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  • Qatar becomes first Arab state to join US visa waiver programme

    The US has said it will waive visa requirements for citizens of Qatar, making the gas-rich Gulf state the first Arab country, and only the second Muslim-majority country, to join a network of states with expedited travel to the US. The US Department of Homeland Security said on Tuesday that the Gulf monarchy cleared the "stringent security requirements" to become the 42nd member of the US’s visa waiver programme. Qatar’s population stands at just 2.6 million, of whom only a tiny fraction - around 313,000 - are citizens. The US visa waiver programme is mainly reserved for wealthy western European and Asian states. Israel was added to the programme last year.

  • Hotel franchise in the Middle East: navigating the shift

    Though still considered emerging, the region's hospitality market is rapidly maturing and diversifying. Coupled with an increasing range of brands across all scale ratings, there has been a noticeable shift to franchise (including third-party operators and heightened owner engagement). Franchise, predominant in North America and widespread in Europe, may not have been considered when HMAs for most Middle East hotels were first entered. But as these agreements approach expiry or renewal, their owners may have a golden opportunity to explore alternatives.

  • Middle East accounts for 7.5% of global crypto volume — Chainalysis

    According to a Sept. 25 Chainalysis report, the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) accounted for 7.5% of all cryptocurrency transaction volume globally between July 2023 and June 2024. Chainalysis estimates the total value received during the period to be $338.7 billion, with the vast majority of the transaction volume coming from institutional and professional investors.

  • US admits Qatar into visa waiver program

    The United States on Tuesday announced it was admitting Qatar into its visa waiver program, allowing visa-free travel by Qatari citizens for up to 90 days starting no later than Dec. 1. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State said in a statement that Qatar is the first Gulf country to be admitted to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, commending Doha for meeting the strict security requirements to join.

  • Foreign trucks must settle any violations before their entry or exit of Saudi Arabia

    It is mandatory on the part of foreign trucks to settle any transportation violations before the entry or exit of drivers or trucks in Saudi Arabia. This is one among the four key regulations, formulated by the Transport General Authority (TGA), in collaboration with relevant authorities, aimed at governing foreign truck operations in the Kingdom.

  • Saudi Arabia to bolster medical tourism with strategic partnerships

    One notable example is a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed last August between Saudi Arabia and Morocco, focusing on research, digital health, therapeutic development, pandemic preparedness, and preventative medicine. Meanwhile, this MoU follows a similar agreement signed with Thailand in January to foster knowledge sharing on hospital management and wellness services between both countries.

  • Iraq calls for emergency Arab, Islamic summit to halt Israeli aggression on Lebanon

    Iraq’s Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, yesterday proposed holding an emergency Arab and Islamic summit aimed at “unifying efforts to halt Israeli aggression” in Lebanon, Anadolu reported. Since Monday morning, the Israeli military has launched what is described as its “most intense and wide-ranging” assault on Lebanon since hostilities with Hezbollah began nearly a year ago. The attacks resulted in 569 deaths, including 50 children and 94 women, and left 1,835 wounded, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

  • Houthis Expand Ties Beyond Iran’s Axis

    Unlike other members of the Axis, the Houthis swear fealty to their own leadership, and not to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and they have their own regional ambitions separate and distinct from Iran. Diversifying their regional and global partnerships helps reduce the Houthis’ dependence on Tehran.

  • Warren & Hearn defend Saudi involvement in boxing

    "Why is there criticism? A small minority complaining about the national anthem being played," Warren said. "These type of events would not be able to be made without financial input. "It's for the love of boxing from His Excellency [Alalshikh] that has made that happen. The fans there, did you hear anyone moaning?"

  • IAEA chief sees willingness from Iran to re-engage on nuclear file

    U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Tuesday he had sensed a greater willingness by Iranian officials to engage with the agency in a more meaningful way after talks in New York, and that he hoped to travel to Tehran in October. Several long-standing issues have dogged relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, including Tehran's barring of uranium-enrichment experts on the inspection team and its failure for years to explain uranium traces found at undeclared sites.