Middle East Experience

In a continuation of the real estate collapse incidents in Egypt, a 10-story property collapsed March 27 in Cairo, resulting in five deaths and injuring many.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Building collapses in Egypt’s Gesr al-Suez district

With the signing of the Abraham Accords and the opening of Emirati, Bahraini and Moroccan diplomatic missions, Israel is now preparing for an unprecedented wave of Muslim tourists.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel prepares for wave of Muslim tourists

Tribes in the northeastern Syrian province of Hasakah agreed to set up a tribal judiciary system as an alternative to the official judiciary affiliated with the Kurdish-led authorities running the area.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Tribes in east Syria resort to their own judiciary over lack of trust in official courts

Oman will be imposing strict measures during the holy month of Ramadan to limit the spread of the coronavirus, the country’s health ministry announced on Monday.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.Ramadan – which will start on April 13 or 14 pending the moon sighting – is the month when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. It is often celebrated with large gatherings, group prayers at mosques, and several other communal activities.The nighttime curfew currently in place between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. will be lifted on April 8, but a ban on movement of vehicles and people outdoors will be reinstated when Ramadan starts.All commercial activities will also be banned during those times.Ramadan gatherings, such as group Iftars and tents, are strictly prohibited, the ministry added.Only Omani citizens and holders of residency visas in Oman will be allowed to enter the country starting from April 8.Taraweeh prayers, which are the additional ritual prayers performed by Muslims at night after the Isha prayer during the holy month of Ramadan, will not be allowed.All entertainment, sports, cultural and other activities will be suspended during Ramadan.Read more:Oman’s new quarantine measures for travelers: all you need to knowOman announces nighttime curfew, threatens full lockdown amid COVID-19 case surgeOman bans direct flights from UK as of March 19 to curb spread of coronavirus
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Oman imposes strict COVID-19 measures during Ramadan

Iran’s daily new Covid-19 infections reached a four-month high on Monday, said the health ministry, as the capital Tehran was put on the highest virus risk level.In the past 24 hours, 13,890 new cases were confirmed across the country, ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said in televised remarks.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.It is the highest number of daily infections since December 4 and close to the peak of 14,051 positive cases recorded on November 28.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Islamic republic is battling the Middle East’s deadliest outbreak of the Covid-19 illness and case numbers have risen following a surge in travel during the Iranian new year holidays that started on March 21.Tehran is now classified as “red” on the country’s coronavirus risk scale, according to the health ministry, with only essential services, such as food providers and health centers, remaining open.The new reported cases brought the total number of infections to over 1.94 million, Lari said.Monday’s 172 coronavirus fatalities were also at their highest level since December 23.According to Health Minister Saeed Namaki, Iran is now facing “one of the most severe waves of the coronavirus.”“Sadly, no one listened to me about managing travel and today we’re facing a great difficulty,” he was quoted as saying by the ministry’s website.Read more:Coronavirus: Iran approves Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccineIran closes Iraq border points to stem spread of coronavirus variantCoronavirus: Iran imposes mandatory quarantine for travelers from Europe
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran’s daily new coronavirus infections reach four-month high

On a doubly dramatic day in Israel, the first witness testified in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trail and President Reuven Rivlin began consultations on who will be tasked to form the next government.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: First witness testifies in Netanyahu trial

Saudi Arabia will grant permits for those wishing to perform Umrah or visit the Holy sites during Ramadan on the condition they are vaccinated, according to a statement from the Kingdom’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.The ministry specified that those wishing to receive the permits must have taken two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and based on their immunized status on the Tawakkalna app. It specified that this also applies to a person who has been vaccinated 14 days after receiving the first dose or a vaccinated person who has recovered from being infected.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.It also confirmed it will increase the operational capacity of the Grand Mosque in Mecca during the month of Ramadan while adhering to all precautionary and preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19.Those wishing to apply must register for an Umrah permit, or even to perform regular prayers and visit the holy sites, through the Umrah and Tawakkalna apps by reserving the available time slots available.Read more:COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for Hajj, Umrah workers in Mecca and MedinaSaudi King approves support package for Hajj, Umrah companies impacted by COVID-19Coronavirus: 5 questions answered if you are planning to travel to Mecca for Umrah
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia to grant Umrah permits during Ramadan for vaccinated people

The proposed amendment that would see Algerian nationality withdrawn for dual nationals in case of 'prejudice' against the state has been withdrawn..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Algerian government withdraws controversial 'deprivation of nationality' bill

Countries from the Gulf and the Middle East gathered in the United Arab Emirates and released a statement Monday committing to “accelerate climate action.”“We will work together to ensure the success of the Paris Agreement and will cooperate with our global partners to strengthen climate ambition. We urge the international community to take steps to keep a Paris-aligned temperature limit within reach, including through enhanced nationally determined contributions,” a joint statement from the UAE Regional Climate Dialogue read.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The initial meeting was held on Sunday after US President Joe Biden’s special envoy for Climate, John Kerry, met with leaders from the UAE, Kuwait, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, Sudan and Oman.Biden has said climate change would be a central focus on US foreign policy. The US president plans to host a global summit later this month to discuss the issue and ways to reduce nations' carbon footprints.“In this critical decade for climate action, we believe that investments in renewable energy, ecosystem-based approaches, nature-based solutions, climate-smart agriculture, carbon capture technologies, and other low-carbon solutions will support sustainable economic growth and job creation,” Monday’s statement read.The gathered countries also committed to reducing emissions by 2030 and increasing investment in a new energy economy.They also pledged to help “the world’s most vulnerable cope with the devastating consequences of climate change.”This comes after Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the “Saudi Arabia Green Initiative” and the “Middle East Green Initiative” last month.Saudi Arabia’s initiatives will raise vegetation cover, reduce carbon emissions, combat pollution and land degradation, and preserve marine life.The Crown Prince also announced a project to plant 10 billion trees within Saudi Arabia in the years to come, which would increase the areas covered by the current trees by 12 times.US, UAE praise Saudi Arabia’s Green InitiativeSeparately, the US and UAE released a joint statement on the climate challenge. “We believe decisive action can be an engine for economic growth and sustainable development,” the statement read at the end of Kerry’s visit to the UAE.The two countries said they would work together to make new investments financing decarbonization across both the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.They also commended Saudi Arabia’s recent Green Middle East initiative. “In this regard, we are encouraged by new regional initiatives, such as the Green Middle East initiative by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the joint statement read.“We are encouraged by the conversations we held in Abu Dhabi with other countries in the region, which we believe inaugurated a new era of cooperation in the region for a future focused on prosperity through climate policy, investment, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.”Read more:US President Biden to invite rivals Russia and China to first global climate talksParis says Biden, Macron in agreement on COVID-19, climate change
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Gulf, Middle East nations agree on ‘climate action’ after meeting with US envoy Kerry

Unlike other Gulf Arab states that have administered doses to masses of foreign workers in a race to reach herd immunity, oil-rich Kuwait has come under fire for vaccinating its own people first..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Discrimination outcry as expats come second in Kuwait’s vaccine drive