United Arab Emirates

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The World Is About to Get a Second 'Sphere'

Structure in UAE capital Abu Dhabi will be the second of its kind, after one built in Las Vegas

(Newser) - The world's second Sphere will be built in the capital of the United Arab Emirates after the opening of the first in Las Vegas. Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism and Sphere Entertainment Co. announced the plan late Tuesday to bring a Sphere to the Middle East....

Irish Government Intervenes to Get Woman Out of Dubai

Flight attendant was allegedly assaulted, then detained and charged herself

(Newser) - The Irish government is on the brink of getting one of its citizens out of the United Arab Emirates after a murky set of disturbing circumstances. The Guardian reports that 28-year-old flight attendant Tori Towey was charged with attempted suicide and alcohol consumption, then prevented from leaving the country where...

Some Blame Weather Modification for Dubai Downpour

But experts say record rainfall in UAE was more likely spurred by climate change, not cloud seeding

(Newser) - Dubai's rare epic rainfall this week sparked headlines, jaw-dropping videos , and now, questions on weather modification. The United Arab Emirates' largest city received nearly 6 inches of rain over a 24-hour period Monday into Tuesday—for context, Dubai International Airport usually sees less than 4 inches over an entire...

Dubai Gets Year and a Half's Worth of Rain in Hours

United Arab Emirates is being lashed with 'unusual' weather

(Newser) - Heavy thunderstorms lashed the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, dumping over a year and a half's worth of rain on the desert city-state of Dubai in the span of hours as it flooded out portions of major highways and its international airport, the AP reports. Meanwhile, the death toll...

After Latest Airstrike, Calls for End to Israeli 'War Crimes'

Arab nations condemn Israeli strike on refugee camp as groups claim use of white phosphorus

(Newser) - Dozens of people entered the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt on Wednesday in what appeared to be the first time foreign passport holders have been allowed to leave the besieged territory since the start of the Israel-Hamas war more than three weeks ago, the AP reports. Egyptian state-run media...

After Sanctions, Most Russian Gold Went to One Country

Experts say it may be finding its way to Western markets from UAE with its origin masked

(Newser) - There's gold in them thar Emirates—and there's a lot more of it now that Western sanctions have blocked exports from Russia to London and other major gold trading hubs. Reuters reports that, according to Russian export records, some 75.7 metric tons of Russian gold worth $4....

No One Has Ever Spent This Much on a License Plate

It's a new world record out of the UAE

(Newser) - An auction bidder in the United Arab Emirates just made history in paying $15 million for a license plate—and no, it doesn't come with a fancy car attached. The unnamed individual likely to find their name in the Guinness World Records book nabbed a license plate reading "...

United Arab Emirates Has a New Ruler

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahya takes over after brother Sheikh Khalifa dies

(Newser) - Rulers in the United Arab Emirates announced Saturday that they unanimously appointed Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the president of this hereditarily ruled nation on the Arabian Peninsula. The state-run WAM news agency said the rulers of the country's seven sheikhdoms made the decision at a meeting...

Dubai Leader Loses Custody Battle Over 'Exorbitant' Abuse

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum isn't allowed direct contact with kids, either, per UK judge

(Newser) - First Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to his ex, in what was said to be the largest divorce settlement the UK has ever seen. Now, another victory for Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, the half sister of King Abdullah II...

World's Most Expensive Fossil Vanished. Nat Geo Found It

Stan the T. rex has been hiding in UAE, getting ready to be displayed in Abu Dhabi museum

(Newser) - When one of the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossils ever found sold at a Christie's auction for $31.8 million in October 2020, experts worried the 39-foot-long specimen would be lost to the public, and to research. That prompted National Geographic to go looking for Stan, as...

Rare Drone Attack Kills 3 in Abu Dhabi

Yemeni Houthi rebels claim responsibility

(Newser) - A rare attack in the United Arab Emirates killed at least three people Monday and the commander of American forces at a nearby base says they are ready to assist UAE authorities if needed. Authorities say that in a drone attack claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels, three tanker trucks...

Divorce Settlement Is Largest UK Courts Have Ever Seen

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, must pay Princess Haya, kids $737M

(Newser) - The ruler of Dubai has just been told to pony up some big bucks to his ex, in what Bloomberg reports is "the largest financial award the UK family courts have ever seen." In total, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who's also the prime minister of...

Saudi Activist Sues Americans Who Aided UAE Hacking

Loujain al-Hathloul, who led push for women to drive, was imprisoned and tortured

(Newser) - Three former US intelligence and military officers have admitted in a separate case that they helped the United Arab Emirates with hacking operations. Now they're being sued by a Saudi women's rights activist who says the assistance of the three men led to her iPhone being hacked by...

Mideast Nation Shifts Its Workweek by a Day

United Arab Emirates moves to a Monday-Friday schedule, aligned with the West

(Newser) - The United Arab Emirates said Tuesday its official workweek will move to Monday to Friday, a significant change that brings the Islamic nation home to major financial institutions in line with Western schedules, per the AP . The decision, which is to take effect next month, makes the Gulf Arab federation...

New Head of Interpol Has Been Accused of Torture

Ahmed Nasser al-Raisi of the United Arab Emirates will serve a 4-year term

(Newser) - "The #INTERPOLGA has elected Ahmed Nasser al-Raisi of the United Arab Emirates as the Organization’s new President." The Thursday tweet would be a typical update for Interpol, whose elected presidents serve a four-year term, except for the fact that al-Raisi has been accused of torture in five...

World's Tallest Tower, Meet World's Tallest Ferris Wheel

You can see the Burj Khalifa from UAE's new 820-foot-tall Ain Dubai, or 'Dubai Eye'

(Newser) - If you're in Dubai anytime soon, have at least 40 minutes to spare, and don't have a terrible fear of heights, there's at least one attraction there that might pique your interest. The Ain Dubai ("Dubai Eye"), the world's tallest Ferris wheel, is now...

Princess Haya's Phone Hacked by Dubai's Ruler

So finds the UK's high court

(Newser) - Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, had the phones of his ex-wife, Princess Haya bint al-Hussein, and her lawyers hacked, the UK's high court ruled Wednesday. Haya, the daughter of Jordan's late King Hussein, fled Dubai for Britain in 2019 with the sheikh's two children,...

Dubai Tires of Waiting for Rainfall
Dubai Tires
of Waiting
for Rainfall
Jul 23, 2021 5:15 PM CDT

Dubai Tires of Waiting for Rainfall

Project brings downpours in UAE by hitting clouds with electrical charges

(Newser) - The recent downpours in the United Arab Emirates seemed a little unreal; the country only receives about 4 inches of rain per year. It turns out they weren't quite natural: Scientists have hit clouds with electronic charges to force rainfall during a heat wave that's often pushed temperatures...

Chair of Trump's Inauguration Committee Arrested

Tom Barrack accused of acting as agent for UAE

(Newser) - Tom Barrack, the longtime friend of Donald Trump who advised the former president's 2016 campaign and led his inaugural committee, was a better friend to the United Arab Emirates, prosecutors say. The 74-year-old was arrested Tuesday and charged with secretly acting as an agent for the UAE, Politico reports....

Huge Blast Shakes Dubai
Huge Blast Shakes Dubai
Jul 7, 2021 5:15 PM CDT

Huge Blast Shakes Dubai

Officials say it was caused by fire on container ship

(Newser) - A massive blast on a container ship in Dubai Wednesday night was felt across the city and sent a huge fireball into the sky. CNN personnel in the emirate say the explosion was felt more than 10 miles from the Jebel Ali Port , which is the biggest in the region...

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