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  • Marriott Releases Lawrence of Arabia-Inspired Campaign in Saudi

    Marriott International has dressed one of its top general managers as Lawrence of Arabia to promote its new resort along the Red Sea. Nujuma, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve is expected to be the most expensive hotel ever operated in Saudi Arabia – commanding rates of more than $3,400 a night when it opens on May 26. In a new promotional video, multi-property general manager Tony Coveney is seen crossing the desert and collapsing on the beach with a “newfound identity as a sheikh” to the main theme of Lawrence of Arabia – a historic epic based on the life of Thomas Edward Lawrence, which was once banned across Arab countries.

  • Scenario-mapping: Iranian conservative media think out Israel’s next steps

    Amid anticipation of Israeli reprisals for Iran’s Apr. 14 attack on military sites in Israel, Iranian media is rife with speculations about possible scenarios ahead. Speaking to pro-reform Sharq daily, controversial pundit and retired professor Sadeq Zibakalam said it would be unwise not to get prepared for the worst-case scenario, referring to all-out war. Reviled by hardliners, Zibakalam has come under sharp criticism from conservatives in recent days over his warnings about major threats ahead.

  • Amid threat of war, Iran faces public backlash over hijab crackdown

    Iran has renewed a push to impose the mandatory Islamic dress code. The move follows a call by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for hijab regulations to be respected. In the aftermath of nationwide anti-establishment protests in 2022, a rising number of women have abandoned headscarves. The current crackdown has prompted strong criticism on Iranian social media, reviving the battle of wills between the state and much of society over obligatory hijab.

  • Saudi Arabia Seeks Data Law Balance: Streamlining Business While Upholding International Standards

    Saudi Arabia's Proposed amendments to its Data Protection Law (DPL) could significantly impact international companies operating in the region. These changes focus on streamlining the process of transferring personal data outside the country, potentially offering greater flexibility and cost savings for businesses.

  • Hiba Husseini: Peacemaking After Oslo

    Hiba Husseini is a Ramallah-based lawyer who lives in Jerusalem. She served as a legal advisor to Palestinian peace negotiators for 30 years. About a year ago, she and longtime Israeli peace negotiator Yossi Beilin released a plan called the Holy Land Confederation, which seeks to lay the groundwork for a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

  • Perspective: Israel Exposes the Contradictions in Biden’s Foreign Policy

    The main non sequitur at issue concerned Biden’s dual message to Israel following this weekend’s massive barrage of drones and missiles from Iran. Part I says that American support for Israel is, and will forever remain, “ironclad.” Part II qualifies that the US is determined to “prevent escalation,” meaning a wider regional or even global war. That second aspect requires leaning on Israel to show restraint in its retaliation. But which of the two parts has priority?

  • Iran Attack on Israel: Implications and Oil Market Concerns

    Iran and Israel are now officially out of the shadow war, which was becoming more and more open, especially as the Houthis increased their ability to target Israeli territory with drones and missiles since February.[5] The long-standing threat of Hezbollah on the northern Israeli border has been somewhat contained in a pattern of retaliatory rocket strikes, but may be expanding.[6]  Hezbollah leadership and the US government are communicating indirectly and more frequently, such that the White House was successful in discouraging Israel to directly attack Hezbollah forces in Lebanon shortly after October 7.[7] The daylight between US and Israeli policy toward Lebanon is increasing. The Biden administration does not want to see an Israeli war in Lebanon, but Israel may calculate that now is the best time to both attack Iranian interests and settle its threat on the northern border.

  • Saudi Arabia poised to become clean netting jurisdiction

    Saudi Arabia is set to become the final G20 country to implement close-out netting legislation, with the Gulf state’s central bank having recently finalised new rules. The draft regulation on netting agreements and collateral arrangements sets out that netting is permitted once bankruptcy procedures have commenced and is broadly aligned with the International Swaps and Derivatives Association’s model netting law.

  • Flooded UAE counts cost of epic rainstorm, airport still facing disruptions

    Emergency workers tried to clear waterclogged roads and people assessed the damage to homes and businesses on Thursday after a rare and epic rainstorm swamped the United Arab Emirates.
    Dubai International Airport, a major travel hub, struggled to clear a backlog of flights and many roads were still flooded in the aftermath of Tuesday's deluge.
    The rains were the heaviest experienced by the Gulf state in the 75 years that records have been kept. They brought much of the country to a standstill and caused significant damage.

  • UAE cloud seeding did not take place during heavy rains, says NCM: Reports

    The UAE weather bureau has denied claims that its cloud seeding program was responsible for the recent heavy rainfall that caused widespread flooding in the country. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) confirmed on Wednesday that no cloud seeding missions were conducted during the torrential rain on Tuesday, according to local reports.