Middle East

Jeddah, Oct 5: An obnoxious and very unpleasant discussion on Twitter about the role of expatriates in Saudi society has elicited hundreds and thousands of reactions. The hashtag — offensively titled “Deportation of Foreigners Is a National Request” — has riled and angered many members of Saudi society. Because of the huge response, the hashtag trended throughout the day on Tuesday. As is often

Dubai, Oct 4: Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Managing Director of Dubai Future Foundation, has emphasised that the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, has always founded a new phase that is moving the UAE into a global horizon and enhancing its competitive position. Al

Jeddah, Oct 3: Since its establishment a few months ago, the General Authority for Entertainment (GAE) has been working relentlessly to introduce the Saudi public to a new form of entertainment that takes the Saudi cultural life into new dimensions. With a view to changing local and international perceptions, a royal decree was issued, ordering the creation of GAE, a decision that comes in tune

Jeddah, Oct 2: The nation on Saturday mourned the loss of a Saudi security officer who laid down his life defending the border. At the same time, the Kingdom felt proud of its forces who foiled a massive Houthi attack on the southern border. Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki said Cpl. Nader bin Ahmed Abdullah Ali was injured when projectiles launched by the Houthis landed in

Riyadh, Oct 1: Saudi Arabia and Turkey have pledged to boost anti-terror cooperation and work more closely to find solutions to the key regional issues that have tossed the whole Middle East region into turmoil. The pledge was jointly made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following their two-hour talks in Ankara on Friday. Erdogan decorated the crown

Riyadh, Sep 30: Saudi Arabia has warned of "disastrous consequences" from a United States law allowing 9/11 victims to sue the kingdom, in a major spike in tension between the longstanding allies. The warning came yesterday after the US Congress voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to override President Barack Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) on relations between

Jeddah, Sep 30: A leading Washington-based analyst feels that firmly rooted Saudi-US ties will weather all possible consequences of Wednesday’s passage of the controversial 9/11 bill, known as the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). Fahad Nazer, a non-resident fellow with the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW), told Arab News that the current state of Saudi-US

Jeddah, Sep 22: Police arrested five people — four foreigners and one Saudi — for links with terrorist groups and recent terror operations in the Kingdom. The five, arrested this week, are two Syrians, one residing in the Kingdom, one Indian and one Pakistani residing in the country, and a Saudi. The five are currently detained in public security prisons and undergoing investigations, security

Jeddah, Sep 29: A leading Turkish political analyst has described Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif’s visit to Ankara as “highly significant and extremely timely.” Speaking to Arab News from the Turkish capital, Sinem Cengiz, a Kuwaiti-born Turkish national specializing in Turkey’s relations with the Middle East and is currently press adviser at a diplomatic mission in Ankara, said the significance

Riyadh, Sep 28: Thousands of Saudis have signed a petition urging an end to the guardianship system giving men control over the work, study, marriage and travel of female relatives, activists said Tuesday. The petition calls for the kingdom’s women to be treated “as a full citizen, and decide an age where she will be an adult and will be responsible for her own acts”, said campaigner Aziza Al-