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International trade unions have stepped up pressure on Qatar with a series of demands, a majority of which the Gulf state could implement without having to reform its autocracy or threaten the privileged position of its citizenry who account for a mere 12 percent of the population and fear that change could cost them control of their culture and society.
Although Saudi Arabia has traditionally been associated with a more puritanical form of Islam — Wahabis — it is far more moderate and is the frontline against rising radicalism in the Muslim World. As the custodian of two of Islam’s holiest sites, Saudi Arabia recently organized a coalition of 34 Islamic allies to fight rising…
Winners of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award Announced in Dubai National Geographic Channel, scientist Hiroshi Ishiguro and media personality Ahmed Alshugairi share US$ 1 million award National Geographic Channel; Hiroshi Ishiguro, Professor of the Department of Innovation Systems in the Graduate School of Engineering Science at Osaka University; and Ahmed Alshugairi,…
The Mediterranean Diet continues to be considered one of the top choices for people concerned about their healthy. The diet consists of many food products from the Middle East and the Arab World. A recent conclusion by major nutritional scientists (detailed below) suggests that the public needs to be more educated about their food choices….
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A $400 million sale by a senior member of the UAE ruling family of a 13 percent stake in Manchester City FC to China highlights the importance of soccer in the two countries’ ambitions to project themselves on the international stage.
Words but no actions. That is Amnesty International’s evaluation of promised Qatari labour reforms on the fifth year of the awarding of the 2022 World Cup hosting rights to the Gulf state
“World’s top 20 industrial powers met in Turkey, seeking to overcome differences on a range of issues primarily the Syrian conflict, refugee crisis and climate change” — Halil Danismaz, President of the Turkish Heritage Organization The world was once again unified over the weekend not only for the condemnation of the terrorist attacks in Paris…
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Embattled World Cup host Qatar sends mixed messages By James M. Dorsey Embattled World Cup host Qatar is sending contradictory messages as it struggles with demands to improve migrant labour conditions and mounting questions about the integrity of its successful FIFA bid, confronts the fall-out of dropping energy prices, and seeks to project itself as…
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Hassan Dominates While Yaman Outscores Fawzy on Dramatic Stars of Science Episode on MBC4, DOHA, Qatar The Stars of Science candidates Hassan Albalawi of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yaman Abou Jieb of Syria, outshone the competition in the first design episode of Stars of Science on MBC4, landing them in the finale of…
By James M. Dorsey Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, chairman of Manchester City, one of Britain’s most popular soccer clubs and a close business associate of UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has warned the UK that his country would block multi-billion dollar arms deals, halt investment in Britain and suspend intelligence cooperation if…
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By James M. Dorsey Assertions by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, a candidate for the presidency of world soccer body FIFA, that he was not involved in the arrest and abuse of sports executives and athletes in his naïve Bahrain in 2011 raise more questions than answers. Sheikh Salman…
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First Lady Michelle Obama is traveling to Qatar and Jordan and penned this first blog post about the State Visit from November 1 through November 7, 2015. Mrs. Obama will post daily on her trip. This is her first post By First Lady Michelle Obama (Nov. 2, 2015, Qatar, UAE) — This post is part…
By James M. Dorsey Never missing an opportunity to shoot itself in the foot, 2022 World Cup-host Qatar has adopted a new law that is more likely to convince critics that it aims to put a friendly face on its controversial kafala or sponsorship system rather than radically reform a legal framework that trade unions…
By James M. Dorsey Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa’s candidacy for the presidency of world soccer body FIFA is likely to serve as a litmus test for newly introduced integrity checks on the group’s executives. Sheikh Salman, a former soccer player, has consistently like other members of his ruling…
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The Arab World remains conspicuously silent as Israeli soldiers and armed settler terrorists rampage through the Holy Land murdering Palestinian civilians including women and children, and provoking violent anger from the victims that is portrayed as “terrorism.” It’s conspicuous, but it’s not surprising By Ray Hanania As the Palestinian death toll continues to escalate, the…
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Etihad Airways Announces Early Arrival of Signature A380 Service, Including The Residence by Etihad, to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), today announced that its award-winning Airbus A380 service, which features the only commercially available three-room suite in the sky: The Residence by Etihad™, will…
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By James M. Dorsey The 2022 Qatar World Cup may be sparking social change in the Gulf, just not (yet) in Qatar. Qatar’s winning of the hosting rights for the World Cup gave human rights and trade union activists the leverage they needed to more effectively pressure the Gulf state for reform, if not abolition,…
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Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Consolidates 28 Humanitarian Programmes and Foundations Operating in 116 Countries; Refocuses on Middle East Middle East‘s largest development and community foundation includes 1,400 development programmes and initiatives targeting 130 million in need through to 2025 H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced today the…
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