Culture - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

culture cover image

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

Sign up to our Daily Briefing

Keep up with Al-Monitor's top stories with a morning digest from across the region.

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

Females gather during morning prayers for Eid al-Adha at Al-Shami Mosque in the Nile Delta city of el-Mahalla el-Kubra, some 120 kilometers (74 miles) north of the capital Cairo, Egypt, July 20, 2021.

Egypt launches first women's fatwa councils

Many Egyptian Muslim women are happy with the launch of the first four women's fatwa councils, as they can now ask female preachers for religious fatwas on private matters.

This photo shows the interior of El-Ghriba synagogue, the oldest Jewish monument built in Africa, on the first day of the annual pilgrimage, Djerba island, Tunisia, April 26, 2021.

Jewish pilgrimage to Tunisian island stirs calls for criminalizing normalization with Israel

The annual Jewish pilgrimage to El-Ghriba synagogue in Tunisia has rekindled the popular and political debate over the issuance of a law criminalizing normalization with Israel.

Cat cafe

Abandoned cats settle in at Dubai cafe

The owner of the Cat Cafe in the UAE says her project is a safe haven for homeless cats abandoned by their owners, giving them a chance to find new homes through adoption.

Director Tarik Saleh poses with the Best Screenplay Award for the movie "Walad Min Al Janna."

New Egyptian film depicts intrigue, power plays at Al-Azhar

Egyptian-born director Tarek Saleh’s latest movie is his first to be shown at Cannes.

Participants chant slogans as they march during the annual Jerusalem Pride Parade.

Knesset speaker participates, addresses gay pride parade in Jerusalem

Knesset speaker Micky Levy participated today at the gay pride parade in Jerusalem, condemning death threats that were sent earlier this week to an organizer of the parade and several legislators.

Egypt mummy

Half-mummy confuses Egyptian archaeologists

The mummy, uncovered in the necropolis in the Al-Asasif area in Luxor, has mystified archaeologists.

Firqat Alnoor

Israeli orchestra's performance at Giza Pyramids strikes sour note

Amid public outrage at a performance by an Israeli orchestra in Cairo, Egyptian authorities have stressed the event did not take place within the Giza Pyramids complex.

This picture taken on March 28, 2022, shows a view of Mufti Hassan Khaled School in Lebanon's capital.

Lebanon’s economic crisis threatens education sector

Lebanon’s education sector, once prized throughout the Middle East as a regional leader, has been witnessing an irreversible mass exodus with hundreds of professionals in the teaching sector leaving.

Moon Knight

Egyptian dance music in 'Moon Knight' hooks global promoters

The Egyptian musical genre mahraganat's debut in Marvel’s hit series "Moon Knight" has led to international record deals.

Cairo cemetery

Road plan could bring demolitions to Cairo's City of the Dead

Cairo's City of the Dead may be in for a new series of demolitions because of a new road plan, but the plan is uniting heritage defenders in opposition.

Light Your Street

Rebirth Beirut brings nightlife back to Lebanon’s iconic Gemmayzeh

NGO Rebirth Beirut has brought 24-hour power back to Lebanon’s beloved nightlife district, hoping to encourage visitors and businesses to return.

SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images

Bee populations plummet in Gaza

Gaza is watching its bee populations plummet and accuses Israel for irresponsible or even malicious use of insecticides.