Arab world

    Seventy-three more people can now live in Saudi Arabia for as long as they like, as of Monday, when the Middle Eastern country launched its new “premium” residency program. The recipients, selected from thousands of applicants, will pay 800,000 riyals (£170,723) for the right to permanent residency, or 100,000 riyals (£21,340) for a renewable one-year permit. The visa allows these extra-special investors, doctors, engineers, and financiers to purchase property and do business freely in the kingdom, as part of the country’s long-term attempts to diversify away from oil. “Golden visas,” as they’re sometimes known, are becoming more and more common. The world’s borders may be closed to most migrants and refugees, but they’re wide open for those with the ability to pay...

    A passenger jet carrying 196 people burst into flames just after landing at an airport in Egypt. The Boeing 737-800 had just landed at Sharm el Sheikh Airport when hydraulic fluid leaked onto the hot brakes of the aircraft. Flight PQ7153 was taxiing on the runway when the left landing gear burst into flames. Airport CCTV footage captures the moment the plane comes to a stop and the wheels on the left side of the aircraft turn into a fireball. Emergency crews were deployed and put out the fire within a few minutes. There were no injuries to the 189 passengers and seven crew members who were safely evacuated. Flight Global reported that the Egyptian civil aviation ministry praised the "professional" ground service team for stopping the fire from spreading. The pla...

    Three members of a theatre group have been stabbed on stage during a live performance in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, according to reports. Dramatic footage shared on social media appeared to show a man wielding a knife rushing into performers on stage at the King Abdullah Park. A man has been arrested following the knife attack on Monday, state television reported. People were seen running from the scene and the venue reportedly evacuated. The victims were said to be in a stable condition. King Abdullah Park in central Riyadh is one of several venues hosting a two-month long entertainment festival as part of government efforts to open up Saudi society and diversify its economy away from oil. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has eased social restrictions and pr...

    Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is preparing a third bid for Manchester United, as the future of the Glazer family's ownership remains uncertain. The Saudi royal has previously seen two bids worth in the region of £3billion rejected and the prince's interest in the club shows no signs of waning. On both occasions the Glazer family knocked back the approaches, contending that they are not willing to sell the club at any price. However, according to The Mirror, with ownership uncertainty continuing to grow, United may be more willing to listen to Prince Mohammed's latest offer. Last week, stories emerged that Kevin Glazer was preparing to sell his 13 per cent stake in the club following news that the club will suffer a fall in revenue for the first tim...

    The Saudi-led military coalition has reportedly carried out attacks on targets in Yemen – its first response since an assault on oil facilities that the US has blamed on Iran. The strikes hit areas north of Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah, Saudi state TV reported. On Friday morning local time, Saudi-run Ekhbariya TV said the coalition, which has the support of the US and the UK, had struck “legitimate military targets”. There was no immediate confirmation of the strikes, or which coalition members were involved. Broadcasters urged civilians to stay away from the areas that had been hit. The reported operation came two days after officials in Saudi Arabia held a press conference to display debris from drones and cruise missiles, which they claimed proved Iran was i...

    The billionaire ruler of Dubai has withdrawn controversial plans for developing a nine-bedroom lodge at his Highland retreat amid a divorce battle with his youngest wife. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum dropped the scheme to expand Inverinate Estate in the Scottish Highlands while reports flooded in that his wife fled Dubai and is hiding in London with their children. He had submitted plans for a two-storey, nine-bedroom building designed to accommodate family and friends at his home in Wester Ross but he faced opposition from locals. The Highland residence already boasts helipads and a 14-bedroom holiday home, next door to a 16-bedroom luxury hunting lodge with pool and gym. Architects working for the sheikh say his family's trips to the area have been limi...

    Iran has threatened to seize a British oil tanker unless an Iranian ship detained by the Royal Marines is released, the country’s Revolutionary Guards commander said on Friday. Mohsen Rezaee said on Twitter Iran’s duty was to act alike, and seize a British oil tanker, unless Iran’s ship was released immediately. British Royal Marines detained an oil tanker in Gibraltar suspected of carrying oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions on Thursday a dramatic step that could escalate confrontation between the West and Iran. The Royal Marines abseiled onto the Grace 1 tanker on Thursday and landed a helicopter on the moving vessel in pitch darkness. Tehran has already summoned the British ambassador to voice its very strong objection to the illegal and unacceptable seiz...

    A Saudi teenager held for more than four years without charge faces possible execution for acts he is accused of having committed when he was as young as 10, according to human rights groups tracking his case. A death sentence for the teenager, Murtaja Qureiris, now 18, would be what the groups called one of the most egregious violations of legal protections for children in the world. “There are few more serious breaches of international law than the execution of a child,” said Maya Foa, director of Reprieve, one of the rights groups. She said that in seeking the death penalty for Murtaja, “the Saudi regime is advertising its impunity to the world.” The defendant was arrested at age 13 and has been in jail since. The charges against him, some from three years befor...

    An explosion has hit a tourist bus near the Giza Pyramids in Egypt, according to security sources. At least 16 people were injured in the blast near the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo on Sunday. Sources say the majority of those injured were foreign tourists. One security source said they included South African nationals. There have been no reports of deaths. Mohamed el-Mandouh, who witnessed the blast, said he heard a very loud explosion while sitting in traffic nearby. Images showing a damaged bus with its windows blown out and what looked to be injured tourists, some covered in blood, have been circulated on social media. In December, three Vietnamese tourists and an Egyptian guide were killed and at least 10 others injured when a roadside bomb hit their to...

Kareem Fahim: Only after her brother had been gone for months, after the confounding silence of officials in Saudi Arabia about his fate and the rumors he was being abused in prison, did Areej al-Sadhan turn to what she considered a last and painful resort. She went public. Sadhan decided to give interviews to the foreign news media and post appeals online, hoping the attention would prod the Saudi government into revealing the status of her brother, Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, a 35-year-old aid worker who was arrested more than a year ago. Saudi authorities strongly discourage families from seeking publicity, and she feared they might retaliate against her or her brother. Her decision also seemed likely to invite a torrent of insults from the kingdom’s defenders online. “We tried everything...