Middle East Experience

Russia has begun a project to rehabilitate Syria’s ancient city of Palmyra in its latest efforts to gain a foothold in the country’s vital sectors.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Russia gains foothold in Syria’s Palmyra through archaeological restoration

The United Arab Emirates recorded 2,167 new COVID-19 cases, 2,102 recoveries and four deaths in 24 hours, state news agency WAM reported on Tuesday.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Health authorities carried out 274,675 tests to determine Tuesday’s numbers which indicated a slight increase from Monday’s 1,964 infections.The UAE’s COVID-19 death toll mounted to 1,767 and total recoveries rose to 595,086, the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) reported on Tuesday. There are currently over 19,000 active cases in the country and the total diagnosed infections since the pandemic’s onset increased to 616,160.The UAE’s vaccination campaign has been one of the world’s most efficient, with over 14.5 million doses administered and the majority of the population already inoculated against the virus.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Data from Reuters indicates that an average of 84,723 doses are administered in the UAE per day. If the country continues to vaccinate at this rate, it would take a further 24 days to administer enough shots to another 10 percent of the population.Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s capital, announced on Tuesday that it will be offering vaccines to tourists and holders of expired residency or entry visas free-of-charge. However, there has been no indication as of yet about Dubai’s, the most populous emirate, stance on this.In addition, Abu Dhabi’s crisis committee updated guidelines for the operation of children’s nurseries. The new requirements include increasing the number of children within each “bubble.” Prior to the updated regulations, 8 to 12 children aged between 45 days and two years were permitted to be in a “bubble,” but this has now increased to 10 to 16 children between two and four years old, Abu Dhabi Media Office reported on Monday.The decision comes amid a decline in COVID-19 infections, namely in Abu Dhabi’s nurseries, and an increase in vaccinations among staff which has reached 77 percent.Read more:UAE records 1,964 new COVID-19 cases, six deaths in 24 hoursAbu Dhabi updates COVID-19 rules for nurseries, allows more children per ‘bubble’Abu Dhabi offers free COVID-19 vaccines to tourists
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE reports 2,167 new COVID-19 cases, four deaths in 24 hours

As the first anniversary of the US-brokered Abraham Accords nears, the UAE and Bahrain are continuing to expand bilateral relations with Israel with huge collaborations in the field of green technology, an expert told Al Arabiya English.The deals are expected to surpass $500 million over the next five years, according to Asher Fredman, CEO of Gulf-Israel Green Ventures. “And that is a conservative estimate,” he said.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The UAE, said Fredman, has made huge strides in the green energy space, with the realization and implementation of some of the world’s most advanced green technologies.The country has already developed two of the world’s largest solar plants and will soon break ground on a third. Abu Dhabi is home to the Middle East’s first facility for carbon capture and storage, and to Masdar City, an international pioneer in sustainable urban living.“Israel is incredibly strong on the innovation front and out-of-the-box thinking and the UAE is also seeking to create this huge innovation ecosystem. The UAE in particular has great strengths in taking innovative ideas and making them into a reality.“Together, these countries will absolutely be a force to be reckoned with.”According to the latest Global Cleantech Innovation Index, Israel ranked second in the world in emerging cleantech innovation, and sixth in cleantech overall.Fredman said investments to materialize over the coming years will include large-scale projects by Israeli companies in areas such as water treatment and reuse, and precision irrigation. There will, he said, also be “significant” investments in joint ventures between Israeli startups and major Emirati entities and companies to pursue projects both in the UAE and other GCC countries.He said we can also expect to see partnerships in fields such as renewable energy, off-grid electricity and sustainable agriculture.‘A match made in heaven’Given that both Israeli and Emirati companies are highly active in sustainability-related projects around the world, their presence in first world nations and developing regions are likely to evolve over the next two to three years, said Fredman.“The UAE has several strategies in water and food security and in renewable energies,” he said. “Many companies in the UAE are now looking to take the expertise in Israel and implement it in the Emirates. For example, construction companies are looking to broker deals in green materials from Israel – which is suitable for UAE’s arid climate – and implement them here.”“I have had visits to Masdar City and there is a lot of interest in potential Israeli companies setting up shop and pilot schemes there. There will also be large-scale projects in water recycling – which will be one of the first projects in the green technology space – and in making buildings more energy efficient as well as a focus on low carbon mobility.”Both the UAE and Israel have a similar vision when it comes to ambitious green technology goals, said Fredman.For example, the UAE aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 23.5 percent and its energy consumption by 40 percent by 2030, he said. It plans to increase waste treatment to 85 percent by 2035, with 32 percent water savings by the end of the decade.Israel has also set far-reaching environmental goals, including aims to source 33 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. Israel’s Environmental Protection Ministry recently proposed the goal of reducing Israel’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80-85 percent by 2050.“We are talking a lot of potential or large deals which meet the key goals with both countries- both countries are dealing with arid temperatures, water shortages and both want to be centers or hubs for green innovations,” said Fredman.“Both countries not only need to focus on green innovation because of their respective arid climates, but also because they both want to become hubs of green innovation for rest of world.”Signed in September 2020, the Abraham Accords led to formal ties between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel and declared the importance and supremacy of human dignity, freedom and religious freedom.The Accords became the first peace agreement between an Arab country and Israel in more than 25 years, and has led to a number of bilateral deals between Middle Eastern countries. Fredman said the area of green technology is expected to be one of the strongest partnerships between the countries.Over the next decade, as renewable energy becomes a growing focus, the UAE and Israel could become the center of green innovations, said Fredman.“If you combine Israeli innovation and the Emirati vision which enables them to turn these ideas in reality - then that’s a match made in heaven.”Read more:‘Thrilled to have you’: UAE welcomes American Jewish advocacy groupIt’s time for the Middle East to work together on climate change, afforestationUAE FM Abdullah bin Zayed receives Israeli Envoy to GCC States
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE-Israel Greentech collaboration to reach 0million in five years: Expert

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Tuesday said the Kingdom has a common vision with Austria regarding the stability of the region in a joint press conference with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg in Vienna.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Schallenberg said Saudi Arabia is his country’s largest partner in the Middle East.“Saudi Arabia plays a pivotal and important role in the region,” Schallenberg said.When it comes to the Iran-backed Houthi militia, the Austrian foreign minister said that their attacks on the Kingdom are “unacceptable,” adding that the Houthis must return to the negotiating table.“We support the return, consolidation and implementation of the nuclear agreement with Iran,” the Austrian foreign minister said.“We presented a strategic initiative for a ceasefire in Yemen,” Prince Faisal said, adding that the Houthis rejected the ceasefire initiative in Yemen and deliberately escalated and attacked Marib.The Saudi foreign minister said the Kingdom is keen to stop the war in Yemen.“I spoke in Austria about Iranian interference in the region,” Prince Faisal said, adding the Kingdom holds Iran responsible for its nuclear activities.Prince Faisal said the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) role in Iran’s nuclear file is “crucial.”In terms of climate change, the Saudi foreign minister said the Kingdom is “committed with the international community to address the challenge of climate change.”“Saudi Arabia’s environmental initiatives have affected us greatly,” the Austrian foreign minister said, adding that Saudi Arabia’s Green Initiative is an important step.Schallenberg said there are “developments taking place in Saudi Arabia in several areas, and we support them.”Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister discussed with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief “the importance of imposing the necessary mechanisms for a rapid and comprehensive inspection of all Iranian nuclear sites,” the foreign ministry wrote in a tweet on Monday.During the meeting, Prince Faisal and IAEA’s Rafael Grossi discussed the most prominent developments towards the Iranian nuclear program and the significant requirements needed to stop Iranian violations and policies of international laws and norms that destabilize the security and stability of the region and the world.Read more:Saudi Arabia’s FM and IAEA chief discuss Iran’s nuclear programIran, world powers adjourn talks on reviving nuclear deal, resumption date unclear
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabian, Austrian FMs hold joint press conference in Vienna

Angry protesters took to the streets in Tunisia after security forces brutally attacked a boy and dragged him after he was stripped naked, renewing controversy over civil liberty violations and mistreatment of prisoners in the country.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Protests erupt after Tunisia police beat, strip, drag young boy during arrest

Dubai on Tuesday opened one of the world’s largest and most modern in-house airport lab to process COVID-19 PCR tests at the Dubai International (DXB) Airport. The move is part of Dubai’s efforts to further enhance safe international travel while accelerating the recovery of the travel sector.The outcome of a close cooperation between Dubai Airports, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Pure Health, the state-of-the-art laboratory was inaugurated by Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Located close to Terminal 2, the 20,000 square-foot laboratory is a dedicated facility for round the clock processing of RT-PCR test samples collected from passengers at DXB.The lab can process up to 100,000 samples every day and provide reliable results within a few hours. It is equipped with negative and positive pressure rooms and is linked to government reporting platforms ensuring secure and easy sharing of information between health and regulatory authorities and airlines.The launch follows the announcement of the reopening of Terminal 1 and Concourse D after 15-months.Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: “The drastic change in travel norms and the introduction of travel protocols including PCR testing have changed the airport experience of travelers around the world.”“As the world's busiest international hub preparing for a surge in passenger traffic over the summer holidays and beyond, we were keen to make sure that the airport journey is safer, smoother and faster while fulfilling the required health protocols. The lab's quick turnaround for processing test results will go a long way in helping us deliver a service experience the world expects from Dubai,” he added.For his part, Awad Saghir al-Ketbi, Director General of the DHA, stressed that the laboratory’s capabilities will greatly help reduce waiting times for passengers arriving into Dubai and enable the effective implementation of relevant preventive and safety procedures.Read more:Great Barrier Reef should be listed as ‘in danger’, UN committee recommendsGermany’s Merkel receives Moderna COVID-19 dose after first dose of AstraZenecaDubai investment arm posts $5.1 billion loss amid pandemic
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Dubai opens world’s largest airport lab for COVID-19 PCR tests

State Department spokesperson Ned Price described President-elect Ebrahim Raisi’s landslide win as “pre-manufactured.”
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Iran accuses US of interfering in domestic affairs

Is new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett the right person at the right time for the job or just a political opportunist?
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: All eyes on enigmatic Bennett as he works out what kind of premier to be

This will do away with the need of physically carrying their vaccination cards or PCR result reports..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: UAE: Use Emirates ID to show vaccination, PCR result at Dubai airport

Lebanon reported 147 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said Tuesday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon reports 147 COVID-19 cases, four deaths in the last 24 hours