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Culture

Neymar

After Ronaldo, Neymar scores $54 million penthouse in Dubai

The Brazilian soccer player is the latest athlete to acquire property in the UAE’s largest city.

United Arab Emirates

Head coach Robert Saleh of the New York Jets looks on against the Denver Broncos during the first half at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 29, 2024, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

What’s behind firing of Robert Saleh, NFL’s first Muslim, Lebanese head coach?

The New York Jets were performing poorly under the Lebanese American Saleh amid rumors of tensions with outspoken quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur drops out of 2024 tennis circuit

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, currently ranked 22nd in the Women's Tennis Association, will step away from tennis until 2025 as she recovers from a shoulder injury.

Bassem Youssef attends the 2020 Sundance Film Festival Cinema Cafe on January 31, 2020, in Park City, Utah.

Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef no longer on X: What we know

The exiled comic has been a vocal critic of Israel, highlighting the plight of the Palestinians during the Gaza war but has recently been accused of antisemitism.

Latest News

CT scans reveal mysteries of ancient Egypt's 'Screaming Woman' mummy

Visitors tour the site in the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, where archaeologists unearthed two human and animal embalming workshops, as well as two tombs, on May 27, 2023. The head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, told reporters the embalming workshops, where humans and animals were mummified, "date back to the 30th dynasty" which reigned around 2,400 years ago. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Middle East athletes rack up 44 medals at Paris Olympics

Imane Khelif

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From Egypt to Saudi: Meet Middle East's athletes at Paris Olympics

This photograph shows Paris 2024 Olympics Games banner in front of the National Assembly, in Paris, on July 18, 2024.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

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

Analysis

Saudi Arabia's soccer dreams tested as Vision 2030 goal posts move

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 4: Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates after scoring the 2nd goal during the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Nassr and Al Wehda at Al Awwal Park on May 4, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.(Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

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

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Nazlan Ertan

In Izmir, reporting on culture

Danny Makki

In London, reporting on Syrian politics and culture

Naima Morelli

In Rome, reporting on Middle East culture

Rebecca Anne Proctor

In Dubai, reporting on culture

Beirut gay

Lebanon's Shura Council suspends ban on LGBTQ event

Despite the court's ruling in August, the Lebanese interior minister has continued to ban LGBTQ gatherings.

Soccer fans watch a live broadcast of the Qatar 2022 World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Switzerland, near the museum of the Future in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 28, 2022.

Cafes, hotels in Dubai raise prices during World Cup

Thousands of Dubai restaurants and hotels are hosting the thousands of World Cup soccer fans who are using the emirate as a base.

Yemen's national soccer team sing the national anthem ahead of the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup qualifier match between Mauritania and Yemen at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar, June 22, 2021.

Yemenis' passion for soccer undimmed by war

The seven-year war in Yemen has not wiped out the people's passion for soccer, and the Yemenis' reaction to the World Cup in Qatar is proof.

Archaeologists unearthed pieces of stone decorated with friezes depicting worship rituals, at the Hill of the Pharaohs, Egypt.

Egypt shares new discovery at Buto Temple

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of the remains of a pillared hall at the Temple Buto in the Central Delta region, and a number of religious pottery vessels dating back to el-Sawy era.

USA's teammates celebrate at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between Iran and USA at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha on Nov. 29, 2022.

Iran falls to US in World Cup in tense, politically charged match

Iran lost 1-0 in a highly politicized match with clear tensions on the field, dashing their hopes to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time.

The players of Iran line up for the national anthem prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Explainer: the US-Iran dispute over flags and the World Cup

The US men’s soccer team posted an image of the Iranian flag with the word “Allah” removed from it.

Cairo Jewish

US embassy helps restore Jewish burial sites in Cairo

The US Embassy in Cairo, in partnership with American and Egyptian Jewish organizations, inaugurated the 15th-century burial grounds after their restoration.

Egyptian women wear full-face veils in al-Montazah district of Egypt's second city of Alexandria on March 26, 2018.

More Egyptian women reject hijab

The hijab in Egypt has always been a matter of controversy.

Egypt minaret

Egyptian archeologist's comment on call to prayer stirs controversy

Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass becomes target of criticism after calling for one call to prayer across all mosques in an area.

IKSV

Artists from Middle East stand out in women-dominated Venice Biennale

This year’s edition of the world’s longest-running art show corrects a history of gender inequality by putting female artists at its center.

Iran Wales soccer

Iran's World Cup players sing anthem before beating Wales

The Iranian soccer team declined to sing the anthem at their first match, but were then faced with potential legal repercussions.

Sara Sabry is seen in this photo taken on Aug. 4, 2022.

First Egyptian, Arab woman to go to space recounts her journey

Sara Sabry, the first Egyptian, Arab and African woman to travel into space, told Al-Monitor about her trip, the dangers she felt and her future plans in this field.