[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Arabian Peninsula and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Arabian Peninsula Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to ap@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.
Regional and International Relations
Dubai to build tallest tower, beating its own record Dubai’s upcoming plans to out-Burj the Burj Khalifa rake up a cost of more than one billion dollars.
American woman ‘insulted UAE while waiting for taxi at airport’ US woman who was arrested in February claims no wrongdoing.
UAE’s new youth minister submits 100-day plan The plan aims to focus on three youth-driven initiatives for the Emirate’s young population.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt announce Red Sea bridge The latest meeting between Egypt and Saudi Arabia signals renewed ties between the two states.
Egypt Gives Saudi Arabia 2 Islands in a Show of Gratitude In another sign of union between the two states, Egypt gifted Saudi Arabia a set of islands in the Red Sea.
Iran Plans Visit to Rival Saudis to Discuss Hajj Pilgrimage After last year’s tragic events during the Hajj, where over two thousand pilgrims died during a stampede, Iran seeks a meeting with Saudi Arabia to ensure a safer pilgrimage this year.
Saudi Arabia passes Russia as world’s third biggest military spender The United States, China, and Saudi Arabia round out the top three military spenders around the world.
Saudi Arabia crackdown on `un-Islamic` hairstyles forces footballers to ditch `Qaza` haircut Mohawk-style haircuts will not be permitted on the football field in Saudi Arabia.
Conjoined Twins, a Trip to Saudi Arabia and a Risky Operation One Pakistani family’s journey to Saudi Arabia for life-altering medical treatments.
New female-focused recruiter aims to add flexibility to GCC jobs market Non-traditional hours and the need for new skills and perspectives leave room for more women in the workplace throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The GCC Seeks Cohesion With Renewed Urgency A look at the common threads of problems that unite the GCC countries.
John Kerry works to smooth relations with Gulf allies amid Iran tensions Kerry met with his GCC colleagues to quell concerns regarding Iran and the Islamic States (IS).
Defendants miss first Qatar court hearing in Villaggio fire retrial The latest updates on the court case for those held accountable for a fire which killed nineteen at a shopping mall in Qatar back in 2012.
Inside Saudi Arabia’s Re-education Prison for Jihadists Saudi Arabia’s Family House prison contains almost two thousand inmates.
Nepali migrant worker dies in Qatar The twenty-eight-year-old worker had been in Qatar for five years, working to support his family members in Nepal.
Qatar royal and companion freed by kidnappers in Iraq Twenty-six members of the hunting crew remain hostage in Iraq.
US Sends B-52 Bombers to Qatar to Join the Fight Against the Islamic State The military aircraft will be sent to the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Qatar Bank Liquidity Slumps in February After Deposits Decline Loans also rose in the same month, indicating fluctuations in Qatar’s banking industry.
Meet the women ‘Instapreneurs’ of Kuwait Female entrepreneurs make a name for themselves in Kuwait.
Kuwait Targets Oil Output at 43-Year High as Freeze Talks Loom Kuwait currently produces approximately three million barrels of oil per day, but that might change soon.
When the Oil Fields Burned A look at Kuwait’s burned oil fields, twenty-five years after the 1991 Gulf war.
Mayor reconsiders trip to Qatar after barring travel to N.C., Miss. The mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico could be rethinking travel plans to Qatar, after a promise to boycott states with discriminatory policies toward the LGBT community.
Oman: `You’ve never heard silence until you get to the Empty Quarter` One holiday travel series features Oman as a destination for culture, tradition, and nature.
In very rare public meet, Israeli, Saudi officials name Iran as common foe The latest news of meetings between Saudi Arabia and Iran could indicate a shift in policy in the coming years.
Reports and Opinions
Under Guise of Saving Them, French Elites Declare Open Season on Attacking Muslim Women The workings of one public relations agency come full circle as two clients and campaigns clash in ideology.
‘Green Card’ for expatriates in Saudi Arabia is a strategic plan Saudis explore the idea of an immigration system untethered from a work sponsor.
How does the US see its role in the GCC region? As Obama transitions out of office later this year, effects of US policy are far reaching in the GCC.
THE SAUDIS TURN UP THE HEAT ON HEZBOLLAH An escalation of tensions between Saudi Arabia and Hizballah signal difficulties ahead for Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia Is About To Adopt International Accounting Standards And It Could Cause Problems The country must balance a lot more than just checkbooks in order for the new system to work.
Crisis in Yemen
Questioning America’s Role in Yemen Exploring the complicity of US and other western powers in the damage and destruction of Yemen, through arms sales and other means of support to the Saudi regime.
Tentative Ceasefire Begins in Yemen Amid Threats and Fighting Yemen’s ceasefire began with a rough start on 10 April.
Yemen: US Bombs Used in Deadliest Market Strike Human Rights Watch investigates the use of US military weaponry against civilians in Yemen.
What the Yemen Cabinet Shakeup Means One analyst examines the repercussions of Yemen’s recent cabinet shuffle.
Yemen conflict: `At least 15 government troops` killed Although al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) did not claim responsibility for the attack, government officials pegged the killings as an AQAP ambush.
Yemen conflict: Former vice-president Bahah denounces sacking Yemen’s ousted vice-president speaks out against current government decisions.
Viewpoint with James Zogby: The status in Yemen – video A conversation with the professor and former US ambassador to Yemen, Barbara Bodine.
‘We Have Nothing Left’: The Saga of Yemen’s Rescued Jews A historical look at Yemen’s Jewish population, and a chat with those who recently escaped Yemen’s war.
America’s Contradictory Yemen Policies As AQAP capitalizes on Yemen’s instability, what role does the US play in post-war Yemen?
How Saudi Arabia`s war in Yemen has made al Qaeda stronger – and richer An investigation into AQAP’s expansive territorial gains in Yemen.
Oman says a U.S. man detained in Yemen`s rebel-held capital has been freed Oman negotiated the release of a US citizen held captive by Houthi forces in Yemen.
Al Qaeda Winning Hearts And Minds Over ISIS In Yemen With Social Services Could AQAP invest in state building in a weak and fragmented Yemen?
POPE APPEALS FOR RELEASE OF PRIEST KIDNAPPED IN YEMEN The priest was kidnapped in early March in Yemen, and rumors swirled about a possible crucifixion.
Human Rights
Detained Canadian Salim Alaradi to learn fate in U.A.E. May 30 Charges against the Libyan-Canadian were dropped earlier this year, but Alaradi has yet to be released.
I was tortured in Dubai prison, claims former Leeds United chief David Haigh Following his release from jail in the United Arab Emirates, the former managing director speaks to reporters about prison conditions.
In Bahrain, Kerry walks tightrope on human rights Kerry spoke with opposition leaders in Bahrain, while also maintaining ties to ruling regime.
Bahrain: “Their freedom is their right” campaign announces Zainab Al-Khawaja as the prisoner of the month in April 2016 The ongoing campaign, which launched last year, highlights human rights defenders from across the Middle East.
Bahrain Institute raises concerns of human rights abuse with FIA Bahrain’s Formula One race has come under scrutiny in recent years, but continues to operate, despite repeated pleas from the human rights community.
Bahrain: Protests After Funeral of Teenager Killed by Police Bahrain’s cycle of protests over police brutality continues, this time after the death of a seventeen-year-old.
Silenced Voices: Judicial targeting of human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia A new report looks at Saudi Arabia’s methodical efforts to stamp out human rights activists within the country.
Arabic
اليمن: الهدنة المرتقبة تُعيد إحياء الآمال بالتسوية A UN-brokered truce between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis was due to take effect on Sunday.
الملك سلمان في القاهرة: المصالح تتقدم على الخلافات A news report on the Saudi king’s visit to Egypt, whose purpose is to discuss regional matters and consolidate Saudi-Egyptian relations.
حسن نافعة لـ«السفير»: الوضع الإقليمي يحتاج الى تعاون مصري ـ سعودي Mustafa Bassyouni interviews Hassan Nafi’ to reflect on the significance of the Saudi king’s visit to Egypt.
السعودية تُموِّل احتياجات مصر النفطية بـ20 مليار دولار Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed a contract, whereby Riyadh will provide Cairo with oil for the next five years.
جسر للربط بين السعودية ومصر استثمارات «ملكية» في سيناء The Saudi King announces that Riyadh intends to build a bridge over the Red Sea that will link Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
سلمان يشتري ولاء السيسي: القاهرة تتنازل للرياض عن السيادة المصرية Ahmed Jamal al-Din argues that King Salman has bought the loyalty of the Egyptian president, and that Cairo is willing to give up islands that have been under the Egyptian sovereignty for decades in order to please Riyadh.
مصر | تململ شعبي وترحيب رئاسي بزيارة سلمان Ahmed Jamal al-Din states that the Egyptian people were not thrilled by the Saudi king’s visit to Egypt.
الرياض تقرّب بين القاهرة وأنقرة ولا مكان لـ«الإخوان» Mahmoud Muroua analyzes Riyadh’s efforts to bring Cairo and Ankara together.
"التحالف" يقصف سوقاً يمنية بقنابل أميركية The Saudi-led coalition strikes a market in Yemen, which left ninety-seven civilians dead.
كيري يدعو لاحترام حقوق الإنسان في البحرين John Kerry, the US secretary of state, expresses his regret over the sectarian “divisions” in Bahrain and calls for the respect of human rights.
كيري في المنامة: إيران وسوريا و«داعش» John Kerry arrives in Manama to participate in the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council to discuss Iran, Syria, and the Islamic State.
إيران ترسل وفداً إلى السعودية لبحث ترتيبات الحج Tehran intends to send an envoy to Saudi Arabia to discuss the new arrangements for Hajj.
العراق: الإفراج عن مخطوفين أحدهما من أسرة حكام قطر The Qatari regime announces the release of a member of the royal family and a Pakistani citizen, who were captured during a hunting trip in southern Iraq.
السعودية: قتيلان بنيران مصدرها اليمن Two Saudi citizens on the Saudi-Yemeni borders were killed from shots from Yemen.
البحرين: الآلاف يشيعون شاباً قتلته الشرطة Thousands of Bahrainis took part in the funeral of a seventeen-year-old boy who died from shots by the police.
مقتل عقيد في الشرطة السعودية على يد "داعش" A colonel in the Saudi police died in Riyadh during an attack claimed by the Islamic State.
ما وراء مفاوضات الكويت: مبادرة بن نايف لإنقاذ العرش... على خطى سلطان Fouad Ibrahim argues that the aims of the current Saudi war on Yemen show that the Saudi sixth war on Yemen (2009-2010) failed in achieving its goals.
تصعيد عسكري يسبق التهدئة A news report on the Saudi military escalation in Yemen before the start of the truce.
اتفاق أوّلي على انهاء الحرب: وقف تدريجي للأعمال العسكرية The Houthis and Saudi Arabia arrive at a preliminary treaty to stop the war before the start of negotiations in Kuwait.
منظمات خليجية تطلب مساعدة أوباما Eleven Gulf non-governmental organizations urge the US president to press the Gulf states to release human rights activists.