International pressure mounts on Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza, with decisive talks taking place in Cairo. The potential deal includes a temporary truce and a hostage swap, with Israel considering a 'second phase' involving sustained calm. The World Economic Forum in Riyadh focuses on the crisis, with global leaders urging acceptance of the proposal. The US is also involved, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Joe Biden actively engaging in discussions. The failure of negotiations could lead to Hamas relocating its leadership from Qatar, with talks potentially moving to Jordan.

ADNOC Gas has awarded a $3.6 billion contract to expand its gas processing infrastructure in the UAE, with the majority of the deal's value expected to benefit the country's economy. The contract was given to a joint venture between the National Petroleum Construction Company and Spain's Tecnicas Reunidas. The project will increase ethane extraction by 40% at the Habshan complex and includes a new 120-kilometer pipeline to the Ruwais Industrial Complex.

In 2022, Russia surpassed Mali, Zimbabwe, and Ghana to become the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) primary gold supplier. This shift occurred as Western nations imposed economic sanctions on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine, leading the UAE to increase its gold imports from Russia. The UAE imported 96.4 tons of gold from Russia, representing about one-third of Russia's annual mine production and over 15 times the amount imported from Russia the previous year. Mali was the second-largest supplier with 95.7 tons of gold to the UAE.

The United Arab Emirates is fostering innovation in the metaverse, particularly with technologies that enable virtual smelling. The Dubai Metaverse Strategy aims to attract 1,000 companies, support 40,000 virtual jobs, and contribute $4 billion to Dubai's GDP by 2030. Alistair Pernigo, an Italian inventor, co-created Auralink, a startup that develops technologies to detect, analyze, and reproduce smells, highlighting the UAE's appeal to metaverse startups.

Turkey's 16th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2023) is underway in Istanbul, with defense companies presenting their latest offerings. The event, which began in 1993, is hosted by Turkey’s Ministry of National Defense and ranks as the fourth largest defense industry gathering globally. While the number of companies attending this year is undisclosed, the previous edition in 2021 attracted over a thousand companies from 53 countries. Turkey also signed a military and financial cooperation deal with Tajikistan during the fair.

Qatar has appointed Sultan Al Mansouri as ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, filling a six-year vacancy since the 2017 Gulf crisis. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, made the appointment, signaling further reconciliation between the two countries following the resumption of embassy operations in June. Mansouri, a seasoned diplomat, has previously served as Qatar’s ambassador to Austria and China, and as a permanent representative to the United Nations in Vienna.

In 2022, the United Arab Emirates achieved its highest foreign direct investment inflow of nearly $23 billion, while Saudi Arabia experienced a 59% decrease to approximately $7.9 billion. The UNCTAD 2023 World Investment Report highlighted that Israel and the UAE were the top two countries in the MENA region for FDI inflow, ranking 15th and 16th globally.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held productive talks in New Delhi, focusing on trade ties and areas of cooperation such as grid connectivity, renewable energy, food security, semiconductors, and supply chains. The discussions took place after the G20 Summit and were part of the Saudi-Indian Strategic Partnership Council meeting at the Hyderabad House.

The premiere of the 'Barbie' movie in the United Arab Emirates was delayed from July 20 to August 31, with no specified reason, raising concerns about a potential ban. However, the UAE Media Council has now approved the film for screening in licensed cinemas after completing necessary procedures. Vox Cinemas and Roxy Cinemas have confirmed the new premiere date but have not yet allowed ticket purchases or reservations. The status of the movie's release in Jordan and Oman remains uncertain, while Egypt has approved the screening.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates lead Forbes Middle East's Top 100 Arab Family Businesses ranking in 2023, with 33 and 29 companies listed respectively. Egypt's Mansour Group topped the ranking, followed by the UAE's Al-Futtaim Group and Saudi Arabia's Olayan Financing Company. The ranking highlighted shifts in business practices and the importance of establishing trust with consumers for growth.

The United Arab Emirates has implemented a temporary ban on rice exports and reexports for four months, following India's major prohibition on non-basmati rice exports. This move significantly affects the UAE, which imports 90% of its food and was the 16th-largest importer of rice in 2021, with the majority sourced from India. The ban pertains to various types of rice and their products not originating from India.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met in Abu Dhabi, establishing a strategic council and signing agreements worth $50.7 billion. These deals, which include investments in various sectors, build upon a previous $40 billion trade deal and aim to enhance the UAE-Turkey Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The agreements also involve establishing a Joint Economic and Trade Commission and consensus on extradition rules and legal cooperation.

Qatar aims to dominate the global LNG market by signing a record volume of long-term contracts, particularly with Asian countries, to reach 40% of the new LNG market by 2029. QatarEnergy's CEO, Saad al-Kaabi, announced at the LNG 2023 conference that expansion projects approved last year will increase Qatar's LNG output by 64% to 126 million tons per year by 2027. Qatar tied with the United States as the world's top LNG exporter in 2022, with Australia leading slightly.

Saudi Arabia leads in government strategy for artificial intelligence according to a global study by Tortoise Media, while the United States ranks first overall. Israel is 7th globally in the AI index, with Saudi Arabia at 31st and the UAE, which has an AI minister, at 28th. The study assessed 62 countries using over 100 indicators across various categories including talent, infrastructure, R&D, and commercial activity.

Dubai has risen to the 7th most expensive city for luxury living worldwide, surpassing Paris and Zurich, as per the Julius Baer’s Global Wealth and Lifestyle Report 2023. This marks the first time Dubai is the only Arab city in the top 25 of the list, and the EMEA region is now considered the most affordable for high-class living, with European cities falling in the rankings.

Saudi Arabia's Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Company (RVCMC) launched its 2024 carbon credit exchange and hosted the world's largest voluntary carbon credit auction in Kenya. The initiative, part of Saudi's efforts to achieve net zero by 2060, has been met with debate over its sincerity in climate action. RVCMC Chair Rania Nashar emphasized the company's role in addressing the energy transition. In the auction, 16 firms, including Aramco and Saudi Airlines, purchased over 2.2 million tons of carbon credits for an estimated $14.74 million.

DP World, a state-owned company from Dubai, has signed agreements with China's Ningbo-Zhoushan port and Zhejiang Seaport to collaborate on automobile industry chain services and logistics. The Ningbo-Zhoushan port aims to enhance the deal under China's Road and Belt Initiative. This follows DP World's promotional event in Beijing to attract Chinese investment.

Hub71, backed by Mubadala, is reported to have allowed Coinbase to establish an international hub in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This follows a tweet by Mubadala Capital's head of ventures, Ibrahim Ajami, and comments by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong at a Dubai tech event. Rudy Shoushany, CEO of DxTalks, interprets these developments as a sign that a deal has likely been finalized, although no official statement has been released.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in Saudi Arabia to attend the Arab summit, marking his most significant appearance on the Arab stage since the Syrian conflict began in 2011. This visit follows Syria's recent readmission to the Arab League. Assad's participation has drawn scrutiny from the US and skepticism regarding what Syria can contribute.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in Saudi Arabia for the Arab summit, marking his most significant appearance on the Arab stage since 2011. This visit is Assad's first to the kingdom in over a decade and coincides with Syria's recent readmission to the Arab League. The summit is taking place amid US scrutiny and skepticism, as well as opposition from some Arab countries.

The article discusses the aftermath of the Arab Spring in Tunisia, focusing on recent protests against derogatory comments made by a Tunisian parliamentarian and the broader issue of freedom of expression in the country. It highlights the case of Saif Ayadi, a social worker and activist, who was detained by police during a protest. The article also touches on the use of digital surveillance by Tunisian authorities to identify and intimidate protesters, citing the lack of laws incriminating electronic crimes. NGOs like Al Bawsala and Amnesty International have pointed out the need for digital policy reform and the increasing intolerance of authorities towards criticism. Activists have resorted to using encrypted platforms and gaming communication tools to organize and evade surveillance. Euronews reached out to the Tunisian Assembly for comments on these claims but received no response at the time of publication.