https://www.middleeastmonitor.com Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa Tue, 08 Aug 2023 11:21:59 +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/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/20230728-muslims-decry-repeated-quran-burnings-desecration-in-western-countries/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:43:25 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656066 Muslims, worldwide, have condemned the desecration and burning of the Quran in Denmark and Sweden, asserting that these attacks cannot be justified by freedom of expression, Anadolu Agency reports. In response to the rising incidents of Quran desecration in Western countries, Anadolu spoke with locals from Iran, Iraq, Algeria, Lebanon and Palestine who took to the streets condemning the act. Yusuf Abu Sunayne, a preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied East Jerusalem, said: "The Book of Allah has been preserved in the hearts of Muslims; no matter what they do, no matter how much they hate, no matter how many opportunities they look to attack, the Book of Allah will guide Muslims in the East and West." He went on […]]]> 656066 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/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/20230710-lavrov-says-russia-gulf-council-able-to-promote-mutually-beneficial-partnership/ Mon, 10 Jul 2023 19:34:45 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=651290 The Russian Foreign Minister, on Monday, said Moscow and countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) possess all the mechanisms to promote their mutually beneficial partnership, Anadolu Agency reports. "Russia and the countries of the Cooperation Council have all the necessary mechanisms for the successful solution of the common tasks facing us, the promotion of mutually beneficial partnership and its transfer to a systematic strategic basis," Sergey Lavrov said ahead of the 6th ministerial meeting of the Russia-GCC Strategic Dialogue in Moscow. Lavrov said Russia and GCC countries are pursuing to expand economic ties, expressing that mutual trade at the end of 2022 exceeded $11 billion, despite "difficult geopolitical conditions". "Of course, trade with each of the countries present here […]]]> 651290 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/20230623-islam-science-fiction-and-extraterrestrial-life-the-culture-of-astrobiology-in-the-muslim-world/ Fri, 23 Jun 2023 07:39:24 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=646700 Islam and science fiction may not immediately seem like a natural pairing, but the Muslim world has indeed fostered a fascinating history within this genre. In his book titled Islam, science fiction, and extraterrestrial life: The culture of astrobiology in the Muslim world, Jorg Matthias Determann, an author and academic based in Qatar, delves into the exploration of "scientific imagination" as expressed through various forms of media, including literature and film. The book encompasses a wide range of associated themes, such as space, time, world building, extraterrestrial life and ufology. It is quite fitting that the opening chapter 'Lord of the Worlds' is a reference to the first surah of the Quran, Al-Fatihah, which the author explains, based on a literalist interpretation, […]]]> 646700 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230622-battered-by-opposition-kuwait-royal-family-seeks-to-project-unity/ Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:38:40 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=646642 The appointment of additional Royals to Kuwait's new cabinet, including a convicted Defence Minister, looks like a push by the ruling family to show unity and reassert power as it wrestles with an opposition-controlled Parliament. Rivalries within the Royal family and feuding between government and the elected National Assembly have hampered reforms for years in the OPEC member oil producer. Repeated elections and opposition wins led to years of political deadlocks. The cabinet, formed by the Kuwaiti Emir's son, Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, on Sunday after a third parliamentary election in 2-1/2 years, included five members of the Al-Sabah ruling family, more than recent governments. It also marked the return of deputy Premier and Defence Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed […]]]> 646642 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230622-turkiye-expects-gulf-investments-after-top-level-uae-visit-sources/ Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:01:57 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=646635 Turkiye expects the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia to invest in its energy and defence sectors after negotiations in Abu Dhabi led by its top economy officials, two sources with knowledge of the talks said on Thursday, Reuters reports. Turkish Vice President, Cevdet Yilmaz, and Finance Minister, Mehmet Simsek, travelled to the UAE on Wednesday, ahead of a possible visit by President Tayyip Erdogan. After his re-election last month, Erdogan named the pair to his cabinet in a signal he is backtracking on a years-long unorthodox economic policy that sent inflation soaring and the lira currency tumbling, and depleted foreign exchange reserves. Since 2021, when Ankara launched a diplomatic effort to repair ties with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, investments […]]]> 646635 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230617-saudi-foreign-minister-arrives-in-tehran-amid-rapprochement/ Sat, 17 Jun 2023 14:15:46 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645291 Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Iran on Saturday amid a rapprochement between the two Middle East arch-foes, Iranian state TV said, Reuters reports. Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed in March, in a deal brokered by China, to end a diplomatic rift and reestablish relations following years of hostility that had endangered regional stability including in Yemen, Syria and Lebanon. Iran officially reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabia on June 7. READ: Amnesty: 7 Saudi juvenile offenders facing imminent execution The kingdom broke ties with Iran in 2016 after protesters attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran in retaliation for Riyadh's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric. Bin Farhan is due to meet with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi […]]]> 645291 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230616-10th-arab-china-business-conference/ Fri, 16 Jun 2023 18:30:34 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=645220 The Arab-China Business Conference was launched by China in 2013 as a long-term strategy to enhance cooperation and integration between Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It aims to upgrade infrastructure in the countries located on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), enhance connectivity between countries and facilitate trade. As China looks to build its geopolitical role in the region, having deeper economic and investment ties with the economies of the Arab countries is undoubtedly essential. The conference came amid growing commercial and diplomatic ties between China and Arab countries. In recent years, Chinese firms have built billions of dollars in infrastructure in Arab countries, and China is a significant source of manufactured goods in the region, as well […]]]> 645220 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230614-qatar-emir-set-to-visit-iraq-on-thursday/ Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:42:14 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=644653 Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, will visit Iraq on Thursday, according to the Iraqi government, Anadolu Agency reports. Government spokesman, Basim Al-Awadi, said the visit of the Qatari leader "will have important political and economic dimensions". There was no confirmation yet of the visit by the Qatari authorities. Relations between Iraq and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, of which Qatar is a member, have improved in recent years. Iraqi-Qatari relations started to improve with GCC countries re-opening their embassies and exchanging official visits to boost bilateral ties after the 2003 US-led invasion. OPINION: Are Saudi Arabia and the UAE leading the way to a new order in the Middle East?]]> 644653 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230611-us-saudi-arabia-hold-joint-military-drill/ Sun, 11 Jun 2023 10:09:29 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=644009 Air forces from Saudi Arabia and the United States held a joint military exercise on Saturday, according to the kingdom's defense ministry, Anadolu reports. A ministry statement said the drill, held at the King Faisal Air Base in northwestern Saudi Arabia, aims to raise the level of joint action and maintain security and stability in the region. F-15SE fighter jets and American B-1 Lancer strategic bombers took part in the exercise. During the training, live ammunition was used to destroy simulated targets in the firing range. Last month, forces from the US and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries took part in the 'Eagle Resolve 23' joint military exercise in Saudi Arabia. READ: Saudi Arabia expects 'exceptional, safe' Hajj pilgrimage]]> 644009 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230608-us-gulf-cooperation-council-say-no-military-solution-in-sudan/ Thu, 08 Jun 2023 12:43:41 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=643442 The foreign ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stressed in a meeting that there is no military solution to the ongoing fighting in Sudan, Anadolu Agency reports. The statement was made following their meeting held in Saudi Arabia late Wednesday, according to the Council, which is made up of six Arab countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman. The statement also stressed the Council's support to diplomatic efforts by Saudi Arabia and the US to achieve a cease-fire in Sudan and to allow access to humanitarian aid without obstacles. READ: Sudan rivals resume ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia "Responding to the latest crisis in Sudan, we're continuing […]]]> 643442 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230607-uk-announces-major-visa-change-for-gulf-countries-to-boost-weak-economy/ Wed, 07 Jun 2023 12:33:24 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=643052 The UK government has announced major changes to visa requirements for the six countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Jordan. Nationals of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, UAE and Jordan will be offered an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) lasting two years for just £10 ($12), according to a report in Arabian Business. The change will mean that Gulf travellers and Jordanians will have entry requirements in line with citizens of the US and Australia. READ UK-GCC partnership 'post-Brexit priority,' says MP Under the previous system, nationals from the seven Arab countries had to apply for a £30 ($37) document for every separate visit. The new system announced by the UK government yesterday will require them to pay […]]]> 643052 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230607-timeline-saudi-iran-ties-a-history-of-ups-and-downs/ Wed, 07 Jun 2023 06:30:50 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=642957 Iran reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday, Saudi media reported, months after the two regional rivals agreed to end years of antagonism under a Chinese-brokered deal. Protracted rivalry between the Middle East's leading Shia and Sunni Muslim-led powers has fuelled conflicts across the region, including wars in Yemen and Syria. China's role in the diplomatic breakthrough has shaken up dynamics in the Middle East, where the United States was, for decades, the main mediator, flexing its security and diplomatic muscles. 1979 – Iranian Revolution  Saudi rulers watch aghast as Iran's Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, a fellow dynast, is toppled by Shia Muslim clerics, seen in Riyadh as determined to export their Islamic Revolution. READ: Iran unveils first alleged […]]]> 642957 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230606-gcc-tunisia-sign-mou-to-boost-relations-cooperation/ Tue, 06 Jun 2023 19:16:42 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=642955 The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General, Jassem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, met in Tunis on Monday with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar, Saudi Gazette reports. According to the report, the GCC General Secretariat and the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The report says this agreement aims at establishing a mechanism for consultation between the two sides to enhance GCC-Tunisian bilateral relationship and cooperation. READ: Tunisia: Interior minister calls for widening security cooperation with Turkiye In a statement after his meeting with Tunisian President, Kais Saied, Al Budaiwi said that he had conducted several meetings with senior officials to discuss cooperation between GCC countries and Tunisia. Al Budaiwi said that he and President […]]]> 642955 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230606-egg-freezing-on-the-rise-in-uae/ Tue, 06 Jun 2023 14:17:16 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=642861 The number of women choosing to freeze their eggs in the UAE has "significantly" increased following changes to the law, reported Al-Arabiya News. UAE fertility clinics and in-vitro fertility (IVF) specialists across the country have observed a sudden increase in demand for information about the service and opting to access the treatment. A consultant in reproductive medicine and infertility at Fakih IVF Fertility Centre in Abu Dhabi, Dr Yasmin Sajjad, said: "Egg freezing has been slower in the GCC countries due to cultural beliefs and religious regulations, but this trend is picking up." She added that the increasing demand for egg freezing is due to women needing the flexibility of time to eventually have a family later in life "when […]]]> 642861 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230603-blinken-excludes-israel-from-middle-east-trip/ Sat, 03 Jun 2023 11:35:21 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=642227 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has excluded Israel from a planned visit to the Middle East, an Israeli political source revealed, noting this could relate to Iran's nuclear issue. "Blinken will travel to Saudi Arabia 6-8 June to meet with Saudi officials to discuss US-Saudi strategic cooperation on regional and global issues and a range of bilateral issues including economic and security cooperation," a US State Department press release disclosed. "On 7 June, the Secretary will also participate in a US-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial to discuss the growing cooperation with our GCC partners to promote security, stability, de-escalation, regional integration and economic opportunities across the Middle East," the press release added. READ: Israel considering wide-scale West Bank military offensive […]]]> 642227 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230602-us-secretary-of-state-to-visit-saudi-arabia-next-week-state-department/ Fri, 02 Jun 2023 18:04:28 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=642194 US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will embark on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, commencing next Tuesday, the State Department announced, Anadolu Agency reports. During his visit, Blinken will meet with Saudi officials to discuss strategic cooperation between the two nations on regional and global issues and a range of bilateral ones, including some related to the economy and security, Spokesman Matthew Miller said on Friday, in a statement. He is scheduled, on Wednesday, to attend a ministerial meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) to discuss the growing cooperation with our GCC partners to promote security, stability, de-escalation, regional integration and economic opportunities across the Middle East, said the statement. On Thursday, Blinken and Saudi Foreign Minister, Faisal […]]]> 642194 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230525-a-greener-gulf-is-possible-and-qatar-can-lead-the-way/ Thu, 25 May 2023 14:30:36 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=639867 The world stands at a crucial juncture as the dire consequences of global climate change loom ever closer. Although currently distributed unevenly across nations, its effects will eventually transcend borders, impacting our entire planet. A critical aspect of tackling this issue lies in revolutionising our energy production to slash greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This is precisely why the Gulf, a fossil fuel epicentre, has recently captured global attention. Within the Gulf states, divergent strategic considerations driven by political and economic constraints have come into play. Yet, amidst this complex landscape, there are glimmers of hope. Leading the charge in renewable energy, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have emerged as notable actors. Meanwhile, Qatar, renowned as the region's leading […]]]> 639867 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230523-qatar-chief-of-staff-gcc-military-official-discuss-military-cooperation/ Tue, 23 May 2023 12:14:38 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=638655 Qatar's Chief of Staff yesterday met with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)'s Assistant Secretary General for Military Affairs in the Qatari capital, Doha, where they discussed issues of mutual concern, according to a statement released by the Qatari Ministry of Defence. The meeting between Qatar's Lieutenant General Salim Al-Nabit and the GCC's Major General Issa Rashid Al Mohannad took place on the sidelines of a visit by the GCC military official to the Qatari capital, Doha. A number of senior officers from the Qatari Armed Forces attended the meeting. The GCC's Unified Military Command, which was established in 2013, supports the efforts of the GCC member states in confronting potential threats to these countries within the framework of the joint […]]]> 638655 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230518-world-bank-gulf-economies-to-grow-by-2-5-in-2023/ Thu, 18 May 2023 12:34:22 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=637821 The World Bank expects the economies of the Arab Gulf countries to grow by 2.5 per cent this year, given the potential decline in oil and gas revenues and a slowdown in global economic activity. According to the World Bank Gulf Economic Update (GEU) issued yesterday, the bank said it expects GCC economies to grow at a rate of 2.5 per cent this year, and 3.2 per cent in 2024. Adding that while oil supported the growth of the GCC states' economy last year, it will be a reason for the decline in growth this year. The report suggests that the "weaker performance is driven primarily by lower hydrocarbon GDP, which is expected to contract by 1.3 per cent in […]]]> 637821 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230516-gcc-military-official-discusses-military-issues-in-bahrain-saudi/ Tue, 16 May 2023 13:53:20 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=637338 A Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) senior military official yesterday held meetings in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia where he discussed issues related to the common Gulf military interest, the GCC said in a statement. Lieutenant General Theyab Bin Saqr Al Nuaimi, Chief of Staff of the Bahrain Defence Force, met with Major General Isa Bin Rashid Al Mohannadi, assistant secretary for military affairs in the Secretariat General of the GCC. During the meeting, the two reviewed topics of mutual interest and ways to enhance cooperation between the armed forces of GCC member states, according to the statement. After his visit to Bahrain, Al-Mohannadi left for Saudi Arabia and met with officials at the Secure Communications Office in Dhahran. The GCC's statement indicated that the director […]]]> 637338 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230509-syria-jordan-air-strike-kills-drug-lord-and-his-family/ Tue, 09 May 2023 12:19:51 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=634720 Jordan is reported to have carried out an air strike in southern Syria yesterday, targeting a well-known drug smuggler. "Marai Al-Ramthan, his wife and six children were killed in a Jordanian air force strike" close to the Syria-Jordan border in the east of Sweida province, said the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "Al-Ramthan is considered to be the most prominent drug trafficker in the region," explained the organisation, "and the main smuggler of drugs, including Captagon, into Jordan." The Hashemite Kingdom has yet to comment on the strike, which followed a meeting in Amman on 1 May between several Arab foreign ministers. The Syrian government agreed at the meeting to cooperate with neighbouring countries "affected by drug trafficking and […]]]> 634720 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230506-kuwait-to-join-shanghai-regional-bloc-as-dialogue-partner/ Sat, 06 May 2023 15:32:13 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=634057 Kuwait signed a memorandum of understanding on Saturday to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a powerful regional bloc led by China and Russia, Anadolu reports. The document was inked on the sidelines of a meeting of the SCO foreign ministers on May 4-5 in Panaji city, India, the state news agency KUNA reported. "Kuwait's joining of SCO as a dialogue partner is the first step towards joining the organization as a full member in the future," said Kuwaiti Ambassador to India Jassim Al-Najem. He added that the accession of some Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as dialogue partners to the SCO "confirms the growing importance of the organization." READ: Kuwait, UAE, GCC condemn storming of Saudi building in Sudan On […]]]> 634057 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230506-syria-assad-affirms-strength-of-iran-ties-return-to-arab-league-draws-near/ Sat, 06 May 2023 11:59:46 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=634013 Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad emphasised on Thursday the solidity of the relationship between Damascus and Tehran during his final meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, who visited Syria in recent days. Both sides issued a joint statement, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening relations. Al-Assad stated that he had directed to activate and implement all understandings and proposals discussed during the visit, to serve the relationship between the two countries and to continue coordination and consultation in various fields. Raisi announced that his visit to Syria would mark a "significant turning point" on the path to enhancing economic ties between the two countries, to elevate them to the level of political and military cooperation. READ: Syria return to Arab League possible: […]]]> 634013 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230504-gcc-plans-to-implement-unified-schengen-style-visa-for-tourists-expats/ Thu, 04 May 2023 20:16:17 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=633863 The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and its member states are set to implement a unified visa for tourists and businesspeople from dozens of countries, in an initiative comparable to the European Union's Schengen zone visa. During the ongoing Arabian Travel Market at the Dubai World Trade Centre, in which a panel discussion on 'The Future of Travel for the GCC' took place, it was revealed that the bloc is planning on the introduction and implementation of a common visa system for nationals, residents, tourists and business visitors from 35 Arab and foreign countries. According to regional media outlets, Bahrain's Tourism Minister, Fatima Al Sairafi, said that discussions are still underway among GCC nations at the ministerial level on how to […]]]> 633863 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230504-kuwait-uae-gcc-condemn-storming-of-saudi-building-in-sudan/ Thu, 04 May 2023 11:10:00 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=633681 Kuwait, the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have condemned the storming of the Saudi Cultural Attaché building in Sudan by an armed group. In separate statements issued by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs in Kuwait, the UAE and the GCC, they strongly condemned the incident and called for respecting diplomatic missions and for the perpetrators to be punished. "This internationally criminal act is a flagrant violation of all international norms, the rules of international law, and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, which prohibits storming the premises of diplomatic missions and grants their buildings full protection and immunity," Kuwait said in its statement. In turn, the UAE affirmed its categorical rejection of all forms of "violence […]]]> 633681 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230503-syria-touts-for-gulf-tourists-amid-emerging-arab-rapprochement/ Wed, 03 May 2023 15:25:46 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=633613 Overlooked by a portrait of President Bashar Al-Assad and offering sticky sweets, a Syrian tourism booth in Dubai is trying to seize on an emerging rapprochement with Arab States to win back Gulf tourists it lost during more than a decade of war, Reuters reports. "We are now aiming to regain the tourism income from (Gulf Cooperation Council countries) to Syria. We used to have millions of our friends and brothers from GCC countries in Syria, especially in summer," Nedal Machfej, Syria's deputy Tourism Minister, told Reuters at the Arabian Travel Market exhibition in Dubai. Some Arab States, including GCC members the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, are increasingly rebuilding ties with Damascus, reversing years of isolation over Assad's […]]]> 633613 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230502-global-islamic-finance-industry-to-grow-by-10-in-2023-2024/ Tue, 02 May 2023 16:32:04 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=633247 The global Islamic finance industry is expected to grow by around 10 per cent in 2023-2024, despite the economic slowdown, after posting a similar expansion in 2022 mainly led by the GCC countries, according to S&P Global Ratings report. The report says the sector continued to expand in 2022, with assets up by 9.4 per cent compared with 12.2 per cent in 2021, supported by growth in banking assets and the sukuk industry. "Structural weaknesses still curb the industry's broader geographical and market appeal," S&P said. S&P also said that corporates are likely to contribute to issuance volumes, particularly in countries such as Saudi Arabia, where governments have announced transformation plans. READ: UAE Jaber urges donors to deliver on $100bn pledge to developing countries]]> 633247 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230502-are-saudi-arabia-and-the-uae-leading-the-way-to-a-new-order-in-the-middle-east/ Tue, 02 May 2023 12:00:31 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=632810 The foreign ministers of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and other Arab states agreed last month in Jeddah that the Arab world must play a leading role in efforts to broker an end to Syria's ongoing conflict. This not only highlighted the attempts to rely less on foreign hegemons for regional policy stances, but also served as a reminder of the very obvious fact that the Middle East has long had a huge gap where regional order should sit, whether ideological or structural. In the post-colonial era of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, that order may have been the dominant ideology of pan-Arabism, as the pro-Nasserist and semi-socialist movements and officer revolutions swept through the likes of Egypt, Libya, Syria and […]]]> 632810 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230423-kuwait-launches-emergency-operation-to-pull-citizens-out-of-troubled-sudan/ Sun, 23 Apr 2023 11:42:08 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=630770 Kuwait said Saturday that it had launched an "emergency operation" to evacuate its citizens from Sudan amid fighting between the North African nation's army and a paramilitary group, Anadolu reports. Foreign Minister Sheikh Salim Abdullah al-Jaber al-Sabah announced the ongoing effort, underlining that it came in response to the critical security situation in Sudan and after close monitoring by the political administration. READ: Turkish, Sudanese foreign ministers discuss recent situation in Sudan He said all Kuwaitis who wanted to return to the Gulf country had safely reached the city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and that efforts continued to get them to Kuwait. Clashes have continued for more than a week between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces […]]]> 630770 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230419-kuwait-denies-reports-fm-will-visit-syria/ Wed, 19 Apr 2023 13:16:23 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=630255 The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied media reports claiming Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah will visit the Syrian capital, Damascus, tomorrow. The ministry described the reports as "incorrect". It urged the media to ensure accuracy in news coverage, shun rumours and false information, and to seek news from official and reliable sources. Al Sabah has called on the Syrian regime to take steps to build confidence, in order to help reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis, and return Damascus to the Arab League, Kuwait's KUNA news agency reported on Saturday. He also stressed his country's firm position calling for the unity of Syria and its territorial integrity, and rejecting external interference in […]]]> 630255 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230418-saudi-foreign-minister-visits-assad-further-easing-syria-isolation/ Tue, 18 Apr 2023 15:18:18 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=629938 Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister has arrived in Syria's capital today, in the first such official visit to the country since the outbreak of the ongoing conflict in 2011. Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in the Syrian capital, Damascus, this afternoon, where he was welcomed at the airport by Syria's Minister of Presidency Affairs, Mansour Azzam. He then reportedly met with Syrian President, Bashar Al-Assad, but no details of their meeting have yet been revealed. According to a statement by the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the visit represents "the Kingdom's keenness and interest to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that ends all its repercussions and preserves Syria's unity, security, stability and its Arab identity, and restores […]]]> 629938 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230417-morocco-not-invited-to-jeddah-summit-to-discuss-syrias-return-to-arab-league/ Mon, 17 Apr 2023 09:09:21 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=629506 Morocco did not participate in the Jeddah Summit, in which the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Iraq, Egypt and Jordan discussed Syria's return to the Arab League on Friday. Algeria was leading efforts to return Syria to the ranks of the Arab League, before the UAE and Saudi Arabia took bold steps by receiving Damascus' Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad. It is likely that the exclusion of Morocco in Friday's meeting is due to Rabat's leaning towards Washington's policy in the current circumstances, while the Gulf states want to adopt a policy that silently opposes American decisions towards the Middle East. Morocco also does not share the Gulf states' current rapprochement with Iran, having cut ties with Tehran […]]]> 629506 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230416-imf-sees-high-rates-oil-prices-and-inflation-worries-in-middle-east/ Sun, 16 Apr 2023 11:14:09 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=629394 Banks in the Middle East and Central Asia have very limited exposure to last month's banking turmoil in the United States and Europe, but financial pressures are adding to strains caused by high interest rates, volatile oil prices and years of double-digit inflation, a top IMF official said on Saturday, Reuters reports. Jihad Azour, director of the International Monetary Fund's Middle East and Central Asia department, said the banking sector strains came on top of tighter monetary policies that raised rates and reduced accessibility to finance. Azour said there was an increasing gulf between countries that had good credit and were able to access the markets, including Morocco, Jordan and oil exporters, and others who were struggling. "We are worried […]]]> 629394 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230416-arab-states-rule-political-solution-is-only-way-to-end-syria-crisis-pushing-back-against-rapprochement-with-assad/ Sun, 16 Apr 2023 08:30:35 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=629375 The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and foreign ministers of Arab states have concluded that a political solution is the only way to end the conflict and crisis in Syria, holding off from allowing the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad back into the fold of the Arab League. Saudi Arabia this week hosted a meeting between GCC foreign ministers and their counterparts from other Arab states such as Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt in the coastal city of Jeddah, during which they "discussed the efforts that aim to reach a political solution…which preserves Syria's unity, security, stability and Arab identity and that brings Syria back to the Arab fold," according to a statement by the Saudi Foreign Ministry. The ministers agreed on […]]]> 629375 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230415-saudi-arabia-uae-qatar-call-for-dialogue-in-sudan-amid-military-clashes/ Sat, 15 Apr 2023 17:59:07 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=629370 Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar on Saturday called for dialogue in Sudan amid clashes between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence in Sudan. The ministry called on Sudan's military and political leaders "to give priority to the language of dialogue, restraint, and wisdom, and to unite the ranks in a way that contributes to completing the consensus that has been achieved, including the framework agreement." The UAE, for its part, called on Sudan's conflicting parties to exercise restraint and end the current crisis through dialogue. In a statement, the UAE Embassy in Khartoum voiced deep concern over the […]]]> 629370 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230415-the-limits-of-chinas-global-power/ Sat, 15 Apr 2023 12:15:47 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=629247 China's rise has been the talk of the global village, with its impressive economic performance, ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and frenzied diplomacy, ranging from the Ukraine conflict to Africa and the Gulf. But is there more to this "rising China" narrative? Despite the oft-advertised strengths, China's significant limitations often go unnoticed. Failures to appeal ideologically in the international arena and military disparities with the US are serious constraints. Ideology matters The significance of ideology cannot be overstated, especially when powers seek to exert their influence internationally that resonates with people from all walks of life. For example, the US has consistently tapped into the liberal lexicon when framing its interests, incorporating values such as freedom, liberty, human rights, […]]]> 629247 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230414-jordan-pushing-arab-peace-plan-to-end-syria-conflict/ Fri, 14 Apr 2023 15:19:02 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=629172 Jordan said, ahead of a meeting on Friday to discuss Syria's readmission to the Arab League, it was pushing a joint Arab peace plan that could end the devastating consequences of the over decade-old Syrian conflict, according to a source close to the matter, Reuters reports. The plan would be discussed at a meeting, which Saudi Arabia will host in Jeddah, attended by foreign ministers from Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) to discuss launching a leading Arab role after years of failed international efforts to solve the bloody conflict, he added. Syria was suspended from the Arab League in response to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's brutal crackdown on peaceful protests. The Kingdom had proposed forming a joint […]]]> 629172 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230414-jared-kushner-secured-lucrative-investment-in-the-gulf-at-the-expense-of-us-taxpayers/ Fri, 14 Apr 2023 11:55:31 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=629107 Jared Kushner is reportedly amassing huge fortunes through investment from Gulf countries while being given protection by the US secret service at the expense of American taxpayers. Kushner, who is the son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump, left his White House role in 2021. Ordinarily security service protection would end when an administration departs, however Kushner is said to have reaped the benefits of his time in office months after he left. Allegations of nepotism and corruption dogged the Trump administration. The former president was repeatedly accused of using the office of US Presidency to enrich himself. No other president managed to fuse their private business interests with America's highest public office. READ: Kushner using Saudi funds to invest […]]]> 629107 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230413-qatar-bahrain-to-restore-diplomatic-relations/ Thu, 13 Apr 2023 10:55:58 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=628823 Qatar and Bahrain decided to restore their diplomatic relations in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and the provisions of the Vienna Treaty on Diplomatic Relations of 1961. This came at the conclusion of the second meeting of the Qatari-Bahraini Follow-up Committee at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The official Qatar News Agency (QNA) stated late yesterday that the meeting "discussed the topics on the agenda, and reviewed the outcomes of the first meeting of both the Joint Legal Committee and the Joint Security Committee." "It was also decided to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and the provisions […]]]> 628823 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230411-gcc-holds-consultative-meeting-to-discuss-syria-return-to-arab-league/ Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:50:53 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=628357 The General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has sent invitations to member States to attend a meeting next Friday in the Saudi capital, Jeddah, to discuss the possibility of Syria's return to the Arab League, a Qatari official said. A spokesman for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majid Al-Ansari, said Doha has received the invitation adding that Jordan, Egypt and Iraq, will also participate in the "consultative meeting" since they are "concerned countries". He pointed out that there are many developments regarding the situation in Syria, and in the Arab views towards Syria's return to the Arab League. In the past two months, the Syrian regime President, Bashar Al-Assad, visited the Sultanate of Oman and the United […]]]> 628357 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230404-israel-and-gulf-states-to-be-connected-by-fibre-optic-cable/ Tue, 04 Apr 2023 11:40:52 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=626471 A proposed Israeli-funded internet cable project aims to connect Gulf states with the occupation state after "gaining traction" in Saudi Arabia, according to a report yesterday by Middle East Eye (MEE). If plans go ahead, the "revolutionary" fibre-optic cable, known as the Trans Europe Asia System (TEAS), will be the first infrastructure project directly connecting Israel with Saudi Arabia. It already has the backing of the Saudi-based Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), which is jointly owned by the six GCC member states. In addition to the kingdom, the 20,000-kilometre cable is expected to run through four other Gulf states — the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman — as well as Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territories on a route […]]]> 626471 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230329-oman-trinidad-and-tobago-establish-diplomatic-ties/ Wed, 29 Mar 2023 14:55:27 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=625224 The Sultanate of Oman and Trinidad and Tobago have taken a significant step towards strengthening their relations by signing a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic relations, reported Muscat Daily. Oman, Trinidad and Tobago establish diplomatic relations https://t.co/fyX8aFOon7 — Establishment of Diplomatic relations news (@UNdiprelations) March 28, 2023 The statement was signed by Oman's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Dr Mohammed Bin Awadh Al-Hassan, and his Trinidadian counterpart Dennis Francis. The signing ceremony is the latest development in the growing relations of cooperation between the Gulf and Caribbean regions. The establishment of diplomatic ties between Muscat and Port of Spain comes almost a year after the pair held a meeting at the UN, during which expanding […]]]> 625224 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230328-twenty-years-since-the-iraq-invasion-and-what-has-been-gained/ Tue, 28 Mar 2023 09:11:07 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=624945 Twenty years have passed since the US-led invasion of Iraq, with its harsh consequences, severe developmental setbacks and its alienation from its Arab neighbours which conspired against it, as well as its resort to the embrace of Iran. These twenty years have destroyed the civilisation of an ancient country that witnessed the strongest model of development and advancement in the Arab world. What the Tatars did to Iraq in 1258, the Americans did again when they destroyed a sovereign country. Not even Iraqi artefacts were spared; they were stolen along with the country's wealth. The US occupation fuelled hateful sectarianism which ignited sedition, making sectarianism the most prominent political headline for the regime that Paul Bremer, the US appointee and […]]]> 624945 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230326-gcc-foreign-ministers-urge-us-to-act-on-israeli-measures-against-palestinians/ Sun, 26 Mar 2023 16:59:43 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=624699 The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Sunday called on the US to assume its responsibility towards responding to Israeli measures and statements against the Palestinians, Anadolu reports. Last week, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich denied the existence of the Palestinian people during a speech in Paris. The far-right minister also caused international outrage on March 1 when he called for wiping out the Palestinian town of Huwara in the West Bank following the death of two Israelis in a shooting attack. His call followed an Israeli settler attack on the town during which a Palestinian was killed and several homes and vehicles were vandalized. In a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the GCC foreign ministers called on […]]]> 624699 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230319-saudi-arabia-amends-citizenship-laws-to-include-foreign-nationals/ Sun, 19 Mar 2023 15:11:23 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=623084 Saudi Arabia has announced it will grant citizenship to certain to selected foreign nationals, following the passing of a law, allowing Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to do so, upon the proposal from the Minister of Interior earlier this year. The decision was made public on the official Twitter account of the Makkah Al-Mukarramah, quoting the Ministry of Interior. The amendment was published in the official gazette Um Al Qura on Friday. In January, a royal decree was issued to approve the amendment of Article Eight of the Saudi Nationality Law, becoming law on 13 March. READ: Saudi Arabia could invest in Iran 'very quickly' after agreement – Minister According to the amendment, a person born to a […]]]> 623084