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The National Museum has issued a special edition titled ‘Collection in Marine Science.’
The issue documents the greatness of Omani navigator Ahmed bin Majid Al Saadi, reviving his marine prowess and navigational creativity.
The collection documents the origin of the manuscript titled “Kitab al-Fawa’id fi ‘Ilm al-Bahr wa al-Qawa’id” (Collection of Manuscripts of Benefits in the Science of the Sea and Rules, as well as the abbreviation container in the origins of marine science and Arajiz), which has been on loan from Al Assad National Library in the Syrian Arab Republic to the National Museum since 2019.
In the opening speech of the publication, Jamal Hassan al Moosawi, Secretary General of the National Museum, said, “The display of the original manuscript ‘Collection in the Science of the Seas’ by the author Ahmed bin Majid al Saadi at the National Museum is an affirmation of the Omani identity of this unique scientific and historical personality.
This display comes in the context of the existing cooperation between the National Museum and the Ministry of Culture of the Syrian Arab Republic as part of the cultural diplomacy pursued by the National Museum.”
Last week’s Arabian Flavour Festival in the Dutch capital celebrated Arab culture, cuisine, crafts
‘It’s all about sharing love, identity and culture,’ organizer tells Arab News
The first edition of the Arabian Flavour Festival took place in Amsterdam last Saturday.
In an intimate outdoor setting, the festival celebrated the diversity and richness of Arab culture, cuisine and crafts.
Organizer Shadow, originally from Syria, said his aim is to create a platform for promoting both international and Middle Eastern artists, for people to mingle and to share their cultures through storytelling and arts.
Set in the idyllic Tolhuis garden, a cultural and culinary meeting place in Amsterdam, the one-day event welcomed over 1,000 visitors from different backgrounds.
Organized by The Shadow Projects, the festival featured two stages with performances by dancers, singers and poets, along with a dabke workshop, pop-up food and merchandise, all within an Arabian atmosphere.
“It’s called Arabian Flavour because there’s a flavor of Arabic culture, but at the same time it’s an opportunity for people to integrate,” Shadow told Arab News.
“There’s always a performance other than Arabic to let people understand that this isn’t an Arabic party (but) just an Arabian Flavour.”
The idea started after Shadow starred in the documentary “The Story Won’t Die” about Syrian artists in Europe and America, from award-winning filmmaker David Henry Gerso.
In 2021, because of Shadow’s efforts, the documentary was showcased at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, whereafter the concept gained more and more traction.
Initially, it began as a gathering showcasing talents at home, but expanded to various stages throughout Amsterdam, and now the Arabian Flavour Festival is the biggest such festival in Europe, according to Shadow.
The organization places significant emphasis on diversity and inclusion. “If you’re an Arabic singer who isn’t well known, you don’t have work anymore if you move to Europe,” he said, adding that Bottom of Form the festival is open to whoever wants to perform.
The organizers state: “It is magical to see people who share their passion, and it is most important that they express themselves authentically.”
Among the performers was DJ Maherrie, a Syrian DJ who amazed the audience with a fusion of Middle Eastern melodies and modern European rhythms to raise awareness of his heritage.
Dutch singer-songwriter Maxine Zain shared her hopes of inspiring people with her heartfelt songs, and specifically highlighted her enjoyment in seeing traditional Arabic music connecting well with the artistry of Dutch artists like herself.
Pauline Koning, a passionate self-taught Dutch musician and belly dancer, made an impact with her performance of her own song “Kefaya Ghyab.”
In her music, she blends Arabic, Western, and Yemeni musical elements, drawing inspiration from her nostalgic love for Umm Kulthum, and praises the language’s poetic nature and rich emotional vocabulary.
The Arab tradition of belly dancing, Koning said, “represents a powerful symbol of empowerment for all women, not only embodying archetypes but also having the power to transfer certain emotions.”
Shadow earned his name for his ability to bring subcultures from the shadow into the light, and the event lived up to this name as confirmed by visitors’ reviews. “I’m very curious about Arab culture. It’s a refreshing perspective opposite Dutch traditions,” said one visitor.
Another visitor attended the festival as an opportunity to connect with language partners and practice Arabic.
Three friends from Yemen were interested to meet Dutch people and exchange stories about their respective cultures.
Aside from the Arabian Flavour Festival, they also host monthly Arabian Flavour Nights. “The dream is to, in the next year or so, organize a three-day festival,” but in the end “it’s all about sharing love, identity and culture,” Shadow said.
All the projects are funded by the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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The first edition of the Arabian Flavour Festival took place in Amsterdam last Saturday. (Instagram/@theshadow.amsterdam)
.When you hear of Al-Andalus, you might think of Andalusia. And yet, from 711 to 1492, until the famous Fall of Granada, the Future Andalusia was only a small part of this vast Arab territory, whose influence can be seen everywhere in Spain. Let us take a tour.
Al-Andalus, a long series of powerful people
In the early 8th century, the Iberian Peninsula belonged to the Visigoth Empire, when the commanders of the Umayyad Caliphate (with a territory extending from the Arabian Peninsula to the Maghreb) set out to conquer the lands on the other side of the Mediterranean.
The Umayyad dynasty ruled in Al-Andalus (what would become Spain) for more than 300 years. It was suceeded by Taifas (independent kingdoms). The Abbasids, then the Almoravids, rose to power. In 1147, it was the Almohads who took over the empire. This proved to be a prosperous period, with great scholars, such as Averroes, a doctor, lawyer, and advisor to the Caliph. These scholars helped to make Al-Andalus a grand dominion. But the Christian reconquest gained ground. From 1238 to 1492, the Reconquista blazed on, and soon only the Emirate of Granada remained in southern Spain, the last vestige of the great Muslim empire.
From the north to the south of Spain, the Arab-Andalusian influence can be seen everywhere
One after the other, Cordoba, Seville and Granada became the capitals of the kingdom of Al-Andalus during the Middle Ages. Arab culture has permeated everything from traditional Andalusian music to the names of localities, and the Spanish language. But the most visible influence can of course be seen directly in the architecture of buildings and streets. Numerous vestiges, sometimes intact, sometimes remodelled, remain in the cities’ maze of streets, and this period of Spanish history has left prodigious monuments of Arab origin and fabulous examples of Islamic art. Many of these monuments bear a unique blend of cultural influences as they were renovated or repurposed over the centuries.
The most beautiful Arab monuments in Spain
The Arab Baths of Ronda, a magnificent ruin site
The hammam tradition was a cornerstone of Arab culture for centuries. From the 13th to the 15th century, several such baths were built in Spain. The baths of Ronda, in Andalusia, are one of the best examples, with their three magnificent barrel-vaulted rooms and visible heating and water circulation systems. The Guadalevín river, which often floods, has prevented these baths from being used, but excavations have been carried out, and now you can visit and admire some of the best-preserved Arab bathhouses in the country.
pix: P. Escudero / hemis.fr
Baños Árabes C. Molino de Alarcón 29400 Ronda Málaga +34 951 15 42 97 turismoderonda.es
The Alhambra of Granada, an extraordinary castle
On the Sabika hill, opposite the Albaicín district, stands the Alhambra of Granada, a majestic conglomeration of several buildings built in the early 12th century. The grandeur of the last Nasrid rulers is at its peak. Not to mention the sublime, breathtaking view over the plain of Granada!
The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, from Islam to Christianity
Another Muslim building, the Cordoba mosque is a symbol of Arab influence at its most grandiose. From the 8th century to 29 June 1236, the building served as a mosque, before becoming a church again following the Reconquista. Representative of the art of the Umayyads of Cordoba, it is a monumental structure, and it covers over 1.5 hectares. The building is a splendid example of Islamic architecture: the “forest of columns” in the main hall – 1,300 marble, jasper and granite columns – highlights the gargantuan size of the place.
The Mudejar art of Aragon, in the north of Spain, has been declared part of UNESCO’s World Heritage, and the Aljaferia in Zaragoza is one of its most flamboyant masterpieces. When it was built in the second half of the 11th century, this palace clearly displayed the magnificence of the Taifa of Zaragoza. It served as a residence, a fortified enclosure and a barracks. It currently houses the Parliament of Aragon. The palace’s interior decoration is gorgeous, with a series of delicate, refined arches.
pix: kasto80 / Getty Images Plus
Palacio de la Aljafería Calle de los Diputados 50003 Zaragoza +34 976 28 96 83 www.turismodearagon.com
The Seville Giralda, a perfect example of mixed construction
The architectural marriage of the Giralda, the bell tower of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the See in Seville, is immediately evident. The lower parts were built in the 12th century, when the city was the capital of the Arab-Andalusian empire, under the rule of the Almohads. Four centuries later the upper floor was added, and the mosque’s minaret became a bell tower. It is now an unspoken rule that no building should be higher than this symbol of Seville.
pix: marinzolich / Getty Images Plus
Catedral de Santa María de la Sede de Sevilla – Giralda Av. de la Constitución 41004 Sevilla +34 902 09 96 92 www.catedraldesevilla.es
The MICHELIN Guide marked its debut in the Middle East with a full selection of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2022.
This very first selection highlights 69 restaurants, covering 21 cuisine types; 14 restaurants get a Bib Gourmand, 9 receive a MICHELIN Star and 2 Two MICHELIN Stars.
Michelin has unveiled the 2022 selection of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai — the first-ever edition in the United Arab Emirates — celebrating Dubai’s spectacular culinary map, that is as vibrant and diverse as it is energetic. A total of 69 restaurants, which covers 21 cuisine types, have been selected and recommended by the anonymous MICHELIN Guide inspectors.
In its inaugural edition, the MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2022 recognizes two 2 MICHELIN Stars restaurants, nine 1 MICHELIN Star restaurants and 14 Bib Gourmand restaurants.
“This very first Dubai selection of restaurants marks a historical moment for the MICHELIN Guide and the Middle East,” says Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide. “What makes Dubai’s culinary landscape so distinctive is its reflection of the more than 200 nationalities that call the city home, delivering an epicurean kaleidoscope. One thing all the restaurants in this fast paced dynamic and elegant city have in common is they are brimming with passion and enthusiasm. Today, Dubai is settled as an inspiring gastronomic destination and we have no doubts that gourmets from all over the world will be seduced by its very unique energy.”
Two Restaurants awarded Two MICHELIN Stars
Il Ristorante – Niko Romito receives Two MICHELIN Stars for its modern Italian fare, which comes with balance, purity and clarity. Top quality ingredients are flown in from Italy, with highlights including fish and pasta dishes.
Set in a colonial-style property at The Palm, STAY by Yannick Alléno impresses with its less-is-more approach, which results in precise, sophisticated dishes that are skillfully crafted with French cooking as the base.
9 Restaurants awarded One MICHELIN Star
Showcasing the excellence, talent and creativity of Dubai’s culinary landscape, 9 restaurants serving a diverse array of cuisines, from Portuguese to Indian, Japanese and Chinese, receive One MICHELIN Star. 11 Woodfire by chef-owner Akmal Anuar, who is of Malay origin, offers a global variety of vegetables, seafood and meats grilled to perfection over oak, hickory or hay.
Led by Saverio Sbaragli, who had honed his craft at Three MICHELIN Starred Arpège, Al Muntaha sits atop the architectural masterpiece of Burj al Arab and offers sophisticated and refined French cuisine with Mediterranean influences.
Armani Ristorante presents precise, modern Italian cooking at the Burj Khalifa, where beautifully decorated dishes are met with attentive, enthusiastic service. Italian favorites such as agnolotti del plin, filetto di scorfano and agnello al mirto showcase the chefs’ mastery.
First opened in London in 2001, the Dubai outpost of Hakkasan at the Atlantis Hotel offers reimagined Chinese dishes that are exclusive to Dubai, including the lychee lobster with yuzu pearl.
Höseki is a nine-seat omakase restaurant helmed by a sixth-generation sushi master, Masahiro Sugiyama. Set on the fourth floor of the Bulgari Hotel, it offers a bespoke omakase experience using fresh ingredients imported daily from Japan.
Located in the basement of the Atlantis Hotel next to the aquarium, Ossiano is a world for creative fare, and its “Metanoia” menus gain inspiration from chef Gregoire Berger’s childhood memories, featuring dishes that come with fine texture contrasts and impressive clarity of flavour.
The first international outpost of world-renowned Portuguese chef José Avillez, Tasca by José Avillez in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is set around an open kitchen, where the talented kitchen team combines fresh, great quality produce with Portuguese dishes that are vibrant, innovative, and great for sharing.
Owned by internationally acclaimed chef Massimo Bottura, Torno Subito set within the striking W Hotel on the Palm offers Italian classics, pasta dishes and desserts with a twist.
Trèsind Studio is the brainchild of Himanshu Saini, which offers original and precisely executed multi-course tasting menus featuring herbs and flowers grown on its rooftop terrace setting, with highlights such as the ghee-roasted crab, tandoori chicken dumpling and morel pulao with Assam tea dashi.
14 restaurants receive a Bib Gourmand
The 2022 edition of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai also spotlights 14 Bib Gourmand restaurants that offer a value-for-money gourmet experience for an average price of 250 AED for a 3-course meal.
Part-restaurant, part-museum, Al Khayma focuses on simple rustic Emirati cooking, slow cooked meats, Arabic spices and fresh bread cooked in the courtyard. Named after chef patronne Salam Dakkak’s mother Maryam, Bait Maryam serves up delicious, home-style Levantine dishes cooked with love. Brasserie Boulud provides a little piece of France in a classically styled brasserie, offering everything from escargots and canard rôti to tarte Tatin and île flottante. Helmed by the 25-year-old chef Sara Aqel and run by a near all-female kitchen team, Fi’Lia celebrates the culinary knowledge passed down through generations of women with a menu of artisan pizzas to contemporary twists on traditional Italian dishes.
Folly offers an ingredient-driven menu that focuses on precise, modern dishes cooked from a kitchen counter where diners can watch the chefs in action. Goldfish is a funky, buzzing sushi and yakitori concept by chef Akmal Anuar, and sharing plates and wagyu steak are the order of the day. With great views of the beach from the beautiful terrace, Ibn Albahr is home to a fresh fish counter where diners can choose what to eat and enjoy ingredient-driven fare.
Indya by Vineet is the destination where street food meets sharing plates, with colourful dishes from the earth (vegetarian), land (meat) and sea. At Kinoya, five ramen dishes underpin the menu, while Japanese classics including sushi, sashimi, robata and tempura are on offer. The design at Ninive reflects a bedouin tent with low tables and cosy sofas, which sets the tone for the tasty, well-priced dishes from all over the Middle East and North Africa. Owned and run by three Syrian brothers, Orfali Bros is set in a striking, two-storey open kitchen, where playful Mediterranean small plates with global influences, such as the imam bayildi alongside burgers, caviar and wagyu beef, are served.
Helmed by Singaporean chef-owner Reif Othman, REIF Japanese Kushiyaki focuses on robata-cooked, street food-style snacks along with a wide range of well-priced sushi, ramen and creative desserts. The oldest Persian restaurant in Dubai, Shabestan has been around since 1984 and offers traditional Persian dishes, marinated meats, freshly baked breads and mezze. Teible is the cool, minimalist bakery-cum-restaurant that showcases seasonal, local and occasionally fermented ingredients in great value dishes.
One restaurant awarded a MICHELIN Green Star for sustainable gastronomy
The MICHELIN Guide is delighted to highlight establishments that are at the forefront of sustainable gastronomy. This year, one Dubai restaurant is recognized for its outstanding efforts and remarkable commitment to sustainability. Lowe, a MICHELIN-recommended restaurant by culinary duo Kate Christou and Jesse Blake, is the first and only restaurant in Dubai to receive a MICHELIN Green Star. The kitchen team cook on fire, practice nose-to-tail cooking and procure ingredients as locally as possible. As part of their efforts towards zero food waste, the restaurant’s “Waste NOT” dinners offer eight to ten courses of would-be waste products, saved over the previous months.
MICHELIN Special Awards
As MICHELIN Guide inspectors dine at and observe restaurants, they keep an eye on service professionals to unearth talents that are worthy of the MICHELIN special awards.
This year, the Young Chef Award goes to Solemann Haddad of MICHELIN-selected restaurant Moonrise. Born and bred in Dubai with a French mother and Syrian father, Solemann’s fascination with food and Japan began at a very early age. Mostly self-taught, this eloquent, passionate and thoughtful chef is only too happy to explain his dishes, their origins, and even divulge the secrets of how he executes them. Taking the best, mostly local, ingredients and fusing them with his heritage, he delivers an exciting omakase menu that is a blend of Japanese Kaiseki with Middle Eastern ingredients.
Danijela Tesic of Ossiano takes home the Sommelier Award for her passion and enthusiasm for wine pairing, demonstrating knowledge of the wines in a very relaxed, unpretentious style. Her choices showcase an interesting range of wines from the classic regions with a thought-provoking mix of varietals. With a delightfully friendly approach, she engages with the diners and makes the wine an integral and stimulating part of the dining experience.
The Welcome and Service Award is given to the team at Bait Maryam. Our inspectors were immediately taken by the warmth of the welcome they received when they dined here. Salam and her family showed genuine hospitality to everybody. Service is relaxed and cheerful with all the team working perfectly together to ensure diners really enjoyed their experience. From helpful recommendations of dishes to prompt and efficient service, Bait Maryam is offering some of the most charming service in the city in a restaurant that wants everybody to feel very much at home.
The MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2022 at a glance:
2 restaurants with Two MICHELIN Stars
9 restaurants with One MICHELIN Star
1 restaurant with a MICHELIN Green Star
14 Bib Gourmand restaurants
44 MICHELIN-selected restaurants
The replay of the MICHELIN Star Revelation Ceremony and other highlights are available on the official MICHELIN Guide Dubai Facebook page and the MICHELIN Guide Global YouTube channel.
The full selection of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai 2022 is available on the MICHELIN Guide website https://guide.michelin.com/en and on the MICHELIN Guide app, available free of charge on iOS and Android.
About Michelin Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 177 countries, has 124,760 employees and operates 68 tire production facilities which together produced around 173 million tires in 2021. (www.michelin.com)
SOURCE The MICHELIN Guide
source/content: prnewswire.com
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Gwendal Poullennec and Issam Kazim announcing the MICHELIN Guide Star Revelation 2022 at Dubai Opera
This winter five-phase release includes about 650 Arabian gazelles, 550 sand gazelles, 280 Arabian oryx and 100 Nubian ibex.
More than 1,500 endangered animals will be released in AlUla as part of the Royal Commission for AlUla’s mission to reintroduce native species into their natural habitats.
The animals will be released across three of AlUla’s nature reserves: Sharaan, Wadi Nakhlah and Al-Gharameel.
This winter five-phase release includes about 650 Arabian gazelles, 550 sand gazelles, 280 Arabian oryx and 100 Nubian ibex. The first phase, on Jan. 10, saw the release of about 80 animals. The species were sourced from respected conservation facilities in the Kingdom and UAE.
Stephen Browne, wildlife and natural heritage executive director of the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “We are a growing player in conservation through biodiversity initiatives including species reintroduction, habitat restoration, protected area management and Arabian leopard conservation. RCU’s conservation and restoration initiatives are successfully moving forward in the revitalization of AlUla’s natural habitat — and one day we will reintroduce the Arabian leopard back to the wilds of AlUla.”
The reintroduction of the Arabian leopard, an apex predator classed as critically endangered, would serve as a capstone on the regeneration of the reserve. The reintroduction is targeted for 2030.
Monitoring of the newly released animals will be carried out with SMART software analysis tools, camera trapping and satellite tracking collars. It is the first time that the lightweight, solar-powered collars will be used for ungulate species in the region. RCU has conducted extensive genetic and physical screening of the animals to ensure their fitness for release into the wild.
The new release is by far the largest since RCU’s reintroduction program began in 2019. Animal reintroduction enriches RCU’s ambitious plan to activate six nature reserves while regenerating AlUla as a leading global destination for cultural and natural heritage.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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The animals will be released across three of AlUla’s nature reserves: Sharaan, Wadi Nakhlah and Al-Gharameel. (Supplied)
The National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) will open a permanent museum-cum-exhibition for records and antiques pertaining to Oman’s historical presence in East Africa next on Friday, February 10. The exhibits also highlight the common history shared by Oman and Kenya in the province of Lamu.
Once restoration tasks are completed and final improvements made, the archival exhibition will be inaugurated in coordination with the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Kenya and the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage.
The project constitutes one of the archaeological and architectural landmarks, and aims to play a variety of cultural roles.
Besides affirming Omani presence in the province of Lamu and the depth of the two countries’ historical relations, the exhibition consolidates noble Omani values and reflects the sultanate’s keenness to preserve various aspects of its heritage, culture and civilisation.
The permanent exhibition is established within the framework of cooperation between the NRAA and the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, following a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier by the two countries.
Through the project, the NRAA seeks to spread awareness about Oman’s history and civilisation in East Africa, notably among the local community and visitors to Lamu Island.
In 2017, the NRAA restored some parts of Mombasa Fort in the Republic of Kenya so that the monument could house a permanent museum-cum-exhibition. The facilities are named as follows: ‘Omani House’, ‘Al Mazrouei Hall’ and ‘Fort Museum’. They all serve as testimony to Omani presence in Mombasa.
Elizabeth Kassis has turned her Palestinian father’s house into a hotel, nearly 80 years after he emigrated
‘I want everyone in the diaspora to work for Palestine,’ Kassis tells Arab News
Chilean businesswoman Elizabeth Kassis has turned her ancestral home in Bethlehem’s Old City into a heritage hotel nearly 80 years after her father emigrated to Chile.
The Kassis Kassa Hotel is the Old City’s first heritage hotel, reflecting both the city’s traditional architecture and its long-standing association with the South American country.
The Palestinian community in Chile is reportedly the oldest outside the Arab world, with around half a million Palestinians moving there since the mid-19th century.
The hotel was officially opened on June 1, and the first group reservation was received on June 8.
“It was an exciting and challenging project that took years to implement,” Kassis, who was born in Chile, told Arab News. “It is rich in cultural history and has been carefully restored to preserve its original beauty and traditional Palestinian architecture.”
The project “will contribute to raising the level of tourism services in Palestine, as it is being implemented in cooperation with Bethlehem Municipality,” Kassis said.
We wanted the guests to get the full experience of what it means to live in a Palestinian house with real neighbors.
Elizabeth Kassis
“I think the experience of being a guest in a Palestinian house is a unique one. We wanted the guests to get the full experience of what it means to live in a Palestinian house with real neighbors.”
Kassis’ father visited Palestine in 1999, looking for ways to boost Bethlehem’s economy. Along with a group of Palestinian businessmen, he implemented a number of small projects at the turn of the century. He returned in 2015 and purchased his old family home. The restoration project began in 2016, led by his daughter.
Kassis said that setting up the hotel has been one of the most rewarding projects she has ever been involved in. In Chile, she managed her family’s farm and bred Arabian and Chilean horses. She has also worked as a TV presenter and is a talented visual artist who has participated in numerous exhibitions, as well as the co-founder of a band called Three Diaspora, which, she explained, “reshapes old songs that arrived in Chile with the first Palestinian immigrants.” The band has released several albums recorded with musicians from the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music.
Kassis has traveled extensively, but “found herself” in Palestine. “I want everyone in the diaspora to work for Palestine. I want people to feel, smell, eat, and live Palestine. This is my duty toward Palestine,” she said.
Engineer Raed Othman, who worked with Kassis on the project, told Arab News that Kassis loves Bethlehem and Palestinian heritage in general, and has devoted herself to promoting it to the world.
Bethlehem’s mayor, Hanna Hanania, told Arab News that, through her hotel and other efforts, Kassis is “building bridges” between Palestinian expats and their national heritage, especially the tens of thousands of expatriates from Bethlehem in South America.
He added that, as part of its attempts to attract investors to the city, the municipality plans to develop Al-Najma Street, where the hotel is located.
“The fact that Kassis Hotel is on this street will contribute to enhancing our vision regarding activating the location,” Hanania said.
Fadi Qattan, co-founder of the Kassis project, said the hotel promotes Palestinian heritage and culture through its food and its “beautiful location,” adding that he hoped journalists would visit the hotel and write about Palestinian food to “promote an accurate picture of the life and heritage of Palestinians.”
He continued: “The hotel is the first project wholly owned by an expatriate Palestinian family, which will encourage expatriate Palestinian families to return and invest in Bethlehem.”
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Kassis said that setting up the hotel has been one of the most rewarding projects she has ever been involved in. (Supplied)
Baghdad hosted the transport ministers of GCC states, Iran, Turkey, Syria and Jordan to discuss the initiative.
Iraq unveiled on Saturday an ambitious transport project that will connect Asia to Europe, and enhance regional co-operation and economic opportunities.
The one-day conference in Baghdad brought together transport ministers and officials from the GCC, Iran, Turkey, Syria and Jordan to discuss the establishment of the Development Road initiative.
The huge infrastructure project will link southern Iraq to the border with Turkey, from where it will connect to rail and road networks in Europe.
Addressing the conference, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani said the project would provide an “economic artery and a promising opportunity to bring interests, history and cultures together to make our region a destination for anyone seeking successful investment”.
“Your presence today in stable and secure Baghdad, loaded with opportunities and aspirations, is part of the process of finding solutions,” Mr Al Sudani said.
“The Development Road is an ambitious and well-studied plan towards a strong and successful economy. We see it as a cornerstone for a sustainable non-oil economy, serving Iraq’s neighbours and the region and contributing to efforts for economic integration,” he said.
“It will take all the peoples of the region to an unprecedented stage of communication and integration and that means more stability and capability to face challenges.”
The project involves the construction of about 1,200km of two-way rail networks and a new motorway for passengers and goods originating from Al Faw port, which is being built along the Arabian Gulf in Basra province.
The Iraqi government envisions high-speed trains moving goods and passengers at up to 300 kilometres per hour. Logistic centres and industrial cities are also planned along the network and it could include oil and gas pipelines.
It estimates that the project will cost up to $17 billion, generate $4 billion annually and create at least 100,000 jobs.
“As Iraq [has] recovered and retrieved its pivotal political role in the region, becoming a political convergence point, the time has come for [it] to retrieve its economic role,” Transport Minister Razzaq Al Saadawi told a local TV station on Thursday.
He said the project would transform the economy.
Saturday’s conference “will be a consultative meeting to explain the Development Road project and Al Faw Port, and to listen to the points of view of the participating delegations”, Mr Al Saadawi said.
The participants will discuss a number of proposals with regards to finance – from government funds to investment to the creation of a sovereign fund, with the money coming from the government, investors and loans, he said.
The co-operation between the countries involved in the project is expected to boost the “security and stability of the region and preserve its economy, therefore we are determined to carry out this project”, Mr Al Saadawi said.
At the end of the meeting, Mr Al Saadawi said joint legal, technical, financial and management committees would be formed to discuss financing and implementation.
The project offers an alternative to traditional sea routes, with reduced transport costs and shorter transit times. It will benefit not only the participating countries but also the broader global trade network.
Iraq is keen to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative – a global development strategy involving infrastructure development and investments in about 70 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe – through the Development Road and Al Faw port.
Despite its oil wealth, with about 145 billion barrels of proven reserves, Iraq lags behind neighbouring economies due to decades of war since the 1980s, UN economic sanctions imposed in the ’90s and political and security instability that followed the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
The World Bank’s country representative, Richard Abdulnour, said building infrastructure was a must for “unleashing the geographical potential of Iraq” and expressed the bank’s readiness to support the Development Road project.
Iraq needs to invest more than $21 billion in the coming five years on transportation alone, Mr Abdulnour told the conference.
He said the transportation sector contributed 9 per cent to Iraq’s gross domestic product, and that its annual growth has been 7.4 per cent over the past 10 years.
Iraq has a chequered history of rail transport, reflecting the country’s ups and downs.
A modest form of railway was introduced during the reign of the Ottoman governor to Baghdad Midhat Pasha between 1869 and 1872.
With financial support from wealthy Baghdadi merchants, Midhat Pasha established a horse-drawn tram linking central Baghdad to its northern district of Kadhimiyah.
Decades later, Britain and Germany raced to build railway lines in Iraq to not only transport troops and military equipment but also to establish a connection point linking their colonies.
A railway line linking Iraq to Berlin through Turkey was proposed in 1903 but opened only in 1940. Known as the BBBor the “Three Bs” — for Baghdad, Byzantium (now Istanbul) and Berlin — the line served travellers and was also used to transport commodities, mainly cereals and oil products.
Local rail networks also flourished thanks to oil revenue, with the number of daily train services rising to more than 50.
The BBB line was closed in the late 1970s, shortly before Iraq’s gruelling war with Iran that lasted from 1980 to 1988 and also affected rail operations inside Iraq.
In late 1990s, amid the UN-imposed economic sanctions on Iraq following the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq reactivated the BBB line after restoring relations with Syria and Turkey. Demand was high from both travellers, mainly pilgrims from and to Syria, and also from merchants transporting goods.
But the revival was short-lived — Turkey asked Iraq to stop services only days before the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
The poor security situation in much of northern Iraq after the invasion hindered plans to reactivate the line. Then came the 2014 ISIS onslaught in large areas in the north and west, and the military operations to drive the militants out. The war left railway stations and other infrastructure heavily damaged, with plans for repairs hindered by a lack of funds.
Now, only a few passengers trickle through the once bustling Baghdad Railway Central Station, which was built by the British and inaugurated in 1952 to expand the old station from which the BBB line started. Only two passenger services operate each day, taking commuters between Baghdad and the southern city of Basra, with stops in the cities of Hillah, Diwaniyah, Samawah and Nasiriyah.
During their eight-day stay on the ISS, the team will aim to conduct 20 research projects.
Saudi Arabia made history on Sunday as its first female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, and her colleague Ali Al-Qarni launched toward the International Space Station (ISS).
The duo were on board the Axiom Space 2 mission, which launched at 5:37 p.m. (EDT time). Astronaut Peggy Whitson and business pioneer and pilot John Shoffner are also part of the mission.
Before the launch, Barnawi, a breast cancer researcher, expressed her excitement and honor at representing Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Space Commission as the country’s first female astronaut. She highlighted her passion for research and described the opportunity as a dream come true for everyone involved.
During their eight-day stay on the ISS, Whitson, Shoffner, Al-Qarni, and Barnawi aim to conduct 20 research projects. Among them are 14 projects developed by Saudi scientists, covering various areas such as human physiology, cell biology, and technology development.
The launch was with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and had a backup launch opportunity scheduled on Monday at 5:14 p.m in case of a launch failure.
It’s the same spot where Saudi Arabia’s first astronaut, Prince Sultan bin Salman, soared in 1985.
On Saturday astronaut Al-Qarni shared pictures on his Twitter account the contents of his space travel bag.
President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi listened to an explanation of the details of Egypt’s Islamic Cultural Center and the Egypt’s Grand Mosque, during his visit to the New Administrative Capital at dawn, Thursday, to join workers for the first suhoor in the blessed month of Ramadan.
According to the explanation, Egypt’s Grand Mosque obtained three international certificates from the Guinness World Records.
The first was for the largest pulpit in the world with a height of 16.6 meters, handcrafted from the finest types of wood.
The second and third were for the main chandelier of the mosque, being the heaviest chandelier in the world of 50 tons, and it being the largest chandelier with a diameter of 22 meters and four levels.
Egypt’s Islamic Cultural Center in the New Administrative Capital is a great achievement and one of the most important projects established in the New Administrative Capital.
The Islamic Cultural Center was established in the new capital on an area of 15,000 square meters. It has a large place for services, as well as a group of spacious and multi-storey garages, with a capacity of about 4,000 cars.
