Assad may need his friends more than everWhen Lebanon's Hezbollah first joined Syria's war on the side of President Bashar al-Assad, its role was a closely guarded secret. Today, as Hezbollah plants its flag in land won from rebels north of Damascus, its role could hardly be mo More… |
Arab youth unsure if democracy could work in regionConfidence among Arab youth that the Arab Spring would bring positive change across the region is declining and as a result they are uncertain whether democracy could ever work in the Middle East, a report said. Thirty-nine per ce More… |
Bahrain ‘beacon of stability amid chaos in Mideast’Bahrain has been hailed as an island of stability amid chaos in the Middle East, said a lead article in The Washington Times, adding that His Majesty King Hamad's leadership and good governance have helped the kingdom weather the storm. More… |
Tunisia success ‘hinges on foreign investment’Four years after Tunisia sparked off the Arab spring uprisings the country is seen as a rare regional success story, but its prospects hinge on it deepening reforms and attracting foreign investment. The North African country of 1 More… |
Tunisians vote for new parliamentTunisians voted on Sunday in parliamentary elections that bring full democracy finally within their reach, four years after their uprising cast out autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali. Tunisia has fared better than its neighbours who More… |
Makkah gold sales down over Arab Spring woesSaudi Arabia's retail gold merchants used to look forward to brisk sales during the annual hajj pilgrimage to Makkah but lingering economic hardships since the Arab Spring have left shops eerily empty this year, retailers said. More… |
US private equity firm Carlyle eyes Mena dealsThe Middle Eastern investments of US private equity firm Carlyle have benefited from a rise in government spending since the Arab Spring uprisings, a top official said, adding the company would also start looking at deals in North Africa. More… |
Japan to lend Tunisia $480mJapan has agreed to lend Tunisia 750 million dinars ($480 million) to support the transition to democracy in the North African country where the Arab Spring began, the deputy foreign minister said on Tuesday. The money, which will More… |
Business recovering across region: Al BarakaBahrain-based Islamic lender Al Baraka expects at least 15 percent growth in net profit this year as its business recovers across a region hit by the Arab Spring unrest, its chief executive said. The growth will also be fuelled by More… |
Solid growth in GCC, other Mena states struggleThe ongoing challenges in countries undergoing transition – including Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen – will continue to affect economic performance in the Mena region, according to a report. Al More… |