Inside the scheme to grab ‘holy’ land in Jerusalem’s Armenian quarter Local activists are working to stop a megadeal signed by the Armenian patriarch to lease land to a luxury hotel developer. Palestine
What we know about Algeria’s mega mosque, the largest in Africa The inauguration of the mosque culminates years of delay, partially prompted by country’s political history but also with construction controversies. Algeria
Iraq's Mosul rises from Islamic State ashes to rebuild minarets, museum As Mosul makes a slow revival from the remnants of war, a host of challenges remain, including corrupt officials and institutional weaknesses in Iraq. Iraq
UAE discovers Gulf's oldest known pearling town The town discovered on Siniyah Island showed clear evidence of its pearling industry from the sixth century AD. Gulf
Artists take a look at lost history and bright future in Beirut Beirut's annual art and design fairs focus this year on past and future through the eyes of modern artists. Lebanon
Why Egypt's construction boom creates ghost towns Egyptian leaders from Anwar to Sisi have attempted — and failed — to build lavish cities to relocate dense urban populations. Egypt
UNESCO-listed Anatolian town gets contemporary museum The Odunpazari Modern Museum aims to develop the cultural offer in the Anatolian town of Eskisehir. Turkey
How cultural war made Ankara an architectural battleground Ankara’s austere and minimalist flavor is a shock to many who are more accustomed to architecture around the Bosphorus, but for local residents, the city's gray buildings are icons from a cherished era. Turkey
Will Turkey's oldest library sweep Aga Khan prize? The restoration of Beyazit State Library, established by Sultan Abdulhamid II in 1884, has been short-listed for the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Turkey
Nostalgia for 19th-century Pera meets modernity in Istanbul exhibit Cosmopolitan Pera, with luxury hotels and entertainment venues, was the recreational heart of 19th-century Istanbul, which an exhibition at the Istanbul Research Institute revisits along with a cultural addition that could have been. Turkey
Cairo to build new site for culture but will artists and fans come? Egypt has announced that it will build a state-of-the-art culture city by mid-2022, but it remains unclear whether it would attract artists and art lovers. Egypt
Egypt's architects mobilize against tsunami of high-rise buildings As Egypt's new administrative capital gains momentum, architects caution that new is not necessarily better in urbanization. Egypt
Egypt’s private sector to revamp 150 historic buildings in Cairo The Egyptian government is drawing up a plan to turn over historic buildings to the public sector to help refurbish them and rent them out Egypt
Can Baghdad's Rasheed Street save its name, glory? Once a cultural and economic hub, Baghdad's Rasheed Street will need a lot of work and investment to return to its days of glory. Iraq
Cairo sewer covers reveal city’s history Salma Nassar's photos of sewer covers shed a light on Cairo's urbanization and political symbols over the years. Egypt
Lebanese architect blazes new path For Beirut-born architect Amale Andraos, it is still surprisingly difficult to operate as a woman in architecture. Lebanon
