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June 20, 2025

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Muslim worshippers make their way towards the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque complex in in the holy city of Mecca to take part in morning prayers on the first day of Eid Al-Adha, the feast of the sacrifice, early on June 6, 2025.

In photos: Muslims kick off Eid al-Adha across the Middle East

The holiday’s arrival cast a spotlight on deepening humanitarian crises, leadership transitions and shifting regional dynamics.

Latest News

Syria courts Gulf investment with high-level Qatar visit amid $7B energy deal

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Al-Shaibani met with Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in the Qatari capital, Doha, on June 3, 2025.

Qatari-led consortium signs $7B deal with Syria for 5,000 MW of electricity

Syria electrical poles

Saudi Arabia's flyadeal joins growing list of airlines flying to Syria

This picture shows a Syrian Arab Airlines Airbus A320-200 aircraft and the control tower at Damascus international airport as the new Syrian authorities prepare to reopen it, on December 16, 2024.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

Jennifer Gnana

Gulf Correspondent

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Kate Dourian

In Dubai, reporting on energy

Karen Young

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed receives Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Abu Dhabi.

Who is Sultan Al Mansouri, Qatar’s first UAE ambassador in 6 years?

A career diplomat who previously served as Qatar’s ambassador to Austria in 2019 and as the ambassador to China in 2014, Mansouri brings a negotiating and economic skillset to the position.

Man Utd

Manchester United takeover ‘paused’ amid Qatari frustration: reports

The club's owners the Glazer family reported they want around 6 billion pounds ($7.72 billion) for the soccer club, but the two bids value Manchester United at around 5 billion pounds.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida prepares before a roundtable meeting during the 29th EU-Japan Summit at the European Union building, Brussels, Belgium, July 13, 2023.

Analysis

On Gulf tour, Japan's PM secures energy ties as China’s influence grows

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s three-day trip that began Sunday to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar — its key energy suppliers — is seen as a crucial move to secure Japan’s energy future.

By Salim A. Essaid

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Qatar leans east to achieve 40% global LNG output by 2029

Qatar took steps last year to maintain its lead in the LNG market and increase future output with the approval of expansion projects set to raise production by 64% to 126 million tons per year by 2027.

By Salim A. Essaid

Patrick Baldwin #7 of Washington Wizards is defended by Ben Sheppard #26 of Indiana Pacers during the first quarter of a 2023 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

Qatar Investment Authority buys 5% of NBA's Washington Wizards owner

It is the first investment by a sovereign wealth fund in a US sport and the latest move by a Gulf state to increase its influence in sports.

Zach LaVine (#8) of the Chicago Bulls goes up for a layup against Daniel Gafford (#21) of the Washington Wizards.

Analysis

After Saudi golf merger, will Qatar’s entry into NBA change US sports?

The Qatari Investment Authority’s bid to purchase stakes in Washington’s professional basketball and hockey teams could boost Qatar’s image and influence in the United States and coincides with similar moves by Saudi Arabia.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Man United Man City

Qatari royal could be overpaying by $3.16B for Manchester United

The sale has reportedly been delayed because of disagreements between the six siblings of the Glazer family, the current owners of the British soccer club.

People walk past the main gate to the campus of the American University of Beirut (AUB) in the heart of the Lebanese capital, on January 13, 2022. - Power shortages and soaring petrol prices mean many Lebanese students can neither afford to reach their classes nor study from home, a conundrum that is ravaging a generation's future. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

9 Middle East universities, 3 in Saudi Arabia make world’s top 300 schools

Nearly 150 universities from the MENA region are featured in a list of the world’s top universities.

Muslim worshippers take pictures of each other after attending the Eid al-Adha morning prayers at Doha's Education City Stadium, which hosted matches during Qatar's 2022 FIFA World Cup, on the first day of the Muslim holiday on June 28, 2023. Eid al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, marks the end of the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP) (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Qatar seen most peaceful in Middle East as Israel dips, Turkey ties Iran: GPI

The Global Peace Index placed Turkey as the least peaceful country in Europe ranking, and tied with Iran as the 147th most peaceful country globally.

Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

Bayern Munich, Qatar Airways end sponsorship deal after fan pressure

Fans of the German soccer champions have long-criticized the deal over concerns of Qatar's alleged human rights violations.

A picture shows the Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar's principal site for production of liquefied natural gas and gas-to-liquid, administrated by Qatar Petroleum, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the capital Doha, on February 6, 2017. - The head of energy giant Qatar Petroleum has shrugged off fears that any potential protectionist policies pursued by US President Donald Trump would impact on global oil and gas markets. Saad Al-Kaabi -- who heads state-owned QP, the largest exporter of Liquid Natural

Qatar dominates fragmented Middle East LNG growth amid global competition

Qatar LNG could be as much as 70% of MENA LNG exports by 2025, increasing thereafter.

Gerald Kepes

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy trends

DOHA, QATAR - DECEMBER 15: A man looks out over the Doha skyline on The Corniche during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on December 15, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Doha, Dubai ranked world’s top two cities for competitive job markets

The United Arab Emirates was the only country to have two cities on the top 10 list with both Dubai and the country’s capital Abu Dhabi at fifth.