ALKHOBAR: For many first-time pilgrims, packing for Hajj begins with uncertainty. The result is often the same. Overpacked bags, unnecessary items and the quiet realization, days later, that comfort during Hajj depends far less on quantity than expected. Some arrive carrying multiple pairs of shoes»»»

Egypt’s real estate market has the potential to evolve from a strong domestic sector into an exportable investment product amid global geopolitical and economic shifts, according to Ahmed El Sayed, Chairperson of Golden View Developments. El Sayed noted that international investors increasingly pri»»»

Makkah Developments has announced a strategic partnership with Golden Tulip, part of Louvre Hotels Group, to provide hospitality and operational services within the Rowaq residential project in Sheikh Zayed City. The agreement includes plans for a four-star hotel and branded residential units, alon»»»

VIE Communities, a newly formed Egyptian-Emirati real estate alliance, has officially launched in Egypt with plans to develop two landmark projects in New Cairo, representing combined investments exceeding EGP 150bn. The partnership brings together Future of Egypt for Investment and Development, Gl»»»

The number of expatriate workers in Bahrain’s private sector rose marginally between 2022 and 2024, while Bahraini employment recorded a stronger increase, according to Labour Ministry figures based on Social Insurance Organisation subscriber data. Expatriate employment increased by around 0.6 per »»»

Egypt’s foreign trade has reached an impressive $104.7 billion in the fiscal year 2023/2024, according to a recent report by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE). This substantial figure includes $72.1 billion in imports and $32.6 billion in exports, emphasizing the country’s robust engagement with glob»»»

RIYADH: Kidana Development Company is completing comprehensive maintenance and readiness works at Mina’s Jamarat facility. As part of preparations for the Hajj season 2026, Kidana continues wide-ranging maintenance and upgrades at holy sites in Makkah. The company, which is the executive arm of the»»»

Saudi Arabia’s stock market index ended trading slightly lower, falling 0.25 percent to close at 10,968 points, amid trading turnover of around SAR2.9 billion, the lowest level since January 2026. Mining giant Maaden fell 2 percent to close at SAR62.7, while SABIC declined by the same percentage to»»»

Amman, May 17 (SANA) Jordan’s King Abdullah II emphasized the importance of intensifying international efforts to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, stressing that any agreement to end the war must guarantee the security of Arab states. According to the J»»»

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has welcomed the agreement reached between the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition Democratic Party over the approval of a parliamentary resolution related to Albania’s European Union membership process. Speaking during his podcast “Flasim” on Sunday, Rama des»»»

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has summarized what he described as several key developments of the week, focusing on Albania’s European integration process, its growing role in Euro-Atlantic security, and support measures for the country’s economy and entrepreneurship sector. Speaking at the end »»»

Oman’s consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.2 percent in April compared with the same month in 2025, based on 2018 as the reference year. The National Center for Statistics and Information said in data carried by the Oman News Agency on Sunday that average inflation during the period from January thro»»»

Riyadh, May 17 (SANA) Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud discussed with US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack the latest developments in Syria and ways to support stability in the country. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the meeting, held in Riyadh on Sunday, also included »»»

In a renewed affirmation of the success of its development model built on proactiveness, flexibility and future readiness, the UAE Government has further strengthened its standing among the world’s most efficient and effective governments by securing its position among the top 10 globally in the 20»»»

Israel struck eastern and southern Lebanon on Sunday, state media reported, despite a fragile ceasefire as Hezbollah called US-brokered talks between the two countries a "dead end". Two Israeli strikes hit the town of Sohmor in eastern Lebanon's Bekaa valley, the state-run National News Agency (NNA»»»

Tunis, May 17 (TAP Correspondent Basma Chettaoui) - Assistant to the President of Tatarstan for the Strategic Vision Group “Russia–Islamic World,” Marat Gatin, said his country hopes for “stronger and more effective” Tunisian participation in...»»»

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates announced that on Sunday, May 17, 2026, UAE air defence systems intercepted three UAVs that entered the country from the western border direction. In a statement, the ministry said that two of the UAVs were successfully intercepted, whi»»»

The tenth Russia-China EXPO is underway from May 17 to 21, filling 12,000 square meters of venue with exhibitors and officials from 16 Russian regions. The opening ceremony featured Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District Yury Trutnev and Vice Premie»»»

MOSCOW: An Indian citizen working in Russia was among the three people killed in a massive Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region, the Indian embassy in Russia said on Sunday. “One Indian worker has lost his life and three others have been injured in a drone attack in Moscow re»»»

AMMAN: Rising Saudi driving star Hamza Bakhashab delivered another impressive performance in the third round of the Middle East Rally Championship stage by securing third place at the Jordan Rally, which concluded on Saturday. Driving the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 alongside his Irish co-driver Lorcan »»»

LONDON: King Abdullah of Jordan met in Amman with Richard Marles, the Australian deputy prime minister and minister for defense, to discuss regional development and security matters. The meeting on Sunday focused on ways to enhance cooperation in various sectors, particularly military and security-»»»

DOHA: Qatar has secured the top regional position in the 2026 Food Systems Resilience Index (RFSI), reinforcing its standing as one of the region’s leading performers in building a stable and sustainable food security system. Issued by the Economist Impact, the index serves as a global benchmark me»»»

Sloppy decision-making and an inability to agree on key issues have rendered the EU effectively irrelevant on the global stage, the bloc’s former foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has argued. The former top diplomat made the remarks in an interview with Belgian broadcaster RTBF on Friday, somewhat»»»

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering resigning amid a deepening political crisis in the ruling Labour Party, according to Daily Mail journalist Dan Hodges. Starmer became prime minister after leading Labour to a landslide victory in the 2024 general election. Less than two years later, how»»»

A man inspects a damaged apartment building following a drone attack outside Moscow on Sunday. Photo by Maxim Shipenkov/EPA May 17 (UPI) -- Hundreds of Ukrainian drones attacked the Moscow region overnight in what Russian officials called the largest attack in more than a year. Russia's state-run n»»»

The UAE’s air defences intercepted three drones, the Ministry of Defence said on Sunday. The Ministry said the drones entered the country from the western border on May 17, 2026, adding that two were successfully intercepted while the third struck an electricity generator outside the inner perimete»»»

Doha: The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index closed Sunday's trading session down by 9.10 points, or 0.09 percent, to settle at 10,484.17 points. A total of 100,883,896 shares were traded during the session, with a total value of QAR 231,827,695.106 through 14,919 transactions across all sectors. The»»»

Yemen’s Interior Minister Major General Ibrahim Haidan revealed what he described as the foiling of the "largest political assassination plot" in the temporary capital Aden, saying security forces had carried out a successful pre-emptive operation against terrorist cells linked to foreign actors th»»»

Doha, Qatar: KAHRMAA said on Sunday that the Minister of State for Energy Affairs in Qatar, HE Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, issued a set of decisions in 2026 aimed at regulating district cooling services in the State of Qatar and establishing a clear framework to ensure service efficiency, protect rights»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes targeting the towns of Khirbet Selm, Tebnin, Deir Antar, and Al-Babliyeh, with additional»»»

Rome: Roma took a huge step towards returning to the Champions League by beating local rivals Lazio 2-0 on Sunday in a feisty derby which finished with both teams down to 10 men, while Napoli won 3-0 at Pisa to secure a top-four spot. Roma's players pose ahead the Italian Serie A football match bet»»»

DOHA: The volume of real estate trading in sale contracts registered with the Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice in April 2026 amounted to QR2,062,250,888. Data from the real estate analytical bulletin issued by the Ministry of Justice revealed that 516 real estate trans»»»

Skopje, 14 May 2026 (MIA) — Eliminating corruption requires the participation of every sector of society rather than "declarative efforts," officials and business leaders said at a conference Thursday. The conference, titled "Business Integrity for a Competitive Economy," highlighted that the fight»»»

Dubai: A senior UAE delegation led by Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, travelled to Hangzhou, China, for the World Digital Education Conference 2026, held under the theme AI + Education: Transform»»»

How worrying is the global Ebola emergency? 9 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJames GallagherHealth and science correspondent Getty ImagesHealthcare workers pictured during a previous Ebola outbreak in Uganda in 2022 The outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo is concern»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack in Riyadh on Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency reported. During the meeting, the two officials discussed the latest developments in Syria and ways to support stability in the country. Views on issue»»»

The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) reported today that Numisma Bank pledged to supply record amounts of cash dollars to it in its Second Phase of cash injection to the Libyan market. The pledge came during the hosting by Naji Issa, the CBL Governor, of senior officials from Numisma Bank last Tuesday (»»»

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Mohammad Yousaf on Sunday directed officials to spare no effort in facilitating Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, stressing the need for smooth travel, accommodation and support services. Pakistan is expected to send more than 179,000 pilgrims fo»»»

THAHABAN: The third Hajj Health and Security Forum opened on Sunday under the patronage of Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz. Organized by the General Administration of Medical Services at the Ministry of Interior, the forum runs until May 19 and brings together min»»»

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Sunday, losing 27.50 points, or 0.25 percent, to close at 10,967.94. The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR2.91 billion ($768 million), as 77 stocks advanced and 179 retreated. Similarly, the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu »»»

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced on Saturday the calendar for the 1448 AH Umrah season, including schedules and electronic services related to visa issuance, contracting procedures and the reception of Umrah pilgrims. According to the ministry, the official Umrah season calendar »»»

DOHA: Qatar Charity launched its new strategy for the period 2026-2030, which aims for further institutional development and maximizing its humanitarian impact both within and outside the State of Qatar. The strategy also seeks to solidify its position as a leading international humanitarian and de»»»

Four Egyptian students were killed in a fuel tank explosion inside a house in Upper Egypt’s Assiut Governorate while they were studying together ahead of upcoming exams, security and local sources said. The incident occurred in the village of Bani Shaqir in the Manfalut district, where the four gra»»»

Asharq Al-Awsat has learned of a joint initiative by the Federation of GCC Chambers and the International Labor Organization to conduct a rapid assessment of the impact of the war on the private sector and labor markets across Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The initiative is expected to contri»»»

DAMASCUS, May 17 (SANA) Syria’s Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections said representation in the upcoming parliamentary elections will be based on qualifications rather than quota systems, as preparations for voting continue in several regions. Nawar Najma, spokesperson for the committee»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers inside a tent in the town of Al-Bayada with a loitering drone, evacuat»»»

Secretary's SpeechLebanon PalestineZionist EntityRegional and International International More Video Language Ar En Fr EsSubscribe for Weekly Updates Subscribe Israeli warplane strikes the southern Lebanese town of Ma’roub in Tyre district: Al-Manar correspondent 17-05-2026 15:22 PM Latest News Urg»»»