Middle East Experience

Saudi Arabia plans to start a tourism development fund with an initial $4 billion investment, the ministry of tourism said on Sunday, as part of plans to diversify the economy in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.The Tourism Development Fund will launch equity and debt investment vehicles to develop the tourism sector in collaboration with private and investment banks, the ministry said in a statement.“The launch of the fund at this time, as the tourism sector faces unprecedented global challenges, is testament to investor and private-sector confidence in the long-term outlook for tourism in Saudi Arabia,” Minister of Tourism Ahmed al-Khateeb said in the statement.Tourism is one of the main pillars of Saudi economic reforms aimed at weaning the country off its dependence on oil revenue.Read more:Safely watch June 21 solar eclipse from UAE's Abu DhabiCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia will lift COVID-19 restrictions on June 21Saudi Arabia prepares summer holiday campaign with COVID-19 measuresSaudi Arabia last year opened up to international tourists, launching a new visa regime while appealing to foreign companies to invest in the sector, which it hopes will contribute more than 10% of gross domestic product by 2030, up from 3 percent currently.Analysts predict a severe economic contraction in Saudi Arabia this year, hit by the economic impact of measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and by a sharp drop in oil revenue because of low crude prices.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia to launch bln tourism development fund amid coronavirus outbreak

New evidence from an investigation showed that Iran is responsible for the death of several migrants who were allegedly forced into a river by Iranian border guards and drowned, Afghanistan’s foreign ministry announced on Sunday.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the appThe ministry also objected Iran’s refusal to take responsibility for the deaths of the migrants who officials claim died while they were illegally crossing into neighboring Iran from Herat province in May, according to AFP.Eighteen bodies were reportedly recovered from the Harirud river as of May 11, Gulran district governor Abdul Ghani Noori told AFP.Noori had said 55 migrants were forced into the river, according to the report.Shortly after the incident, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ordered a “thorough” probe into incident and formed a new 10-member team for the investigation after some of the bodies which were recovered showed signs of torture, according to AFP.Iranian authorities have dismissed the claims, saying the incident occurred inside Afghanistan’s territory, AFP reported.Read more:Hundreds protest Afghan migrant drownings at Iran borderAfghan president appoints team to probe migrant drownings in IranKabul in bid to retrieve bodies of Afghan migrants forced into river by Iran guards
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Evidence shows Iran responsible for migrant deaths: Afghanistan foreign ministry

The United Arab Emirates reported on Sunday 392 new coronavirus cases and one new death, with 661 new recoveries, according to state news agency WAM.The latest numbers are in line with the country's relatively low daily increases over the last week. On Saturday the UAE recorded 388 new coronavirus cases, one death, and 758 recoveries.There were over 48,000 coronavirus tests performed in the last 24 hours across the country, WAM reported.The UAE has carried out a comprehensive coronavirus testing campaign, which has been praised by the World Health Organization (WHO).A recent study by Hong Kong-based Deep Knowledge Group ranked the United Arab Emirates third in the world for monitoring and detection of COVID-19, following Singapore and Israel respectively.The UAE ranked second in emergency preparedness for the pandemic, following China, according to Deep Knowledge’s COVID-19 Regional Safety Assessment.The assessment also designated the UAE in its “Tier 1” category, which consists of 20 regions that ranked highest in its index “in terms of regional safety and stability” amid the coronavirus pandemic.On Tuesday the government announced it released a new test that can detect whether an individual has developed antibodies that fight against the novel coronavirus.The tests detect antibodies in the blood that reveal whether a person has had COVID-19 in the past, regardless of how severe their symptoms were.Read more:Coronavirus: UAE releases new, accurate COVID-19 antibody test to marketLive video: Safely watch June 21 solar eclipse from UAE's Abu DhabiCoronavirus: Saudi Arabia will lift COVID-19 restrictions on June 21
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: UAE reports 392 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours, one death

Saudi Arabia saw a slight drop in its daily increase after recording 3,379 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, raising the total to 157,612, the health ministry announced on Sunday, the same day restrictions were lifted.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.Thirty-seven people who had previously tested positive for the virus have died, taking the death toll to 1,267.Despite an increase in daily cases, the Kingdom continues to see more recoveries which have reached 101,130 as of June 21 after 2,213 new recoveries were recorded.Health ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Abd al-Ali continued to urge people to comply with precautionary measures such as avoiding crowds and gatherings, wearing a face mask and maintaining social distancing.Al-Abd al-Ali also said that the infection rate in the Kingdom had been decreasing till early June when the number of infections increased again. He said this is directly connected to the lack of compliance with precautionary measures.One person infected 21 individuals during a family gathering, including elders and children, in which two individuals who contracted the virus now need medical attention, the health ministry said in a statement on Sunday.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Read more:Saudi Arabia will lift COVID-19 restrictions on June 21As the Kingdom continues its efforts in returning to “normalcy,” all economic and commercial activities are allowed to resume operations given they adhere to precautionary measures.International travels remains suspended until further notice, however, the decision to resume flights outside of the country is being reviewed by special committees.Individuals who violate any of the preventative measures will be penalized, according to the interior ministry.Read more:Saudi Arabia to resume domestic tourism starting from June 21International flights to, from Saudi Arabia halted until further notice
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia records 3,379 new cases as restrictions lifted

Yemen’s Houthi movement introduced a bylaw stipulating that citizens pay an obligatory tax to the purported descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, raising the ire of opponents who argue that such a move promotes racism and classism in Yemeni society.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: New Houthi bylaw sparks controversy over classism, familial 'supremacy' in Yemen

In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Rabbi Yehuda Garami, chief rabbi of the Jewish community in Iran, explains about their daily lives and why he paid a condolence visit to the family of assassinated Gen. Qasem Soleimani.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Chief rabbi of Iran: Israel does not represent Judaism

Dubai will begin welcoming back tourists from overseas through its airports starting from July 7 and will allow foreign nationals with valid residency visas to return to the emirate starting from June 22, the Dubai Media Office (DMO) said on Sunday.The emirate will also allow its citizens and residents to travel to other countries, “provided the destination countries agree to receive them,” starting from June 23, in tandem with the UAE’s decision to allow people residing in the country to travel to “low risk” countries.Visit our dedicated coronavirus site here for all the latest updates.“The Supreme Committee said it has taken a decision to allow foreign nationals holding residency visas issued in Dubai to return to the emirate starting tomorrow (Monday, June 22). It will also allow citizens and residents to travel to any foreign country starting Tuesday, June 23 provided the destination countries agree to receive them,” Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management said in a statement carried by DMO.“The Committee has also decided to start welcoming visitors and tourists from overseas beginning 7 July 2020. The new decisions are supported by protocols and preventive measures aimed at safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all passengers travelling into or out of Dubai Airports,” it added.The decision to welcome back residents from overseas and allow entry to tourists marks the “progress” Dubai achieved in combating COVID-19, the committee said.Dubai has been gradually re-opening since the end of May, when Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed shortened curfew, eased some restrictions on activities and allowed the resumption of businesses, the emirate has been increasingly re-opening.Since then, the emirate continued re-opening including allowing shopping malls and private sector businesses to operate at fully capacity, reopening of pools and resumption of water sports activities, and allowing 100 percent of public sector employees to return to work in their offices.On June 18, Dubai allowed the resumption of a new set of activities and services including: public libraries, private museums and art galleries, home services such as those providing healthcare services to elderly people and people of determination, home beauty services, elective surgical procedures lasting more than two and a half hours, outdoor tourism and fitness activities such as camping; swimming pools; fitness centers, water sports, water parks, interactive water activities, 3D and 4D cinema halls, and children’s sports and play areas at public parks and beaches.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Read more: Categories, restrictions: All the facts about UAE allowing travel amid coronavirusCoronavirus: Dubai reopens more activities, ends mall ban for elderly, childrenCoronavirus: Emirates allows booking flights from Dubai to 12 Arab states from July 1
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Dubai welcomes returning residents from June 22, tourists from July 7

Tourists will be required to present a recent Covid-19 negative certificate or undergo testing at Dubai airports..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Dubai to welcome tourists from July 7

As the director-general spoke, the number of daily coronavirus patients was reported: an increase of 101 from the night before.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Health Ministry D-G: Israel does not need to lockdown

Tensions are running high between the three countries after recent talks failed to produce a deal on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Sudan warns against escalation in Nile dam dispute