Saudi Arabia

Caesar Act Suspended: Can Lebanon Ride Syria’s Recovery?

For the first time since 2019, Washington has eased sanctions on Damascus, granting a 180-day exemption under the Caesar Act to allow certain “humanitarian” and “civilian” transactions. The move, though temporary, carries clear political weight. It appears to be a test to see how far neighboring countries can reconnect with the Syrian ...

Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood: Between Ideological Lineage and National Adaptation

On April 23, 2025, Jordan’s Ministry of Interior formally banned Brotherhood-related activities in Jordan, citing  an alleged plot threatening national security, orchestrated by a group linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. The decision came amid heightened regional tensions. In the west of the kingdom, the Israel-Hamas war was raging, and public ...

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Emirates: The Anti–Muslim Brotherhood Crusade

Among the major ideological fault lines in the Arab world, few are as decisive as the one between conservative authoritarian and self-proclaimed “secular” regimes and the Muslim Brotherhood. Today, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates form the core of a determined anti-Islamist front, seeking to neutralize the Brotherhood’s ...

Muslim Brotherhood, Salafists, and Jihadists: Shared Influences, Divergent Trajectories

In Western media and public discourse, the terms Muslim Brotherhood, Salafists, and Jihadists are often conflated—blurred together in a way that obscures their distinct origins, ideologies, and modes of action. While these movements share certain historical roots, they represent fundamentally different trajectories. To better understand their ...

ISG: Lebanon Moves Forward, Lynn el-Hajj Takes Bronze in the 200m

Lynn el-Hajj kept her momentum going in Riyadh. Twenty-four hours after earning Lebanon its first medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games (a bronze in the 100m breaststroke, with a 1:10.90 final after a 1:10.66 heat), the swimmer returned to the pool for the 200m breaststroke and claimed a second bronze. In the final, she touched in 2:33.93, showing ...

ISG : Lynn El-Hajj Wins Bronze in the 100m Breaststroke as Lebanon Launches Its Campaign

Around El-Hajj, the head of mission Sami Kablawi, administrator Wissam Cherri, and coach François Ghattas are orchestrating a steady rise in form without deviating from the training plan: arm speed, final underwater phase, wall transitions. The goal is clear: convert the momentum from Paris into sustainable time benchmarks and capitalize in ...

Saudi Women Keep Ancient Dance Alive Behind Closed Doors

In a fitness studio in Saudi Arabia, dozens of women sway to Arabic music as they practice belly dancing, an activity that many feel compelled to keep secret. Despite their enthusiasm, none of them would give their real name or show their faces on camera, underlining the stigma and cultural prejudices surrounding the ancient dance. In Arab ...

Belly Dancing: A Quiet Act of Freedom in Riyadh

Riyadh: In a women-only gym, the beat of drums fills the air. Barefoot and with scarves tied around their hips, Saudi women practice belly dancing away from prying eyes. Once taboo, the dance has become a way for them to reclaim their bodies, boost their confidence, and assert their strength. In a transforming Saudi Arabia, they dance for ...

U17 – Asia: the Broken Dream, a Cruel Ending for Lebanon

Mission (almost) accomplished. In the final of the 12th West Asian Football Federation tournament, Lebanon U17 led deep into the home straight before being pegged back and then falling in the shootout. Adnan Madi had shown the way in the 73rd minute, punishing a Saudi goalkeeper error with a clever strike. But in stoppage time, Saudi Arabia ...

Esports Olympics No Longer to Be Held in Saudi Arabia, Says IOC

Saudi Arabia will no longer stage the inaugural Esports Olympics scheduled to be held in 2027, the International Olympic Committee announced on Thursday. The IOC and the Saudi National Olympic Committee "mutually agreed that they will end their cooperation on the Olympic Esports Games", a statement said. The first Esports Games were originally ...

Syria Attracted $28 Bn in Investment Since Assad's Fall

Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa said on Wednesday his country had managed to secure $28 billion worth of investments in the past 10 months following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's government last year. The president cited the figure while speaking in Riyadh at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, where he ...

Lebanese Insurers Approach Syrian Market with Caution

Lebanese insurance companies have long been active in the Syrian market, establishing a presence decades ago when Hafez al-Assad’s regime opened the door to private sector activity. However, international sanctions forced most to withdraw, as the market became too risky. Today, any move to re-enter Syria is considered premature, according to a ...