Citing lack of security, UAE billionaire abandons Lebanon investments Emirati businessman had previously said he received threats leading to the cancellation of a planned TV channel launch in Lebanon in 2024 Lebanon
Turkey: Death toll from ski resort blaze rises to 79 As officials continue to play the blame game, the number of people detained as part of the investigation into the disaster has increased to 11. Turkey
Turkey declares national day of mourning after ski resort fire kills at least 76 The blaze struck a popular ski resort hotel, leaving dozens dead. Turkey
Saudi's PIF downsizes foreign investment, turns to AI, domestic priorities Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is looking to invest in tourism, real estate and sustainability as its Vision 2030 deadline draws closer. Saudi Arabia
Sri Lanka arrests 3 men in plot to attack Israeli-run Jewish center: What we know By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Analysis Can Saudi Arabia afford giga-projects with oil prices under $75 per barrel? By Jennifer Gnana , Samuel Wendel
Will Tunisia, Algeria relations recover through land border reopening? Several issues, including gas and the dispute over the Western Sahara, continue to linger over the tense Algerian-Tunisian relations, despite the reopening of the land borders between the two countries. North Africa
Egyptian tourists unwelcome in south Sinai as Israelis visit in droves Israeli tourists are flocking to south Sinai while Egyptians are being forced to turn back, in violation of the law and the constitution. Egypt
Israel, US sign agreement to facilitate visa waiver program Israeli and American representatives have signed an information-sharing agreement needed for Israel to join the US Visa Waiver program, but the hurdle of Knesset approval remains. Israel
Egypt to turn ancient government building into hotel The Egyptian government is implementing a project to repurpose one of the oldest and most famous buildings in downtown Cairo into a mixed-use development building to achieve profits and boost tourism. Egypt
YouTube influencers discover Iraq The most famous content producers on YouTube, including artists, media professionals, and other prominent social media figures, recently visited Iraq. Iraq
Tourism to Dubai up nearly 200% this year The Expo 2020 Dubai provided a big boost as the Emirati city continues to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic. Gulf
Egypt looks for upsurge in tourists from sanctions-hit Russia Cairo and Moscow are holding talks to allow the Russian payment system MIR in Red Sea resorts. Egypt
Israel expects post-COVID tourism rebound this summer Israeli experts do not expect tourism to reach this summer the record level of 2019, but they certainly notice a trend of increase on both outbound and incoming tourism. Israel
Egypt uses augmented reality to promote medical tourism Egypt’s General Authority for Health Care announced the use of metaverse technology to promote its medical tourism project as the country’s tourism sector is trying to compensate for the losses incurred during the coronavirus pandemic, and most recently the Russian war on Ukraine. Egypt
Iran and Iraq sign tourism deal The agreement follows protests of Iranian “interference” after a drone attack targeted an alleged Israeli spy base in northern Iraq. Iran
Venezuela’s Maduro receives warm welcome in Turkey Turkey and Venezuela have good relations, much to the chagrin of the United States. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Jewish pilgrimage to Tunisian island stirs calls for criminalizing normalization with Israel The annual Jewish pilgrimage to El-Ghriba synagogue in Tunisia has rekindled the popular and political debate over the issuance of a law criminalizing normalization with Israel. Tunisia
