Middle East Experience

Almost every country in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia is expected to have negative gross domestic product this year, and the overall GDP for the region is expected to contract by an average of 3.1%.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Mideast economies to see biggest downturn in four decades, IMF projects

Egyptian security forces kill seven suspected militants in a shootout in eastern Cairo in which a policeman died.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt foils possible terrorist plot against Coptic Christians

The US 5th Fleet in the Persian Gulf said today that 11 Iranian vessels “repeatedly conducted dangerous and harassing approaches against multiple US naval ships operating in international waters.”
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Intel: 11 Iranian ships harass US vessels in Persian Gulf

An Egyptian parliamentarian is planning to submit a bill obliging citizens to make donations to a government fund in order to help in the fight against the coronavirus, with some saying mandatory donations are illegal and a form of taxation.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egyptian MP proposes compulsory citizen donations to fight COVID-19

Dubai has announced new restrictions for movement permits as the emirate aims to combat the spread of the coronavirus.Permits to leave the house to buy essential goods at a grocery store or pharmacy will now be limited to one every three days, while visiting the ATM for a cash withdrawal will be limited to one in every five days. Emergency reasons are limited to twice a day, according to the permit application website.The movement permit system was initially launched in late March, with fines for violators of the system later announced.Dubai police issued a statement later on Thursday clarifying that all additional permit requests will be rejected if the time between the previous request had not expired.With Dubai’s 24-hour lockdown set to expire in two days and Emirates restarting flights to select destinations, there had been signs that the UAE may be beginning to ease the restrictions on movement and social gathering it has imposed since March.However, with coronavirus cases in the country continuing to rise daily, a circular issued by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) on Wednesday night confirmed that restaurants, bars, and hotel facilities would continue to be shut until further notice.This latest announcement is a further tightening of restrictions, despite the official date for the end of lockdown fast approaching.The UAE has had 5,365 infections of the coronavirus, with 33 dead. There have been 1,034 recoveries so far, the UAE’s Ministry of Health said Wednesday.Read more:Coronavirus: Dubai businesses may never return to ‘normal’ as closures extendedCoronavirus: Dubai launches movement permit website, waives fines between April 4-5Coronavirus: Dubai asks residents to apply for permits if they want to leave home
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Dubai announces stricter lockdown, grocery permits only every three days

Saudi Arabia executed on Thursday a Yemeni national who carried out a terrorist attack on a group of performers on stage during the Kingdom's Riyadh Season festival in November 2019, reported the official news agency SPA.The attacker, identified as 33-year-old Imad Abdulqawi al-Mansouri, was instructed to carry out the attack by an al-Qaida leader in Yemen, according to SPA.He ran onto the stage with a sharp weapon and attacked two men and a woman performer during a play in the Saudi capital, in the first of such incident since the Kingdom opened its doors for entertainment. He also stabbed a security guard, SPA reported.The execution was carried out in the capital Riyadh, according to SPA.Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Season ran from October to December 2019 and hosted renowned artists including Bruno Mars, Pitbull, John Legend, and Alicia Keys. Concerts took place in a range of venues across the Saudi capital, including the King Fahd International Stadium, in its biggest entertainment event to date.Those didn't attending live performances were able to attend exclusive exhibitions such as the immersive “Marvel: Universe of Superheroes” exhibit, which showcased original artwork, first-edition comic book covers and pages, and costumes and displays from the popular Marvel movies.The Riyadh Season is one of several of Kingdom's festival seasons that occur throughout the year.The events aim to transform Saudi Arabia into a tourist destination, and provide the country’s residents and visitors with year-round entertainment events, in line with the country’s Vision 2030 economic reform plan.Al Arabiya English's Tamara Abueish contributed to this report.Read more: Three performers stabbed on stage in Saudi Arabia’s capitalSaudi Arabia’s biggest entertainment event to host international stars, showsElectric Kingdom: American documentary captures Saudi Arabia’s transformation
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia executes Yemeni man who carried out attack on performers in Riyadh

Qatar recorded 392 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 4,103, the health ministry announced on Thursday.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.A total of 1,897 were performed over the past 24 hours as well. An additional nine people recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 415. The death toll reached 7 so far.The first case in the country was confirmed on February 27, but the number of cases began to rise more steeply from mid-March onwards, beginning with the announcement of 238 new cases in a single day on March 11.Many of the cases are believed to be within crowded labor camps for migrant workers, according to media reports. As well as implementing standard restrictions on contact including closing shops and stopping Friday Prayers, Qatar has also locked down the “Industrial Area” where many migrant workers are confined.Qatar has experienced a relatively steady rise of 6-9 percent in daily cases in the last four days, a slowdown from early April, with a 23 percent increase in cases on April 4 being the country’s highest daily increase so far.Al Arabiya English's Tommy Hilton contributed to this report.Read more:With 15,000 cases in the Gulf, here is how GCC states are copingDubai announces stricter lockdown, grocery permits only every three daysDubai businesses may never return to ‘normal’ as closures extended
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Qatar records 392 new cases out of 1,897 tests over past 24 hours

Two races have been cancelled, seven have been postponed and the later rounds, starting with the French Grand Prix on June 28, are in doubt
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: Formula One season 'could end in tears' amid Covid-19 crisis

At the moment, China is the UAE's leading trade partner, accounting for more than 9 percent of the UAE's non-oil trade
Source: Arabian Business
Full Article: UAE likely to eye suppliers besides China after Covid-19, says Dubai Future Foundation

Saudi Arabia recorded four new coronavirus deaths over the past 24 hours raising the death toll to 83, the health ministry spokesman confirmed on Thursday.The four people who died are non-Saudis with ages ranging between 35 and 89. All four people had preexisting conditions, according to the spokesman.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.He also said the Kingdom recorded 518 new cases bringing the total to 6,380. Of the confirmed cases, 990 have fully recovered after 59 new recoveries were registered over the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry.The total number of coronavirus cases in the GCC states passed 15,000 on Monday, with all six of the Arabian Gulf countries still enforcing lockdowns of varying degrees almost a month after Bahrain recorded the first death from the new coronavirus in the region on March 16.Saudi Arabia has the most total confirmed coronavirus cases in the region and the highest death toll. However, it is also by far the largest country in the GCC, both in terms of population and area.When taking population into account – with 34.76 million people, Saudi Arabia is larger than all the rest of the GCC states put together – the Kingdom has about 184 cases per million people.Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister Dr. Tawfig al-Rabiah warned that the number of cases in the Kingdom could reach up to 200,000 within weeks, based on four different studies conducted by Saudi and foreign experts. His lower estimate was 10,000.“There is no doubt that our commitment to the instructions and procedures, in its entirety reduces the number of cases to the minimum, while non-compliance will lead to a huge increase in the number of cases,” al-Rabiah was quoted as saying by SPA.He also said the numbers in the coming stages depend on everyone's cooperation and commitment to the instructions and precautionary measures. Many people did not take the dangers of the pandemic seriously enough, according to the health minister.Saudi Arabia implements coronavirus measuresThe Kingdom has implemented several measures to slow the spread of the deadly virus. The latest being a 24-hour curfew and lockdown imposed on the cities of Riyadh, Tabuk, Dammam, Dhahran and Hofuf and throughout the governorates of Jeddah, Taif, Qatif and Khobar. Al-Rabiah said this was imposed in an effort to keep traffic and gatherings at a minimum. Studies show the rate of traffic is 46 percent which is inacceptable and defeats the purpose, the health minister added.Read: Saudi's King Salman orders treatment for all, including visa violatorsLast week, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz ordered coronavirus treatment to be available for anyone in need of medical care, including people who have overstayed their visa in the Kingdom.Entry and prayer in the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina have been halted until further notice. Main prayers as well as Friday prayers at mosques throughout the Kingdom have also been suspended. The decision to suspend prayers at mosques came after a meeting between Saudi Arabia’s highest religious body, the Council of Senior Scholars, and the Minister of Health.Read more:With 15,000 cases in the Gulf, here is how GCC states are copingCoronavirus in Saudi Arabia: The latest facts about what is closed and bannedSaudi Arabia cases could reach 200,000 within weeks, says minister
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia records four new deaths, 59 recoveries over past 24 hours