Vision 2030 & the Political Costs of Saudi Reforms – Part 2

A pillar of the Saudi social contract has been the allocation of oil rents to the population in exchange for loyalty and fidelity to the Saud clan. A key weakness of Vision 2030 is its lack of focus on the potential political consequences of economic reforms. The plan seems to assume that its ramifications will be easily borne by the Saudi population.

Will Vision 2030 Usher the New Kingdom of Saud? – Part 1

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing a process of change in its social, economic, and political structures unseen since its founding in 1932. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and a group of close advisors, aided by an army of multinational consultants and investment bankers, have been driving this transformation.

Father of Palestine’s Icon: Everyone is Blaming my Daughter

It is late morning. A clear blue sky. The quiet of the village is deceptive. Bassem Tamimi is the father of the teenage girl, Ahed Tamimi, who has become a symbol of Palestinian resistance to the Israeli occupation.

UAE offers US$500 million to international efforts to reconstruct Iraq

Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has announced the UAE’s offer to provide development aid worth US$500 million, to assist international efforts to reconstruct Iraq.

UAE participates in IFAD Governing Council’s meeting

The UAE has participated in the 41st session of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, in Rome, Italy, to discuss how investing in rural people in developing countries is central to building peace and stability around the world.

UAE to host COP13 meeting in Dubai

The UAE will host the 13th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, COP13, in Dubai from 21st to 30th October 2018.

Boycott, Divest & Sanctions Campaign Not Anti-Israel but Pro-Palestinian, Says Norwegian MP

When Norwegian parliamentarian Bjørnar Moxnes recently nominated the BDS movement for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, the leader of Norway’s Red Party faced the inevitable: a furious backlash from pro-Israeli and anti-Palestinian groups.

Three Opportunities for Humanitarians in 2018

As 2018 begins, the challenges of humanitarian crises are momentous. Humanitarians are responding to large-scale emergencies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

Mohammed bin Rashid inspects progress of KhalifaSat project

Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) to inspect the progress of the KhalifaSat project. KhalifaSat is the first satellite to be fully built by Emirati engineers, an achievement that highlights the UAE’s growing expertise in satellite technology. The satellite is set to be launched later this year, following a series of rigorous tests.

Growing local, international trust in UAE promises greater progress in the domestic economy, says DIEDC Chairman

The growing local and international trust in Dubai, and the wider UAE, promises greater progress in the domestic economy, especially in the Islamic economy domain, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy and Chairman of Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre ,DIEDC, at the DIEDC's meeting.

UAE pledges US$100 million to Global Partnership for Education

The United Arab Emirates has pledged AED 367 million (US $ 100 million) to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) for the next three years to improve education and learning outcomes of 870 million children and young people in 89 developing countries during the Global Partnership for Education Replenishment Conference held between 1-2 February in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, in presence of the presidents of France and Senegal.

Except for Syria, Middle East Disappeared from U.S. Network News in 2017

Except for the ongoing war in Syria, coverage of the Middle East by the evening news programs of the three big U.S. networks virtually disappeared in 2017, according to the latest annual compilation by the authoritative Tyndall Report.

BDS Movement for Palestinian Rights Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

As a member of the Norwegian parliament, I proudly use my authority as an elected official to nominate the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian rights for the Nobel Peace Prize.

UAE Foreign Minister and EU’s Federica Mogherini discuss cooperation, sign agreement

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, recently met at the EU headquarters in Brussels to discuss bilateral relations between the UAE and the EU and means of enhancing them in all fields.

UAE National Media Council to host ‘The Future of Media’ Retreat

The National Media Council, NMC, will host the country’s top media leaders to tackle 'The Future of Media', a brainstorming retreat that will define concrete initiatives to support the development of a modern media sector in the UAE.

UNRWA launches $800 million emergency appeal

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has launched an appeal for its emergency programmes of over US$ 800 million; approximately US$ 400 million each for Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory, which consists of Gaza and the West Bank. The appeal also covers some 50,000 Palestine refugees from Syria who have fled to Lebanon and Jordan.

UAE ministers present country’s experience in shaping the future in Davos

Three young ministers in the UAE government have presented the country’s experience in shaping the future, with an emphasis on adopting services technologies and leading the world in advanced science and artificial intelligence, AI.

Emirates Red Crescent distributes winter supplies to Syrian refugees in Lebanon

The Humanitarian and Development Affairs Attache at the UAE Embassy in Beirut has distributed over 750 heaters from the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, to help displaced Syrians in Lebanon.

EU removes UAE from ‘Uncooperative Tax Havens’ list

The Ministry of Finance has welcomed the European Union’s decision to remove the UAE from its list of uncooperative tax havens, in recognition of the transparent procedures the State has been adhering to, and will continue to do so, locally and internationally.

“The Situation in Jerusalem Is a Textbook Case of Multi-Faceted and Cross-Cutting Violations of Human Rights” Idriss Jazairy

During a speech at the Al-Azhar conference in Cairo on the situation in Jerusalem, the Executive Director of the Geneva Centre for Human Rights Advancement and Global Dialogue Ambassador Idriss Jazairy appealed to the international community, and in particular the Arabic and Muslim community, “to join forces and act in concert in order to halt the violations of Palestinians’ human rights.

Groups Condemn U.S. Cuts to Palestinian Refugee Agency

International organizations have criticized the United States’ decision to cut more than half of planned funding to a UN agency serving Palestinian refugees.