Gulf

Iran navy announces drone division in Indian Ocean during Biden’s Middle East visit

July 15 (Reuters) - Iran on Friday announced its first drone division in the Indian Ocean, state TV said, as U.S. President Joe Biden visits the Middle East to rally…

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FACTBOX-Biden set to tackle oil, Israel, Yemen, Iran on Saudi trip

DUBAI, July 15 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will visit the United State's most important Arab ally Saudi Arabia on July 15-16 after two years of strained ties over the killing of…

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UPDATED: Biden heads to Saudi Arabia amid tension on oil, Khashoggi killing

JERUSALEM/JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, July 15 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden will discuss energy supply, human rights, and security cooperation in Saudi Arabia on Friday on a trip designed to reset the U.S.…

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UPDATED: Saudi Arabia to open airspace to all airlines, including from Israel

July 15 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said it would open its airspace to all air carriers, paving the way for more overflights to and from Israel, in a decision welcomed by U.S.…

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U.S. weighs possible resumption of offensive arms sales to Saudis

WASHINGTON/RIYADH, July 11 (Reuters) - The Biden administration is discussing the possible lifting of its ban on U.S. sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, but any final decision is expected to…

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Biden defends decision to visit Saudi Arabia, says rights are on his agenda

President Joe Biden defended his decision to travel to Saudi Arabia saying human rights would be on his agenda as he gave a preview of a trip on which he…

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United Arab Emirates cuts red tape to attract businesses

DUBAI, (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates is cutting red tape to make it easier and quicker for digital companies to incorporate, the latest economic policy announcement as the government seeks to…

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Photo Story: The Tawaf during the Hajj Pilgrimage 2022

Muslims perform the Tawaf' (circumambulation) ritual around the Kaaba at the Masjidil Haram, Islam's holiest site during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 07 July 2022. A million Muslim…

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United Arab Emirates doubles support for low-income Emirati families

DUBAI, July 4 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates is doubling the financial support it provides for low-income Emirati families to 28 billion dirhams ($7.6 billion) to help them with soaring living…

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Muslim pilgrims flock to Mecca for first post-pandemic haj

Thousands of pilgrims started arriving in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, among some one million Muslims expected to attend the 2022 haj pilgrimage season…

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UPDATED: Fatal magnitude 6.1 quake on Iran Gulf coast, 5.9 earthquake strikes Japan’s Hokkaido region

At least five people were killed and 49 injured by a magnitude 6.1 earthquake in southern Iran early on Saturday, state media reported, with the area also hit soon after…

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Iran’s southern Gulf waters hit by 5.6 magnitude earthquake

June 25 (Reuters) - An earthquake with a 5.6 magnitude struck in Iran’s southern Gulf waters early Saturday morning, state TV reported. There were no immediate reports of fatalities or damage. The…

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Kuwait crown prince dissolves parliament, calls for early general election

KUWAIT, June 22 (Reuters) - Kuwait's crown prince on Wednesday dissolved parliament and called for an early general election in the Gulf Arab state following a protracted stand-off between the government and…

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Saudi crown prince to visit Egypt on regional tour

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will visit Egypt on June 20 as part of a regional tour that includes stops in Jordan and Turkey. Prince Mohammed will meet Egyptian…

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Greece, Saudi Arabia eye fibre optic data cable to link Europe with Asia

Greece and Saudi Arabia agreed on Tuesday on the main terms to set up a joint venture to lay a fibre optic data cable that will link Europe with Asia,…

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Disney+ takes on rivals in Middle East streaming market

DUBAI, June 9 (Reuters) - Disney+launched its steaming service in the Middle East and North Africa on Wednesday, vying for market share in a region where the population is young but few…

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Israeli PM Bennett on unannounced visit to Abu Dhabi

JERUSALEM, June 9 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday and will meet its president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, an Israeli statement said.…

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08

Jun

Emirates ranked as region’s most valuable airline brand and world’s fourth

Dubai’s Emirates airline is the fourth most valuable airline brand in the world with a valuation of $5 billion (Dh18.37 billion), according to a Brand Finance report. Emirates came first…

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Photo Story: Several killed as train derails in Iran

A handout photo made available by the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) shows the aftermath of a train derailment near Tabas, Yazd province, Iran, 08 June 2022. At least 17…

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Photo Story: Al Gaffal Dhow race in Dubai

Crew of Hasheem dhow owned by Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan celebrate after winning the Al Gaffal Dhow Race outside Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday. Al…

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Khamenei warns ‘enemies’ triggering unrest in Iran to overthrow Islamic Republic

June 4 (Reuters) - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday blamed recent protests in Iran on foreign “enemies” seeking to overthrow the government in the Islamic Republic. Also, he said,…

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Magnitude 5 earthquake strikes Kuwait

June 4 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 5 struck Kuwait, the ministry of information tweeted on Saturday. The ministry said "the Kuwait National Seismic Network recorded an earthquake measuring 5 ...…

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TankerTrackers.com locates seized Greek tankers in Iranian waters

June 2 (Reuters) - Two Greek oil tankers seized by Iran last week are located in Iranian waters, monitoring service TankerTrackers.com said in a Twitter post on Thursday. "We now have a…

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Saudi Arabia to raise oil production if Russian output falls under sanctions- FT

Saudi Arabia is prepared to raise its oil production if Russia's output falls substantially because of the western sanctions imposed on it, the Financial Times reported, citing sources. Discussions had…

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Iran decries ‘unfair’ IAEA report on nuclear activities

Iran accused the International Atomic Energy Agency on Tuesday of publishing an unfair report on its investigation into Tehran's nuclear activities, possibly setting up a fresh diplomatic clash with the…

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Fears of Iran-Israel escalation after assassination of Revolutionary Guard officer

The brazen daylight assassination of an Iranian military officer in Tehran a week ago has prompted calls for revenge and shined a spotlight on the ongoing shadow war being fought…

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Taliban to sign pact with UAE on running Afghan airports

The Taliban will sign an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on operating airports in Afghanistan, the group's acting deputy prime minister said on Tuesday, after months of talks with the…

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Two Iranian pilots killed after F7 jet crashes – IRNA

Two Iranian pilots died after their F7 fighter jet crashed on Tuesday near Anarak, 200 km (124 miles) east of the city of Isfahan, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported. "The jet's…

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Iran seizes foreign ship with smuggled fuel, detains crew

DUBAI, May 18 (Reuters) - Iranian authorities seized a foreign ship attempting to smuggle fuel out of the country and detained its crew, state new agency IRNA said on Wednesday. Iran, which…

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Saudi Arabia on track to hit oil output of over 13 mln bpd by 2027 -minister

MANAMA, May 16 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is on track to lift oil production capacity by more than 1 million barrels per day to over 13 million barrels bpd by the end…

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Iraq balks at greater Chinese control of its oilfields

Iraq's oil ministry thwarted three prospective deals last year that would have handed Chinese firms more control over its oilfields and led to an exodus of international oil majors that…

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First commercial flight takes off from Sanaa, raising Yemen peace prospects

SANAA, May 16 (Reuters) - Yemen's national airline operated on Monday its first commercial flight in years from the capital Sanaa, raising hopes for renewal of a U.N.-brokered truce in the seven-year-old…

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Saudi King Salman leaves hospital

May 16 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz, 86, left hospital on Sunday following a colonoscopy last week, the royal court said in a statement on state media. Saudi TV…

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UAE’s newly elected ruler sees Iran, Islamists as threat to Gulf safe haven

United Arab Emirates strongman Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who was formally elected president on Saturday, led a realignment of the Middle East that created a new anti-Iran axis with…

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World leaders pay respects in UAE after death of pro-West president

DUBAI, May 15 (Reuters) - World leaders began descending on the United Arab Emirates on Sunday to offer condolences on the death of President Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who was…

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UPDATE – Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed elected UAE president

DUBAI, May 14 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates' de facto leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan was elected president of the Gulf Arab state by a federal supreme council on Saturday,…

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EU says talks with Iran “positive enough” to reopen nuclear negotiations

WEISSENHAUS, Germany May 13 (Reuters) - The EU's foreign policy chief said on Friday that he believed there had been enough progress during consultations between his envoy and Iranian officials in Tehran…

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UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed dies

DUBAI, May 13 (Reuters) - United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has died, state news agency WAM reported on Friday. He was also ruler of Abu Dhabi emirate.…

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Kuwait’s octogenarian emir departs to Italy on private visit

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah traveled to Italy on Thursday on a “private visit”, state news agency KUNA reported without providing further details. The ruler of…

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Dubai Airport sees busiest quarter in two years as travel gains pace

DUBAI, May 12 (Reuters) - Dubai's main airport on Thursday reported its busiest quarter in two years as the rebound in international travel gains pace, with its chief executive predicting Dubai International…

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Two European nationals arrested in Iran

Iran's intelligence ministry said on Wednesday it had arrested two European nationals for their alleged role in "the organisation of insecurity" in the Islamic Republic, Iran's semi-official Students News Agency…

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Photo Story: Tulip flower exhibition in the city of Asara, Iran

An Iranian woman visits the Asara tulip flower exhibition in the city of Asara, Alborz province, Iran. More than two million tulips from 43 variants are reportedly exhibited during the…

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Missile attack causes tank fire in oil refinery in Iraq – security forces

A missile attack targeted an oil refinery in Iraq's northern city of Erbil on Sunday causing a fire in one of its main tanks that was later brought under control, the Iraqi…

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Saudi Arabia’s economy estimated to grow 9.6% in Q1 on oil activities

May 1 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's economy grew 9.6% in the first quarter of 2022, compared to a year earlier, powered by oil activities, according to flash government estimates on Sunday. That…

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Muslims worldwide prepare for Eid al-Fitr

As Ramadan, the month of fasting, draws to a close, Muslims worldwide are gearing up for the festival of Eid al-Fitr. This year's celebrations fall on May 1 and 2.…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Doha, Qatar

An aerial view of high-rise buildings emerging through fog covering the skyline of Doha, as the sun rises over the city, in Doha, Qatar. Photo - EPA/YOAN VALAT

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Erdogan visits Saudi Arabia hoping for new era in ties

ANKARA/RIYADH (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday in the first high-level visit in years which he hopes will herald a new era of relations…

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Iran Revolutionary Guards general survives assassination attempt

Gunmen opened fire on a car carrying a senior Revolutionary Guards commander in restive southeastern Iran early on Saturday, killing a bodyguard, Iranian state media reported. Brigadier General Hossein Almassi,…

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Turkey says its warplanes hit Kurdish militant targets in northern Iraq

Turkish warplanes, helicopters and drones hit Kurdish militant targets in northern Iraq in an air and land operation that targeted facilities ranging from camps to ammunition stores, Turkey's defence ministry…

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Vegas, Macau…Dubai? Global casinos raise bets on gambling in the Gulf

DUBAI/HONG KONG, (Reuters) - It's been the subject of quiet speculation among diplomats and executives for years, but now global casino bosses are setting their sights on a once improbable prize: gambling…

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Iran’s IRGC says it seizes tanker with smuggled fuel in Gulf

DUBAI, April 15 (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday they had seized a vessel in Gulf waters loaded with 250,000 litres of smuggled fuel, the Iranian state news agency IRNA…

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Photo Story: Stan the T. rex on show at Natural History Museum in Abu Dhabi

The 67-million year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil 'Stan' is on display as part of a new exhibit at the Natural History Museum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The new museum…

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Saudi Arabia expands Haj to 1 million pilgrims, easing COVID curbs

April 9 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will let up to 1 million people join the Haj pilgrimage this year, greatly expanding the key event to participants from outside the kingdom…

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Yemen president cedes powers to council as Saudi Arabia pushes to end war

ADEN, April 7 (Reuters) - Yemen's president delegated power to a presidential council and dismissed his deputy on Thursday in a move aimed at supporting U.N.-led efforts to revive negotiations…

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Truce offers glimmer of hope to Yemenis battered by seven-year war

Yemenis welcomed a nationwide U.N.-brokered ceasefire due to come into effect on Saturday evening as a glimmer of hope in a country ravaged by a seven-year conflict that has forced…

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Israel says UAE free trade deal reached

JERUSALEM, April 1 (Reuters) - Israel and the United Arab Emirates have concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement, Israel's Economy Ministry and the UAE foreign trade minister said on Friday, after formally establishing ties…

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Saudi Arabia responds positively to U.N. truce for Yemen

RIYADH, (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has responded positively to a ceasefire proposal for Yemen presented by United Nations special envoy Hans Grundberg, a Saudi official said. Grundberg has said he was engaging…

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