Turkey to host Iraq, Qatar, UAE officials for Development Road summit The estimated $20 billion project was formalized during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s official visit in April to Baghdad and will link Basra to Turkey via a rail and road network. Turkey
Analysis What Maersk's $250M logistics park means for Saudi Arabia Danish logistics company remains invested in the Red Sea despite continued threats to shipping from Yemen's Houthi militants. By Jennifer Gnana In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics
Analysis Can Modi fast-track India-Mideast-Europe corridor post-reelection? Ramping up initial phase of the corridor between India and the United Arab Emirates tops the agenda in New Delhi. By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Kuwait doubles down on Saudi ties driven by economics, counter-Islamism Kuwait's newly appointed crown prince, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah, is expected to advance the already good ties between his country and Saudi Arabia, as the two seek to further their economic prosperity. Kuwait
Analysis Can Gulf investors outstrip China in Africa as UAE expands reach? By Sabena Siddiqui In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran
Analysis Inquiry finds Netanyahu responsible for 2021 festival stampede By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Ankara plans road network to connect Syria with southern Turkey The Turkish government is working with local councils in Syria's Euphrates Shield area to build and improve a road network to connect the area's cities with southern Turkey. Syria
Will public opposition stop proposed Egypt-Israel railway dead in its tracks? Egyptian media outlets are making a fuss about a recent meeting between Israel's ambassador to Cairo, David Govrin, and the director of the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies, Saad Eddin Ibrahim, discussing a railway between Egypt and Israel. Saudi Arabia
Can the private sector salvage Egypt’s dilapidated railway system? While a train accident in Egypt’s Giza governorate has placed the railway system's efficiency in the spotlight, experts remain optimistic about the government’s modernization plan. Egypt
Decks and the City: Artist proposes gardens over car parks in Beirut This year's Beirut Design Week focuses on urban design, and the projects and showcases include street revival and creative new green spaces. Lebanon
Syria's not waiting for peace to rebuild, and Iran wants to help There's a lot of talk about reconstructing Syria, but at the moment, Iran seems to be the only country actively working toward that end. Syria
Weary Istanbulites flock to seaside Izmir Tired of traffic, extreme concretization and decelerated social interaction, white-collar, educated Turkish people are abandoning Istanbul for Turkey’s Aegean coastal province of Izmir. Turkey
Iran’s housing sector keeps building Iran’s housing sector is on track to escape its yearslong stagnancy, yet Iranian tenants are still squeezed by rising rents. Iran
Ethiopian dam talks jammed with no compromise in sight Another meeting between Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia on the massive Nile dam ended in an impasse, leaving many questions about its construction unanswered. Egypt
Turkish firm brings light back to struggling Syrian city Turkey plans to help restore utilities and other services to Syrian towns, starting with a new power plant for the city of Azaz, which has been running on generators. Syria
Lebanon plans to overhaul its public transportation sector The World Bank has approved a $295 million financing package to reform public transportation in Beirut. Lebanon
Could container homes alleviate Israeli housing crisis? Israeli architects and students explore the concept of using shipping containers as homes and shopping spaces. Israel
Istanbul’s new airport: a looming black hole Istanbul’s giant new airport, scheduled to partially open in October ahead of key elections next year, has become a headache that threatens to carve a black hole in Turkey’s public finances. Turkey