Middle East Experience

Ticket scammers are preying on Coldplay fans in Dubai after the British band’s free Expo 2020 concert was fully-booked within two hours of reservations going live.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Lena Abdullah, a 24-year-old Dubai resident, was the unfortunate victim of a scammer.“I’ve dreamed about this night my whole life, I was so sad that [they] scammed me, it was so bad,” she told Al Arabiya English.The Jordanian teacher logged on to the Expo website half an hour before bookings went live on Saturday night in order to secure a ticket.She waited in a virtual queue for an hour and a half before the website crashed, she said. By that time, the concert was fully-booked.Posting on Twitter, she tried to buy a ticket to her ‘dream’ gig and was messaged with offers ranging up to $408 (AED 1,500).Lena eventually found a seller who provided proof of purchase and asked for $102 (AED 375) for three tickets.After she transferred the funds, the scammer blocked her.“I feel really bad. I’m shaking, I’m so, so, so sad. I’ve never contacted the police before.“Now I have to go through all of this, and especially for me to see the people that I love the most, it’s really, really sad.”An Expo 2020 Dubai spokesperson warned against buying Coldplay tickets from resellers.“We caution visitors against paying money to an untrusted source. The original purchaser may distribute more than one copy of the same ticket, thus leading to fraudulent sales,” said a press statement issued on the Expo website on Saturday evening.A Facebook search on Sunday morning revealed that many people were looking to sell tickets online.Al Arabiya English spoke to several of the resellers – most were asking for $27 (AED 100) for a ticket, although others were looking for up to $136 (AED 500).One person told Al Arabiya English that they had reserved several tickets for the sole intention of reselling them.Others claimed that they had initially planned to attend the concert but then were not able to make it.The Expo team in a press statement urged people without tickets to watch the concert on Tuesday from one of the alternative venues.The show will be livestreamed on screens at Jubilee Park, Festival Garden, and Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre which will operate on a first come, first serve basis.It will also be streamed online on the virtualexpodubai.com website, the Expo YouTube channel, and Expo TV.Read more:Coldplay to perform free concert at Expo 2020 DubaiExpo 2020 Dubai to host ‘Terry Fox Run’ for World Cancer DaySpain and the UAE to form strategic partnership to improve stability and human rights
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Ticket scammers prey on Dubai Coldplay fans after free Expo 2020 concert fully-booked

Suspected al-Qaeda militants have abducted five UN workers in southern Yemen, Yemeni officials said on Saturday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The officials said the workers were abducted in the southern province of Abyan late Friday and taken to an unknown location. They include four Yemenis and a foreigner, they said.In response to a question about the abduction, United Nations UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said “we are aware of this case but for obvious reasons we are not commenting.” He did not elaborate.Tribal leaders said they were negotiating with the abductors to secure the workers’ release. They said the abductors demanded a ransom and the release of some militants imprisoned by the internationally recognized government.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media and the tribal leaders did so for fear of reprisals.The Southern Transitional Council condemned the abductions as a “terrorist operation.”The Yemeni government confirmed that the workers with the UN Department of Security and Safety were abducted by unknown armed men, adding that it was working to secure their release. It didn’t provide further details.Abductions are frequent in Yemen, an impoverished nation where armed tribesmen and al-Qaeda-linked militants take hostages to swap for prisoners or cash.Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, has long been considered the global network’s most dangerous branch, and has attempted to carry out attacks on the US mainland.Yemen has been convulsed by civil war since 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthis took control of the capital Sanaa and much of the country’s north, forcing the internationally recognized government to flee to the south, then to Saudi Arabia.An Arab coalition entered the war in March 2015, backed by the United States, to try restore President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to power.Read more: Pushed into the shadows, ISIS still has global reachISIS is moving, and not as a zombie: ‘mowing the grass’ is far from overIsrael signs defense agreement with Bahrain in Gulf first
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Yemeni officials say suspected militants abduct 5 UN workers

Eleven people including nine foreigners have been sentenced to jail in Saudi Arabia on charges of laundering ten billion riyals ($2.67 billion), state TV reported on Sunday quoting a prosecution statement.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The judiciary also ordered fines and the confiscation of funds and assets from seized investment portfolios, the report added. Read more: Saudi police arrest man who smashed car windows, threatened people with metal objectMass brawl in Riyadh shopping district leads to nine arrests: PolicePolice arrest thieves in Riyadh, seize 26 stolen vehicles and money
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia jails 11 people for laundering .7 bln: Report

Qatar previously said it is unable to provide Europe’s entire gas supply. The European Union reportedly may not move forward with its 2018 antitrust dispute with QatarEnergy, as Russia-Ukraine tensions threaten energy supply. The European Commission had launched an investigation into QatarEnergy companies and the impact on “the free flow of gas” within the European ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: EU to stop antitrust action against QatarEnergy as it scrambles to secure energy supply

Saudi Arabia’s historic region of AlUla played host to a polo tournament in the desert over the weekend.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Sponsored by luxury watch brand Richard Mille, the tournament was organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla and is the first to be held under the newly-formed Saudi Polo Federation.It featured clashes between four teams including players from the renowned Argentine team La Dolfina.The event aimed to highlight the historic links between the sport of polo and the equestrian heritage of Arabia.Players battled it out against the backdrop of AlUla’s scenic cliffs on Friday and Saturday.Read more: UAE, Qatar continue talks as follow up to AlUla declaration‘AlUla Moments’ set to feature immersive art experiences, eco-trail run, and moreRoyal Commission of AlUla signs MoU with Catmosphere to safeguard Arabian leopard
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: In pictures: Polo tournament held in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla

Suspected al-Qaida extremists have abducted five UN workers in southern Yemen, Yemeni officials said on Saturday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Suspected Al-Qaida extremists abduct UN workers in Yemen

The champion has bagged the title for the 16th time in his career..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Al-Attiyah crowned winner of the Qatar International Rally for 16th time

Like the rest of Lebanon, the economic crash swept through the street like a destructive storm..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Once Lebanon's centre of glamour, Beirut's Hamra Street goes dark

At least 6.7 million people are internally displaced in Syria. A young Syrian refugee whose New Year’s wish went viral has moved into her house in Idlib with the help of a Qatari donor. Shahd shared her wish with the world last year when a journalist from Al Jazeera asked her what she wanted for ..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Qatari donor makes wish come true for young Syrian refugee

Turkey and Israel are both claiming credit for thwarting 12 acts of terror against Jews in Turkey.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Why is Mossad fighting Turkey for credit at thwarting terror against Jews? - analysis