656400 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230728-top-biden-adviser-in-saudi-arabia-for-high-level-talks/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:06:59 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656084 US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, met Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, on Thursday in Jeddah, the White House said, as US officials search for ways to reach a deal normalising ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, Reuters reports. US officials have sought for months to reach what would be a historic agreement between the long-time adversaries, but the Saudis have been resistant. President Joe Biden said on CNN in early July that Israel and Saudi Arabia are a long way from a normalisation agreement that would involve a defence treaty and a civilian nuclear program from the United States. Sullivan, who was joined by White House Middle East coordinator, Brett McGurk, met bin Salman and senior Saudi officials and […]]]> 656084 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230728-the-pros-and-cons-of-israel-recognising-moroccos-sovereignty-over-the-western-sahara/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:00:32 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656042 Following the Israeli recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Western Sahara, Israeli voices are still raising more questions about the feasibility of this step, and whether it will be beneficial, or if it will be followed by greater harm, especially since such a step may face criticism on the international scene. This may be added to the criticisms the Occupation State is already facing regarding its behaviour in the Palestinian arena. While this step is consistent with Israel's stances towards the Palestinians, it contradicts international resolutions issued by the UN and EU, which may raise many questions related to annexation and occupation. The first Israeli benefit from this step is that it will gain broader control in Africa. There is […]]]> 656042 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230727-foreign-meddling-and-competing-interests-hinder-any-solution-in-libya/ Thu, 27 Jul 2023 08:00:06 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655172 If you ask any Libyan citizen about the biggest obstacles hindering political solutions in the country, the most likely answer is: external interferences and the disputes of local de-facto politicians. Since the country fell victim to the so called "Arab Spring" in 2011, it became an open arena for all sorts of external meddling in its internal affairs – usually individual foreign countries' pursuit of their own interests, regardless of what the impact could be on Libya's stability, security and economic prosperity. Worse still, most of such interests are competing with each other at the expense of the country. The internal conflict, since erupting in 2011, has turned into a regional and international conflict in which various countries are competing […]]]> 655172 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230726-turkiye-uae-economic-agreement-to-create-100000-jobs-in-turkiye-uae-envoy/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 18:28:01 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655277 The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement will create 100,000 jobs in Turkiye, according to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador in Ankara, Anadolu Agency reports. "Hopefully, this agreement will employ a total of 125,000 people, including 100,000 in Turkiye and 25,000 in the UAE," Saeed Thani Hareb Al Dhaheri told the press at the UAE Embassy in Ankara. Dhaheri added that the agreement is expected to come into force on 1 September. The agreement facilitates the dialogue between private companies and will also be an opportunity regarding customs tariffs, he added. The UAE gives great significance to "mutual dialogue and communication," he said, adding that the strategic location of the UAE and Turkiye plays a very important role geographically. The Turkiye-UAE […]]]> 655277 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230726-egypt-remittances-from-abroad-down-26-1/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 11:37:41 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655156 The Central Bank of Egypt announced yesterday that remittances from Egyptians working abroad have decreased by 26.1 per cent this fiscal year. During the first nine months of the 2022-2023 fiscal year, remittances were $17.5 billion, compared to $23.5 billion the previous year. Remittances from Egyptians abroad are the largest source of foreign currency in Egypt, and the North African country is the fifth largest recipient of remittances worldwide. Exports, tourism and Suez Canal revenue are the largest forms of currency after remittances.  Income from remittances was higher than revenues from the Suez Canal and tourism combined in the 2021-2022 year. Remittances from abroad plummeted in March 2022, after Egypt devalued the pound for the first time. The government has since devalued […]]]> 655156 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230725-qatar-beats-rivals-to-run-pakistan-airports/ Tue, 25 Jul 2023 18:59:49 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=655097 Qatar has manged to fend off competition from Saudi Arabia, UAE and China to secure a deal with Pakistan over the running of Islamabad Airport. The sale, via tender of a contract, to manage Islamabad Airport is nearing completion after consultations with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Ministry of Finance said Thursday. The Ministry said that Pakistan had begun outsourcing of operations at three major airports, and Islamabad was the first of these to be affected. Generating foreign exchange reserves for Pakistan's ailing economy is said to be the reason for the sale. In its statement, the Ministry said it had been unanimously agreed for the outsourcing of operations at Islamabad Airport to go ahead in order to improve […]]]> 655097 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230724-man-tests-positive-for-mers-in-abu-dhabi-near-oman-border-who/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 20:06:01 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654901 A 28-year-old man has tested positive for the potentially fatal Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in a city in Abu Dhabi on the border with Oman, the World Health Organisation said on Monday, Reuters reports. The man in the city of Al Ain was admitted to hospital last month, the WHO said in a statement. Health officials had checked 108 people that he was in contact with, but no secondary infections had turned up so far, it added. The WHO said there were no signs the man had come into contact with dromedary camels, which spread the disease that is separate from COVID-19. It gave no more details on his current condition. The United Arab Emirates' Health Ministry did […]]]> 654901 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230724-qatar-appoints-its-first-ambassador-to-uae-since-2017/ Mon, 24 Jul 2023 14:03:11 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654841 Qatar on Sunday announced the appointment of its first ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in more than six years after the UAE, along with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, severed ties with Doha in 2017. The Emir of Qatar appointed Dr Sultan Salmeen Saeed Al Mansouri as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Arab Emirates. Al Mansouri will be the first Qatari ambassador to the UAE since 2017. The decision was published in the official gazette. Last month, Qatar and the UAE agreed to restore their diplomatic representation and reopen embassies. READ: Turkiye, Qatar determined to boost bilateral ties: joint declaration]]> 654841 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230721-italy-migration-conference-aims-to-stem-flows-by-helping-africa/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:52:18 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654398 Mediterranean and Middle East countries will meet in Rome on Sunday to boost efforts to stem illegal migration flows, with Italy saying the aim is to help countries in Africa in order to reduce the impetus for migrants to reach Europe, Reuters reports. The meeting will focus on building partnership for projects in sectors including agriculture, infrastructure and health, an Italian government statement said on Friday. "The conference aims to govern the migration phenomenon, combat human trafficking and promote economic development according to a new model of cooperation between states," the statement said. Planned participants include Tunisia, Turkiye, Libya, Algeria and the United Arab Emirates, along with the European Union and the IMF, Italian officials told Reuters. However France, a […]]]> 654398 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230721-turkiye-working-against-end-of-black-sea-grain-deal-and-resulting-fallout-president/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:40:50 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654342 Ending the Black Sea grain deal as announced this week would hit hard in numerous ways, warned Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, adding that Turkiye is already working to prevent this, Anadolu Agency reports. "The termination of the Black Sea grain initiative will have a range of (harmful) effects, ranging from raising global food prices, in some regions to famine and then new waves of migration. We do not hesitate to take the initiative to prevent this," Erdogan told reporters on Thursday on the presidential plane returning from a three-nation Gulf tour. "I believe that by discussing the issue in detail with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, we will ensure the continuation of this humanitarian movement," he added, hinting at Turkiye's […]]]> 654342 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230720-netherlands-lifts-arms-embargo-off-turkiye-saudi-arabia-uae/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 16:21:24 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654188 The Netherlands has lifted its arms export restrictions off Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as it seeks to apparently reform the framework for its arms exports restrictions. Addressing the Dutch Parliament through a letter on Friday last week, the Dutch government announced that it was to abolish its "presumption of denial policy" which restricted arms sales to countries including Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. "The presumption of denial policy, which currently applies to Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, will expire immediately," the letter said. The arms export restrictions were imposed on Ankara in 2019 following its military incursion into north-east Syria in October that year, and were imposed on Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over their […]]]> 654188 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230720-president-erdogans-gulf-tour-grabs-media-attention/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 14:46:50 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=654169 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's three-nation Gulf tour has grabbed headlines, Anadolu Agency reports. The tour started with Saudi Arabia, followed by a visit to Qatar and then the United Arab Emirates (UAE). During the tour, agreements were signed between Turkiye and the three Gulf nations. This significant momentum of the Gulf tour has resonated strongly in the media of those countries, manifested in praises and highlighting the importance of bilateral cooperation with Turkiye. UAE The most recent of these interactions was from Abu Dhabi. The Emirati official News Agency, WAM, said on Thursday: "Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the country topped and captured the interests of local newspapers today, unanimously stressing the importance of Emirati-Turkish relations." READ: […]]]> 654169 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230719-saudi-crown-prince-mbs-threatened-to-impose-blockade-on-uae-worse-than-that-on-qatar/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 19:59:15 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653852 Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, privately threatened to journalists that he would impose sanctions on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last year, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has revealed. According to the paper, bin Salman told journalists in an off-the-record briefing in December that he had sent the UAE a list of demands and warned the neighbouring country that he would impose measures on it if it continued to rival major Saudi policy positions within the region and in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+). "It will be worse than what I did with Qatar," the Crown Prince is reported to have said, referring to the 2017 embargo on Qatar that Riyadh led, along with other Gulf states […]]]> 653852 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230719-the-water-crisis-and-the-middle-east-memo-in-conversation-with-dr-mohammed-mahmoud-2/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 15:00:13 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652855 Join us for a conversation with climate change expert Dr Mohammed Mahmoud as we discuss the impact of water shortages on the Middle East and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)'s effect on Egypt's water supply and COP28 being hosted in the UAE. Mohammed is the Director of the Climate and Water Program and a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. His areas of expertise include climate change adaptation, water policy analysis and scenario planning. He has conducted water management research and work for the Middle East and North Africa region; most extensively on the Nile River Basin. His research on the Nile River Basin focused on the development of water resources in the Basin, analysis of Nile water- […]]]> 652855 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230719-emirati-media-extols-president-erdogans-visit-hails-partnership-with-turkiye/ Wed, 19 Jul 2023 12:46:14 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653771 Emirati media outlets have hailed the visit of Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to UAE, Anadolu Agency reports. Local media reports said that the UAE and Turkiye strengthened their comprehensive friendship and partnership through four summits and meetings that brought together Emirati President, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Erdogan, over the past two years. Erdogan's meeting with Al Nahyan marks the fifth summit of its kind in two years. The first and second summits took place in November 2021 and February 2022, with the third summit held via video conference in March 2023 and the fourth in June 2023. According to the official Emirates News Agency (WAM), relations with Turkiye are of great importance within the UAE's strategy […]]]> 653771 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230718-japan-pm-kishida-to-visit-qatar-for-lng-talks/ Tue, 18 Jul 2023 14:52:34 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653327 Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, is due to arrive in major gas-producer, Qatar, on Tuesday for the final leg of a Gulf tour that has focused on securing future energy supplies and promoting Japanese high-tech, Reuters reports. Kishida, who has been urged by Japan's gas lobby to secure new liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies from Qatar, is expected to hold talks with Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, as well as Qatar's Minister of State for Energy and QatarEnegy's Chief Executive, Saad Al Kaabi. Japan, which remains highly dependent on oil and gas imports, did not renew several long-term LNG contracts with Qatar when they lapsed in 2021 and 2022, significantly reducing gas imports from one of the world's top LNG […]]]> 653327 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230718-iran-rejects-russias-intervention-in-the-gulf-islands-issue/ Tue, 18 Jul 2023 08:37:26 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653236 Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has expressed Tehran's rejection of any Russian or international interference in Iran's territorial integrity and the issue of the three islands which are in dispute between the UAE and Iran. Abdollahian said that Tehran "will never tolerate the repetition of such a procedure in the statements and interference be it on the part of Russia or any other party in issues related to the territorial integrity of Iran." Russia and the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) issued a joint statement in which the foreign ministers of the countries expressed their support for "all peaceful efforts, including the initiative of the UAE and its endeavours to reach a peaceful solution" to the issue of the three […]]]> 653236 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230717-uae-japan-ink-23-agreements-to-boost-trade-cooperation/ Mon, 17 Jul 2023 17:54:33 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=653202 The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Japan on Monday signed 23 agreements and memoranda of understanding to enhance their bilateral trade and investment. This came during Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida's visit to the Gulf nation on Monday. Kishida met with UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, where both leaders underscored the strength of relations between the two countries, the UAE state news agency, WAM, reported. The two leaders also discussed a number of regional and international developments and underlined the importance of supporting peace and stability through building bridges of cooperation and dialogue, WAM said. The Japanese Premier started a Gulf tour on Sunday, with his first stop in Saudi Arabia. He is also scheduled […]]]> 653202 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230716-india-uae-agree-to-use-local-currencies-in-bilateral-trade/ Sun, 16 Jul 2023 15:23:43 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652569 India and the UAE have signed an agreement to start using a rupee-dirham payment mechanism to settle cross-border trade, following Prime Minister Narenda Modi's visit to Abu Dhabi yesterday. An agreement was also signed to link their fast payment systems, namely the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India with the Instant Payment Platform (IPP) of the UAE. Modi who made the stopover visit while returning from a visit to Paris witnessed the signing of two memorandums of understanding (MoU) between the central banks of both countries along with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. This is a very important aspect of India-UAE cooperation. It paves the way for enhanced economic collaboration and will make international financial interactions simpler. https://t.co/nuoQbUIFq6 — […]]]> 652569 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230713-uae-says-it-operated-260-aid-flights-to-quake-hit-turkiye-syria/ Thu, 13 Jul 2023 17:54:56 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652173 The United Arab Emirates (UAE), on Thursday, said it ran 260 flights carrying humanitarian aid to quake-hit Turkiye and Syria since February, Anadolu Agency reports. The statement was made as the UAE's Defence Ministry has announced the successful completion of its relief campaign under the name "Operation Chivalrous Knight 2," during which 15,164 tons of humanitarian aid was delivered. The statement added that the relief campaign was carried out by joint efforts of the Emirati national institutions including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Emirates Red Crescent, Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, and the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation. READ: UAE sent 230 relief planes to quake-hit Turkiye, Syria  Under the […]]]> 652173 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230713-iran-summons-russias-envoy-over-comments-on-gulf-islands/ Thu, 13 Jul 2023 12:45:20 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=652102 Iran has summoned the Russian Ambassador in Tehran, Alexey Dedov, following a joint statement by Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that affirmed their support for the United Arab Emirates' sovereignty over the islands which Tehran disputes, Anadolu news agency reported. On Monday, Russia and the GCC issued a joint statement in which foreign ministers expressed their support for a UAE initiative to reach a peaceful solution to the islands issue through bilateral negotiations or at the International Court of Justice. The ministers, according to the statement, "affirmed their support for all peaceful efforts, including the initiative of the UAE and its endeavours, to reach a peaceful solution to the issue of the three islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu […]]]> 652102 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230711-israeli-american-charged-with-trying-to-bypass-iran-sanctions-after-accusing-biden-of-corruption/ Tue, 11 Jul 2023 13:38:39 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=651408 The head of a US think tank is currently on the run after being charged with being an agent of China and attempting to broker the sale of weapons and Iranian oil, Manhattan prosecutors announced yesterday. Gal Luft, a citizen of the US and Israel, is accused of having "agreed to covertly recruit and pay" a former high-ranking US government official in 2016, without registering as a foreign agent as required by law, to publicly support certain Chinese policies, federal prosecutors say. "As alleged, the defendant engaged in multiple schemes to evade sanctions and laws intended to protect our national security," Christie Curtis, FBI acting assistant director in charge, said in the press release. "The FBI is determined to defend […]]]> 651408 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230710-belgium-protests-against-uae-allegations-about-officials/ Mon, 10 Jul 2023 10:26:23 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650998 The Belgian authorities have lodged official protests against a defamation campaign by the UAE against officials in Brussels, Arabi21.com reported on Sunday. The UAE claims that the officials belong to the Muslim Brotherhood. According to several European news outlets, said Arabi21.com, the UAE recruited a Swiss lobby group to get information about certain figures across Europe that proves their affiliation to the movement, which is outlawed in the Gulf state. The lobby group Alp apparently traced hundreds of European figures, including 160 Belgians, revealed local news network rtbf. The government in Brussels summoned the UAE ambassador for talks about this on Saturday. "We asked for full explanations," said Belgium's Foreign Ministry. It added that it denounces the "unjustified hints" such […]]]> 650998 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230708-israel-us-plan-trade-corridor-connecting-israel-with-gulf-states/ Sat, 08 Jul 2023 11:10:39 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650524 Israel and the US have been working on a secret plan to build a trade land bridge connecting the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel, Israel's Ynet News revealed on Friday. This land bridge will lead from Dubai to Israel's seaports in Haifa, Ynet News disclosed, noting it is intended to export goods from the East to Europe through Israel and later for tourist movement. According to Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post, the plan was drafted by Shira Greenberg, the chief economist of the Finance Ministry during the former government of Yair Lapid. Trucks will be able to transport goods through this trade corridor, significantly reducing transportation costs and time. The idea is to enable the arrival […]]]> 650524 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230708-has-the-normalisation-train-reached-the-end-of-the-line-in-morocco/ Sat, 08 Jul 2023 10:17:51 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650510 In the past few days, two important positions were expressed that provide important information regarding the normalisation path between Morocco and Israel and the point it has reached. The first position was issued by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who announced the postponement of the Negev Forum until political conditions develop. This was against the backdrop of the Israeli escalation and settlement policies. Bourita expressed during a press conference with his Swiss counterpart Ignacio Cassis in Rabat that the forum needs objective conditions to be met to achieve its objectives to support security and peace in the region. It is hoped to be organised at the beginning of the next season. The second position was issued by Israeli Foreign Minister […]]]> 650510 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230706-hydrogen-money-can-be-beneficial-for-green-infrastructure-in-the-middle-east/ Thu, 06 Jul 2023 18:00:26 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650192 The conversation about climate change needs to shift from simply reducing carbon emissions to ensuring developing nations can take part in a diversified green economy in the Middle East region. Yet, first it is important to accept that governments have hardly any source of revenues, independent from oil and gas. In Iraq, for instance, that dependence exceeds 90 per cent. If government revenues in the region are dominated by hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon revenues will have to finance the new, clean energy infrastructure. Since the start of the Ukraine war, two main issues changed the pattern of diplomacy in the Middle East: grain and hydrocarbons. Many countries in the region were forced to radically rethink their grain import strategies in the following […]]]> 650192 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230706-pakistan-uae-sign-renewable-energy-deal/ Thu, 06 Jul 2023 16:34:56 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650224 Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) inked an agreement Thursday for the development of renewable energy projects in the South Asian country, Anadolu Agency reports. Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and UAE's Special Envoy for Climate Change, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, who is also the President-designate of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, witnessed the signing ceremony in Islamabad. Pakistan's Secretary of the Power Division, Rashid Mahmood Langrial, and Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of the UAE, Sharif Al Olama, signed on behalf of their respective sides, said a statement. UAE companies will invest in renewable energy projects in all four provinces of the country. Pakistan is currently facing an acute electricity shortage, resulting in hours-long […]]]> 650224 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230706-kuwait-to-invest-300bn-in-energy-sector-by-2040-oil-minister-says/ Thu, 06 Jul 2023 12:45:30 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650167 Kuwait aims to invest over $300 billion in the energy sector by 2040, the Gulf states' oil minister told the UAE's WAM news agency. Global investment in the energy sector faces significant gaps that need to be filled to prevent crises that could adversely affect the markets and the global economy, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Oil and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs of Kuwait, Saad Al Barrak, said. Speaking on the sidelines of the 8th OPEC International Seminar, being held in the Austrian capital Viennatoday, he added that oil and its derivatives are a fundamental component of the Kuwaiti economy, while the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) plays a vital role in stabilising the global oil […]]]> 650167 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230705-elevation-of-turkiye-egypt-diplomatic-ties-wins-arab-plaudits/ Wed, 05 Jul 2023 16:04:52 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=650029 Several Arab countries have welcomed the elevation of diplomatic relations between Turkiye and Egypt for the first time in a decade, Anadolu Agency reports. On Tuesday, Ankara and Cairo upgraded their diplomatic relations to the ambassadorial level. Turkiye nominated Salih Mutlu Sen as its new ambassador to Cairo, while Egypt named Amr El Hamamy as ambassador to Ankara, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Saudi Foreign Ministry welcomed the move, saying it "will be positively reflected on enhancing security and peace at the regional and international levels and serving common interests, in a way that achieves the aspirations of the countries and people of the region." The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also hailed the elevation of the […]]]> 650029 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230705-shots-fired-at-oil-tanker-in-gulf-maritime-security-bodies/ Wed, 05 Jul 2023 13:46:16 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=649991 Shots were fired at a tanker in sensitive Gulf waters on Wednesday, but the vessel and crew are safe, a British maritime security body said, the latest incident in a series of seizures or attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf since 2019, Reuters reports. The vessel was located off the coast of the Omani capital, Muscat, when the shots were fired on Wednesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), part of the Royal Navy, said in a report of a suspicious approach. Maritime security company, Ambrey, said the ship was a Bahamas-flagged oil tanker, which was Greek-owned and US-managed. Refintiv ship tacking data shows the "Richmond Voyager", a very large crude carrier managed by Chevron, matching the position […]]]> 649991 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230704-un-security-council-to-meet-on-friday-over-deadly-escalation-in-west-bank/ Tue, 04 Jul 2023 19:50:20 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=649685 The UN Security Council will convene on Friday to discuss the deadly escalation following Israeli attacks on the Occupied West Bank city of Jenin, Anadolu Agency reports. The 15-member Council will meet in closed consultations, said the UK mission to the UN, which holds the organ's rotating presidency for July, on Twitter. The meeting was requested by the United Arab Emirates. Tensions have been running high across the Occupied West Bank in recent months amid repeated Israeli raids into Palestinian towns. The Israeli occupation forces, on Monday, launched its largest military operation in Jenin in more than 20 years, killing at least 10 Palestinians and injuring more than 100 others, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Nearly 190 Palestinians have […]]]> 649685 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230704-abraham-accord-arab-states-seen-sticking-with-israel-despite-jenin-violence/ Tue, 04 Jul 2023 18:47:00 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=649679 Public fury is growing in the Arab world over one of Israel's biggest military operations in the Occupied West Bank in years, yet Arab states which normalised ties with Israel are unlikely to turn their condemnation of the Israeli assault into action. Thousands of people were evacuated from the Jenin refugee camp as the Israeli operation continued for a second day on Tuesday, and Palestinian officials said at least 10 people had been killed. Israel says its army is destroying infrastructure and weapons of Iran-backed militant groups in the camp. The military operation is diplomatically awkward for the four Arab states that have signed peace pacts – known as the Abraham Accords – with Israel, and it makes the already distant prospect of […]]]> 649679 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230703-pope-francis-condemns-burning-of-quran-uae-newspaper/ Mon, 03 Jul 2023 14:08:53 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=649013 Pope Francis said the burning of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, has made him angry and disgusted and that he condemned and rejected permitting the act as a form of freedom of speech, Reuters reports. "Any book considered holy should be respected to respect those who believe in it," the Pope said in an interview in the United Arab Emirates newspaper, Al Ittihad, published on Monday. "I feel angry and disgusted at these actions. "Freedom of speech should never be used as a means to despise others and allowing that is rejected and condemned." A man tore up and burned a Quran in Sweden's capital, Stockholm, last week, resulting in strong condemnation from several states, including Turkiye whose backing Sweden […]]]> 649013 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230703-amnesty-calls-on-uae-to-release-unjustly-imprisoned-dissidents/ Mon, 03 Jul 2023 09:17:37 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=648938 Amnesty International yesterday called on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to release dozens of Emirati citizens who have been "unjustly imprisoned" for a decade, following a mass trial that took place in 2013. The rights watchdog made the appeal as the UAE prepares to host the 28th Conference of the parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December. "If governments around the world want to ensure that COP28 is not tarnished by repression and is successful in delivering urgent and effective climate action, they must act now by pressuring the Emirati government to urgently release these prisoners" the statement quoted Heba Morayef, Amnesty International's regional director for the Middle East and North […]]]> 648938