Saudi Arabia
Pilgrims pray on peak day of hajj in shadow of coronavirus
Middle East
July 30, 2020
Pilgrims pray on peak day of hajj in shadow of coronavirus
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Masked pilgrims arrived Thursday at Mount Arafat, a desert hill near Islam’s holiest site,…
Saudi national shoots and kills two Egyptian construction workers
Egypt
July 29, 2020
Saudi national shoots and kills two Egyptian construction workers
A Saudi national shot and killed two Egyptian construction workers in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates…
Very different, symbolic hajj in Saudi Arabia amid virus
Middle East
July 29, 2020
Very different, symbolic hajj in Saudi Arabia amid virus
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Muslim pilgrims, donning face masks and moving in small groups after days in isolation,…
Technology infuses ancient hajj rites amid global pandemic
Middle East
July 28, 2020
Technology infuses ancient hajj rites amid global pandemic
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The vast white marble floors surrounding Islam’s holiest site, the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca,…
Pilgrims arrive in Mecca for downsized hajj amid pandemic
Middle East
July 27, 2020
Pilgrims arrive in Mecca for downsized hajj amid pandemic
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Muslim pilgrims have started arriving in Mecca for a drastically scaled-down hajj as Saudi…
Egypt’s furniture exports fall 33% during past 6 months
Business
July 26, 2020
Egypt’s furniture exports fall 33% during past 6 months
The Egyptian Furniture Export council (EFEC) revealed Monday that the sector’s exports fell from January to June by 33 percent…
Qatar Airways sues, seeks US$5 bn from boycotting countries
Middle East
July 22, 2020
Qatar Airways sues, seeks US$5 bn from boycotting countries
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Long-haul carrier Qatar Airways said Wednesday it launched international arbitration seeking at least five…
Gulf economies seen shrinking sharply in 2020, to pick up in 2021: Reuters poll
Middle East
July 21, 2020
Gulf economies seen shrinking sharply in 2020, to pick up in 2021: Reuters poll
DUBAI (Reuters) — Economic activity in the Gulf will contract sharply this year before recovering in 2021, hit by the…
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman admitted to hospital for tests
Middle East
July 20, 2020
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman admitted to hospital for tests
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has been admitted to a hospital in the capital, Riyadh,…
Iranian FM visits Baghdad, ahead of Iraqi PM trip to Riyadh
Middle East
July 19, 2020
Iranian FM visits Baghdad, ahead of Iraqi PM trip to Riyadh
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iran’s foreign minister on Sunday stressed that Iran-Iraq relations would not be “shaken” ahead of the Iraqi…