Tag: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Uses Warning Shots to Rebuff Iranian Boats

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Three Iranian boats sailing in arch-rival Saudi Arabia’s waters ignored warnings and refused to respond to Border Guards instructions on June 25, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday night.  

“On Thursday, Maritime Border Guard patrols detected three Iranian boats that entered Saudi waters. They were immediately followed, and repeated warnings were issued for them to stop, but they refused to respond,” said an official spokesman for Saudi Arabia’s border Guards. 

Saudi coast guard vessels eventually chased away the Iranian boats, reporting that they “fired warning shots, forcing the Iranian boats to retreat,” in line with official protocol.

 Iranian state media has responded, claiming the boasts contained innocent fishermen on a 10-day trip, who were not hurt in the confrontation with the Saudi coast guard.  

Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia have been locked in a bitter struggle for regional religious and military supremacy for decades. Both countries have taken advantage of civil conflicts in Yemen and Syria, for example, and turned them into proxy wars in an attempt to expand their influence.

Maritime tensions have been running high in the Arabian Gulf for months, fuelled primarily by incidents between the US Navy and Iranian vessels. The US and Saudi Arabia have previously discussed maritime security cooperation and the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. 

On April 22, US President Donald Trump shared a tweet saying, “I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea.” He published the message hours after Iranian media reported the IRGC had successfully launched a defense satellite into orbit. 

A day later, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) chief responded by instructing his forces to follow suit. 

“I have ordered our naval forces to destroy any American terrorist force in the Persian Gulf that threatens [the] security of Iran’s military or non-military ships,” IRGC Major General Hossein Salami said on April 23. 

Tensions have run high between the US and Iran ever since President Trump unilaterally pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018 and re-imposed economic sanctions on the rogue nuclear state. The relationship has grown more fractious in recent months after a US drone strike killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in January, and retaliatory Iranian airstrikes on an Iraqi base injured US troops. 

Read also: Maryam Shojaei Awarded for Efforts Supporting Iran’s Female Soccer Fans

COVID-19 Causes Dramatic Change in MENA Consumer Habits

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2020 was set to be a record year for retail in the Middle East. The six-month long Dubai Expo was supposed to attract shoppers from around the world and the region’s malls prepared for ever-increasing numbers of shoppers. The coronavirus has crushed all of this hopeful expectation, with lockdowns and curfews bringing sales through retail stores to a grinding halt.

Unforeseen changes

Throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr equal the Christmas season in Europe and North America. Shoppers flock to retailers for new clothes, festive food, and gifts for friends or family. But the COVID-19 epidemic meant closed mosques and few retailers outside of grocery stores allowed to operate.

These trends have created a make-or-break moment for many retailers in the region. Those who were already providing online sales, or were ready to make the transition, have come out as winners, while those lagging behind have struggled to survive.

Now that online shopping is no longer a necessity, with shops and malls reopening, it appears that consumers in the MENA region have structurally changed their consumer behavior. A study done by Ernst & Young (EY) revealed that 92% of shoppers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia had changed their shopping habits, with half of those considering it a “significant” change.

Altered paradigm

The EY survey showed a dramatically altered retail paradigm. Forty-seven percent of those surveyed signaled that in the coming two years they expect to do their grocery shopping online and 50% of correspondents said they will consciously reduce their amount of physical shopping to less frequent visits for larger purchases.

The retail landscape in the region is changing rapidly. This follows years of construction on new retail malls that hoped to generate a “casual shopping” experience, where trips to retailers is seen as a form of entertainment in itself. For malls and shopping centers the trend will precipitate a renewed focus on generating “experiences” for shoppers that they cannot have at home, mixing shopping with visits to movie theaters or culinary experiences.

Global e-commerce was worth $25.6 trillion in 2018 and the trend towards online shopping has since accelerated. Whether brick-and-mortar stores can again attract customers by providing new experiences remains to be seen as convenient online shopping is now the safer choice amid persistent worries over the global pandemic.

Egyptian farmers hit hard by COVID-19 remittances slump

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COVID-19 has pushed Egyptians migrant workers who would normally support their families by working in GCC countries or Europe back home and into the fields, slashing remittance income for poor farming families and cutting agricultural output.

Agriculture is considered the most resilient sector of Egypt’s economy but that has not stopped poor farming families from feeling the brunt of the global COVID-19 pandemic. In April, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) warned that poor households—and especially those in rural areas— would likely suffer the most from lower remittances. 

Two months on, farmers such as Abdel-Qader Mustafa, from Qena in Upper Egypt, are feeling the reality of the global economic crisis caused by COVID-19.

Mustafa’s son used to work in Saudi Arabia, sending back roughly LE 2,000 ($124) to supplement his family’s income each month.  

“Due to the coronavirus, my son could not go back to his work in Saudi Arabia after the end of his annual vacation in February. Since then, he has been taking money from us,” Mustafa told Egypt Today.  

As a result, all seven members of Mustafa’s family have been pushed back into working the agricultural fields where they earn as little as LE 15 to LE 20 ($0.90 to $1.20) per day.  

Mustafa’s son is amongst the 20,000 Egyptian workers that have been either repatriated or deported from Gulf Cooperation Countries and European nations as a result of COVID-19 shutdowns and declining oil revenues.  

Egypt’s higher-income households who rely mostly on the services sector for their income have seen the largest COVID-19 losses in absolute terms, but the IFPRI says “the poor may find it harder to cope.”

The rural-urban differentiation 

“Rural households also lose, but less than their urban counterparts.” IFPRI says this is explained mostly by stronger economic growth in the agricultural sector and its ability to keep operating through the virus crisis. 

“While the income losses of the rural and urban poor are smaller compared to the non-poor in absolute terms, poor households are likely to find it harder than wealthier households to cope with such income losses.” 

That is in part because they already have significantly lower monthly incomes than their urban counterparts, meaning even a small reduction could push them closer to poverty. They are also more heavily reliant on remittances, a fact that Egyptian Farmers Syndicate chief Hussein Abdel-Rahman says is having a big impact on farming families. 

Abdel-Rahman recognizes “the decline in remittances would have a great impact on Egypt generally,” but says farmers and their families who constitute 55 million citizens, around 50% of Egypt’s population, are really feeling the pinch. 

“The plunge of the remittances led to weakness in the purchase power and a decline in the living conditions in the rural areas,” he told Egypt Today on Thursday.

The union boss also reports that the drop in remittances, and income more generally, has led to a decrease in cultivation with farmers planning to plant three instead of the usual five feddans (1 feddan = 1.037 acres) this year. According to Abdel-Rahman, reduced purchasing power is already pushing poor rural Egyptians towards low-quality imported meat, and lower crop plantings could drive food prices up further in the future. 

Another factor creating hardship for rural Egyptians are limits on cash withdrawals.  

“Also, farmers sometimes find difficulties in taking the remittances as he/she is not allowed [by the banks] to withdraw all [the] amount of the remittances at once from banks,” Abdel-Rahman said. 

 Read also: Lebanon and Egypt to Suffer Severe Impacts of COVID-19 Remittances Slump

 

Saudi Arabia: Only Saudi Residents Can Participate in Hajj 2020

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As a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and recent spike in global and domestic cases, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of the Hajj and Umrah announced that it will continue with the Hajj in 2020 but only “a very limited number of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia” will be able to perform the rite. 

As a result the two million pilgrims who typically flock to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina will this year be unable to perform what for many is a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage. The kingdom has already suspended the Umrah pilgrimage to curb the virus spread.

“This decision is taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols to protect human beings from the risks associated with this pandemic and in accordance with the teachings of Islam in preserving the lives of human beings,” the ministry said. 

A number of Arab countries and Muslim leaders from around the world welcomed the decision, which ends months of speculation over the event during circumstances that had prompted some countries like Indonesia to unilaterally cancel the Hajj for their citizens.  

The United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Djibouti, and the Arab League all commended Saudi Arabia for making a “wise” decision that respects both religious imperatives and pilgrims’ health and safety.  

“This decision is welcomed for two reasons. First, it reflects Saudi Arabia’s keenness to hold the rite of Hajj, and secondly, it is keen at the same time to combat and address the coronavirus pandemic, because large crowds may be a reason for the continuation of the pandemic and its spread,” said Djibouti’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dya-Eddine Bamakhrama. 

Muslims are required to do the Hajj once in their life if they are fit and financially able. This year, the pilgrimage is scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 2.  

Pilgrimage revenues are a key source of diversification for the Saudi Arabian economy, which Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has committed to reform under the Saudi Vision 2030 plan. Each year the kingdom brings in around $6 billion in revenue due to Hajj, but the annual occurrence is also an important public diplomacy activity that helps Saudi Arabia assert influence amongst the world’s Muslims.

Read also: No Hajj for Indonesian Muslims in 2020

Yemen Conflict: Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Attack on Riyadh

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In the latest escalation in Yemen, Saudi Arabia says it beat back a Houthi militia offensive that targeted the capital Riyadh, as well as border cities Jazan and Najran, on June 23. 

On Tuesday morning, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed the Iran-backed rebels had launched a successful assault on neighboring Saudi Arabia in a televised address.  

“A large number of winged ballistic missiles and drones targeted the capital of the Saudi enemy … pounding military headquarters and centres including the defence and intelligence ministry and (King) Salman Air Base,” Sarea claimed during the rebel-run Al Masirah TV broadcast.  

Shortly after, Saudi Arabian spokesman Colonel Turki Al-Malki said the Joint Coalition forces had neutralized the attack by intercepting and destroying eight “bomb-laden UAVs targeting civilians” bound for Riyadh on Monday night. They intercepted another three ballistic missiles fired from the Houthi-held Sa’dah governorate in Yemen towards the Saudi border cities of Najran and Jazan.  

“The continuation of these terrorist, hostile acts using bomb-laden UAVs confirms the extreme, unethical ideology of the militia toward innocent civilians,” Al-Malki stressed in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA).  

Al-Malki said the attack was a “flagrant defiance” of international humanitarian law, adding the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition will “implement all necessary measures to protect innocent civilians.”  

Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, joined Al-Malki in this position by voicing the UK’s condemnation for the Houthi attack on Tuesday afternoon.   

“I condemn these latest attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Houthis, and their continued offensives within Yemen which cast further doubt on their claims to want peace,” the foreign secretary said in a press release. 

“With over a million Yemenis believed to have contracted coronavirus, it is more vital than ever that the Houthis cease their hostilities and allow the UN-led humanitarian response to get on with saving Yemeni lives,” Raab noted.  

Yemen has been mired in a bloody civil war for five years which pits the Houthi rebels, based in northern Yemen, against the internationally recognized government that rules from Aden in the South with the backing of a Saudi-led coalition. 

The civil war has turned the already impoverished country into the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 80% of Yemenis requiring humanitarian aid and protection. 

Read also: Yemen Government Signs Ceasefire with STC

 

Egypt Claims Right to Intervene in Libya

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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced on Saturday Egypt’s intentions to intervene within its troubled neighbor’s borders if the Libyan conflict moves further east. The call comes in response to repeated advances by the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) that is making gains against the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA).

After being besieged in the country’s capital Tripoli for a year, GNA forces have enjoyed new momentum after a significant military intervention by Turkey. In exchange for drilling rights in Libyan waters and influence in Tripoli, Turkey has changed the Libyan war with an influx of drones, military hardware, and mercenaries.

Escalation

In response to the GNA’s newfound military advantage, the LNA has acquired Russian MiG-29 and Su-24 fighter jets to counter the increasing use of drones against the military bases and air defenses of the Eastern faction led by Khalifa Haftar. But the Tripoli-based government is pressing its current military advantage to push further east, reducing Haftar’s sphere of influence in Libya.

Turkish-backed GNA forces are now advancing on Sirte, located roughly halfway between Tripoli and the LNA’s capital in Benghazi. El-Sisi said on June 20 that any further military movements towards Sirte and the Jufra district below it are a “red line.” With combatants nearing Egypt’s borders, they bring the chaos of irregular fighting between militias that has defined the Libyan conflict since its onset.

Egyptian response

Egypt, el-Sisi declared, will consider direct military intervention within Libya’s borders if fighting moves further east. The Benghazi-based LNA government expressed support for Egypt’s intentions as it issued a statement calling on the United Nations in Libya to increase efforts to enforce the weapons embargo that has become an embargo in name only as more and more advanced weaponry enters the Libyan theater of war.

Without a ceasefire in place, the eastern Libyan government could invite an Egyptian response, according to el-Sisi. “Any military intervention by Egypt will be according to the principles of international law,” the Egyptian leader stated. But the Western-based GNA called the Egyptian statement a “declaration of war.”

International reception

On Sunday the United States released a statement in response to el-Sisi’s remarks. “The United States strongly opposes military escalation in Libya – on all sides,” a National Security Council (NSC) statement said, urging “parties to commit to a ceasefire and resume negotiations immediately.”

As the Egyptian military mobilizes for a possible intervention on its western borders, the NSC hopes to steer progress through the ongoing negotiations between both sides. “We must build on progress made through the UN’s 5+5 talks, the Cairo Initiative, and the Berlin process,” the Council stated on the matter.

If an Egyptian incursion into Libya’s eastern districts would occur, it could pit several US allies against each other. France, Qatar, Egypt, the UAE and Turkey all have strong military ties to the US, and an escalation away from proxy war and towards direct military deployment could see US and European weaponry on both sides being used in what amounts to another dark page in Libya’s recent history.

Saudi Arabia Shakes off COVID-19 Curfew

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After months of strict COVID-19 curbs, there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for residents of Saudi Arabia. As promised on May 26, the nationwide coronavirus curfew was lifted at 6 a.m. on Sunday, June 21, and the country’s commerce and sporting venues are reopening. 

It appears that, even though Saudi Arabia is looking towards a “new normal,” some restrictions will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Mandatory face masks and social distancing will remain, as will the ban on international travel and the Umrah pilgrimage until further notice.  

As of Sunday, commercial and economic activity will be allowed to restart, “provided utmost caution and protection are taken, as well as observance of full abidance by the precautionary measures and preventive procedures,” an official statement carried by state news outlet the Saudi Press Agency said on June 20. At present, gatherings cannot exceed 50 people, which may limit some workplaces and activities.  

On Saturday, in another piece of good news for Saudi Arabia’s business sector and workers, the Ministry of Human Resources and  Social Development said that workplaces can increase attendance to 75% starting June 29. In the meantime, the public sector is encouraged to continue to operate on a flexible timetable and facilitate “teleworking” for remote workers.     

Sports lovers across the country also rejoiced on Saturday when the Ministry of Sports announced Saudi Arabia’s sports centers and halls can reopen from June 21. Sports facilities must observe a number of COVID-19 control measures including equipment sterilization, providing hand sanitizer, enforcing social distancing, and encouraging patrons to bring and use their own equipment where possible. 

Handshakes and physical contact between athletes also remain off-limits under the Ministry of Sports guide. Contact sports like taekwondo and karate will have to wait a little longer before they can recommence tournaments, while spectators and audiences remain banned from all sporting events. 

As restrictions ease further, the Ministry of Interior reiterated its calls for all residents to download the country’s tracking and COVID-19 advice application. The new freedoms also came with a reminder that any workplace or individual violating precautionary measures will be prosecuted accordingly. 

On Saturday, the Ministry of Health reported 740 new infections, taking Saudi Arabia’s total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 154,233, including 1,230 fatalities and 98,917 recoveries. 

Read also: Saudi Arabia to Expand Library Network

Saudi Arabia to Expand Library Network

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Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture announced on Friday a plan to radically overhaul the country’s public library system. Under the plan, which was launched by Minister of Culture Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan, the kingdom has committed to opening 153 libraries by 2030.

The new libraries are designed to accommodate a variety of activities and will feature a book-borrowing section, theatre stages for live performances, cinema screens, and multipurpose halls. With the ability to host extensive cultural events, the libraries will bring together members of the public and foster knowledge-sharing. 

Developers will complete the first 13 libraries by 2022 with the remaining 140 to be completed by 2030. Saudi Arabia announced the plan following a review by the Ministry of Culture of the kingdom’s library system. 

The Libraries Authority will oversee the project, which is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader plan to support and advance its cultural sector. In February 2020, the Saudi government established 11 new authorities tasked with overseeing various cultural sectors including fashion, film, museums, theatre, and music. 

Announcing the new authorities, the Saudi Ministry of Culture said that “the aim is to promote culture as a lifestyle, contributing to economic growth and enhancing the Kingdom’s position internationally.” Promoting Saudi Arabia as a cultural hub is part of the government’s Saudi Vision 2030 reform plan which seeks to diversify the country’s economy and lessen its reliance on oil revenues. 

The extension of the country’s library network via the cultural hubs announced on Friday will provide a much needed space for emerging artists to nurture their talents. 

Saudi Arabia Proposes Framework For Peace in Yemen

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Saudi Arabia is planning to introduce a proposal that aims to realize a power-sharing agreement to end the conflict in Yemen. Saudi officials have not made the framework available publicly, but the proposal has been shared with Reuters who released details of the plan on Thursday, May 18.

The framework aims to create conditions for a renewal of the Riyadh Agreement that was signed on November 5, 2019 after months of delay.

The two-month deadline for implementation of the agreement has long since passed, but Saudi Arabian diplomats are hoping to re-engage the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government to finally implement the power-sharing deal.

Developments

The Yemeni conflict continues to spiral out of control amid grave concerns over the impact of COVID-19 while its devastated healthcare facilities are unable to cope with an influx in infections.

NGOs like Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have called on combatants to cease hostilities amid an unfolding “catastrophe,” but fighting continues and a funding drive for Yemen failed to raise the $2.4 billion needed to avert disaster in the country.

Significant advances made by the Emirati-backed STC have further weakened chances of a successful implementation of the Riyadh Agreement. Since signing the agreement, the STC has declared self-rule over Aden and swaths of the country’s South in direct violation of the terms.

The STC’s actions have highlighted the fractured nature of Saudi-Emirati cooperation who now support opposing sides vying for control.

Saudi framework

The new Saudi proposal calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Abyan province where ongoing fighting continues to claim casualties on all sides. The STC rescinding their declaration of self-rule over the important port city of Aden would then follow the ceasefire, which could prove to be a hard sell for the Transitional Council who has now ruled the area for months.

If the STC does agree to rescind its emergency rule over the area, Saudi-backed Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi would proceed to appoint a governor and security chief in Aden and appoint a new prime minister.

The Hadi-appointed prime minister would then proceed to form a cabinet that would include politicians of the STC.

The formation of government would follow a full withdrawal of STC forces from Aden. The agreement would require STC’s military units to move to Abyan where they have been engaged in direct conflict with government forces.

Incentives

While the agreement demands significant concessions from the Emirati-backed STC, it is unclear what incentives it offers for compliance.

Two STC sources have already told Reuters they would want to see the government formed before they withdraw their forces from Aden, as it remains unclear if Saudi diplomats are offering the STC, or the UAE that backs them, a quid-pro-quo for abandoning hard-fought military gains.

Another sticking point of the agreement is that the implementation of the deal would return the country to a similar status quo that prompted the Shia Houthis, who are backed by Iran, to rebel against Hadi’s government in the first place.

Bilateral agreement

A June 18 Houthi communique made no reference to the Saudi proposal but instead brought attention to a decaying oil tanker off Yemen’s coast. The unaddressed threat could soon create a 1 million-barrel oil spill in the Red Sea.

The Saudi-backed coalition is continuing aerial raids against Houthi weapons depots as they advance towards Marib, a stronghold of the Saudi-led coalition. The Houthis in turn have launched drones against Saudi targets, prompting the Saudi-led coalition to threaten “rigorous measures.”

It appears that Saudi Arabia is hoping the framework will bring Emirati-backed forces back to its ranks in order to concentrate efforts against the Iran-backed Houthi forces.

While observers should see any reduction in violence as a positive development, true peace in Yemen can likely only be realized by addressing all fighting parties’ concerns.

Saudi Arabia’s MDL Beast Announces 2020 Online Event

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Following the success of the first MDL Beast music festival in December 2019, organizers announced on Monday that the 2020 edition will be an online event. Scheduled to coincide with World Music Day on June 20, the event, named Freqways, will feature an impressive international lineup. 

Confirmed performers include Steve Aoki, Afrojack, Maceo Plex, Claptone, Danny Tenaglia, Deep Dish, Sasha, Butch, Art Department, Laidback Luke, Delano Smith, Gui Boratto, Phil Weeks, Benny Benassi, and Dirty South. 

Regional artists including Led & Majid, Vinyl Mode, and SPCEBOI are also scheduled to perform. The multi-stage digital event will see virtual festival goers board online “flights” to locations around the world including Riyadh, Ibiza, and Las Vegas where they will be able to party to the pre-recorded sets. 

Last year, over 400,000 people participated in the three-day event which pushed Saudi Arabia’s ambition to host large-scale cultural events onto the global stage. Impossible to imagine in the conservative kingdom a few years ago, the event signified an awakening for the EDM community in Saudi Arabia. 

“Influencer-washing” Saudi Arabia’s image

The inaugural MDL Beast in 2019 was not without controversy. Many criticized the influencers and celebrities who were paid to attend the festival for failing to comment on the country’s abysmal human rights record. 

Among those who attended and posted extensively about the event on social media were models Irina Shayk, Winni Harlow, and Alessandra Ambrosio, actors Armie Hammer and Ed Westick, and social media personalities Sofia Richie and Negin Mirasheli. 

Whilst details of the stars’s compensation for their attendance were not made public, some of them are known to command six- or seven-figure sums for a single Instagram post. Among those to call out the celebrities was the Instagram account Diet Prada (@diet_prada), which regularly highlights problematic issues within the fashion industry, and model Emily Ratajkowski.  

Ratajkowski claimed she turned down the invitation to attend, issuing a statement in which she voiced her solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community and the rights of women stating, “I hope coming forward on this brings more attention to the injustices happening there.”

Commentators on social media called out many of the stars who attended the festival for posting “government propaganda” aimed at rehabilitating Saudi Arabia’s image. Issues raised by commentators included the murder or Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashogi in October 2018. 

Claims of mass sexual assault

In addition to the condemnation of the influencers who attended the festival, many women claimed on social media they were sexually assaulted at the festival. 

Using the hashtag #saudimenharassing in English and Arabic, women detailed their experiences at the festival. One woman described how she was surrounded by men who tore off her shirt and groped her. Others expressed concern that even young girls were victims of harassment, as were those who went with males in an attempt to avoid such problems. 

Conservative social media users were unsympathetic to the women’s claims, suggesting that sexual harassment was to be expected when attending a festival such as MDL Beast.

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