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Culture

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 11: A drone show is seen displaying the words "Welcome to Saudi 34" as Saudi Arabia is announced as the host nation for the FIFA World Cup 2034 on December 11, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Christophe Viseux/Getty Images for Saudi Arabian Football Federation)

Saudi Arabia wins bid to host 2034 FIFA World Cup: What we know

Saudi Arabia has poured billions into developing sporting infrastructure and buying up top global football talent as part of its Vision 2030 diversification strategy.

A visitor views the busts of Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator.

In search for Cleopatra's tomb, Egypt claims new discoveries

A team led by Kathleen Martinez, who has worked for two decades in hopes of finding Cleopatra’s tomb, has unearthed new discoveries in an ancient city near Alexandria.

Dania Akeel

Saudi Dania Akeel’s Baja Cup win inspires Arab women in motorsports

The Jeddah-born driver is the first Saudi woman to win that cup and among an increasing number of Arab women drivers to achieve success in the traditionally male-dominated sport in recent years.

The newly discovered chamber in the north tower of the temple at Athribis is pictued in this undated photo.

Egypt: Archaeologists unearth 2,100-year-old temple in ancient village

The Egyptian government said the recent findings could lead to the discovery of a massive temple as significant as the Luxor Temple.

Latest News

Iranian rapper Toomaj, who supported protests, released from prison

Protesters hold signs during a rally protesting against a death sentence given to Toomaj Salehi, a famous Iranian rapper, in Berlin, Germany, on April 28, 2024.

After Ronaldo, Neymar scores $54 million penthouse in Dubai

Neymar

United Arab Emirates

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What’s behind firing of Robert Saleh, NFL’s first Muslim, Lebanese head coach?

Head coach Robert Saleh of the New York Jets looks on against the Denver Broncos during the first half at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 29, 2024, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Tunisian tennis star Ons Jabeur drops out of 2024 tennis circuit

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Nazlan Ertan

In Izmir, reporting on culture

Danny Makki

In London, reporting on Syrian politics and culture

Naima Morelli

In Rome, reporting on Middle East culture

Rebecca Anne Proctor

In Dubai, reporting on culture

Bassem Youssef attends the 2020 Sundance Film Festival Cinema Cafe on January 31, 2020, in Park City, Utah.

Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef no longer on X: What we know

The exiled comic has been a vocal critic of Israel, highlighting the plight of the Palestinians during the Gaza war but has recently been accused of antisemitism.

Visitors tour the site in the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, where archaeologists unearthed two human and animal embalming workshops, as well as two tombs, on May 27, 2023. The head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, told reporters the embalming workshops, where humans and animals were mummified, "date back to the 30th dynasty" which reigned around 2,400 years ago. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP) (Photo by KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

CT scans reveal mysteries of ancient Egypt's 'Screaming Woman' mummy

Al-Monitor interviewed Cairo University radiology professor Sahar Saleem on her high-tech research into this unique mummy.

Imane Khelif

Middle East athletes rack up 44 medals at Paris Olympics

Ten Middle Eastern countries won medals at this year's Paris games.

This photograph shows Paris 2024 Olympics Games banner in front of the National Assembly, in Paris, on July 18, 2024.

From Egypt to Saudi: Meet Middle East's athletes at Paris Olympics

Burgeoning Iraqi soccer star Ali Jasim and 2020 Israeli gold medal–winning gymnast Artem Dolgopyat are among the most-known competitors from the region.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 4: Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr celebrates after scoring the 2nd goal during the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Nassr and Al Wehda at Al Awwal Park on May 4, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.(Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Analysis

Saudi Arabia's soccer dreams tested as Vision 2030 goal posts move

2023 saw Saudi Arabia take the world of soccer by storm with record-breaking spending on new stars, but those hoping for a repeat performance in 2024 have so far been left disappointed.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Researchers believe these ancient residential buildings may represent part of the lost city of Tu'am in the United Arab Emirates. The city is thought to have reached its zenith in the sixth century.

Ancient lost city may have been unearthed in UAE: What we know

Archeologists believe recent discoveries in the United Arab Emirates’ Al Sinniyah Island may be connected to an ancient city famed for its pearls that fell into decline after the sixth century.

United Arab Emirates

This picture taken on April 24, 2018, shows Meroitic pyramids at the archaeological site of Bajarawiya, near Hillat ed Darqab, some 250 kilometers northeast of Khartoum.

Sudan's war devastates cultural heritage as rival generals vie for power

Sudan’s civil war is now well into its second year, and alongside forcing the population to the brink of famine, warring parties have also come for its heritage.

A visitor looks at portraits of late Franco-Lebanese film director Maroun Baghdadi and pictures from his movies at the venue of an exhibition dedicated to his memory in Beirut on December 12, 2023, as Lebanon commemorates the 30th annivesary of his death in an accident at the age of 43. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon's resistance through culture: Return of Beirut’s Metropolis Cinema

As Beirut continues to navigate its path toward recovery, Metropolis Cinema stands as a symbol of the enduring power of art and culture to resist, unite and inspire.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (L) is escorted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was killed on July 8, 2022, during their meeting in Osaka, Japan, June 30, 2019.

Despite postponement of MBS' visit, Saudi-Japanese ties on upswing

The increase in high-level visits and overall mutual visits has been the most notable aspect of the development of Saudi-Japanese relations in recent years.

Yuka Ando

The Hague, Netherlands, June 15, 2016 — exterior of the recently opened new premises of the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

White House opposes sanctioning ICC over request for Netanyahu warrant

The White House walked back comments from Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who last week indicated he would support a congressional effort to sanction the world court.

An undated image of the Risky Boys.

Egyptian fashion enthusiasts create urban fashion runways

A group of four Egyptian male models has been holding pop-up photo shoots and catwalks on popular Cairo streets in order to create a fresh, accessible approach to fashion.

Iranians participate in the 12th term parliamentary elections and the 6th term Assembly of Leadership Experts' voting at a Tehran polling station on March 1, 2024.

What Iran's elections could signal about potential for US escalation

The sudden death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has plunged the country into new uncertainty, but it’s unlikely to derail Washington's quiet push to dial back tensions with Tehran.