Tag Archives: Qatar

World

Saudi crown prince to visit neighboring Qatar after blockade, yearslong rift

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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Qatar on Wednesday in a sign of improving relations between the two Gulf kingdoms years after he helped impose a blockade of the tiny but hugely rich nation. 

The visit, which follows a declaration in January by Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf countries to ease the yearslong rift, is a big climbdown for Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, who spearheaded the effort to isolate Qatar, accusing it of supporting extremist groups in the region.

“It shows to a large extent the crisis amongst the Gulf states has more or less been addressed,” said Neil Quilliam, an associate fellow at Chatham House, an international affairs think tank in London. 

The office of Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, tweeted that he would meet with the crown prince Wednesday evening in Doha.

After a decade of confrontation no one country, or group of countries, has emerged as a winner in the Gulf and they now face similar economic challenges such as the decarbonization of the global economy and recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a fellow for the Middle East at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University, said offering an explanation for the thaw in relations. 

The crown prince’s visit to Qatar and tour of the Gulf also speak to a Saudi effort to position him as a regional leader and signal that while he is still a persona non grata in much of the West, that is not the case in the Gulf, Coates Ulrichsen said.

“The Saudis are trying to portray MBS as someone quite different from the image that he generated for himself in the Trump years,” he added, referring to the crown prince by his initials. “They’re showing someone who can work with others, someone who eventually will be king and will be capable of behaving as a king should.” 

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates cut diplomatic, trade and travel ties with Qatar in 2017, separating families and businesses and shattering Gulf unity. The four countries alleged that the Qatari government supported groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, and accused it of close relations with the regional foe, Iran.

The embargo complicated American foreign policy in the Gulf as it frayed ties between important U.S. allies and security partners.

Qatar has deftly expanded its political influence despite its small size, which frustrated the traditional regional dominance of Saudi Arabia. Qatar is home to a major U.S. military base, it hosted U.S.-Taliban talks, and in recent months played an outsize role in American efforts to evacuate tens of thousands of people from Afghanistan.

The Saudi crown prince’s visit is part of a wider tour of Gulf Cooperation Council member states, also including Oman, Bahrain, UAE and Kuwait.

The tour has already turned out to be lucrative as Omani and Saudi firms signed 13 memoranda of understanding valued at $30 billion and comes ahead of the annual summit of the six-nation council this month, according to Reuters.

Qatar’s emir has already visited Saudi Arabia since the agreement to thaw relations was reached in the Saudi desert city of Al-Ula in January. 

This time, however, it is the crown prince, widely seen as the power behind the Saudi throne, who will be the guest, a symbolic difference in a region where hosting is an indication that you approve of your guest, said Michael Stephens, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think tank in London.

“This marks a very important step in ending the tensions once and for all,” he said.

The crown prince’s tour comes after French President Emmanuel Macron became the first major Western leader to visit Riyadh since the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

In February, the Biden administration released an intelligence report that concludes that the crown prince approved the gruesome killing. The crown prince has denied any involvement.

Saphora Smith is a London-based reporter for NBC News Digital. 

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed.



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Health

Reinfection from Covid-19 is rare, severe disease is even rarer, a study of people in Qatar finds

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The study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine found that there were few confirmed reinfections among 353,326 people who got Covid-19 in Qatar, and the re-infections were rare and generally mild.

The first wave of infections in Qatar struck between March and June of 2020. In the end about 40% of the population had detectable antibodies against Covid-19. The country then had two more waves from January through May of 2021. This was prior to the more infectious delta variant.

To determine how many people got reinfected, scientists from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar compared the records of people with PCR-confirmed infections between February of 2020 and April 2021. They excluded 87,547 people who got the vaccine.

Researchers found that among the remaining cases there were 1,304 reinfections. The median time between the first illness and reinfection was about 9 months.

Among those with reinfections, there were only four cases severe enough that they had to go to the hospital. There were no cases where people were sick enough that they needed to be treated in the intensive care unit. Among the initial cases, 28 were considered critical. There were no deaths among the reinfected group, while there were seven deaths in the initial infections.

“When you have only 1,300 reinfections among that many people, and four cases of severe disease, that’s pretty remarkable,” said John Alcorn, an expert in immunology and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh who was not affiliated with this study.

The study has limits. It was done in Qatar, so it’s not clear if the virus would behave the same way anywhere else. The work was done when the alpha and beta variant were the cause of many re-infections. There were 621 cases where it was undetermined and 213 from a “wild type” virus. There was no mention of the delta variant, which is now the predominant strain. That could have an impact on the number of reinfections.

Earlier studies have shown that natural immunity lowers ones risk of infection. One study done in Denmark published in March found that most people who had Covid-19 seemed to have protection from reinfection that remained stable for more than six months, but a check of the demographics of who was getting infected again showed it was mostly people 65 and older. That study does not make it clear how long protection lasts, and neither does the new Qatar study.

Alcorn’s own research on natural immunity shows that antibody levels also vary significantly from person to person. Scientists still don’t know what level of antibodies is protective, but in some cases, levels after infection may not be enough to keep someone from getting sick again.

“It needs to be determined whether such protection against severe disease at reinfection lasts for a longer period, analogous to the immunity that develops against other seasonal ‘common-cold’ coronaviruses, which elicit short-term immunity against mild reinfection but longer-term immunity against more severe illness with reinfection,” the study said. “If this were the case with SARS-CoV-2, the virus (or at least the variants studied to date) could adopt a more benign pattern of infection when it becomes endemic.”

Dr. Kami Kim, an infectious disease specialist who is not affiliated with this study, said people need to be careful not to come away with the wrong impression that it means people don’t need to get vaccinated if they’ve been sick with Covid-19.

“It’s sort of like asking the question do you need airbags and seat belts?” said Kim, director of the University of South Florida’s Division of Infectious Disease & International Medicine. “Just because you have airbags doesn’t mean that seatbelts won’t help you and vice versa. It’s good to have the protection of both.”

Kim said it isn’t worth taking your chances with the disease, particularly because an infection could bring with it long-term effects. “The incidence of long-Covid is way higher than the risk of getting a vaccine,” Kim said.

Also vaccinations don’t just protect an individual from getting sick, it protects the community.

“Modern medicine is much better, and people get cancer and survive and autoimmune diseases and thrive. Unless you are super close, you don’t always know who is vulnerable to more severe disease, and you literally could be putting people you care about at risk if you get sick and expose them,” Kim said. “Without vaccination you can’t go back to a normal life.”

Limiting the number of illnesses also limits the potential of more variants to develop, variants that could be even more dangerous than what’s in circulation now.

Alcorn said there’s another important lesson from this study.

“Vaccines are still our best method to get to the same place these people that have been infected are, absolutely,” Alcorn said. “The major takeaway from this study here is that there’s hope that through vaccination and through infection recovery that we’ll get to the level where everybody has some level of protection.”

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Sports

Lewis Hamilton wins Qatar Grand Prix to cut Max Verstappen’s championship lead to

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Verstappen finished almost 30 seconds behind Hamilton in second, but was impressive in clawing his way back from seventh, having been given a grid penalty after qualifying.

The Red Bull driver also took home the bonus point for posting the fastest lap in the closing stages to further limit the damage on what threatened to be a difficult weekend.

This year’s title race is set to go down to the wire with just two grands prix remaining this season in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.

“It was pretty straightforward, it’s pretty lonely at the front,” Hamilton told Sky Sports. “Of course I enjoy those races … we needed those points today, so a really solid job from the team.

“I cant wait to watch a replay of the race to see what happened behind me. I’m really grateful for these points. It puts us in good stead for the next two.”

Despite seeing his lead reduced for the second consecutive race, Verstappen was sanguine about the weekend’s results.

“Of course our starting position was a bit compromised, but we had a really good start,” Verstappen said. “At the end of the day to get that fastest lap was nice, it’s going to be difficult to the end.

“It’s going to be exciting. I feel good, it’s gonna be a tight battle to the end.”

Fernando Alonso took an impressive third place with Alpine, marking his first podium finish since 2014 when he was driving for Ferrari.

The Spaniard was visibly ecstatic with the result, leading him to drop an F-bomb on the live broadcast.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez couldn’t quite fight his way past Alonso and had to settle for fourth place, with Esteban Ocon rounding off a brilliant weekend for Alpine by coming fifth.

Lance Stroll, Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Sebastian Vettel completed the point places.

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Entertainment

‘Eternals’ Banned in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait – The Hollywood Reporter

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Marvel’s Eternals will not hit cinema screens in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or Qatar, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The all-star superhero film, which was due for release across the Gulf region on Nov. 11, is understood to have been met with a series of edit requests by the local censors, edits that THR has heard Disney were not willing to make.

The news emerged on Thursday, with Eternals having been quietly been removed from websites in each of those countries. In the United Arab Emirates, however, the film is still listed as among the titles coming soon.

Sources suggest the decision was likely made over the inclusion of a same-sex couple in the film and the MCU’s first gay superhero. In one scene, the character Phastos (played by Brian Tyree Henry) and his on-screen husband Ben (Haaz Sleiman) share a passionate kiss. Homosexuality is still officially illegal across the Gulf, and films containing anything related to LGBT issues are frequently pulled from release. Last year, the Pixar title Onward was banned across Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia over a single line referencing a lesbian relationship.

One regional cinema chain explained that Eternals had been “banned” but said they hadn’t been told why.

Directed by Chloe Zhao, Eternals stars an ensemble cast including Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Harish Patel, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie. Part of Phase Four of the MCU, it is due for release on Nov. 5 following its world premiere on Oct. 18 in L.A.

THR has reached out to Disney for comment.



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US

US, Taliban to hold first talks since Afghanistan withdrawal

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ISLAMABAD (AP) — Senior Taliban officials and U.S. representatives are to hold talks Saturday and Sunday about containing extremist groups in Afghanistan and easing the evacuation of foreign citizens and Afghans from the country, officials from both sides said.

It’s the first such meeting since U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan in late August, ending a 20-year military presence there, and the Taliban’s rise to power in the nation. The talks are to take place in Doha, the capital of the Persian Gulf state of Qatar.

Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, who is based in Doha, told The Associated Press on Saturday that the talks will also revisit the peace agreement the Taliban signed with Washington in 2020. The agreement had paved the way for the final U..S. withdrawal.

“Yes there is a meeting . . . about bilateral relations and implementation of the Doha agreement,” said Shaheen. “It covers various topics.”

Terrorism will also feature in the talks, said a second official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Since the Taliban took power, Islamic State extremists have ramped up attacks on the militant group, as well as ethnic and religious minorities. On Friday, an IS suicide bomber killed at least 46 minority Shiite Muslims and wounded dozens in the deadliest attack since the U.S. departure.

IS has carried out relentless assaults on the country’s Shiite Muslims since emerging in eastern Afghanistan in 2014. IS is also seen as the greatest threat to the United States.

The U.S.-Taliban agreement of 2020, which was negotiated by the Trump administration, demanded the Taliban break ties with terrorist groups and guarantee Afghanistan would not again harbor terrorists who could attack the United States and its allies.

It seems certain the two sides will discuss in the weekend talks how to tackle the growing threat. The Taliban have said they do not want U.S. anti-terrorism assistance and have warned Washington against any so-called “over-the -horizon” strikes on Afghan territory from outside the country’s borders.

The United States, meanwhile, would seek to hold Taliban leaders to commitments that they would allow Americans and other foreign nationals to leave Afghanistan, along with Afghans who once worked for the U.S. military or government and other Afghan allies, a U.S. official said.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak by name about the meetings.

The Biden administration has fielded questions and complaints about the slow pace of U.S.-facilitated evacuations from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan since the U.S. withdrawal.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said Thursday that 105 U.S. citizens and 95 green card holders had left since then on flights facilitated by the U.S. That number had not changed for more than a week.

U.S. veterans and other individuals have helped others leave the country on charter flights, and some Americans and others have gotten out across land borders.

Hundreds of other foreign nationals and Afghans have also left on recent flights.

Dozens of American citizens are still seeking to get out, according to the State Department, along with thousands of green-card holders and Afghans and family members believed eligible for U.S. visas. U.S. officials have cited the difficulty of verifying flight manifests without any American officials on the ground in Afghanistan to help, along with other hold-ups.

Americans also intend to press the Taliban to observe the rights of women and girls, many of whom the Taliban are reportedly blocking from returning to jobs and classrooms, and of Afghans at large, and to form an inclusive government, the official said.

U.S. officials will also encourage Taliban officials to give humanitarian agencies free access to areas in need amid the economic upheaval following the U.S. departure and Taliban takeover.

The official stressed the session did not imply the U.S. was recognizing the Taliban as legitimate governors of the country.

_____

Knickmeyer reported from Washington.

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World

4 Americans depart Afghanistan as Blinken arrives in Qatar

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Four Americans have been able to safely depart Afghanistan by using a land route out, in an effort facilitated by the State Department.

According to a senior State Department official, the four are in good condition, and U.S. embassy staff members were on hand to greet them Monday.

This is the first time such a route has been facilitated by the State Department since the withdrawal of the U.S. was completed at the end of August. The 124,000 people evacuated in late July and August were moved out of Afghanistan by plane.

According to the State Department, the Taliban was aware of the movement of the Americans toward the border and did not impede them. The U.S. has not disclosed where the four Americans are.

The news of the Americans’ departure came as Secretary of State Antony Blinken was about to arrive in Doha, Qatar, where he and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are meeting with Qatari leaders to thank them for the help the Gulf nation gave to the U.S. in its mass airlift of Americans and vulnerable Afghans, providing a transit point and support to the evacuees. 

In Mazar-i-Sharif, there are multiple planes ready to take American citizens and U.S. permanent residents out of Afghanistan, but they’re being denied permission to leave by the Taliban, according to congressional and non-governmental organization sources.

The State Department advised members of Congress to tell groups seeking to evacuate Afghanistan from Mazar-i-Sharif that the government “does not have personnel on the ground in Mazar, we do not have air assets in the country, and we do not control the airspace.” But the State Department has said it “will hold the Taliban to its pledge to let people freely depart Afghanistan,” adding that “the entire international community is focused on whether they live up to their commitments.”

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World

India holds first formal talks with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar

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Taliban members gather and make speeches in front of Herat governorate after the completion of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, in Herat, Afghanistan on August 31, 2021.

Mir Ahmad Firooz Mashoof | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

India announced its first formal diplomatic meeting with the Taliban on Tuesday — their first official talks since the group seized power in Afghanistan as the U.S. withdrew its forces from there.

The Indian foreign ministry said India’s ambassador to Qatar, Deepak Mittal, met with the head of the Taliban’s political office, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai. The Taliban had requested the meeting, which took place at the Indian embassy in Doha, according to the ministry.

Mittal and Stanikzai discussed the safety, security and early return of Indian nationals who are stranded in Afghanistan as well as travel prospects for Afghan minorities who want to visit India, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The Indian ambassador also raised New Delhi’s concerns around Afghanistan being used as a base for terrorism.

“The Taliban Representative assured the Ambassador that these issues would be positively addressed,” the foreign ministry said.

For the foreseeable future, it would largely be an engagement to assess where Taliban might be going with their agenda

Harsh Pant

Observer Research Foundation

Days before Tuesday’s meeting, Indian media reported that Stanikzai said the Taliban wanted to continue Afghanistan’s political, economic and cultural ties with India. It was reportedly the first time a member of the Taliban leadership spoke about the future of India-Afghanistan relations since the group captured Kabul.

The Taliban’s return to power would likely impact Afghanistan’s neighbors, amid rising concerns of regional instability, refugee inflows and the prospect of Afghanistan becoming a haven for terrorist activities again.

New Delhi did not have diplomatic relations with the Taliban when they were last in power in the 1990s, in part because of the militant group’s ties to Pakistan.

But India had forged close ties with the U.S.-backed civilian government in Kabul over the last two decades and provided Afghanistan with development assistance. Reports said that India has invested $3 billion in multiple infrastructure and trade projects and has undertaken over 400 projects in Afghanistan.

Analysts say India’s commitments and the recent shift in power has left New Delhi in a tough strategic state.

‘Practical necessity’

India’s meeting with the Taliban was a “necessity” that was in some ways dictated by the evolving political realities in Afghanistan, said Harsh Pant, head of the strategic studies program at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.

“There is a practical necessity of engaging with the Taliban given that it would be one of the most — if not the most — important political stakeholder in Afghanistan,” Pant told CNBC. “Outreach at lower levels had already begun but this is the first official, explicitly-stated Indian outreach to the Taliban.”

Read more on the developments in Afghanistan:

India reportedly made efforts in June to engage with the Taliban as the U.S. withdrawal deadline loomed. China has also stepped up its diplomatic efforts to engage with the Islamist group.

“If eventually the Taliban succeed in bringing together an inclusive government, with various stakeholders, then there is no reason why India would not move forward with a new momentum in its engagement,” Pant said.

He said the issue of recognizing the Taliban as the legitimate power in control of Afghanistan won’t emerge anytime soon.

“For the foreseeable future, it would largely be an engagement to assess where Taliban might be going with their agenda,” Pant said.

“I think most of the countries would be waiting and watching as to what the Taliban actually do on the ground.”

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Sports

2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Semifinal: USA vs Qatar

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2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Semifinal
July 29, 2021
Q2 Stadium; Austin, Texas
Live Broadcast: Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, Univision and TUDN
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Social Media: @USMNT on Twitter and Instagram; @ussoccer on Facebook , The U.S. Soccer App

 


Tonight’s USMNT Starting XI vs. Qatar: 1-Matt Turner, 3-Sam Vines, 6-Gianluca Busio, 7-Paul Arriola, 11-Daryl Dike, 12-Miles Robinson, 13-Matthew Hoppe, 16-James Sands, 17-Sebastian Lletget (capt.), 20-Shaq Moore, 23-Kellyn Acosta

 

Substitutes: 18-Sean Johnson, 22-Brad Guzan, 2-Reggie Cannon, 8-Nicholas Gioacchini, 9-Gyasi Zardes,10-Cristian Roldan, 14-Jackson Yueill, 15-Jonathan Lewis, 19-Eryk Williamson, 21-George Bello, 24-Henry Kessler

 

 

 

 

 

GAME NOTES  |  FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT QATAR  |  USMNT GOLD CUP TRIVIA

  • The winner of tonight’s match will advance to the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Final against either Canada or Mexico on Sunday, Aug. 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.

  • USMNT Starting XI Cap Numbers (including this match): Paul Arriola (38), Kellyn Acosta (36), Sebastian Lletget (28), Shaq Moore (10), Daryl Dike (8), Miles Robinson (8), Sam Vines (7), Matt Turner (6), Gianluca Busio (5), James Sands (5), Matthew Hoppe (4)

  • USMNT Starting XI Gold Cup Cap Numbers (including this match): Paul Arriola (13), Kellyn Acosta (9), Gianluca Busio (5), James Sands (5), Shaq Moore (5), Daryl Dike (5), Miles Robinson (5), Matt Turner (5), Sebastian Lletget (4), Sam Vines (4), Matthew Hoppe (4)

  • The USA Starting XI is the same in back-to-back matches for the first time in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup

  • Tonight’s Starting XI has an average age of 23 years, 284 days, which stands as the third youngest USMNT lineup in a Knockout Round match after last month’s Concacaf Nations League Semifinal against Honduras (23 years, 259 days) and Sunday’s Gold Cup Quarterfinal against Jamaica (23 years, 280 days) It is also the seventh youngest USMNT lineup in official competition

  • Seven players in the USMNT Starting XI are 24 and younger: Gianluca Busio (19), Matthew Hoppe (20), Daryl Dike and James Sands (21), Sam Vines (22), Shaq Moore and Miles Robinson (24)

  • The Starting XI also averages 13 caps

  • Sebastian Lletget captains the USMNT for the second time tonight. The veteran midfielder wore the armband in the USA’s 1-0 win against Haiti to open the Gold Cup on July 11.

  • Goalkeeper Matt Turner and defenders Shaq Moore and Miles Robinson start for the fifth-straight match. Turner and Robinson have played every minute during the 2021 Gold Cup  

  • Veteran forward Paul Arriola will start his third-straight Gold Cup Semifinal. Arriola began the 2-0 win against Costa Rica on July 22, 2017 in Arlington, Texas and 3-1 victory against Jamaica on July 3, 2019 in Nashville

  • Nine of 11 starters hail from Major League Soccer, with Shaq Moore (Tenerife; Spain) and Matthew Hoppe (Schalke; Germany) the two players based abroad

  • Having made his return to the USMNT in last December’s friendly win against El Salvador, midfielder Kellyn Acosta will appear in his 13th consecutive match for the USA tonight. Acosta is the only player to appear in each of the USA’s 12 games in 2021

  • Through four Gold Cup matches goalkeeper Matt Turner and the USMNT back line have conceded just one goal – a penalty kick in the 6-1 win against Martinique

  • Substitute Henry Kessler would earn his USMNT debut should he appear tonight. The defender joined the roster as a medical replacement for Walker Zimmerman prior to the quarterfinal

  • For the second-straight match, defender Donovan Pines will not dress tonight against Qatar.

  • Teams are allowed five substitutions during the group stage of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup. Should the match go to extra time, teams are allowed an additional substitution.

  • The USA faces Qatar for the first time in its history. The Maroon is the USA’s 10th different opponent from the Asian Football Confederation and first since facing Korea Republic on Feb. 1, 2014

  • Tonight’s match marks the USMNT’s first in Austin, Texas. The team will return to Q2 Stadium when it takes on Jamaica in World Cup Qualifying on Oct. 7

  • The USMNT is playing in a Gold Cup-record 15th semifinal. Should the USA win, it will advance to a tournament record 12th final

  • The USA is currently on a seven-match winning streak, which is tied for the second longest in team history. The USMNT previously ran off seven-consecutive wins from June 2-24, 2007. The record is 12 wins, achieved from June 2-August 14, 2013.

  • The USMNT is 24-6-3 in 33 matches under Gregg Berhalter. Should the USA win tonight, he would become the fastest USMNT head coach to earn 25 victories.

  • Berhalter is 9-1-0 in Gold Cup matches. A win tonight would push him past Juergen Klinsmann into third among U.S. head coaches in the confederation championship, behind Bruce Arena (19 wins) and Bob Bradley (14).



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World

EXCLUSIVE New Saudi airline plan takes aim at Emirates, Qatar Airways

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DUBAI, July 2 (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia plans to target international transit passenger traffic with its new national airline, going head-to-head with Gulf giants Emirates and Qatar Airways and opening up a new front in simmering regional competition.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is pushing economic diversification to wean Saudi Arabia off oil revenues and create jobs, announced a transportation and logistics drive on Tuesday aimed at making the kingdom the fifth-biggest air transit hub.

Two people familiar with the matter said the new airline would boost international routes and echo existing Gulf carriers by carrying people from one country to another via connections in the kingdom, known in the industry as sixth-freedom traffic.

The transport ministry, which has not released details of the plans, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The strategy marks a shift for Saudi Arabia whose other airlines, like state-owned Saudia and its low cost subsidiary flyadeal, mostly operate domestic services and point-to-point flights to and from the country of 35 million people.

The Saudi expansion threatens to sharpen a battle for passengers at a time when travel has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Long-haul flights like those operated by Emirates and Qatar Airways are forecast to take the longest to recover.

Riyadh has already moved to compete with the UAE, the region’s business, trade and tourism hub. The Saudi government has said that from 2024 it would stop giving contracts to firms that do not set up regional headquarters in the kingdom.

“Commercial competition in the aviation industry has always been fierce, and regional competition is heating up. Some turbulence in regional relations is on the horizon,” said Robert Mogielnicki, resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute.

Dubai, the world’s largest international air travel hub, has announced a five-year plan to grow air and shipping routes by 50% and double tourism capacity over the next two decades.

Riyadh has already moved to compete with the UAE, the region’s business, trade and tourism hub. The Saudi government has said that starting 2024 it would stop giving contracts to firms that do not set up regional headquarters in the kingdom.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends a session of the Shura Council in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, November 20, 2019. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS

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Prince Mohammed is trying to lure foreign capital to create new industries including tourism, with ambitions to increase overall visitors to 100 million by 2030 from 40 million in 2019.

“Saudi Arabia has the ability to push forward with its aviation and tourism strategy when others will be retreating and retracting,” aviation consultant Brendan Sobie said.

“It is a risky strategy, but also sensible given its position and overall diversification objective.”

TOURISM PUSH

However, any airline requires substantial start-up capital and experts warn that if Saudi Arabia’s ambition is to compete on transit flights it may have to contend with years of losses.

Saudi Arabia’s large population generates direct traffic that could cushion losses as a new airline targets international transit traffic, aviation consultant John Strickland said.

Emirates reported a record $5.5 billion annual loss last month with the pandemic forcing Dubai to step in with $3.1 billion in state support.

Etihad Airways has scaled back its ambitions after it spent billions of dollars to ultimately unsuccessfully compete in building a major hub in United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi.

People familiar with the matter said the new airline could be based in the capital Riyadh, and that sovereign wealth fund PIF is helping set it up.

PIF did not respond to a request for comment.

Saudi Arabia is developing non-religious tourism with mega projects backed by PIF. It has launched social reforms to open up the country, the birthplace of Islam, including allowing public entertainment.

Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Tim Hepher and Alexander Smith

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Sports

Pro beach volleyball players back out of Qatar tournament over bikini attire

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German professional beach volleyball stars Karla Borger and Julia Sude said Sunday they will not be going to Qatar for a tournament over an issue involving their playing attire.

Borger represented Germany in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro but lost, along with teammate Britta Buthe, in the round of 16. The pair won silver at the Beach Volleyball World Championships in 2013. Sude had partnered mostly with Chantal Labouruer during her career. Sude and Borger have been teammates since 2019.

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“We are there to do our job, but are being prevented from wearing our work clothes,” Borger told a German radio station. “This is really the only country and the only tournament where a government tells us how to do our job – we are criticizing that.”

Borger added that given the extreme temperatures in the Middle East, “We are asking whether it’s necessary to hold a tournament there at all.”

Julia Sude, left, and Karla Borger of Germany react in the women’s bronze medal match against Heather Bansley and Brandie Wilkerson of Canada on day five of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Tokyo, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Test Event, at Shiokaze Park on July 28, 2019, in Tokyo, Japan. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)

The women’s portion of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) World Tour will head to Doha, Qatar, for the first time next month. Female players have been asked to wear long shirts and trousers for the event, according to The Guardian.

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The FIVB says the request was “out of respect for the culture and traditions of the host country,” according to The Guardian.

Borger and Sude both told Germany’s Der Spiegel they would “not go along” with the Qatari rules. The country’s weather would make bikinis necessary for playing in the tournament.

Sude also pointed out that changes were not made when the country hosted the World Athletics Championships in 2019.

The Qatar Volleyball Association said athletes were allowed to wear their national uniforms, according to Yahoo.

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“We would like to make clear that we are not making any demand on what athletes should wear at the event,” the organization said.

The country allowed female volleyball players to compete in bikinis as recently as the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games and the 2006 Asian Games, according to The Daily Mail.

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