Middle East Experience

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not react publicly to the statement by French President Emmanuel Macron over the need to involve Israel and Saudi Arabia in talks with Iran.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: France, not US, offers to involve Israel in talks with Iran

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed Feb. 9 to adopt a mutual tourism pact, which will enable those already vaccinated against the coronavirus to travel between the two countries freely.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Israel, Greece agree on 'green passports' for citizens vaccinated for COVID-19

Dubai authorities have issued a fine of 50,000aed ($13,000) to the organizer of a yacht party, while each partygoer was fined 15,000aed ($4,000) for violating COVID-19 precautionary measures, the Dubai Media Office announced on Wednesday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.“Dubai Police, in cooperation with Dubai Tourism, issues a AED50,000 fine to the organizer of a private party on a yacht violating social distancing & COVID-19 precautionary measures. Each participant was also fined AED15,000,” the media office said in a tweet.The operator’s license has been suspended for one month, the office added.A video shared on Twitter showed blurred footage of people on board the yacht and loud music can be heard in the background.On Tuesday, authorities also fined an organizer and attendees of a private house party that also violated precautionary measures.In January, authorities issued tighter restrictions on social gatherings, weddings, restaurants and gyms, amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management outlined the new rules which included reducing the number of attendees at social events, increasing the required distance between tables at restaurants and workout equipment at gyms.Authorities limited the attendees for weddings, social events, and private parties to a maximum of 10 first-degree relatives only. This rule, which went into effect on January 27, was applied to all events whether held at hotels, venues, or homes.The daily number of infections in the United Arab Emirates, which includes Dubai, crossed the 3,000 threshold on January 12 and continued to climb, hitting nearly 4,000 daily cases. The daily toll has slightly dropped in recent days.Read more: Dubai fines home party organizer $13k, partygoers $4k for breaking COVID-19 rulesUAE records 3,539 new COVID-19 cases, 2,993 recoveries and 9 deathsAbu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways says ‘100 pct of our crew are vaccinated’
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Dubai fines yacht party organizer k, partygoers k for breaking COVID-19 rules

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met US special envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking in Riyadh, Saudi state news agency SPA said on Wednesday.“Developments concerning Yemen were discussed, and joint efforts to support reaching a comprehensive political solution to the Yemen crisis were reviewed,” the SPA report said.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen was also at the meeting, it said.US President Joe Biden last week named veteran US diplomat Lenderking as a special envoy in a bid to step up American diplomacy to try to end the war which has created what the UN calls the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.An Arab military coalition which intervened in Yemen in 2015 has been backing government forces fighting the Iran-backed Houthis.UN officials are trying to revive peace talks to end the war.The new administration in Washington has also announced an end to its support for the Arab Coalition military operations in Yemen, however, President Joe Biden said the US will continue to help Saudi Arabia defend its sovereignty and land.Read more:Iran-backed Houthis resume offensive in Yemen’s MaribArab Coalition intercepts Houthi drone launched from Yemen targeting Saudi ArabiaUS will reverse designation of Yemen’s Houthis as a terror organization: Official
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia's FM Prince Faisal meets US Yemen envoy in Riyadh: SPA

Cairo has begun fining farmers for inefficient irrigation practices as it promotes a series of projects to enhance water security.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt fines farmers for wasting water as Nile dam crisis drags on

Tunisian feminist filmmaker Moufida Tlatli, who wrote and directed the emblematic works “The Silences of the Palace” and the “The Season of Men” died at the age of 73 on Sunday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Tunisian trailblazing feminist filmmaker passes away

With Russia, China and North Korea all modernizing their nuclear arsenals, and Iran enriching, allies want U.S. reassurance. But they are less inclined to believe it..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Biden’s Top Challenge Abroad Is Something No One Wants to Talk About

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched on Wednesday the luxury Red Sea Project "Coral Bloom" designs.The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), chaired by the Crown Prince, will develop the main hub island at the destination, Shurayrah and its 11 resorts, referred to as "Coral Bloom."For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app."We expect guests to be awed by what they see when they first arrive at The Red Sea Project, enjoying a truly immersive barefoot luxury experience. The Coral Bloom designs, taking inspiration from the incredible flora and fauna found uniquely in Saudi Arabia, promise to make that vision a reality," said John Pagano, CEO of TRSDC.The island will have 11 hotels, designed for a post-coronavirus world and adapted to form part of the dunes of the island, the company said in a statement.The multi-billion dollar project design will create new beaches created on the dolphin-shaped island along with a new lagoon."The Red Sea Project has already passed significant milestones and work is on track to welcome the first guests by the end of 2022, when the international airport and the first four hotels will open. The remaining 12 hotels planned in phase one will open in 2023," the company said."Upon completion in 2030, The Red Sea Project will comprise 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and around 1,300 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. The destination will also include luxury marinas, golf courses, entertainment and leisure facilities."Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 aims to diversify the Kingdom's economy away from a reliance on oil and push the tourism sector to contribute 10 percent of gross domestic product.The Red Sea project is intended to be the catalyst for a new tourism industry in a country which is opening up its natural splendor to visitors from around the world. The Kingdom first began issuing tourist visas in 2019 and announced that year that it had attracted $30 billion in tourism investment.Read more:Inside Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea projectSaudi Arabia’s Red Sea project plans 16 hotels by 2023, expects tourism recoverySaudi Arabia’s ‘The Red Sea Project’ breaks ground on coastal villageNEOM set to be world’s largest carbon-free system, hub for renewable energySaudi Arabia unveils master plan of its Qiddiya entertainment city project
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince launches luxury Red Sea project 'Coral Bloom'

Stories making headlines in Qatar on #TheRoundUp​ 🇮🇷Qatar’s strategic location could assist with Iran tensions ❌Analysts slam ‘illogical’ Bahrain invitations 📱Four @HMC_Qatar facilities close ✊🏿To mark February’s Black History Month we highlight some black-owned businesses in Qatar..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: The Round Up 10 Feb 2021 – Doha News Qatar

‘We will miss you, my dear teacher’, Sheikh Abdullah tells Dr Anwar Gargash..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Sheikh Abdullah pays touching tribute to outgoing UAE minister