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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

UAE iftar

Other faiths invite Dubai Muslims to break fast together during Ramadan

During the month of Ramadan in the UAE, a number of foreign residents and followers of different religions are gathering to break their fast together.

Syria

Rare Syrian NGO formed to defend LGBT community

Syrian LGBT activists are carrying out various campaigns to demand their rights and stop the violations against them.

One of the slogans displayed in street art by Chain Effect on Hamra Street, Beirut.

Bicycling movement sweeps Lebanon

As Lebanon is hit hard by a series of crises, fuel shortages aggravated by the Ukraine war have pushed many Lebanese to use bicycles as transportation.

A man walks in the vicinity of the closed Al-Hussein Mosque, after the country's Muslim religious authorities decided to put the Friday prayers on hold in order to avoid gatherings and the spread of the coronavirus, Cairo, Egypt, March 20, 2020.

Renovation work at historic Cairo mosque angers architects

Several Egyptian architects believe that the renovation project of Al-Hussein Mosque in Cairo’s historic district has ruined the area’s heritage and architectural aspect.

Palestinian workers excavate a newly discovered Roman cemetery.

Antiquities thieves raid Roman tomb in Nablus

Thieves have looted a tomb dating back to Roman times in Nablus, where Palestinian police are struggling to protect antiquities.

Courtesy of Dia Mrad and Zawyeh Gallery

Photographer captures surrealist post-explosion Beirut at Dubai art show

Surreal silos and ruins of ancient buildings are the subjects of the new series of works by Dia Mrad, recently presented at the biggest art fair in the Middle East.

Syrian men watch the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification soccer game between Iran and Syria, played in Tehran, in the rebel-held town of Binnish on the outskirts of Idlib, Syria, Sept. 5, 2017.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham organizes soccer league for fighters, angers Idlib jihadis

Commander of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s military wing Abu Hassan al-Hamwi sparked widespread controversy among rival jihadis in Idlib after attending the final game in the soccer league recently organized for HTS fighters.

Palestinian men smoke waterpipes as they watch the Syrian drama series "Bab al-Hara" ("The Door to the Neighborhood") in a cafe, Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Oct. 8, 2007.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad finance 'resistance' dramas for Ramadan

Islamist groups in the Gaza Strip argue that films should reflect the realities of the Israeli occupation.

Christians

Christians continue to leave Jerusalem amid ongoing instability

The number of Christians in Jerusalem continues to dwindle amid ongoing political instability and deteriorating economic conditions, prompting local churches and clergy to sound the alarm.

An undated image of Mashhad Tabataba after its relocation.

Egypt saves only remaining monument from Ikhshidid era

To save the monument from being submerged under the sulfur Ain el-Sira Lake south of Cairo, Egypt has announced the relocation of Mashhad al-Tabataba, the only monument left from the Ikhshidid era.

A picture shows a school run by UNRWA where many displaced Palestinian families have sought refuge in Gaza City amid daily airstrikes and bombardment by Israeli forces, Gaza Strip, May 19, 2021.

Did Palestinians, Jews of Europe ever communicate in Yiddish?

The history of Yiddish-speaking Palestinians is not very clear.

Fadel Othman inside a small gym in northern Syria where he teaches kung fu.

Syrian martial artist who lost leg returns home to teach kung fu

A Syrian kung fu teacher has overcome the trauma of losing his leg to follow his passion for kung fu and opened a club for children in Syria’s Aleppo province.