Arabian Peninsula Media Roundup (30 November - 13 December)

Panoramic Aerial View of Manama with the Al Fateh Grand Mosque and Group of Iconic Landmarks against Pastel Color Sunset Sky via Shutterstock Panoramic Aerial View of Manama with the Al Fateh Grand Mosque and Group of Iconic Landmarks against Pastel Color Sunset Sky via Shutterstock

Arabian Peninsula Media Roundup (30 November - 13 December)

By : Arabian Peninsula Page Media Roundup Editors

[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Arabian Peninsula and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Arabian Peninsula Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion to ap@jadaliyya.com.]

Regional and International Relations


Israel expects $220 million in non-defense trade with Bahrain in 2021
– Israel foresees $220 million in non-defence trade with Bahrain in 2021. Bahrain’s minister for industry, commerce and tourism, Zayed bin Rashid al-Zayani, said he saw an “immense opportunity to even develop (ties) further, not just in terms of business - in terms of culture, sport, exchange, tourism”. The Economy Ministry trade forecast anticipated growth in Israeli exports to Bahrain of diamonds and refined metals for chemicals, and of imports of oil and aluminium from Bahrain.

Kuwait condemns killing of Iranian scientist – Kuwait’s foreign ministry on 27 Nov, condemned the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist. “The ministry expressed ... its rejection of anything that would increase tension and undermine stability in the region,” the statement said, adding condolences to Iran.

Kuwait's KPC signs deal to store 3.14 mln barrels of oil in Japan –  State-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corp signed an agreement to store 3.14 million barrels of crude oil in Japan. The agreement is part of KPC’s efforts to secure storage abroad and increase its market share in the Far East.

Al Jazeera journalist sues Saudi crown prince and UAE leader over phone hack – Ghada Oueiss, an anchor for Al Jazeera, has filed a lawsuit in the United States alleging that her phone was hacked using commercially sold Israeli spyware and that intimate photos and videos were leaked to stifle her reporting on Saudi Arabia. Ms Oueiss’ phone was infiltrated using a vulnerability in WhatsApp, that allowed operators of Israel-based NSO Group’s hacking tools to inject spyware into a device simply by making a missed call, the lawsuit said.

Qatar says stopped Bahraini cruiser in its waters, second incident in a month – Qatar’s coastguard stopped a Bahraini cruiser that was fishing in its waters – the second incident in a month. The authorities arrested three people including one Bahraini national.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar Near U.S.-Brokered Deal to End Lengthy Rift – Saudi Arabia and Qatar are nearing a preliminary deal to end its rift that’s dragged on since June 2017, after a final push by the Trump administration in its last few weeks in office and through Kuwait playing a mediating role. The tentative agreement does not involve the three other Arab countries (UAE, Bahrain, Egypt). The rapprochement is likely to include reopening air space and land borders, an end to the information war Qatar and Saudi Arabia have waged and other confidence-building steps as part of a detailed plan to gradually rebuild relations.

Saudi Arabia agrees to allow Israeli commercial planes to cross its airspace – Saudi Arabia agreed on 30 Nov to let Israeli airliners cross its airspace en route to the UAE after talks between Saudi officials and Jared Kushner.  The agreement was hammered out just hours before Israel’s first commercial flight to the UAE was planned the next morning, which was at risk of being cancelled with no overflight agreement.

Saudi foreign minister sees "significant progress" towards resolving Gulf rift –  Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said on 4 Dec he was hopeful a deal could soon be reached to resolve a long-running dispute among Gulf nations after recent progress in talks led by Kuwait and the United States.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt stress maritime freedom in the Gulf – Saudi Arabia and Egypt stressed on 1 Dec the importance of guaranteeing maritime freedom in the Gulf, Bab al-Aandeb strait, and the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia says it’s ready to end Gulf crisis with Qatar ahead of Biden presidency — but it’s not a breakthrough yet – Analysts say the development is not a massive breakthrough but a moderate sign of progress sometime in the making, with a long way still to go. And its timing is important — just weeks before a Joe Biden administration takes the helm in the U.S.

Senior Saudi royal launches tirade against Israel – Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former Saudi intelligence chief who is close to King Salman, launched a stinging attack on Israel in comments that hinted at tensions in the kingdom over whether it should begin to formalise relations with the Jewish state. Prince al-Faisal, accused Israel of being the “last of the western colonising powers in the Middle East” in a speech delivered at a regional conference in Bahrain. His comments came two weeks after Saudi Arabia was embarrassed after details were leaked to the Israeli press of a secret meeting in the kingdom between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Top Saudi diplomat on 1st Sudan visit since al-Bashir ouster – Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in Khartoum on 8 Dec, the first visit by the kingdom’s top diplomat since Sudan’s military overthrew former autocratic President Omar al-Bashir last year. The visit would “activate deals” between Khartoum and Riyadh.

UAE, Saudi Interested To Acquire BhahMos Missiles As India Deepens Ties With The Arab World – The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia could be interested to acquire Indo-Russian BrahMos Missile, as New Delhi looks to bolster its defense ties with the Arab World news. This comes just before the Indian Chief of Army Staff General M M Naravane’s visit to the UAE and Saudi next week, during which he would meet many officials apart from his counterparts. This Is the first-ever visit by any Indian Army Chief to Saudi Arabia, General Naravane is expected to address the Saudi National Defence College. It is reflective of the deepening military ties with these countries.

Abu Dhabi-based airline launches Beijing route – Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways will start a weekly passenger service to Beijing from December 7, underscoring both China’s and the UAE’s control of the coronavirus pandemic. Etihad resumed services between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai in July after a suspension of international travel in March. The airline will be the sole Middle East carrier operating non-stop passenger flights to and from both Chinese cities.

Army chief General Naravane holds talks with UAE's Land Forces Commander on defence cooperation – India’s Chief of Army Staff Gen. MM Naravane has met Commander of the UAE's Land Forces and Staff Major General Saleh Mohammed Saleh Al Ameri and discussed key issues of mutual interest and defence cooperation. Gen. Naravane is currently on a six-day tour of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, in a first-ever visit by a head of the Indian Army to the two strategically important Gulf countries.

Emirati investor acquires half of Israeli soccer club known for anti-Arab fan base –  In a sale worth roughly $92 million, Abu Dhabi businessman and member of the Emirati royal family has become a 50 percent owner of an Israeli professional soccer club, known for its anti-Arab fan base and reluctance to field Muslim players, an early example of the new kind of investment driven by thawing relations between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors.

Human Rights


Motor racing-Hamilton says Bahrain 'death row' letter hit home
– Lewis Hamilton said he had been moved by a letter from the son of a man facing the death penalty in Bahrain and assured activists he would not let rights issues go unnoticed. Hamilton said he had hoped to meet Bahrain’s Crown Prince but testing positive for COVID-19 had ruled that out.

Kuwait's new all-male parliament is a blow for women's rights – Although none of the 29 female candidates of the 326 candidates won a seat in Kuwait's elections for the 50-member legislature, they are far from stopping their efforts. But analysts fear calls for quotas and women's political leadership are falling on deaf ears.

Saudi court sentences American citizen to six years in prison despite appeals from the U.S. – A court in Saudi Arabia on 8 Dec sentenced Walid Fitaihi, a doctor with dual American and Saudi citizenship, to six years in prison on charges that included illegally obtaining US citizenship without official permission, and posting messages on Twitter supporting the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings. The sentencing came despite the Trump administration's repeated appeals to release Fitaihi, who was arrested in November 2017. He was held for nearly two years without trial and tortured while in custody. Fitaihi was released from custody last year but he and his family remained under a travel ban with their Saudi assets frozen.

Finance


Oman to enact labour, taxation and subsidy reforms
– Oman plans to amend labour laws, introduce new taxation and end some “long-standing” subsidies while ensuring that low-income families are protected, Sayyed Badr Al Busaidi, Oman’s Foreign Minister, told the IISS Manama Dialogue summit in Bahrain. Significant changes to labour policy would include abolishing a requirement that expatriate workers need permission to transfer to a new employer.

Oman’s Fiscal Plan Faces Large Implementation and Funding Risks – Oman’s economy and public finances are likely to underperform significantly against the fiscal consolidation targets set out in the government’s new medium-term fiscal plan, Fitch Ratings says. Partly as a result, asset drawdowns are expected, and external support are to play an important role in assuring the country’s continued smooth funding. Fiscal deficit is expected to double to 18% of GDP this year, narrowing only to 7% of GDP by 2024. The security and social stability concerns that constrained fiscal consolidation in the past remain, and there remains a risk that the authorities will not be able to carry out in full the rapid, large-scale reforms envisaged.

Billions in the bank, yet Kuwait is squeezed for cash – Low oil prices has put Kuwait’s economic forecast deficit close to 40 per cent of GDP, higher than it was in the aftermath of the first Gulf war when Iraq invaded Kuwait. While other Gulf states have turned to global debt markets to fund themselves through the pandemic, Kuwait is hamstrung by parliament’s refusal to renew a debt law that elapsed in 2017. Any attempt to tap into the country’s large sovereign wealth fund is also opposed by lawmakers as it would undermine its function as a nest egg for future generations. Analysts doubt the new parliamentary intake will agree with the cabinet and the ruling family on the hard choices needed to tackle the fiscal crisis.

Qatari stocks up in early trade after progress on Gulf rift – Qatari stocks were up in early trade on 6 Dec after weekend news that a resolution to a dispute with some of the country’s Arab neighbours seemed within reach. The Qatar main index was up 1% in early trade, Refinitiv data showed.

Abu Dhabi wealth fund in talks with KKR over Italian grid deal – Abu Dhabi’s biggest sovereign fund is in talks with United States firm KKR to invest in Telecom Italia’s (TIM) last-mile network in a deal that has drawn scrutiny from Italy’s government – who holds special vetting powers to block unwanted bids in industries of strategic importance. Abu Dhabi could hold up to 11% of TIM’s last-mile grid.

Dubai's Emaar appoints new chairman as founder takes managing director role – Dubai’s largest listed developer Emaar Properties has named Mohamed Alabbar, founder of the company and previously chairman of the board of directors, as managing director, and appointed Jamal Bin Theniyah as the new chairman. The decision was taken to comply with regulations that prohibit combining the position of chairman of the board and any executive position.

Gulf banks take lead role in companies’ bailouts – Prior to the pandemic, the Gulf states were already struggling with budgets tightened by falling crude prices. In April, oil futures turned negative for the first time in history. The response has largely come from monetary policy, channelled through the region’s commercial banks, with only limited fiscal support. Liquidity injections and easing capital requirements have put lenders on the front line of mitigating the blow for regional companies dealing with the coronavirus fallout.

Gulf states turn inward as they face diminishing resources – As global markets plummeted, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund went on a spending spree, buying stakes in a host of US and European blue-chip stocks in the first three months of the year, worth collectively at least $7.7bn.  But Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, last month signalled a potential shift in focus, saying the $347bn fund would pump about $40bn into the Saudi economy annually in 2021 and 2022, up from $15.5bn last year.

Investment banks stick with Gulf despite falling fees – Top global investment banks say they have no intention of pulling back from the Gulf, despite falling fees, low oil prices, and the region’s economies are under threat. Regional fees from M&A, loans, debt and equity issuance fell 7 per cent in the 10 months to the end of October. Globally, meanwhile, fees rose 17 per cent in the same period as companies in the US and Europe raised cash to deal with the impact of the pandemic. The outlook for 2021 is less clear, as the pandemic spurs activity in certain areas, such as cash raises for relatively healthy companies and restructuring of balance sheets for struggling ones, while stifling other activities, such as fundraising.

Yemen in Crisis


Yemen pushes polio immunization in bid to stem outbreak
– As the world focussed on COVID-19 this year, the United Nations in August declared an outbreak in Yemen of the virus that can cause permanent paralysis, with children most at risk. Wild polio today is found only in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Yemen 'one step away from famine' as donors dry up amid Covid, UN warns –The window to prevent the return of famine to Yemen is rapidly closing, UN agencies have warned, with a new assessment showing millions could head further into hunger in the coming months. The alert came as a food security survey, known as an IPC assessment, showed thousands of people are slipping into famine – a number that is predicted to triple in the first half of next year.

Unchecked violations ‘may amount to war crimes’, Security Council hears – UN experts called on the Security Council on 3 Dec, along with the international community at large, to put an end to the “surreal and absurd dimension” of human rights violations in Yemen, where abuses continue unchecked. 

Window to prevent famine in Yemen is narrowing, UN agencies warn – New figures reveal record highs of acute food insecurity in Yemen, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warned. New Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis for Yemen indicates that pockets of famine-like conditions IPC (Phase 5) have already returned for the first time in two years, and warns that the number of people experiencing this degree of catastrophic food insecurity could nearly triple from 16,500 currently to 47,000 people between January and June 2021. At the same time, today’s IPC analysis warns that the numbers of people facing Phase 4 food insecurity– the Emergency phase – is poised to increase from 3.6 million to 5 million people in the first half of 2021 – putting them too on the precipice of falling into catastrophic conditions and – without a change of course – possibly famine.

Saudi-led coalition in Yemen intercepts two explosive-laden boats south of the Red Sea – The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said on 9 Dec it intercepted and destroyed two explosive-laden boats south of the Red Sea. The coalition added the boats were launched by the Houthis from Hodeidah.

Yemeni government, separatists start executing Riyadh pact, says coalition – The Saudi-led coalition said that implementation of the Riyadh pact, would start on 10 Dec with a troop redeployment in the south ahead of announcing a new power-sharing government.

Domestic Affairs


Kuwait votes for parliament amid economic, virus challenges
– Kuwait voted on 5 Dec for its National Assembly, the first election since the death of its longtime ruling emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, and as the nation faces serious economic problems under the coronavirus pandemic. The country’s voters selected lawmakers for 50 seats in the parliament, in the freest and most-rambunctious assembly in the Gulf Arab countries.

Kuwaiti opposition make gains in first parliamentary vote under new emir – Opposition candidates made gains in a parliamentary vote in Kuwait in which two thirds of MPs lost their seats and no women were elected, a result that could hamper government reform efforts to address a severe liquidity crunch.

Kuwait election sees two-thirds of parliament lose seats – Kuwaitis elected a new parliament, with an over-60% turnout of the country’s more than 560,000 registered voters, in an election that saw two-thirds of lawmakers and the country’s only female legislator lose their seats. The direction that the new 50-seat National Assembly will take remains unclear as 21 of them will become first-time legislators.

Qatar rules out normalization of Israel ties for now – Qatar’s foreign minister said that his country remains committed to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative with the creation of a Palestinian state with its capital in east Jerusalem, and any progress on that front would need to be “at the core” of any agreement to normalize relations with Israel. “Right now, I don’t see that the normalization of Qatar and Israel is going to to add value to the Palestinian people,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said at Italy’s annual Mediterranean Dialogue.

Saudi Aramco says pump malfunctioned at petroleum derivatives distribution station in Jazan – Saudi Aramco announced on 2 Dec that a malfunction in one of the pumps at the petroleum derivatives distribution station in the Jazan region. The state oil giant said “its technical teams are working around the clock to fix the technical malfunction, as soon as possible, and provide the petroleum products that the Jazan region needs from the station, without interruption, as the supply of petroleum products has gradually returned.

Bahrain plans free shots, Saudi Arabia approves Pfizer jab – Bahrain has announced plans to give the public free coronavirus vaccines, as Saudi Arabia said it approved an inoculation by Pfizer and BioNTech to fight the pandemic. Bahrain plans to inoculate everyone 18 years and older in the kingdom at 27 different medical facilities, hoping to be able to vaccinate 10,000 people a day. Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority said it had registered the Pfizer vaccine based on information given by Pfizer on 24 Nov, and would announce plans on how it would distribute the vaccine in the kingdom.

UAE target of cyber attacks after Israel deal – The UAE has been the target of cyber attacks after normalising ties with Israel, the UAE’s cyber security head, Mohamed Hamad al-Kuwaiti. Kuwaiti said the financial sector was targeted but did not elaborate. He did not say if any of the attacks were successful or provide details on who the perpetrators were.

A Chinese vaccine wins its first approval in the U.A.E., which says it is 86 percent effective – The United Arab Emirates approved China-based Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate citing preliminary data showing that it was 86 per cent effective.

Reports and Opinions


Gulf regulators must clarify their cross-border responsibilities
– In the past three years, some of the Gulf’s leading companies, including Abraaj, Drake & Scull, Arabtec, Al Mojel, and most recently NMC Healthcare, have experienced problems that highlighted unaddressed governance risks. These occurred after an increase in corporate governance regulations, introduced after a domestic equity-market crisis in 2005. However, the spirit of these regulations and corporate practice differ. The resulting gap has implications for economic stability and even the delivery of essential services. Regulators must clarify and enforce the rules for companies operating across jurisdictions. They must also agree on their respective oversight and enforcement obligations.

A Resolution of Qatar Boycott Looms, But Can It Last? – The incoming Biden administration has strongly indicated its desire not to inherit the standoff among key US partners in the Gulf. Kuwaiti mediation appeared to bring Riyadh and Doha very close to a limited bilateral reconciliation early in December, which has given way to what appears to be a broader GCC rapprochement. Yet many of the outstanding disagreements may persist, suggesting an uncertain future. Most notable is Qatar’s relations with Turkey and Iran.

A Saudi-Israeli rapprochement? – The entire Gulf, under Trump, has become increasingly important to advancing his policy of maximum pressure toward Iran, even bringing Israel into the fold to complete Iran's alienation. One more deal – either linked to normalisation or to ending the GCC crisis – facilitated by the Trump administration and within the framework of a transactional US-Saudi relationship, could facilitate ties between the Gulf and Israel or between the states of the Arabian side of the Gulf more broadly. However, is hardly sufficient to address the Biden administration's concerns about Saudi Arabia as long-term partner.

The Moment to Rethink U.S.-Saudi Ties – The opinion letter expresses how President-elect Joe Biden’s should go beyond rhetoric, and his policy toward Riyadh should adopt a more cleared-headed look at what the kingdom is, and, crucially, what it is not. Mr. Biden should base the US-Saudi relationship on first-order principles: cooperate when possible and deviate when US and Saudi interests don’t match up. For Washington, that means understanding when Saudi requests for help are counterproductive; removing itself from a war in Yemen; and all the while continuing a pragmatic intelligence sharing on terrorism. Ultimately, Saudi Arabia needs the United States more than the United States needs Saudi Arabia.

Missiles, bullying claims, a tragic death: what’s going on at Saudi Aramco? – Five whistleblowers — including current and former Saudi Aramco employees — warn that treatment of expatriate staff has deteriorated markedly in recent years, threatening morale and the safety of projects. These whistle-blowers believe the company squeezed by an oil crash and under pressure to accelerate Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plans for the “Saudisation” of the kingdom’s workforce — has taken to pushing out key staff and cutting corners on projects such as the Jizan development. They also paint a detailed picture of a company culture troubled by perceived mistreatment of experienced expatriates, from bullying and mismanagement to racism and allegations of neglect. 

Diversity in technology must go beyond gender – On February 9, the UAE Mars Hope Probe is set to end its seven-month journey to Mars that will measure its weather systems. The UAE will become only the fifth entity to reach the planet, and is a big achievement for the nation as a relative outsider to space exploration. Sarah Al Amiri, UAE’s minister of state for advanced technology and chair of the UAE Space Agency, highlights how at the heart of achieving success in technology and innovation, there needs to be true diversity, one that is inclusive of different genders, ages, nationalities and backgrounds.

UAE’s oil expansion gives it new weight within OPEC – The UAE’s resistance at OPEC meetings to extend deep supply cuts into 2021 is the start of a more assertive policy stance that could make it harder for the group’s de-facto leader, Saudi Arabia, to balance global oil supply, and effectively delaying the group’s latest strategy decision. Until recently, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait, moved together on supply policy. They even, at times, cut more supply than they had agreed to compensate for other OPEC members who did not reduce as much as they had pledged.

The significance of Indian Army chief’s visit to the Gulf – The chief of the Indian Army General MM Naravane is making a four-day trip to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, highlighting the increasing strategic partnership and cooperation. The visit comes as a boost to the already aggressive diplomacy New Delhi has orchestrated in the Middle East, particularly with the Gulf, over the past few years. It is also significant as it opens an avenue of defence cooperation, specifically when it comes to joint exercises and training in land warfare, particularly with regard to closer cooperation on issues such as counterterrorism. New Delhi is also using its closeness to the Gulf block for multi-layered geopolitical reasons, such as taking the advantage of the fissures developed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

Yemen: inside the ‘world’s worst humanitarian crisis’ – On top of the COVID-19 crisis, the six-year war, the famine and widespread poverty, as well as the dengue fever and malnutrition killing more children than bullets or COVID-19 – Yemen is also dealing with difficulties accessing much-needed fuel due to a blockade imposed by the coalition on the north of the country.

علاقات إقليمية ودولية

سفير الإمارات في واشنطن: هناك “بذور تقدم” نحو حل الخلاف الخليجي

كشف سفير الإمارات في واشنطن يوسف العتيبة عن تطورات تشير إلى أن هناك رغبة وتعهدات لتخفيف حدة الأمور للوصول إلى حل لإنهاء الخلاف مع قطر. 

الكويت تعلن عن مباحثات مثمرة لحل الخلاف الخليجي.. قطر تصف الخطوة بالمهمة والسعودية متفائلة بقرب التوصل لاتفاق

صرّح وزير الخارجية الكويتي أن هناك تطورات إيجابية بشأن الأزمة الخليجية وجميع الأطراف حريصة على التضامن والاستقرار الخليجي والعربي، وعلى التوصل إلى اتفاق نهائي.

الأزمة الخليجية.. مصر ترحب بجهود التسوية والإمارات تثمن الدورين الكويتي والأميركي

تسعى مصر لحلحلة الخلاف الخليجي وعلقت على أنها ملتزمة لإيجاد حل شامل للأزمة المستمرة منذ أكثر من 3 سنوات. 

وجبة عشاء “الشابات” تجمع إسرائيليين مع إماراتيين وبحرينيين

نشط تداول على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي بشأن تجمع إسرائيلي إماراتي بحريني لعشاء تقليدي لتعزيز الحوار بين الثقافات المختلفة وتأتي هذه التبادلات الودية عقب اتفاق التطبيع بين إسرائيل والإمارات والبحرين.

للمرة الثانية في أقل من شهر.. قطر توقف طرادا بحرينيا انتهك مياهها الإقليمية

أوقفت السلطات البحرية القطرية طرّادا بحرينيا انتهك مياهها الإقليمية. وقالت الداخلية القطرية إنه تم اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة بحق الأشخاص الذين كانوا على متن الطراد. 

ترصد كافة التحركات في الخليج.. طهران تهدد بالرد بعد تحليق قاذفتين أميركيتين في المنطقة

قال العميد قادر رحيم زاده نائب قائد القوة الدفاعية الجوية التابعة للجيش الإيراني، إن أي خرق للأجواء الإيرانية سيواجَه برد صارم ومدمر من القوات المسلحة الإيرانية.

موقع إسرائيلي: السعودية لعبت دوراً في اتفاق التطبيع بين المغرب وإسرائيل

يتكهن الخبراء أن السعودية تلعب دورا غير مباشر في اتفاق التطبيع من أجل تشجيع بعض البلدان وذلك لتمهيد الطريق لبلدها. 

اقتصاد

أرامكو السعودية تواكب الثورة الصناعية الرابعة

تسعى أرامكو السعودية لتصبح رائدة في الثورة الصناعية الرابعة وذلك من خلال الاستثمار في المشاريع التكنولوجية المتقدمة وحرصا على الابتكار والاختراع في مجالات النفط والغاز بهدف تقليل الانبعاثات واستهلاك الطاقة الأمر الذي سيؤدي إلى منتجات أكثر تنافسية واستدامة. 

أبوظبي تستأنف الأنشطة الاقتصادية والسياحية والثقافية خلال أسبوعين

أعلنت أبوظبي أنها ستستأنف جميع الأنشطة الاقتصادية والسياحية و الثقافية ويأتي هذا القرار بعد فترة حيث فرضت الحكومة إجراءات احترازية صارمة في هذه الإمارة بهدف تخفيف انتشار فيروس كورونا. 

قطر تصعد بقوة وتقود مكاسب بورصات الخليج بعد تقدم بملف المصالحة الخليجية

ارتفعت حركة الأسواق الخليجية الرئيسية وسط تقارير تظهر مدى التضافر لجهود حلحلة الأزمة الخليجية.

 سياسة

مباحثات قطرية هندية لتعزيز العلاقات

بحثت قطر والهند هاتفيا عدد من القضايا ذات الاهتمام المشترك والعلاقة الثنائية بين البلدين ومناقشة الوضع السياسي داخل الهند.

جبهات لم ينتصر فيها ولي العهد السعودي محمد بن سلمان

تواجه السعودية عددا من القضايا الشائكة التي تسعى إلى تسويتها بما يضمن لها حفظ ماء الوجه أمام المجتمع الدولي.

 السفارة الإسرائيلية في أبوظبي ستكون بحجم نظيراتها في واشنطن ولندن وموسكو

كشفت مصادر دبلوماسية في تل أبيب أن السفارة التي ستفتتح في أبو ظبي ستكون من أكبر السفارات الإسرائيلية، وقد زار جهاز المخابرات الإسرائيلي في الأسبوع الماضي الإمارات، بغرض التأكد من مستوى الإجراءات الأمنية عشية تدشين السفارة الإسرائيلية فيها.

قوات تركية قطرية تجري تدريبات عسكرية في الدوحة

أجرت القوات القطرية والتركية تدريبات عسكرية في الدوحة بالذخيرة الحية بطلقات مدفعية العاصفة "هاوتزر"، و الجدير بالذكر أنه عقب اندلاع الأزمة الخليجية في 2017 تعززت العلاقات على المستوى العسكري بين تركيا وقطر.

صفاء الهاشم: تباين بعد خسارة النائبة الوحيدة في مجلس الأمة الكويتي

شهد مجلس الأمة الكويتي تراجعا في تمثيل المرأة في السنوات الأخيرة. فمن 4 نساء في مجلس 2009، تقلص العدد إلى 3 في 2012، ثم لنائبتين عام 2013، فنائبة واحدة في 2016، لتشهد الانتخابات الأخيرة سيطرة رجالية على المجلس.

 وزير خارجية السعودية يزور السودان لبحث تعميق العلاقات

ستعقد السعودية والسودان اجتماعا في العاصمة الخرطوم لبحث عدد من القضايا ذات الاهتمام المشترك والعلاقات الثنائية بين البلدين ومناقشة الوضع السياسي داخل السودان، علما بأنه لم يزر وفد سعودي على هذا المستوى السودان منذ توقيع الوثيقة الدستورية لتكوين الحكومة الانتقالية بالسودان. 

عباس يزور الدوحة الإثنين لمقابلة أمير قطر

أعلنت وكالة الأنباء القطرية الرسمية أن أبا مازن سيزور قطر الإثنين، حيث سيلتقي بالشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني ويناقشان آخر التطورات على الساحة الفلسطينية.

انتخابات مجلس الأمة الكويتي: التصويت في ظل كورونا

يتناول هذا المقال قضية إدلاء الناخبين الكويتيين بأصواتهم في انتخابات برلمانية ودور حملات المرشحين حول مكافحة الفساد والإصلاحات الاقتصادية وإدارة أزمة فيروس كورونا.

ملك البحرين يصدر مرسوماً بإنشاء قنصلية في مدينة العيون المغربية

أفادت الأنباء البحرينية أن ملك البحرين أصدر مرسوما لإنشاء قنصلية للبحرين لدى المغرب في مدينة العيون بمنطقة الصحراء. كما نوه بالجهود التي بذلها الرئيس الأميركي دونالد ترامب لتسهيل التوصل إلى هذا الاتفاق. 

الحرب في اليمن

استهداف التراث.. جرائم مسكوت عنها في حرب اليمن

لقد تعرض المدنيون في اليمن إلى مجاعة، ونزوح سكاني، وقصف جوي ولا تقتصر هذه الكارثة على الإنسان بل شملت تدميراً تام للمواقع العريقة كالقلاع، والحصون والحارات القديمة مما أدى إلى استنزاف تاريخها وتراثها.

إشادة خليجية بجهود المملكة في استكمال ترتيبات تنفيذ الاتفاق

تسلط هذه المقالة الضوء على التطورات بشأن اتفاق الرياض بين الحكومة اليمنية والمجلس الانتقالي الجنوبي وأشاد مجلس التعاون الخليجي بالجهود الرامية إلى حل هذه الأزمة والتي بذلتها السعودية.

كنز شبوة.. الإمارات وحرب الغاز في جنوب اليمن

لقد انخرطت الإمارات في الحرب في اليمن لسنوات بهدف صد هجمات الحوثيين في الحرب بالوكالة التي تدور هناك، مستهدفة مصادر النفط والغاز سعيا للاستفادة من هذه الموارد الطبيعية.

فيروس كورونا 

الكويت ترخص الاستخدام الطارئ للقاح فايزر - بيونتك

منحت الكويت الموافقة على الاستخدام الطارئ للقاح فايزر وجاء هذا التصريح عقب إعلانات من الحكومات في دول الخليج فيما يتعلق باللقاح الذي يخططون للحصول عليه. 

البحرين توافق على تسجيل لقاح «سينوفارم» الصيني

أعلنت الهيئة الوطنية لتنظيم المهن والخدمات الصحية في البحرين موافقتها على التسجيل الرسمي للقاح المضاد لفيروس كورونا من إنتاج شركة سينوفارم الصينية للأدوية. 

الصحة السعودية: أولوية لقاح «كورونا» لكبار السن وأصحاب الأمراض المزمنة

أعلنت السعودية أنه ستكون هناك عدة مراحل للحصول على اللقاح ولكل مرحلة أولوياتها، والأولوية في أخذ اللقاح ستكون لكبار السن وأصحاب الأمراض المزمنة وأوضح المتحدث أن أخذ اللقاحات سيسهم في حفظ الحياة وحماية المجتمع. 

فن وثقافة

الرواية النسوية اليمنية في الألفية الجديدة.. سيرة المأساة

يسلط هذا المقال الضوء على مسيرة السرد النسوي اليمني الذي يكشف سيرة مأساة حياة المرأة في المجتمع اليمني المحافظ.

قانون

بينهم مجموعة بن لادن.. محكمة سعودية تبرئ 13 متهما في قضية سقوط الرافعة بالحرم المكي

قضت المحكمة الجزائية في مكة المكرمة ببراءة 13 متهما، بينهم مجموعة بن لادن للمقاولات، في قضية سقوط رافعة ضخمة بالحرم المكي بسبب عاصفة مفاجئة عام 2015.

آراء وتقارير

سجل مضاوي: مناصرة للمرأة الكويتية في السياسة

عززت الكويت دور وتقدم المرأة في المجتمع في السنوات القليلة المنصرمة بغض النظر عن هذه الإنجازات فإن المرأة في الكويت لا تزال تواجه العديد من التحديات والحواجز في السياسة المحلية لاسيما في مجلس الأمة.

الكويتيون يصوتون للتغيير

أدلى المواطنون الكويتيون أصواتهم في الانتخابات البرلمانية حيث دعا الشباب لإصلاحات من أجل حلحلة أزمة البطالة، اعتمادا على موارد النفط ومكافحة الفساد. 

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Regional and International Relations


Bahrain’s FM makes first official visit to Israel
– On the first official visit on 18 Nov by Bahraini officials to Israel, Bahrain’s foreign minister, Abdellatif al-Zayani, was welcomed at Tel Aviv by his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi. They announced the opening of embassies, establish online visa systems and launch weekly flights between the countries soon.

Bahrain's industry minister meets Israeli delegation – Bahrain’s industry minister, Zayed bin Rashid Al-Zayani, met with the chairman of Israel’s with International Cooperation Institute Chairman’s Adiv Baruch, the chief executive of Israel’s largest bank, Hapoalim, and other members of a visiting Israeli trade delegation.

Israel's Netanyahu says he will visit Bahrain soon – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would visit Bahrain “soon” at the invitation of Crown Prince Salman al-Khalifa.

Qatar airport police officers charged over invasive searches of women – Qatar’s public prosecutor has filed criminal charges against an unspecified number of police officers working at Qatar’s Hamad airport after women said they were invasively searched there last month.

Saudi Arabia seeks to resolve Qatar crisis as ‘gift’ to Joe Biden – Saudi Arabia has stepped up its efforts to resolve its nearly four-year dispute with Qatar after US president Donald Trump’s election defeat –  perceived as an attempt by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to curry favour with the incoming Biden administration and deliver a parting present to Mr Trump.

Saudi Arabia backs Egypt’s digital future, crafts with $6.4m grant – Saudi Arabia has given one of Bank of Alexandria, one of Egypt’s largest banks, a $6.4 million grant to finance digital transformation and encourage local crafts programs in the country that will strengthen financing mechanisms to support small, medium and micro enterprises, and create job opportunities.

After cosy ties with Trump, Saudi Arabia faces Biden 'pariah' pledge – US President-elect Joe Biden pledged to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" over its human rights failings, but observers say the kingdom still holds enough leverage to deflect a major rupture in relations from the Trump era. It could leave the crown prince  isolated amid economic challenges that imperil his reform agenda, a war in Yemen, and pockets of opposition to his rule.

Saudi Arabia confident Biden will pursue regional stability, foreign minister says – Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said on 22 Nov that he was confident that Democrat Joe Biden’s incoming United States administration would pursue policies that help regional stability and that any discussions with it would lead to strong cooperation.

Saudi foreign minister: relations with Turkey 'good, amicable' – Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told Reuters that his country had “good and amicable” relations with Turkey and that there was no data to suggest that there was an informal boycott of Turkish products.

Israel’s Netanyahu, Saudi Crown Prince Hold First Known Meeting – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in the kingdom on 22 Nov in Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu made the secret trip to Neom, to join US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s meeting with the prince. The leaders discussed several issues, including normalization of ties and Iran, but no substantial agreements were reached

Saudi launches digital cooperation organization with Middle East neighbours, Pakistan – Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and a group of Middle Eastern countries have launched a new organization to accelerate the growth of the digital economy. The group, to be known as the Digital Cooperation Organization, also includes Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait.

Government secretly deployed British troops to defend Saudi Arabian oil fields – The British government deployed forces into Saudi Arabia in February to defend oil fields, during a court-ordered ban on arms sales – without informing parliament or the public. The Ministry of Defence says the oil fields are "critical economic infrastructure" and that gunners from the 16th Regiment Royal Artillery were needed to help defend against drone strikes.

UAE envoy says ending Qatar rift "not on anyone's priority list" – The UAE’s ambassador to the United States, Yousef Al Otaiba, said he doesn’t think the dispute between Qatar and its neighbors will be resolved “anytime soon” as the split stretches into its fourth year. “It’s not on anyone’s priority list. They want to go their way, we’re going to go ours,” he said during a panel discussion in Washington.

UAE crown prince, Israeli president exchange invitations for visits – Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin exchanged invitations to visit their respective countries, the latest step in Israel’s thaw with Arab states.

Etihad to begin daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Israel in March – The UAE’s national airline, Etihad Airways, will begin flying to Israel in March 2021. It will be a daily service from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv.

UAE's flydubai starts Dubai-Tel Aviv services after detente – United Arab Emirates airline flydubai started direct passenger flights to Israel on 26 Nov after the two countries normalised relations.

Sudan's former PM Sadiq al-Mahdi dies from coronavirus in UAE – Sudan’s former prime minister, Sadiq al-Mahdi, who was overthrown in the 1989 military coup that brought Omar al-Bashir to power, has died in the UAE where he was receiving treatment for the coronavirus, his party said on 26 Nov.

UAE's Al Dahra, Israel's Watergen sign strategic partnership on water security – Al Dahra Agricultural Company and Israel’s Watergen have signed a strategic partnership in the field of water security. The agreement is to establish a permanent centre in Abu Dhabi to produce and distribute machinery for producing water for drinking and irrigation in the region. 

Human Rights


Hamilton, in Bahrain, urges F1 to make human rights push
– Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton urged Formula One to do more to push for human rights, saying the issue was a “massive problem” in some of the sport’s host countries. He had received letters from London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) and 15 other organisations, as well as from current and former political prisoners saying the government is “sport washing” the human rights situation.

Qatar firms’ failure to pay leaves migrant workers destitute - Report – Companies in Qatar have failed to pay “hundreds of millions of dollars” in salaries and other benefits to low-wage workers since the coronavirus outbreak, according to research by the human rights group Equidem.

Saudi Activist Who Fought For Women’s Right to Drive Is Sent to Terrorism Court – Loujain al-Hathloul, one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent prisoners, appeared weak and shaking uncontrollably before a Saudi Arabian judge on 25 Nov, to learn that her case was being transferred to a special court for terrorism and national security crimes. Rights groups have called her trial a sham and accused the kingdom of using its courts to punish her and other activists for their outspokenness.

'Night of the beating': details emerge of Riyadh Ritz-Carlton purge – Leading figures caught up in Saudi Arabia’s detentions of 2017 at the Ritz Carlton hotel, have revealed details of the purge on its third anniversary, just ahead of the G20 summit in Riyadh. The former detainees, portray a scene of torture and coercion, and of royal court advisers leading clueless attempts to understand the investments behind their wealth, then seizing what they could find.

Saudi critics use Group of 20 summit to highlight human rights concerns – International and Saudi human rights groups, United States and European lawmakers, as well as the families of jailed Saudi dissidents are mounting an unusually vigorous campaign aimed at highlighting the kingdom's abuses and the plight of political detainees.

Women activists, political prisoners ‘sexually assaulted, tortured and executed in Saudi Arabia’ jails – Jailed women’s rights activists and political prisoners have been sexually assaulted, tortured and died in Saudi Arabian jails, according to a report by Grant Liberty, a human rights charity. The study alleges that 309 political prisoners have suffered human rights abuses since Mohammed bin Salman became crown prince in 2017, and people have faced death for crimes carried out when they were as young as nine. The study also notes 27 political prisoners were women’s rights activists – six of them had been sexually assaulted.

Saudi Arabia and Human Rights Activists Fight Over Kingdom’s Image at G-20 – For Saudi Arabia, the G20 summit was supposed to showcase its advances, while for critics of the kingdom’s human rights record, the event was an opportunity to highlight the kingdom’s abuses and press world leaders to embarrass Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. However, it is not expected to live up to either side’s hopes due to the pandemic. Despite fierce campaigning by activists, no state chose to boycott the virtual event, marking a significant step in the prince’s rehabilitation among world leaders.

‘He was nine’: The Saudi minors still on death row despite royal decree – Saudi Arabia announced it would end capital punishment for juvenile crimes, but campaigners fear at least 10 prisoners – related to protests in the Shia-majority Qatif province, for “crimes” including: harbouring a fugitive, attending the funeral of a relative in 2012, and sending WhatsApp messages that could affect public security – could be executed.

Finance


Qatar to buy stake in Istanbul stock exchange
– Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has agreed to buy a stake in Istanbul’s stock exchange in one of several deals that reaffirm the wealthy Gulf nation’s status as one of Ankara’s most important financial backers at a time when Turkey’s economy is under strain. This includes a 10 per cent share in Borsa Istanbul from Turkey’s own wealth fund for an undisclosed sum, as well as a 30 percent stake that is worth about $300m, in luxury Istanbul shopping centre from the troubled Turkish conglomerate Dogus Holding.

Saudi Electricity to convert $45 billion in government liabilities into perpetual instrument – Saudi Electricity Co. said on 16 Nov that it signed an agreement with the government to convert state liabilities worth 167.92 billion riyals ($45 billion) into a subordinated perpetual financial instrument to strengthen its balance sheet. The instrument will carry a 4.5% profit rate and a redemption option.

G20 nearing IMF funding boost for poorer nations, says Saudi minister – Mohammed al-Jadaan, the finance minister of Saudi Arabia, which holds the G20 presidency this year, are edging towards a consensus on unlocking additional IMF funds – special drawing rights (SDRs) – for poorer nations whose economies have been battered by the coronavirus crisis. SDRs are an international reserve asset allocated to IMF members in proportion to their share of the global economy; they can be used to provide cash injections to countries with diminishing foreign exchange reserves.

Saudi Aramco gets $8 billion with jumbo five-part bond deal – Saudi Aramco was set to raise $8 billion from a five-part bond deal on 17 Nov, as the world's largest oil producer seeks cash after low oil prices dented its finances.

Saudi Minister Says VAT Hike Will Be Reviewed After Crisis – Saudi Arabia will review its decision to triple the value-added tax – up to 15% – once the current economic crisis is over. The austerity measures, which include; increased customs fees, decreased cost-of-living allowance for public-sector workers, and trimmed a key government aid program – have cut deeply into the pockets of poor and middle-class citizens in a country where taxation is still a relatively new concept.

UAE's new foreign ownership law clears up 'long-time concern' for British businesses – The UAE’s new law allows nationals from any country to own 100 percent of businesses, is the latest move to boost the economy’s competitive edge and make the country more expat-friendly. The landmark business reforms will prompt an “unprecedented explosion” of foreign direct investment in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and will cement their growing status as major international financial centres.

Yemen in Crisis


Trump Administration Plans to Designate Yemen’s Houthis as Terrorists
– The Trump administration is preparing to designate Yemen’s Houthi insurgents a terrorist organization before leaving office in January, fueling fears the move will disrupt international aid efforts and upend UN-brokered peace efforts between the movement and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.

UN Emergency Funding Released to Help Stave Off Famine in High-risk Countries – UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock allocated US$100 million to help people feed themselves in countries most at risk from the growing hunger epidemic caused by conflict, economic decline, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Yemen is one of the recipients that will share $80 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

UN chief says Yemen in imminent danger of famine, warns against unilateral moves – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that Yemen is in “imminent danger of the worst famine the world has seen for decades,” warning against any unilateral moves as the United States threatens to blacklist Houthi group. Aid workers have raised fears that if Washington designates the Houthis a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), it could prevent life-saving aid reaching the country.

Yemen rebels claim attack on Saudi oil facility in Jiddah – Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they struck a Saudi oil facility in the port city of Jiddah early 24 Nov with a new cruise missile, just hours after the kingdom finished hosting its virtual G20 summit. The kingdom acknowledged the attack hours later.

Yemen: in a country stalked by disease, Covid barely registers – War, hunger and devastating aid cuts have made the plight of Yemenis almost unbearable, to the extent that coronavirus has barely registered as a pressing concern. For now, the peak – or first wave – of the pandemic in the country has subsided, allowing healthcare workers to focus on the country’s other urgent health crises.

Domestic Affairs


Bahrain F1 race 'as important as ever' despite spectator ban
– There may not be the close-to the usual 100,000 spectators at this weekend’s re-arranged Bahrain Grand Prix but the race is as important as ever as the kingdom continues its recovery from the global coronavirus crisis, according to Ali Murtaza, director of real estate, tourism & leisure at Bahrain Economic Development Board.

As virus mutes Dubai nightlife, Filipino bands feel the pain – Show bands from the Philippines have long animated Dubai’s nightlife, satisfying an appetite for a range of music that has grown with the emirate’s expat population. The pandemic has stopped the city’s live-music scene and clobbered its economy, leaving hundreds of Filipino performers struggling to survive.

Highway-side eatery in UAE feeds hungry one meal at a time – The cooks of an ordinary hole-in-the-wall restaurant alongside a busy motorway in Sharjah, collect leftover food and repurpose it into free, hot meals for underpaid or out-of-work migrants largely from Southeast Asia.  Over its two months of existence, Biryani Spot has mobilized to meet the area’s growing need for food aid.

Dubai raises a glass to social changes in the Gulf – As part of a clutch of social and legal reforms, alcohol is to be decriminalised in the UAE in a bid to make the country more attractive to foreigners. “This marks a shift towards a more civic society,” said one Emirati briefed on the legal amendments.

Travel agents in Mideast, Africa say UAE is blocking visas – Confusion over the UAE’s visa ban targeting 11 Muslim-majority nations, in addition to Lebanon and Kenya, swirled after a leaked order from Dubai’s state-owned airport free zone surfaced. It declared restrictions and a pause on issuing all new employment, long and short-term visit visas “until further notice”, without offering a reason. Authorities have not acknowledged the suspension that comes as the UAE welcomes Israeli tourists for the first time in history and as the coronavirus pandemic surges across the region.

GCC countries surpass 1 million COVID-19 cases – On 23 Nov, the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) crossed the 1 million mark of COVID-19 cases.

Reports and Opinions


Redefining Gulf Security Begins by Including the Human Dimension
– The coronavirus pandemic has reminded us the urgent need for a renewed approach to security that no longer focuses merely on the political and military aspects of security but includes a broader look at people-centered dimensions. As such, the paper reviews the risks that the Gulf countries face regarding non-traditional notions of security; public health, food, and water security, as well as environmental security more broadly, and offers ways to tackle these challenges.

Cracks Showing in OPEC+ Alliance as Ministerial Meeting Approaches – Signs of strain within OPEC could reflect negatively on the market by casting doubt on the commitment of OPEC+ countries to adhere to production targets.

How Saudi Arabia Can Mend Fences with Biden and the Democrats – There a several implications of Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s emergence as president-elect following the November 3 U.S. presidential election, on the relationship between the United States and Gulf Arab countries. From the differences in Washington’s relations with Riyadh under a Democratic administration to the options that Saudi Arabia has.

Secret Meeting in Desert Between Israeli, Saudi Leaders Failed to Reach Normalization Agreement – After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew into Saudi Arabia last weekend for a secret night-time meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US’ Secretary of State. US officials hoped to build on the momentum of the Abraham Accords, but Mohammed bin Salman pulled back from a deal, according to Saudi advisors and US officials, largely because of the US election result. Others include: addressing the issue of the Palestinians.

Why MBS is keeping visit by Netanyahu and the Mossad on the down-low – Mohammed bin Salman has demonstrated that he is willing to implement more substantial social changes than many Gulf rulers, yet his primary concern remains on becoming king. Once his position is secure, MBS may be willing to move forward with normalization with Israel, but until that time he is unlikely to risk anymore drastic policy changes, preferring to avoid those policies likely to anger large portions of their citizenry. =

The UAE eyes AI supremacy: A key strategy for the 21st century – The UAE is laying the groundwork for regional supremacy in artificial intelligence (AI). By fostering a web of novel institutions and partnerships, it aims to augment its capacity to execute lofty AI policy initiatives, to signal its innovation capacity and viability as a global trade powerhouse. The Emirati government is investing vast sums and creating big incentives for the country.

Yemen's Southern Transitional Council: Israel's next Arab ally? – The Southern Transitional Council (STC), applauded the UAE-Israel diplomatic agreement. However, the STC have reasons to avoid appearing too close to Israel given how most segments of Yemen’s population view Israel negatively and share pro-Palestinian positions. Any cooperation between the STC and Israel adds credibility to allegations made by the, and can be exploited by Salafist extremists too.

Ending the Yemen war is both a strategic and humanitarian imperative – After almost six years later, the war that was ostensible started by Saudi Arabia in Yemen to prevent Iran from acquiring a foothold on the Arabian Peninsula – has in fact given Iran just that — plus created the worst humanitarian catastrophe in the world. The Biden administration should make ending the war an urgent priority for both strategic and humanitarian reasons.

علاقات إقليمية ودولية


رسالة ردع لإيران.. البنتاغون يعلن تحريك حاملة طائرات وسفن حربية إلى الخليج

قالت شبكة “سي إن إن” الإخبارية الأمريكية، إن وزارة الدفاع الأمريكية (البنتاغون) بدأت بتحريك حاملة الطائرات “يو إس إس نيميتز” إلى منطقة الخليج العربي. جاء ذلك بالتزامن مع توعد النظام الإيراني بالانتقام من المتورطين المباشرين وغير المباشرين في عملية اغتيال فخري زاده، العالم النووي الإيراني.

وزير الخارجية البحريني في إسرائيل للتباحث حول عملية السلام والعلاقات الثنائية

أعلنت الحكومة البحرينية أن وفداً بحرينياً رفيع المستوى سيناقش اتفاق أبراهام في تل أبيب، ومن المتوقع أن يبحث البلدان عددا من القضايا ذات الاهتمام المشترك والعلاقات الثنائية بين إسرائيل والبحرين.

ستكون مخيبة لآمال السعوديين.. الرياض تستضيف قمة افتراضية لمجموعة الـ20 في ظل الركود والوباء

تستضيف السعودية " قمة مجموعة العشرين" لأول مرة لبحث القضايا الدولية الأكثر إلحاحاً، بيدَ أن انتشار فيروس كورونا وانكماش الاقتصاد العالمي أجبر السعودية على عقد هذه القمة "عن بُعد" مما سيشكل تحدياً لها في الوقت الذي تسعى فيه السعودية للعودة إلى المسرح العالمي وممارسة دورها الريادي، ناهيك عن ما سيشوب هذه القمة من جدل حول بعض القضايا المتعلقة بالسعودية والتي يأتي في مقدمتها مقتل جمال خاشقجي.

تعيين مندوبتي قطر وبولندا لقيادة مفاوضات إصلاح مجلس الأمن الدولي

عيّن رئيس الدورة الخامسة والسبعين للجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة، فولكان بوزكير، المندوبة الدائمة لدولة قطر لدى الأمم المتحدة، علياء أحمد بن سيف آل ثاني، والمندوبة الدائمة لبولندا جوانا ورونيكا، لقيادة تيسير المفاوضات حول إصلاح مجلس الأمن الدولي وجاء هذا القرار عقب دعوات من دول عديدة لإنهاء الهيمنة التي يفرضها 5 أعضاء دائمين في المجلس.

التطبيع: إقلاع أول رحلة طيران تجارية من دبي إلى تل أبيب ونتنياهو يستقبلها

.إقلاع أول رحلة طيران تجارية بين مطاري دبي في دولة الإمارات ومطار بن غوريون الإسرائيلي، بعد نحو شهرين من تطبيع العلاقات بين البلدين

قمة الإمارات: لماذا "غابت" السعودية ومصر عن قمة أبو ظبي الثلاثية بمشاركة البحرين والأردن؟

عقدت الإمارات القمة الثلاثية في العاصمة أبو ظبي، وقد تصدرت قائمة أعمال القمة قضايا مشتركة اشتملت على قضايا الصحة والأمن الغذائي والدوائي، كما تجدر الإشارة إلى أن السعودية ومصر تغيبت عن القمة الأمر الذي أدى إلى بعض التكهنات أنها بداية لتشكيل "محور جديد". 

وزير الخارجية السعودي ينفي حدوث اجتماع مع مسؤولين إسرائيليين

أنكر وزير الخارجية السعودي عن لقاء مزعوم بين ولي العهد والمسؤولين الإسرائيليين في مدينة نيوم ويتزامن هذا التصريح مع تداول على منصة تويتر الذي زعم فيه بأن لقاء بين الطرفين عقد أمس وذلك استنادا على بعض المعطيات. 

اقتصاد


فنادق قطر تكافح للصمود حتى انطلاق مونديال 2022

استثمرت دولة قطر في قطاع الضيافة والخدمات استعدادا لاستقبال محبي بطولة كأس العالم وبالرغم من المساعي الكبيرة لاستقطاب السياح ثمة قلة في الطلب لهذا النوع من الخدمات بسبب تداعيات انتشار فيروس كورونا.

وتيرة متسارعة للتطبيع.. مركز دبي المالي العالمي يوقع اتفاقية مع بنك هبوعليم الإسرائيلي

وقّع مركز دبي المالي العالمي وبنك هيوعليم الإسرائيلي اتفاقا لبحث المزيد من سبل التعاون سعيا لتوسيع فرص العمل والتعاون في المجالات المالية والتكنولوجية. 

في تطور ملحوظ.. يمنيون يستبدلون شجرة البن بشجرة القات

برزت في اليمن تطورات ملحوظة في الآونة الأخيرة تتمثل بعودة المزارعين بشكل كبير إلى زراعة شتلات البن الذي يتميز بجودة عالية وشهرة عالمية، إضافة إلى مشروع لزراعة مليون شجرة بُن.

سياسة


السعودية والعراق يفتتحان معبر عرعر الحدودي بعد 30 عاماً على إغلاقه

أعلنت السعودية والعراق افتتاح منفذ عرعر الحدودي بعد إغلاقه منذ الحرب الخليجية الثانية عام 1990 وهذا ما يدل على تطور العلاقات الثنائية والتحسن في الوضع الأمني وذلك بعد تفكيك الحركات الإسلامية، ولا شك أن الافتتاح سيساهم في زيادة التبادل التجاري وآفاق جديدة بين البلدين. 

الكويت تعلن تحديد هوية 7 من الأسرى والمفقودين في العراق

تسلمت الكويت من الحكومة العراقية رفات لمفقودين من غزو 1990 وتمكّنت الحكومة الكويتية من تحديد هوية 7 من الأسرى والمفقودين وذلك خلال عملية الاستعراف بالتحليل الجيني بالبصمة الوراثية.

تساؤلات حول دور الإمارات في “غسل الأموال” الإيرانية

كشفت تقارير دولية في عدة مناسبات منفصلة منذ 2008 عن دور الإمارات في عمليات غسيل الأموال الإيرانية وأنشطة وكلائها، لذلك لا تزال تخضع الإمارات لعمليات التدقيق والمراقبة من وزارة الخزانة الأمريكية بهدف تصحيح هذه الأنشطة وضم الإمارات إلى التحالف الرامي إلى تعزيز الجهود الأمريكية المناهضة للأنشطة الإيرانية في المنطقة.

وزارة الشؤون الإسلامية السعودية تطلب التحذير من الإخوان المسلمين في خطب الجمعة.. وفصل من لم يلتزم- (تغريدة)

أصدرت السعودية تعميما تطالب فيه الخطباء بقراءة بيان هيئة العلماء: "التحذير من الإخوان المسلمين" وسيواجه الخطباء غير الملتزمين بالفصل من الخدمة واستبدالهم.

اليوم... انطلاق دوري كرة القدم للسيدات في السعودية

انطلق دوري كرة القدم للسيدات في جدة والرياض والدمام وقد بدأت المباريات في مساء 17 نوفمبر ويأتي هذا الحدث تزامنا مع رؤية 2030 التي تسعى إلى تمكين المرأة في المجتمع السعودي. والجدير بالذكر أنه لم يكن يسمح للنساء في السعودية بحضور مباريات كرة القدم في الملاعب إلا في سنة 2018. 

الإمارات 'تعلق منح تأشيرات' لمواطني 13 دولة مسلمة: ما صحة الخبر؟

.انتشرت خلال الأيام الماضية وثيقة عبر مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي، تفيد بمنع مواطني 13 دول مسلمة وعربية من دخول الإمارات، في ظل غياب مصدر رسمي من أبو ظبي يؤكد أو ينفي هذا الخبر

الحرب في اليمن


طيران التحالف السعودي الإماراتي يقصف محيط مطار صنعاء

أعلنت جماعة الحوثي اليمنية أن طيران التحالف السعودي الإماراتي شن غارتين على محيط مطار صنعاء الدولي الواقع تحت سيطرة الجماعة منذ أكثر من 6 سنوات.

الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة يحذر من "أسوأ" مجاعة قد تضرب اليمن

دق الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة ناقوس الخطر بسبب تدهور مستوى الأمن الغذائي في اليمن جراء عدة عوامل من ضمنها عدم اتخاذ إجراءات لدرء وقوع كارثة إنسانية وانخفاض التمويل لعمليات الإغاثة.

فيروس كورونا


بينها الخطوط القطرية.. نيجيريا ترفع الحظر عن عدد من شركات الطيران

أعلنت الحكومة النيجرية أنها سترفع الحظر عن شركة الخطوط القطرية منذ بدء انتشار فيروس كورونا مما يدل على تزايد مستوى الثقة في القطاع الجوي بين البلدين. 

فن وثقافة


مقتنيات الأجداد بمتاحف الأحفاد.. شاب قطري يؤسس متحفا شخصيا يعبر عن تراث بلاده

باتت المتاحف الشخصية من أبرز ما يميز المجتمع في قطر، ومن أحدث هذه المتاحف، متحف المعاضيد الذي جمعه الشاب عبد الله غانم المعاضيد من التراث القطري القديم.

صروح مبهرة.. شاهد: كل ما يجب معرفته عن ملاعب مونديال قطر 2022

تجسد الهندسة المعمارية لملاعب كأس العالم في قطر عناصر من الحضارة القديمة والمعاصرة، إذ تتميز واحدة من أبرز أعمال الفنانة الراحلة زها حديد التي كانت معروفة بنمط الفن "ما بعد الحداثة" وقد صممت على شكل شراع المراكب التقليدية مع سقف قابل للطي وبطاقته الاستيعابية لآلاف المشجعين والمحبين.

الحب والشقاء يملآن الـ"فراغ في مزهريّة" لجلال الأحمدي

“فراغ في مزهرية” هو عنوان المجموعة الشعرية الجديدة التي صدرت بالعربية والألمانية قبل أيام للشاعر اليمني جلال الأحمدي المقيم في ألمانيا، وتعتبر الخامسة للشاعر الذي غادر بلاده مبكرا. 

السينما حق للجميع بالدوحة.. أفلام للصم وضعاف البصر في مهرجان أجيال السينمائي

في مهرجان أجيال السينمائي بالدوحة، برمجت مجموعة مختارة من الأفلام لصانعي أفلام قطريين، تتم ترجمة أصواتها ومؤثراتها إلى لغة الإشارة بالتوازي مع العرض، وأخرى تقدم بشكل سماعي لمساعدة ضعاف البصر.

رائدة الفن الشعبي في قطر.. وفاة المطربة فاطمة شداد

رحلت رائدة الغناء الشعبي في قطر ومؤسسة الفرقة النسائية للفنون الشعبية، فاطمة شداد، بعد مسيرة طويلة غنت فيها مختلف صنوف الغناء التراثي. 

الأغنية القطرية تحيي ليلتها بأصوات واعدة وتكرم روادها

في أجواء غنائية استثنائية احتضنها مركز قطر الوطني للمؤتمرات أحيت كوكبة من 22 فنانا ومبدعا ليلة الأغنية القطرية، وفيها امتزجت روح الإبداع والموسيقى بعذوبة الكلمة ورقة اللحن وصدق الأداء. 

قانون


المنظمة العربية لحقوق الإنسان تطلق حملة لمقاطعة قمة الـ20 بالرياض

دعا بعض المعتقلين السعوديين وعائلاتهم مقاطعة قمة العشرين بالرياض والتي تستضاف للمرة الأولى في دولة عربية، انطلاقا من انتهاكات حقوق الإنسان ضد المعتقلين في السجون وأفعالها غير الإنسانية في اليمن، ومحاولة للضغط على النظام السعودي.

قمة مجموعة العشرين: مشكلات حقوق الإنسان في السعودية تخيم بظلالها على القمة

استضافت السعودية مجموعة العشرين التي عقدت افتراضيا هذا العام، بيد أن ملف حقوق الإنسان فيها ظل يخيم بظلاله على القمة وسط دعوات الناشطين الحقوقيين لإثارته.

بعثت برسالة مشتركة لرئيس الفورمولا 1.. 16 منظمة حقوقية تثير المخاوف بشأن حقوق الإنسان في البحرين

أرسلت 16 مجموعة حقوقية ونقابة عمالية رسالة مشتركة إلى الرئيس التنفيذي للفورمولا 1، تشيس كاري، قبيل سباق جائزة البحرين الكبرى المقبل، تحثّه على ضمان العدالة لضحايا الانتهاكات المرتبطة بجائزة البحرين.

آراء وتقارير


الحياة بلا إخوان

تسلط هذه المقالة الضوء على تصاعد دور جماعة الإخوان من كونها حركة خاملة بلا قاعدة شعبية إلى تيار شعبي قوي مرورا بتأثير اندلاع الثورة الإيرانية على تبلور فكر الجماعة. وبالتالي، تطرح المقالة جدلية أن من المفارقة أن أوروبا تستنكر الإرهاب وفي ذات الوقت يتركون الجماعات الإسلامية المتطرفة كطيف من الأنشطة مدعومة حكوميا في مجتمعاتها وتأتي هذه المقالة لتفنيد هذا الاتجاه بعد صدور بيان كبار العلماء بالسعودية أن جماعة الإخوان المسلمين لا تمثل الإسلام.

دول آبار النفط والغاز تتهاوى

يطرح هذا المقال قضية مثيرة للجدل حيث ينتقد الأحداث الأخيرة بين إسرائيل والإمارات والبحرين بالرغم من التحديات التي قد واجهتها المنطقة في الحقبة ما بعد الاستعمار سواء كان تزايد المستوطنات في فلسطين أو ترسيم خط الحدود بشكل إستراتيجي وجيوسياسي.