A New Saudi Arabia in the New Middle East

Kingdom’s Vision 2030 Transfers Saudi Arabia to Vital Destination for Culture, Entertainment

A Weekly Political News Magazine

Unity, Security Established in Arabian Peninsula After Centuries of Disunion

A New Saudi Arabia in the New Middle East

Issue 1892- February- 18/02/2022

www.majalla.com

Editorial Saudi Arabia Celebrates Founding Day for first time this week following a recent royal order by King Salman bin Abdulaziz to adopt February 22 of each year as an official holiday, under the name of the “Saudi Founding Day.” In this issue, Majalla is keen on showing how the Saudi Founding Day confirms the solidity of the Kingdom›s history, a national anniversary in which the country’s grandchildren evoke the sacrifices of their fathers and grandfathers and the challenges they faced in order to build a nation whose history spans three centuries.

Our cover features the regional role of Saudi Arabia, which has always been a key player in the Middle East, as it is taking a calm and steady approach in reshaping the region’s outlook. Against the backdrop of the region’s rapid transitioning into a new geopolitical structure, with new centers of influence and diverse agendas of individual and collective priorities, Arab youth are looking up to Saudi leadership. In face of the present complications, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is blessed with a young leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who understands the size of the challenge and is actively preparing himself and his country for it, despite the many obstacles thrown his way by some western powers.

Recent achievements of Saudi leadership extend to all life aspects, with economy, culture and society witnessing a leap forward. Changes in the Saudi cultural landscape are also worthy of celebration and acknowledgement.

Marking our 42nd year as an international Arab magazine, Majalla decided to give the readers a glimpse into our exclusive reports, prominent interviews and historic coverage of a region that is central to world history, and during eventful years extending from the eighties until now.

Read these articles and more on our website eng.majalla. com. As always, we welcome and value our readers’ feedback and we invite you to take the opportunity to leave your comments on our website.

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A Weekly Political News Magazine

www.majalla.com/eng

Editor-in-Chief

Ghassan Charbel The Editor Mostafa El-Dessouki HH Saudi Research and Marketing (UK) Ltd 10th Floor Building 7 Chiswick Business Park 566 Chiswick High Road London W4 5YG Tel : +44 207 831 8181 Fax: +44 207 831 2310

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A Weekly Political News Magazine

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A Weekly Political News Magazine

Issue 1892- February- 18/02/2022

An Overview of Majalla Across 42 Years 24

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42Years After the First Issue, Majalla is a beacon of light in the world of Arab journalism

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A New Saudi Arabia in the New Middle East A calm and steady approach has helped this powerful ‘Big Sister’ state to reshape the MENA region’s outlook

By Dalia Ziada For better or worse, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is rapidly transitioning into a new geopolitical structure, with new centers of influence and diverse agendas of individual and collective priorities. The ongoing transition process started over a decade ago with the eruption of the Arab Spring revolutions (2010 - 2011),

and reached a peak point, last summer on August 2021, following the haste and chaotic withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan. The main characteristic defining the new regional order, in light of this unavoidable transition, is the fracture of Egypt and Syria as the main complementary poles responsible for keeping the MENA region in balance, and the growing reliance on Arab Gulf monarchies, especially Saudi Arabia, in designing and

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leading the future of the Middle East.

ARAB YOUTH LOOK UP TO SAUDI LEADERSHIP

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz. SPA

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the Third Saudi State of King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, has always been a key player in determining the course of events in the Middle East and neighbor regions.

Given the fact that the vast majority of the population of Arab countries are youth under 35 years-old, the data provided by the “Arab Youth Survey” of Asda’a-BCW, on annual basis over the past thirteen years, could further clarify the new reality of the region, in quantitative terms.

For the past six years, in particular, the surveyed Arab youth selected Saudi Arabia as the most influential leading power in the Arab region.

For example, in 2020 and 2021, the survey ranked Saudi Arabia as the Arab country that has the most influence over the Arab world; respectively with 39% and 29%.

Meanwhile, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) used to interchangeably occupy the second position, with 34% for Qatar in 2020, and 23% for the UAE, in 2021.

In contrast, Egypt, which used to lead the Arab world for many decades before the Arab Spring, has been ranked at the tail of the list. In 2020, Egypt was seen by only 5% of the surveyed Arab youth as an influential regional power.

However, in the 2021 Arab Youth Survey, Egypt’s position dramatically leaped, with 11%, to the third rank after Saudi Arabia and UAE. That is perhaps due to Egypt’s successful mediation in the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, during their latest round of war in May 2021.

ally volunteered to fight as soldiers in the ranks of the Egyptian army against the British and French aggression, in 1956.

Despite Saudi Arabia’s glorious history of rescuing brotherly Arab countries, at critical moments, stepping up to the forefront of leading the Middle East towards and throughout the new era will not be an easy mission. That is not only because of the many geopolitical and security complications of the region, but also because the new regional order dictates the death of old pan-Arab values and the birth of a whole new culture that values individuality and pragmatism, among the states of the region, when handling domestic and foreign affairs.

SAUDI MONARCHS’ GAME-CHANGING INTERVENTIONS

CHALLENGES OF SHAPING THE NEW REGIONAL ORDER

In fact, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the Third Saudi State of King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, has always been a key player in determining the course of events in the Middle East and neighbor regions. Even when Egypt was the one holding the steering wheel, calculated political interventions by Saudi monarchs, at critical times of political and security turbulences, kept the region moving on the right track.

One recent example is KSA’s immediate intervention to clean the mess of the Arab Spring and rescue affected countries from political failure or economic collapse. In the 1990s, Saudi Arabia played a tremendous role in managing the Gulf War and helping Kuwait recover from the Iraqi aggression. In the 1950s and 1970s, KSA challenged western powers to support Egypt in its war with Israel, which paved the way for Egypt to eventually win the war in 1973 and restore peace in the region. The current Saudi King, Salman bin Abdul Aziz, and his brothers, person-

At least, since the severe political earthquake of the Arab Spring, the Nasserist ideology of Arab Nationalism, which remained the mantra of the region for decades, has disappeared. In the past two years, we have seen an increase in the number of Arab countries, extending from the ocean to the gulf, that took individual initiatives to normalize ties with regional non-Arab neighbors (e.g., Israel, Iran, and Turkey), which were labeled, in the recent past, as rivals of the Arabs.

Around Valentine’s Day this month, for example, UAE showered the Turkish President Erdogan with love at a festive reception in Abu Dhabi, while Bahrain warmly received the Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, with the playing of the Israeli national anthem in the Capital City of Manama. A month before that, UAE’s National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed paid a rare visit to Tehran to meet with senior political and security leaders in the Iranian regime to explore means of normal-

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izing ties, following the same pattern of rapprochement that his country used with Turkey and Israel. However, unfortunately, such a positive initiative did not deter the Iran-backed Houthis militia, in Yemen, from targeting Abu Dhabi, in January, with Iranian drones and missiles.

As the big sister of the Gulf region, and thus the most politically and diplomatically experienced, the Saudi leadership has been calmly working on fixing strained ties with neighbor non-Arab countries, with the understanding that building steady foreign relations requires time and guarantees. This is also the same approach that Egypt adopts, in that regard. For the past few months, diplomatic, security, and economic talks between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, on one hand, and between Egypt and Turkey on the

Some western powers, who claim to be allies to Saudi Arabia are purposefully making decisions to weaken KSA in face of the rising Iranian threat, at its borders.

other hand have been building up towards the ripe momentum of renewed friendship.

As the big sister of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and consequently the most politically and diplomatically experienced, Saudi leaders are calmly working on fixing strained ties with neighboring non-Arab countries with the understanding that building steady foreign relations requires time and guarantees. This is also the same approach that Egypt adopts, in that regard. For example, in the past few months diplomatic, security, and economic talks between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, on one hand, and between Egypt and Turkey on the other hand have been building up towards the ripe momentum of renewed friendship.

CLEANING AFTER FLAWED WESTERN POLICIES Sadly, some western powers, who claim to be allies to Saudi Arabia are purposefully making decisions to weaken KSA in face of the rising Iranian threat, at its borders.

In the United States, for example, immediately after President Biden’s inauguration, in January 2021, the U.S. State Department decided to review the Trump Administration’s decision to designate the Houthis in Yemen as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

The next day, the State Department announced holding for review arms and ammunition sales agreements that the

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Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman speaks during a televised interview in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 27, 2021. Reuters

Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman al-Saud meets Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, Egypt on November 27, 2018. Anadolu Agency

Trump administration signed with Saudi Arabia, and to temporarily pause the sale of F-35 fighter jets that are due to UAE upon a contract signed with Lockheed Martin under the Trump administration. Meanwhile, the Biden administration announced its intention to revive talks with Iran on the nuclear deal and ease the suffocating economic sanctions imposed by Trump.

In less than a year, Saudi Arabia and the UAE started to pay for the flawed policy of the Biden Administration.

The missile and drone attacks launched by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia intensified and frequented, targeting strategic economic sites in the main Saudi cities. By the beginning of this year, the Houthi started to expand their operations to target the UAE with a deadly drone attack that hit an oil facility close to Abu Dhabi Airport.

There is no logical argument that can appropriately explain why the American President is adopting such a policy that is militarily weakening Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while re-empowering Iran and its affiliated proxies and militias.

The rise of Taliban in Afghanistan, following the United States withdrawal and the revival of the Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Syria and Iraq are additional threats at the eastern gates of the Arab Gulf region, that are not expected to fade away any time soon. Out of this reality, Saudi Arabia’s main role in the next phase will be forming new coalitions, inside the Middle East, and with neighbor regions and countries, that can block the rising security

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Saudi Crown Prince’s efforts will not only benefit KSA, but also the entire Middle East during this critical transition. This will be the beginning of a stronger more stable and more powerful region. threats and keep the region moving in the right direction.

One proposed coalition, with high potential of success, is composed of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. The new coalition, which is currently being formed, on a very slow pace though, could mitigate and control most of the strategic threats the region is currently facing or expected to face, in the future. That is mainly because of these countries’ strategic geographic locations, at the gates of the main three continents, as well as the complementary military and economic powers they have.

FRESH BLOOD IN THE SAUDI LEADERSHIP In face of the aforementioned complications, the King-

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dom of Saudi Arabia is blessed by a young leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who understands the size of the challenge and is actively preparing himself and his country for it, despite the many obstacles thrown his way by some western powers.

In a TV interview, in April 2021, the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, discussed the most critical mission of developing the Kingdom’s economy, through the ambitious “Saudi 2030 Vision.” He admitted that this requires modernizing Saudi society and changing the state system in a way that encourages foreign investment and opens Saudi Arabia to the world, without risking the country’s unique cultural heritage. But bravely, the Crown Prince said he is up to the mission that promises to modernize the entire Middle East region, not only Saudi Arabia or the Gulf countries.

In the interview, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

The Saudi leadership has been calmly working on fixing strained ties with neighbor non-Arab countries, with the understanding that building steady foreign relations requires time and guarantees.

discussed threats against the Saudi national security and the need to neutralize them, especially the threat posed by the Houthi militia and their backer Iran. The Crown Prince confirmed that his hands are always extended with peace for those who want peace, including Iran. At the same time, his country will continue to develop the military system and strengthen the army, which has already become among the five most powerful militaries in the Middle East region. According to Global Firepower ranking for 2022, Saudi Arabia comes in the fourth place after the strongest and oldest armies in the region: the Turkish, the Egyptian and the Iranian militaries.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also, discussed the most critical issue of developing the economy. For this to happen successfully, it should be accompanied by opening the Saudi society and changing the way the government and the political leadership system in the country works. That is not an easy mission. One of the most important features of the economic development that Saudi Arabia seeks to achieve by 2030, according to Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is openness to foreign investments and the development of tourist areas with a pure Saudi identity capable of attracting tourists from all over the world. This shall create more jobs that will help decrease unemployment. The prince confirmed that there is an urgent need to end the dependence of the Saudi economy on oil as the only source of income.

Since Prince Mohammed bin Salman took office, in 2017, he has been aware that his many ambitions for modernizing Saudi Arabia should be preceded by smashing a few idols that has tied Saudi Arabia down for a long time. The most challenging idols are eliminating extremism and em-

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Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (L-2), Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman (4th L), Deputy Prime Minister of Oman Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said (L-3), Salman, Crown Prince of Bahrain (R-3), Vice President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (R-2) and Emir of Kuwait Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (L) pose for a photo during the 41st Summit of Gulf Cooperation Council in AlUla, Saudi Arabia on Janu)ary 05, 2021. (Getty

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other world leaders gather for a group photo at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

powering women to play an influential role in public life.

In November, the Crown Prince said in a public speech that “Saudi women in the past could not travel without a permit, could not attend sports shows and cultural events, could not drive a car, could not do a lot of work, and could not appear for their legal cases at court without a male guardian. Women suffered from that for decades.

But today Saudi women are experiencing an unprecedented phase of empowerment. We have worked to empower Saudi women in the field of work and personal status, and today they are effectively a partner for the Saudi man in the development of our entire homeland without discrimination. I do not only address the issue of women driving cars, but also driving the development process, in the broadest sense. For example, the rate of women’s participation in the labor market doubled from 17% to 31%.”

On another note, the Crown Prince spoke about the phenomenon of extremism among Saudis and described it as “rampant.” He said: “We reached a stage in which we aim, in the best case, to coexist with this scourge, and eliminating extremism was not an option, nor was it possible to control it. In 2017, I promised to eliminate extremism immediately, and we have actually started a serious campaign to address the causes and address the phenomena. Within one year, we were able to eliminate an ideological project made over 40 years, and today extremism is no longer acceptable in the Kingdom, and it no longer appears on the surface.”

LET’S EMBRACE THE CHANGE! Anyone in the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Sal-

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The current reshuffling of political alliances and leading roles in the Middle East, based on pragmatic, rather than fiery and emotional, agendas may be the beginning of establishing long-term peace and stability in the ever-boiling region. man’s shoes would have preferred to build on what he found, without trying to change it. But, very bravely he decided to take the challenge of smashing the idols of extremism and freeing Saudi Arabia from the heavy burden that tied it down for centuries. Saudi Crown Prince’s efforts will not only benefit Saudi Arabia, but also the entire Middle East during this critical transition. This could be the end of the Middle East as we know it. But it will be the beginning of a stronger more stable and more powerful region, that can rely on its own feet to stand tall. The current reshuffling of political alliances and leading roles in the Middle East, based on pragmatic, rather than fiery and emotional, agendas may be the beginning of establishing long-term peace and stability in the ever-boiling region. Let’s not fear the change. Almost always, change leads to positive outcomes.

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Unity, Security Established in Arabian Peninsula After Centuries of Disunion

Saudi Arabia Celebrates Founding Day for First Time 22 on February Emirate of Diriyah nearly 300 years ago.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King SalOn February 22nd, Saudi Arabia celebrates for the man bin Abdulaziz, recently issued a royal order to first time the anniversary of the founding of the Great adopt February 22 of each year as an official holiday,

By Fayza Diab

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to celebrate the founding of the Saudi state, under the name of the “Saudi Founding Day.” Three centuries ago, Emir of Diriyah Muhammad bin Saud Al Muqrin also known as Ibn Saud issued a royal order setting February 22 of each year as a day to commemorate the founding of the Saudi state that lasted until 1233 AH (1818 AD), with its capital in Diriyah and its constitution, the Qur’an.

The royal order added that Emirate of Diriyah “established unity and security in the Arabian Peninsula after centuries of disunion, division and instability as well as withstood attempts of elimination.”

“Only 7 years after its end, Turki bin Abdullah bin Muhammad restored the state in 1240 AH (1824 AD) and established the Emirate of Nejd, which lasted until 1309 AH (1891 AD).

The royal order continued: “Ten years after its end, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Faisal Al Saud established the Third Saudi State in 1319 AH (1902 AD) and unify it in the name of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and his sons, who then became kings followed his approach in strengthening the building and unity of this state.”

National Anniversary The Saudi Founding Day confirms the solidity of the Kingdom’s three-century history, a national anniversary in which the country’s grandchildren evoke the sacrifices of their fathers and grandfathers and the challenges they faced in order to build a nation whose history spans three centuries.

The founding day came to confirm that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not a country that is incidental in history and geography, but rather is established from the unity of the people of the Arabian Peninsula who have suffered for decades from the scourge of discrimination, discord and conflicts.

The day will not be a substitute for the Saudis’ celebration of the country’s National Day on September 23 of each year to commemorate the unification by King Abdulaziz Al Saud, grandfather of Prince Muhammad bin Salman, of the kingdom in 1932.

On that date, the late Saudi King Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman issued a royal decree to transfer the name of the state from the Kingdom of Hejaz, Najd and its annexes to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Challenging History

Najd, specifically the city of Diriyah, was a medium-

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The founding day came to confirm that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not a country that is incidental in history and geography, but rather is established from the unity of the people of the Arabian Peninsula who have suffered for decades from the scourge of discrimination, discord and conflicts. sized city in the sense of cities in those days and it had an urban center consisting of a large proportion of the population and was economically self-sufficient because it was located at the crossroads of commercial roads.

It is originally an agricultural area due to its location on the banks of Wadi Hanifa where there are many farms whose production exceeds the needs of the population. That makes farmers export production to other cities in the Najd region such as Al-Uyaynah, Huraymila and others.

One of the most prominent geographical economic components of that country is that it lies on one of the most important valleys in Najd, which is Wadi Hanifa.

It is also located on one of the most important ancient trade routes, in which Diriyah was in its center.

It comes from the south of the Arabian Peninsula through Najran and then heads north to Yamama.

This is the only road for pilgrims coming from Persia, Iraq and Central Asia, who continue their journey through Diriyah to Mecca. The importance of this road increased after the establishment of the Emirate of Diriya at the hands of Mani’ ibn Rabi’a al-Muraydi, who worked hard and with his sons and grandsons, to secure and serve the road.

With the establishment of the first Saudi state or the Emirate of Diriyah on February 22, 1727, it became one of the most prominent ways through which trade and pilgrimage convoys passed as a result of the policy of Ibn Saud. That policy was concerned with securing the convoys and enhancing relations with the

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tribes that pass through their areas and agreeing with them to establish security and provide the necessary services for them.

Saudi historians consider that the “city state” in Diriyah was expanding and narrowing according to political stability and these matters were realized by Ibn Saud when the “city state” moved to be a state which historians call “the first Saudi state.”

Imam Muhammad bin Saud bin Muhammad bin Muqrin, who was born in 1679, grew up in Diriyah and benefited from the experience he had in his youth, when he was an observer of the conditions of the emirate and worked alongside his father in arranging its conditions, which gave him great administrative knowledge. He also participated in the defense of Diriyah during counterattacks.

Imam Muhammad bin Saud’s assumption of power was preceded by challenges faced by Diriyah, most notably weakness and division for various reasons.

These reasons include “the internal conflict between his uncle Muqrin bin Muhammad and Prince Zaid bin Markhan, as well as the Diriyah attack on AlUyaynah, the killing of Prince Zaid bin Markhan and the spread of the plague in the Arabian Peninsula.”

During that period, the plague caused the death of large numbers of people.

But history indicates that Ibn Saud was able to overcome these challenges, unify Diriyah under his rule, and contribute to spreading stability in the Al-Arid region - currently Riyadh.

With the establishment of the first Saudi state or the Emirate of Diriyah on February 22, 1727, it became one of the most prominent ways through which trade and pilgrimage convoys passed as a result of the policy of Ibn Saud.

After the establishment of the first Saudi state, it was a destination for many immigrants and scholars, most notably Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, who was supported by Imam Ibn Saud in his call, after he considered it consistent with the principles of the state he was working to establish in its religious aspect.

“The Day We Started” The Founding Day in Saudi Arabia has a distinct visual identity that was announced by the Kingdom on February 2, 2022, under the slogan of “The Day We Started”.

In the middle of the logo appears the icon of a man holding a flag, in reference to “the heroism of Saudi society’s men and their commitment to the flag that they protected.”

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the visual identity “carries various essential historical meanings and is linked to the glories, heroism, and nobility of the Saudi state.”

It added: “The identity icon is surrounded by 4 symbols: the dates, which signify growth, life and generosity, the Majlis (council), which expresses unity and societal cultural harmony, the Arabian horse, which displays the equestrian skills and heroism of the princes and braves of the state, and the market in reference to economic mobility, diversity and openness to the world.”

Activities in Schools, Universities and Public Holidays Saudi Minister of Education Hamad bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh directed universities, institutes and colleges of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, education departments and cultural attachés to celebrate the founding day, by setting up programmes, events and activities to introduce the importance of this occasion.

This comes in addition to the historical, civilizational and cultural depth of the Saudi state since its founding three centuries ago and the close cohesion and interdependence between the citizens and their leadership.

Minister of Human Resource and Social Development Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi confirmed that the honorable royal order that the founding day be an official holiday is for both the public and private sectors.

He wrote on his official account on Twitter: “The honorable royal decree that the founding day be an offi-

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Visual identity of the Saudi Founding Day 2022

cial holiday for all workers in the public and private sectors, embodies the keenness of our wise leadership to sense the depth of the country’s history and to perpetuate the glorious memory in the souls of Saudi society.”

Book Documenting Stages of Founding Day in Saudi Arabia The official account of the Founding Day on the social networking site Twitter announced the release of the founding day booklet in King Abdulaziz House, which is a booklet documenting the history of the Kingdom crowned with many glories and immortal achievements up to the present time.

The 59-page booklet includes the stages of the establishment of Saudi Arabia since the beginning of the era of Ibn Saud who took over the rule of Diriyah in 1139 AH, passing through the most prominent words of kings, up to our time, and the development and achievements witnessed by Saudi Arabia that tell history.

The brochure sheds light on Al-Diriyah being the first capital of Saudi Arabia in the Yamama region, which is located in a large area in the center of the Arabian Peninsula, and in the middle is the famous Tuwaiq mountain range. Hanifa is a city in eastern Arabia on the Gulf coast.

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The Founding Day in Saudi Arabia has a distinct visual identity that was announced by the Kingdom on February 2, 2022, under the slogan of “The Day We Started”.

The booklet reviewed the most prominent princes of the Emirate of Diriyah, including Mana Al-Muradi, who founded Diriyah in 850 AH, and then Rabi`ah bin Mani`, then Musa bin Rabi`ah, who made a mark for himself in the history of Diriyah, all the way to Prince Saud bin Muhammad, and Muhammad bin Saud, founder of the first Saudi state.

The booklet includes the period of Ibn Saud assuming the rule of Diriyah in the middle of 1139 AH, when he was able to achieve a qualitative leap in the history of Diriyah, as Diriyah suffered during that period from the spread of the plague, weakness and division for multiple reasons.

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42 Years After the First Issue, Majalla is a beacon of light in the world of Arab journalism

Ministers, Writers, and Media Professors Attest to Majalla as Landmark in Arab, Int’l Journalism

By Khaled Abu Al-Rus – Cairo Experts have said that Majalla magazine has contributed for 42 years to the development of the Arab World at the political, social, and economic levels. It has raised many issues that concern the Arab region, and discussed them within a professional framework and with a great objectivity, swerving away from naivety. Over the past years, the publication has shaped the conscience of the Arab readers. Majalla has also helped in fighting extremism and unmasking terrorism by discussing dialectical and philosophical issues and putting forward moderate ideas. Moreover, it has attracted Arab writers and provided them with the space to freely present their views. This has enriched the Arab society across many fields, especially investment.

Dr. Mohamed Shouman, Dean of Communication and Mass Media at The British University in Egypt – Cairo, believes that Majalla magazine has played its role with

utmost perfection for more than 40 years.

Since the founding of the magazine in 1980, and from the very first issue, the magazine has adopted a state-of-the-art approach in the topics its raised and the content it published. Its rhetoric was highly moderate, and

Nabil Fahmy, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt

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Majalla’s multilingual website has helped mend a major gap in propagating the Arab rhetoric to neighboring countries.

Dr. Mohamed Shouman, Dean of Communication and Mass Media at The British University in Egypt

it has abided by rules of the profession. At that time, it represented a major shift in the world of print journalism, especially magazines. Throughout the years, many Arab and international magazines and newspapers, some of them even older than Majalla, have stopped printing. The magazine, however, survived. According to Dr. Shouman, that is a major challenge that Majalla must live up to. Accordingly, it needs to keep pace with the communication revolution and the use of technology. E-platforms will emerge as the better candidates in propagating the discourse of a cross-border magazine that enjoys an international, regional and external influence. There also arises the need to pay attention to the digital content that requires more effort, especially video journalism.

THE WEBSITE Dr. Shouman has underlined the need to expand and develop Majalla’s website, and to utilize it more than printing in order to reach a wider audience worldwide. Dr. Shouman holds hope that the magazine would be a unique model in digital, as it was in print.

In the time of technology, he opts for the

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website because it reaches the largest number of Arab masses, especially the diaspora.

Amidst the major developments that digital publications are making on mobile devices and phones, it has become difficult to make scope in print newspapers and magazines.

This is the natural evolution of any publication whose form is changing. Journalism, meanwhile, is constant and is here to stay.

Accordingly, one must commend Majalla’s multi-lingual website that has helped mend a major gap in propagating the Arabic rhetoric to neighboring countries and other countries in relation to the Arab World. As aforementioned, this is the natural evolution of the role of the cross-border Arab journalism, and not the local one.

Dr. Shouman called on Majalla’s board to enable the e-access to the magazine’s previous issues, in order to preserve the memory of Majalla, which is part of the common memory of the Arabs and the Arab World.

For his part, Nabil Fahmy, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, extended his congratulations to Majalla’s editorial board on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of its publication. He believes that the magazine has nurtured the Arab World with information and various points of view on different critical subjects. It has also presented a new content that helped it win readers. After all, it did not only put forward contemporary issues, but also scrutinized political events, presented an objective reading and realistic analysis, and contributed to coming up with solutions to many issues and crises that have faced the Arab region. Therefore, Majalla needs to keep up the momentum in the up-

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coming period, and continue to descend on subjects with an audacious spirit. Most of all, 65% of the Arab world’s population is young people. Raising their issues, following up on them, and contributing to their discussion are therefore extremely important.

TACKLING TERRORISM-RELATED TOPICS

sures that Majalla has played an enlightening role, shedding the light on topics that cultivate the public taste and contribute to liberating minds and discussing ideas, all while exercising the freedom of thought.

The magazine’s writings, she assures, is a form documentation that has created a cultural memory, one of the soft power tools that build and shape public opinion. On the other hand, the magazine was also a tool for demolition, to raze down all misleading ideas by rooting the correct concepts that preserve the Arab identity. One can safely say that the magazine’s topics stand out for their depth, yet their simplicity.

This antinomy has clarified concepts and terminologies in a sound but simple theoretical framework suitable for the general public.

Umar Farouq, an Egyptian expert in the affairs of extremist movements, sees Majalla a landmark of Arab journalism. Throughout the years, it has discussed many intellectual issues that have contributed greatly to combating terrorism and extremist groups. The magazine has also conveyed several opinions, which raised general awareness among the magazine’s readers and followers. Majalla’s pages have beheld solid and bold topics, objective opinions, and enlightened moderate ideas advocated by the religion of Islam.

That being the case, Majalla has approached terrorism-related topics, discussed extremist ideas, and proposed solutions. Accordingly, it exposed the lies of terrorist organizations and laid bare the exploitation of youth. With the help of specialists, it put forward solutions to eradicate terrorism.

Dr. Amani Albert, a Media Professor at ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT Beni Suef University in south Egypt, as- ARAB PUBLICATIONS

Majalla has played an enlightening role, shedding the light on topics that cultivate the public taste and contribute to liberating minds and discussing ideas, all while exercising the freedom of thought.

Egyptian film critic Ahmed al-Samahy said Majalla is considered one of the most important Arab publications in the field of politics. Its role is no less than that of the prestigious magazines, Rosal Youssef and Al-Hilal, or the world’s most renowned magazines.

“We have been following it for many years when we were still students and it used to distribute its editions in Cairo,” he told Majalla, stressing that its keenness not to publish superficial topics makes it special.

“All the topics tackled offer insights that are rich in content,” he added, noting that it holds

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Emad El-Din Hussein, Editor-in-chief of El-Shorouk newspaper and member of the Egptian Senate

It has nurtured the Arab World with information and various points of view on different critical subjects.

Umar Farouq, an Egyptian expert in the affairs of extremist movements

Egyptian film critic Ahmed al-Samahy

in-depth discussions and has interviewed senior political, artistic and cultural figures in the Arab world over the years. Majalla introduced many stars and in the Arab world before satellite channels and the Internet.

Samahy said Majalla is one of the entrenched magazines, especially in tackling art-related topics. “It presented a new vision of the concept of art through the dialogues it has conducted with many artists.”

He affirmed that the Arab community was introduced to great Arab stars through these interviews, such as Duraid Laham, Mona Wasfi, Rashid Assaf, Mustafa al-Akkad and many others. It has been playing an educational, cultural and developmental roles and raising Arab cinema-controver-

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sial issued within an objective framework.

It published all sorts of opinions since its establishment, maintaining its good reputation.

The critic considered Majalla a beacon of light in the world of Arab journalism that has been facing many challenges and has been able to overcome all crises and remain able to avoid being biased.

CALLS TO REDISTRIBUTE HARD COPIES Samahy underlined the importance of redistributing the magazine’s hard copy in Cairo because it has many readers who are aware of its value and the subjects it raises objectively.

“Egyptian readers have been following Majalla for many years because it raises the topics in a simple and objective manner and avoids intimidation, constituting a promising cultural platform.

Emad El-Din Hussein, Editor-in-chief of ElShorouk newspaper and member of the Egptian Senate, expressed his pride in Majalla on the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of its publication. He wished for it continued progress in light of the challenges faced by the press in general and the weekly publications in particular. He underscored Majalla’s key role in the Arab journalism, especially those that publish overseas.

It has echoed the influential opinions of many Arab writers throughout this period, during which they touched on the Arab culture and various other issues. He wished Majalla to overcome all the challenges faced by digital media and to be able to keep up with the development in the world of technology.

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Meeting With US President Jimmy Carter and a Tour of the Emir’s Council 1980: The First Year of Majalla: Exclusive Interviews and a Dive into Crucial Issues

By Majalla - London

Majalla published the details of achieving the Israeli-Egyptian peace, as US President Jimmy Carter told Majalla about the Camp David process and the 12 days of negotiations between the Egyptians and the Israelis.

Majalla wrote under the title of “The Prince’s Council”, or governing the Saudi way, about Prince Salman bin Abdul-Aziz when Majalla entered the Council and was presented with a sample of the work he does, such as receiving requests for financial aid or facilitating an administrative transaction in one of the State’s departments.

Majalla explained how the Prince holds his Council after the noon prayer of every working day, and meets those with needs and grievances. Prince Salman begins his Council by asking if there is any need, and concludes his Council by asking if there is any need left, after which he closes the office and goes to complete his work.

In addition, Majalla published the details of achieving the IsraeliEgyptian peace, as US President Jimmy Carter told Majalla about the Camp David process and the 12 days of negotiations between the Egyptians and the Israelis.

Carter, who put his signature alongside President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in the White House, revealed to us the thorny talks that he was determined to continue as the Camp David process, which was opposed at the time by almost all Arabs except Egypt.

Majalla also enriched its issues that year with the world of art and music, as it interviewed the prominent 20th century Egyptian singer, actor, and composer Mohamed Abdel Wahab.

He told Majalla that Arabic music is much more than what Abdel Wahab gave it, describing music as beauty and art, as he said, «It is everything in my life and helps me continue in this material world.»

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Insights into Lebanese Crisis and Israel’s Provision of Arms to Kataeb Party

1981: Israeli Bombing of Lebanon and Assassination of Sadat

By Majalla - London

Majalla reported on the Lebanese crisis at the United Nations with the representatives of the US, Russia, France and the President of the Security Council.

In 1981, Majalla revealed the great secret of the assassination of former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and disclosed how the operation took place moment by moment -- who carried it out and how the role of the July 1952 men ended, until Hosni Mubarak assumed the presidency.

In the report, Majalla shed light on how Sadat was tragically killed and the big secret related to an Egyptian intelligence officer who participated in organizing the military parade in which Sadat was assassinated and later fled.

Majalla also reported on the Lebanese crisis at the United Nations with the representatives of the US, Russia, France and the President of the Security Council.

It also covered the clashes in Beirut and Zahlé at that time, the Arab deterrent force in Lebanon, Israel›s recognition that it was supplying the Kataeb Christian Party with weapons as well as the Israeli bombing of Lebanon.

In this context, Majalla interviewed Russia›s representative who was responsible for the Soviet Union›s mission to the United Nations desk for Middle East affairs and considered at the time that the Syrian forces› presence in Lebanon was necessary, pointing out that Israel triggered the clashes through the Kataeb Party. He also explained his vision for the deployment of international forces throughout Lebanon.

Majalla also interviewed French Ambassador Jacques Leprette, who explained that France was not convinced by the Soviets› refusal to send an international envoy to Lebanon. He also responded to questions about France supplying the Lebanese government with weapons as well as accusations of ignoring what is happening in Lebanon.

For his part, the head of the UN Security Council at the time, Ireland›s ambassador, Noel Dorr, expressed his reading of the situation in Lebanon, considering that the task of the international forces in the south is difficult and not easy to expand to include all of Lebanon.

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Insights Into Developments of Gulf War, Kissinger’s Role in Sadat’s Assassination

1982: Majalla Obtains Confidential Data Submitted to Khomeini After Battle of Khorramshahr

By Majalla - London M u h a m m a d Hassanein Heikal, the most famous Arab journalist, who lived through the eras of Sadat as well as Mubarak, and who was editorin-chief of AlAhram during the era of Abdel Nasser, revealed in the most dangerous talk to Majalla about Kissinger’s role in the assassination of Sadat.

He also spoke about Khaled Al-Islambouli and his comrades who shot Sadat on October 7 as well as about the Camp David Accords and the scenario of Egypt’s return to the Arabs with President Hosni Mubarak’s move in this direction.

Majalla published a secret report from inside Iran after the developments of the Gulf War. The report dealt with the possibility of another war, which was intended by Iran to transfer the war into Iraq and to bring Arab and international forces into the battle.

Majalla obtained private information that was submitted to Khomeini after the Battle of Khorramshahr and narrated how the Iranians used Sovietmade tanks and painted them with Iraqi insignia.

Majalla obtained private information that was submitted to Khomeini after the Battle of Khorramshahr and narrated how the Iranians used Soviet-made tanks and painted them with Iraqi insignia.

Majalla entered the White House and toured from the Queen›s suite to the colorful halls and the Oval Office.

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Interviews with Jihan Sadat, Amin Gemayel

1983: Majalla Reveals Content of Khomeini’s Will

By Majalla - London

Majalla revealed Gemayel’s request for help from the Kingdom to end the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, which had been going on since 1978.

One of the important topics included in the 1983 edition of Majalla was an interview with Dr. Osama El-Baz, who was the political advisor to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at the time.

The interview dealt with a number of important topics, including those related to Egyptian-Israeli and Egyptian-American relations, to Jordan›s role in peace talks and to Lebanese-Israeli negotiations.

The title of the interview was «Osama Al-Baz: It Is Not In The Arab Interest That Our Peace With Israel Be Fragile And Disappear At Any Time.”

In the interview, he stressed, «America does not pressure us and we will not grant military bases to any country. We are not afraid of Israeli military operations against us, but we are developing our military power.»

In an article entitled «Secrets of Crises and Disagreements between Iran and Syria,» Majalla reported on the crisis between the two countries and the tension that prevailed at that time, its dimensions and repercussions, and raised questions such as «Does Khomeini now have any true friend or ally in the region?»

Majalla spoke of the disappointment of the allies who were let down by Khomeini›s policy, including former Algerian President Ahmed Ben Bella, who at that time was leading an opposition movement against President Chadli Bendjedid and his regime.

The article concluded that what separates Iran and Syria is more than what unites them, with the exception of the hostile stance of the Iraqi regime at that time.

Also in Iranian matters, Majalla revealed in 1983 the content of Khomeini’s will, which he wrote and handed over to the religious body tasked with choosing a successor after his death and at that time he requested that this will remain secret, and that it be publicized only after his death.

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Only two of Khomeini›s sons, Ahmad and Ayatollah Murtaza Pasandideh, had seen its content and suggested making some amendments to it.

Among the things that Majalla revealed is that Khomeini rejected what some of his supporters offered, which is that he should be considered an imam even after his death.

One of the important interviews that Majalla conducted was with Jihan Sadat, the widow of late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who said at the time that people are strongly attacking her but that this matter does not concern her.

She declared that the State treats the Sadat family well and that the opposition alone is prejudiced against her. She said that her family›s relationship with the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s family was excellent.

She also talked about the doctoral thesis that she is preparing, which revolves around the impact of English criticism on Egyptian criticism in the period between the two wars.

In the interview, she denied rumors about her conflict with Umm Kulthum in her last days and said that their relationship was good until the last day of her life and she pointed to the family of the late artist which would testify to the good relationship between them.

Because the Lebanon war was at its height in the eighties, Majalla reported the Saudi role in saving the country, which was mired in the chaos of internal fighting and the specter of partition, under the title of «Why Did King Fahd Insist on Saving Lebanon from Explosion and Division.”

Majalla quoted the statement of the then Lebanese president, Amin Gemayel, who said that Lebanon can really rely only on the Kingdom because it is the only hope for getting out of the impasse and for overcoming the dangerous ordeal.

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Fall of Lebanese President Gemayel’s Gov’t, US Blockade on Libya, Arab-Israeli Conflict

1984: Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdelaziz Gives Exclusive Interview to Majalla

By Majalla - London

Another important interview conducted by Majalla was an interview with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, under the title of «The Lords of the Lebanese War: the Reason for the Explosion of the Situation.»

Among the important interviews conducted by Majalla in 1984 was with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who was then the Crown Prince, during a visit to the United Kingdom.

He spoke about the depth of the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom and he also talked about the topics that were raised with the then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the most important of which was the issue of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Israeli issue, and the need to put an end to Israeli practices against the Palestinian people including Israel’s refusal to recognize their rights.

He also touched on the discussion of the war in Lebanon and the need to put an end to the war between Iraq and Iran.

Majalla also covered the details of the visit, which achieved a broad and progressive advance in the relations between the two countries.

Another important interview conducted by Majalla was an interview with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, under the title of «The Lords of the Lebanese War: the Reason for the Explosion of the Situation.»

In his interview with Majalla, Kissinger said that in the event of the fall of President Bachir Gemayel›s government, he would support any government in Lebanon that achieves the sovereignty of its territory and expels the foreign forces present there.

Regarding the bombing of the US Marines in Beirut, he said, «I was in contact with the families who lost their sons in Lebanon and I was very touched by the position of the fathers, mothers and widows when they revealed to me their conviction in the mission they sent their sons and husbands to.”

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Among the important statements made in the interview in response to the accusations being levelled against him in the Arab world was: «I did not expect at all that Sadat would launch his war in 1973. It was a big surprise to me, so how can I be a party to the case?»

On the Arab-Israeli conflict, he said, «Reaching a solution has become a desirable thing. I have always felt that the «step-by-step» policy is the best method, and I still think that resolving all issues in one negotiation is difficult to implement. One has to accomplish what can be accomplished. Not to get bogged down in numerous issues.»

Regarding the blockade imposed by the United States on Libya after the Lockerbie incident, he said, «When you know that a country is responsible for the killing of 290 of your citizens, especially when you also know that the two people responsible for the incident were not punished. Accepting this situation is very difficult.»

Regarding the Iranian situation, Majalla addressed the issue of the Iranian revolution in its fifth year when there were 180,000 clerics ruling Iran from mosques, and it also touched upon the secret visit of Shah Reza Pahlavi to Washington.

Majalla also published an investigation entitled «The Gulf War is Knocking on the Doors of Hormuz: The Fire of the Strait Will Not be Quelled by Marines or British Diplomacy,” and revealed the details of the battles taking place between Iran and Iraq as well as the possible scenarios to resolve the war.

Another important interview conducted by Majalla was also an interview with William Colby, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, who saw the possibility that the Iran-Iraq war would develop into a larger-scale conflict and that the closest picture to the Gulf War was the First World War.

Interview with Margaret Thatcher, Jordanian-Palestinian Talks

1985: Saudi Arabia and Bahrain Cooperation Bridge

By Majalla - London

Al-Majalla interviewed First Lieutenant-General Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab, who spoke about the revolution that took place in Sudan, refusing to call it a coup.

Among the prominent topics covered by AlMajalla in 1985 were the characteristics of the Jordanian-Palestinian agreement and the issue of the Jordanian-Palestinian agreement.

At that time, everything said about this agreement did not go beyond general statements and speculations from its opponents and supporters.

Al-Majalla mentioned the terms of this agreement and provided exclusive information, indicating that the Jordanian-Palestinian talks have reached a dead end.

The agreement says land in exchange for peace based on United Nations and Security Council resolutions and international legitimacy and the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people based on the desired Arab confederation between Jordan and Palestine.

Al-Majalla also highlighted the role Cairo played in drafting this agreement.

Among the interviews conducted by Al-Majalla in 1985 was an interview with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on the eve of the tenth anniversary of her assumption of the leadership of the Conservatives. The interview title was «Margaret Thatcher: An American demand and initiative before 1986.»

It was the first interview of an Arab magazine with the British Prime Minister «I have a feeling that we are about to start a new chapter in the affairs of the Middle East and that a different situation is beginning to take shape. King Hussein is acting boldly and courageously to gain support from the moderate Arab countries. On the other hand, the Israeli public opinion is pressuring his government to expedite the withdrawal of its forces from Lebanon,» Margaret Thatcher said to Al-Majalla.

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From the critical interviews, too, was an interview with First Lieutenant-General Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab, who spoke about the revolution that took place in Sudan, refusing to call it a coup, and he said that there was no other way than to seize power and stressed his preservation of the relationship with America and his attempt to get close to the Soviets.

He also confirmed the importance of the relationship with Gaddafi in resolving the issue of the south.

On the Iranian side, Al-Majalla discussed the tension between Syria and Iran in a file titled «The Ship of Brotherhood and Friendship in Seas of Tension» after 6 years of Syrian security support and Iranian economic support, as relations soured, and the Iranian press began for the first time to criticize Syrian policy in Lebanon In the archives of 1985, AlMajalla covered the Gulf celebration of opening the cooperation bridge between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, the longest flyover bridge in the world connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.

In culture, Al-Majalla shed light on the causes of the «plight» of the Arab writer, through an interview with the poet Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal, who dealt with humanitarian issues that made his works distinctive and, when translated into foreign languages, gave a pure image of the Arab poet who quotes from heritage to present a civilized Arab Face.

One of the essential artistic materials in Al-Majalla›s archive is a unique interview with the artist Fairouz, who rarely makes press statements, in which she denied rumors about a concert that would be held for her at the pyramids, despite her desire to sing in Egypt, and she said that no one agreed with her on a party as rumored.

In the brief interview, she denied any intention on her part to leave Lebanon, which was witnessing the fiercest bloody battles, and said, «How can I leave Lebanon while I am a grain of its soil.»

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Chernobyl Disaster and Lebanon Civil War

1986: Interviews with King Salman, Hosni Mubarak, Tawfiq Al-Hakim

By Majalla - London

In Art, Al-Majalla interviewed the show star, Sherihan, who said she would respond with Fawazeer to everyone who accused her of failing in the cinema.

Among the critical interviews that Al-Majalla conducted in 1986 was an interview with King Salman, who was then governor of the Riyadh region.

The interview was conducted in London, which he was visiting to open the exhibition «Riyadh Between Yesterday and Today.»

King Salman talked about the development of the city of Riyadh, his ambitions for it and the goal of holding the exhibition in London.

He also addressed the great challenge facing the city of Riyadh represented in the process of intermarriage between the heritage and civilization of the twentieth century.

King Salman spoke about the state providing the Saudi newspapers with free land in Riyadh to serve as the nucleus of the press city.

Another critical interview AlMajalla got was with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who made significant statements, including that he would not appoint a vice president, would not extradite Jaafar Nimeiry, would not send troops to Iraq, and revealed his attempt to visit Damascus.

He also spoke about the Muslim Brotherhood and said that he is not against any party that works for the benefit of the people, but he is against demolition and destruction, and he is conducting research to find the best ways to deal with extremists.

With the Arab boycott of Egypt at the time, Mubarak announced his desire to visit all Arab countries, provided that it does not cause embarrassment to anyone.

Beirut was burning in 1986, and Al-Majalla recognized the Lebanese issue with more than one file and conducted interviews with many personalities, including the Mufti of the Republic, Hassan Khaled, who was assassinated in 1989.

Al-Majalla highlighted the war in the camps in Lebanon and aimed at disarming the Palestinian camps there and interviewed Nabih Berri, head of the Amal Movement,

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which was waging war against the bases.

In 1986, the world was living through the horror of the Chernobyl reactor, and Al-Majalla opened the nuclear danger facing the Arabs. Al-Majalla discussed what happened in the reactor, how European countries dealt with it, and how the Western press seized it to correct accusations against the Soviets. Al-Majalla pointed out that there are atomic reactors in Iraq and Libya and that Egypt is planning to construct a large reactor in the west of Alexandria.

In Art, Al-Majalla interviewed the show star, Sherihan, who said she would respond with Fawazeer to everyone who accused her of failing in the cinema. Sherihan talked about filming Fawazeer and studying for exams at the same time. Sherihan replied to those who accused her of failure and said that the public appreciated her. Besides, she told Al-Majalla that she insists on performing and succeeding in Fawazeer.

In sport, Al-Majalla interviewed the Secretary-General of the International Football Association, Joseph Blatter, who spoke about reconsidering how Asia is represented in the World Cup. Al-Majalla interviewed the great writer Tawfiq AlHakim, who was living in a harsh phase of selfconfrontation at that time, and he saw that literature stole his life, and when he woke up from his inattention, he found a pile of discarded papers that no one reads anymore.

Al-Majalla also conducted an interview with Dr. Youssef Idris, who denied a literary production crisis in the Arab world, and he said that it is the literary press that causes the culture crisis.

Al-Majalla met the Moroccan star Mohammed AlTimoumi, the most prominent midfielder in the Moroccan national team. Al-Timoumi›s interview with Al-Majalla was one of the most prominent interviews, in which he announced his reluctance to participate in the African Cup and his willingness to participate in the World Cup.

The Bloody Events at the Great Mosque of Mecca Shake the World

1987: King Fahd’s Visit to Britain, Interviews with Hosni Mubarak and Diego Maradona

By Majalla - London

Majalla conducted interviews with Saudi and British leaders who stressed the importance of the visit, and confirmed that Saudi officials view Britain as a strong economic and industrial base.

In 1987, events took place inside the Great Mosque of Mecca, to which Majalla devoted a large amount of coverage. The sedition was led by Iranian pilgrims, which caused a wave of anger throughout the Islamic world.

Majalla spoke to eyewitnesses who narrated what happened during the Hajj, reported on events recorded by the cameras (which showed facts confirming what Saudi Arabia had announced since the outbreak of the sedition, namely, that the massacre led by some Iranians), published pictures showing readers that it was only Iranians belonging to the Revolutionary Guards who could be distinguished by their clothes, and uploaded many pictures of their leaders in the Hajj. The photos also showed their attempt to storm the Holy House of God by force, with their daggers.

Majalla also monitored the Kingdom›s position on the events and its transfer of injured Iranians for treatment by Ministry of Health convoys. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul-Aziz and Crown Prince Abdullah bin AbdulAziz vigorously pledged to fund the defense of Islamic holy sites and Saudi lands.

Majalla also covered King Fahd›s visit to Britain, conducted interviews with Saudi and British leaders who stressed the importance of the visit, and confirmed that Saudi officials view Britain as a strong economic and industrial base.

Regarding Iran, Majalla published an article by Professor Edward Said, in which he touched on facts that the Congressional Investigation Committee had not heard about IranJet. Majalla also spoke to four Iranian politicians who stressed that the majority of the Iranian people stand against the policies of their rulers, and that there are hopes of defeating the regime internally.

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Among the important interviews conducted by Majalla was an interview with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, in which he described extremist currents as being terrorist, not religious. He also spoke of his gratitude for the nature and development of relations with Saudi Arabia, and said that the issue of ambassadors did not concern him.

He also spoke of his dissatisfaction with the way the Americans dealt with debt and said he was looking for a solution. Moreover, he criticized the press and said that it only woke up after one of its members was exposed to terrorism. He said that the opposition is part of the institution of governance and not an independent body.

Another important interview was conducted by Majalla with Naguib Mahfouz, in which he said that there is no objection to Middle Eastern unity in the light of a comprehensive and just peace, and that sound education is based on a critical mindset and that heritage awareness protects our culture and our children.

One of the important sports interviews was an interview Majalla had with Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona, in which he said that within 10 months he won everything for which he had dreamed. He said that Argentina did not benefit from winning the World Cup, and that his next battles will be the European Club Championship and the Champions League.

He admitted that his success robbed him of the calm in which he had been living. He described himself as funny and humble, and said that he is in fact the opposite of what appears on him in the pictures, and that he did not allow vanity to get the better of him.

Majalla also opened the Saudi sports file, and the Saudi supremacy in the establishment of King Fahd Stadium, which was distinguished by minute details that dazzled the International Football Association.

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Syrian Poet Adonis, former Iranian president Banisadr, Henry Kissinger in Interviews with Majalla 1988: New Stage for Private Sector in Arab World

By Majalla - London

Majalla interviewed the Iranian president that year, Seyyed Abolhassan Banisadr who was residing in Paris as he highlighted his opinions on the political, diplomatic and military developments in the Gulf region and the IranianIraqi front.

The Arab world witnessed a new stage in its view of the private sector. Among the issues Majalla dealt with in 1988 was the third symposium of the Arab Federation of Capital Markets, which was held in Casablanca over a period of 3 days, with the participation of delegations representing Tunisia, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Morocco, and the Arab League.

During the symposium, the topic of transforming the public sector into the private sector was presented and discussed as well as the role of stock exchanges in this regard.

In the sections of Culture and Literature, Majalla had an interview with Syrian poet Adonis, whom Majalla reporters met on the sidelines of a symposium held in his honor at the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate, after fifteen years away from Cairo.

In addition, Majalla interviewed by phone the Iranian president that year, Seyyed Abolhassan Banisadr who was residing in Paris as he highlighted his opinions on the political, diplomatic and military developments in the Gulf region and the Iranian-Iraqi front.

In his interview with Majalla, Banisadr considered that Saudi Arabia›s severing of relations with Iran came at the right time, explaining his vision for the parliamentary elections that took place in Iran that year.

The conversation also dealt with the hijacking of a Kuwaiti plane and his opinion of the Iranian government›s involvement in this.

In the Economy section, we had a conversation with the Saudi businessman, Saleh Kamel.

Majalla also published an interview with US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger who expected at that time that the Soviet Union would witness a period of turmoil. He had an assessment of the progress achieved by Europeans in the military field and the negotiations on reducing strategic arms.

In the artistic area, Majalla had a special interview in Kuwait with the topnotch Lebanese singer Magda Al-Rumi who was present on the Arab music scene with the beauty of her voice.

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Death of Khomeini; Visit by Willbearer to Britain

1989: Fateful Year for Lebanon after Taif Conference

By Majalla - London

Among the important cultural interviews conducted by Majalla was an interview with music conductor Salim Sahab, the Palestinian who revived classical Arabic music with a Lebanese band.

The year 1989 was a fateful year for the region and for Lebanon in particular, after the Taif Conference, which established the end of the Lebanese war.

Majalla devoted space to talk about the Taif agreement, its provisions and the proposed scenarios for the end of the Lebanese war. It also dedicated reports to compare the previous Lebanese constitution with the amended constitution as approved in Taif and conducted interviews with analysts and experts to talk about the importance of this agreement sponsored by Saudi Arabia to restore parliamentary life in Lebanon.

Majalla also talked about the damage done to the banking sector due to the war and about the most prominent political and national figures who were assassinated.

Majalla also reported on the Lebanese displaced and their regional distribution, and the issue of elections and the distribution of voters.

It also discussed the efforts that were carried out before the conclusion of the agreement and followed the path of the Taif Agreement between Beirut, Damascus and Riyadh.

It conducted interviews with Lebanese parliamentarians who expressed optimism about the agreement and what it would establish for a period of civil peace.

Among the important political interviews that Majalla conducted in 1989 was an interview with Syrian Vice President and then Foreign Minister Abdel Hakim Khaddam, who confirmed that Syria did not enter Lebanon to stay there forever.

Khaddam said in the interview that “the security of Lebanon is part of the security of Syria and that the relations of Syria and Lebanon must be distinguished.”

Regarding the Taif agreement, he said, «What was accomplished in the meetings of the Lebanese parliament in Taif is important to end the civil war in Lebanon and requires all the Lebanese to work hard

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and sincerely to implement it, because the National Accord Document constitutes the basis and framework for rebuilding the Lebanese state and removing the obstacles that prevented the achievement of this goal.”

Concerning Syria›s withdrawal from Lebanon, he said, «So we entered upon the request of the government and the distress of the Lebanese people.

But apparently, after we entered and stopped the fighting, some wanted to use Syria to achieve an internal imbalance in their favor and liquidate the Palestinian presence in Lebanon, as well as striking the Lebanese national forces.”

Regarding the entry of a number of Iranian Revolutionary Guards into Lebanon, he said, «The number of these members does not exceed 400. They have been in Lebanon since 1982 during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. We all know that there are political organizations in Lebanon that have relations with Iran and receive assistance from them for their operations against Israel.»

The year 1989 was the year that witnessed the death of Khomeini and Majalla devoted reports to discussing the future of governance in Iran after his departure.

Rafsanjani was at that time in the process of declaring a state of emergency and suspending the elections.

Majalla also touched upon the surreptitious visit by Khomeini›s will-bearer to Britain.

In that year, Majalla organized a civilized art festival in London for Arab artists gathering the most famous cartoonists to display their works along with the most prominent stars of satirical drawing in the Arab world.

Messages of encouragement rained down on Majalla.

A hall in London was booked to be the site of this art festival, whose logo was designed by artist Mahmoud Kahil.

The exhibition was praised for its civilized touch and as an important appreciation for the art of caricature and its painters.

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Interviews, Articles on Regional, International Developments 1990: Shedding Light on Extraordinary Arab Summit

By Majalla - London

Majalla highlighted the increase in the racist campaign in France against Arabs in general and against the Arabs of the Maghreb in particular to the extent that some observers considered it a kind of war against everyone who is Arab.

The year 1990 witnessed many important events that Majalla covered through a series of investigations, articles and meetings. The most prominent of these meetings was an interview with the grandson of Sultan Abdul Hamid II of the Ottoman Empire who revealed that he does not aspire to rule Turkey and that he enters Turkey with a French passport.

He explained that pictures of his grandfather were removed from the Topkapi Palace and he also indicated that his father›s dream was to be buried next to his father, Sultan Abdul Hamid.

Majalla also conducted an interview with the most famous Yemeni foreign minister, Abdullah al-Asnag, who pledged to reveal the killer of President Ibrahim alHamdi soon, pointing out that Yemen has never witnessed such a bad regime in its history.

Majalla also covered the visit of Former Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Konstantin Katushev to Saudi Arabia, where he gave a special talk.

Majalla revealed the leadership battle in the Tunisian Ennahda Party as it indicated that the crisis of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and the position of the leaders in the Tunisian Ennahda Party towards it was behind the severe differences that began to split the leaders of the unrecognized party in Tunisia at the time.

The differences were represented in the publication of a statement written by Sheikh Rashid Ghannouchi, the leader of the movement, and published by the newspaper Al-Maghrib which sparked a fierce dispute among Islamists.

Majalla also kept pace with the results of the

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general elections in Pakistan and indicated under the title of “Benazir Bhutto Killed Herself and the People’s Party” that the results of the general elections in Pakistan were devastating for former Pakistani prime minister Bhutto’s political future in the medium term and for the future of her party itself as local results in the four provinces confirmed that this is true and leaves Bhutto facing a bleak future on the political and personal levels.

Majalla also highlighted the increase in the racist campaign in France against Arabs in general and against the Arabs of the Maghreb in particular to the extent that some observers considered it a kind of war against everyone who is Arab.

In this context, Majalla conducted an interview with a member of the Central Committee of the French Socialist Party, Mohamed Mabtool, who pointed out that «the government is not serious in combating racism.»

Majalla also covered the extraordinary Arab summit in Baghdad, which discussed many Arab topics and issues that fall into the framework of threats to Arab national security and the great role of Saudi Arabia in the success of the summit.

In addition to the above, Majalla conducted the first private and comprehensive interview with former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel since his departure from power as he revealed that he did not appoint Aoun as prime minister of the Lebanese government, but rather appointed the Military Council. =He also pointed out that he had paid a heavy price for going to Damascus on the last day of his term and indicated that he offered at that time to President Salim Hoss to impose the formation of a balanced ministry.

Majalla Interviews First Arab Judge in London, Youssef Chahine

1991: Kuwait Recovering from Iraqi Invasion and Saudi Role

By Majalla - London

Majalla published a report on the Saudi pilots who participated in the first flights of the operation to liberate Kuwait and conducted interviews with them, in which they talked about the events on the battlefield.

In the year 1991, Kuwait was still emerging from the effects of the Iraqi invasion and was engaged in the battle of its reconstruction. Majalla dedicated several numbers to talking about the complete plan for the reconstruction of Kuwait and the restoration of the damaged oil facilities.

At that time, the Kuwaiti government worked from its headquarters in the Saudi city of Taif, in coordination with its people at home under Iraqi occupation and those abroad who were displaced by the invasion.

It sent a group of young people representing all ministries to Washington to prepare for the actual return to Kuwait.

Majalla conducted interviews with businessmen and economic experts who contributed to revitalizing the economy after the devastation inflicted on the country.

Under the title of «The World Watches the War on Air,» Majalla reported on the media›s role in the Gulf War where direct coverage from Baghdad contributed to the rise in currency and stock prices in the money market.

In a related context, Majalla conducted an exclusive interview with the bodyguard of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who fled through Turkey to Paris with the protection of French security, and revealed to Majalla exclusive details from the night of the invasion of Kuwait with Saddam and the execution of the commander of the landing operation.

He said that an official returned a favor to him and smuggled him after providing him with a Tunisian passport. He disclosed the existence of a farm with secret tunnels.

He also revealed the way Saddam was guarded and said that it is very intense and harsh.

He also said that he lives in semi-isolation and rarely sees people except for his family members and some close to him.

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In the context of the battle of liberation, Majalla reported on the Saudi role in the Kuwait war and how the Kingdom led the seven-month battle from peace to war.

Majalla also published a report on the Saudi pilots who participated in the first flights of the operation to liberate Kuwait and conducted interviews with them, in which they talked about the events on the battlefield.

Majalla also conducted an interview with Kuwaiti Defense Minister Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad, who stated that the Kuwaiti resistance will hand over its weapons to the government.

At that time, direct transmission from the battlefield was not as usual as it is today and Majalla has devoted pages to talk about the coverage of major media organizations from the battlefield.

Majalla also interviewed Liz Celine, the coordination official at CNN›s headquarters in Atlanta, who stated that the US Secretary of Defense made sure that the planes reached their targets through CNN’s news network.

Among the important interviews conducted by Majalla was with the first Arab judge in Britain to head the Queen›s Consultative Council, in which he talked about his upbringing and studies leading up to his position.

Among the important technical interviews that Majalla conducted in 1991 was an interview with director Youssef Chahine, who talked about his films and said that they are not as complicated as some think and that the average intelligence can understand them if they watch them more than once.

He described the details of his work, and how his film was prepared from the time it was just an idea until it became a movie shown in cinemas.

He talked about his relationship with critics, which is an ambiguous relationship in which there is a lot of blame.

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Conflict Between the United States and Libya 1992: Tenth Anniversary of King Fahd Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud’s Accession to Power

By Majalla - London

Majalla published the historic speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud on the tenth anniversary of his accession to power.

Under the title «Any Way out of the Algerian Crisis,» Majalla opened a dialogue between Algeria›s clashing parties in 1992. At the time, Majalla asked a question about the five most important opposition parties in an attempt to open the closed dialogue door and extrapolate the horizons and aspirations of these parties. This included the Islamic Salvation Front, which was the strongest opposition party since the events of October 1988, and obtained the parliamentary majority in 1991, In addition, Majalla published from behind the walls of the Matroskaya Tishina prison, where the leaders of the August coup in the Soviet Union found a letter from Soviet Defense Minister Dmitry Yazov to the Soviet newspaper Rossiya, attached to his opinion on the former union.

In that year, Majalla published the historic speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud on the tenth anniversary of his accession to power, and the texts of the three systems that were implemented that year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which drew the foundations of the modern state. At that time, King Fahd laid the foundations for the new phase.

In this context, Majalla interviewed Martyr Prime Minister Rafic Hariri after he announced his appointment as Prime Minister of Lebanon. It was his first press interview since his appointment, revealing his priorities in terms of reform and the grant to him of exceptional powers to confront corruption. He also told of the challenges he is facing, especially softening the opposition at the time, as well as reviving the economy.

Under the title “The Plane Battle between America and Libya,” and after the Security Council resolution that year (which complicated the situation between the United States and Libya, as Libyans were accused of blowing up the American PanAm plane and the French UTA plane), the American expert in petroleum and Libyan affairs, Henry Scholar, revealed in an interview with Majalla that the oil embargo is more punishing than the aerial bombardment. He also recounted the details of his meeting with Gaddafi in 1988.

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Interview with Muammar Gaddafi 1993: Lockerbie Case, Rebel Movement Inside Libyan Army, Coups in Focus

By Majalla - London Majalla spoke exclusively with late Libyan president Colonel M u a m m a r Gaddafi as Libya was the focus of Arab politics. He admitted at the time that coups and revolutions did not achieve the desired result, saying: “I reached a stage of maturity, and I discovered that the coups and revolutions did not reach the desired goal.”

The interview was characterized by self-confessions that were rarely heard from the Libyan leader, including the Lockerbie case, which was the 1988 bombing of an American plane in Scotland.

In addition, the interview with the Libyan leader included accepting the invitation of Israeli officials to visit Israel and the attempts to unite with Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Sudan and others. Gaddafi also spoke to the Libyan opposition and the rebel movement within the armed forces.

Gaddafi also revealed to Majalla his relationship with Arab leaders in Egypt and Saudi Arabia as well as Abu Ammar.

Gaddafi also revealed to Majalla his relationship with Arab leaders in Egypt and Saudi Arabia as well as Abu Ammar, and said, «We have become realistic, diplomats and utilitarians as well, and I love Clinton and am ready to reconcile with him.»

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Interviews with Politicians, Intellectuals and Artists

1994: Yemen Unrest, Secret of Jihad Group in Egypt and Naguib Mahfouz Assassination Attempt

By Majalla - London

Majalla interviewed Abu Ammar (Yasser Arafat), who said that whoever talks about the Jordanian option will not be able to turn back the clock after the establishment of the Palestinian state.

Battles had erupted in Yemen in 1994 and Majalla reporters entered with the northern forces to Hadramawt where they monitored on the ground, the battles in Yemen, which was on the brink of division into north and south.

Reporters also monitored the suffering of the people who were residing near hotspot areas. On the front, they met the fighters, some of whom were no more than thirteen years old.

Majalla also interviewed Yemeni analysts and politicians who talked about the proposed scenarios for war and governance in the country.

Through interviews with its leaders, Majalla opened the file of the secret history of the Jihad group in Egypt and conducted interviews with eyewitnesses over several episodes, including former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat›s advisor, Dr. Mahmoud Moawad Jamea, who was one of the founders of the Islamic Group and spoke about the funding that these groups received.

He said that Sadat told him that he wanted to raise a Muslim generation that he could rely on.

Against the backdrop of the destruction of a Sunni mosque in the Iranian Mashhad, Majalla opened the file of the Sunnis in Iran, and reviewed Khomeini›s views on the Sunnis before and after the revolution.

Majalla also conducted interviews with Iranian dissidents, in which they reviewed the life of the Iranian people after the revolution and confirmed that they were living in better conditions during the days of the Shah.

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by Majalla was Bosnian President Alija Izetbegović, who spoke about the battles of Sarajevo and the attempt of his forces to liberate it and the continuation of the battles.

One of the important interviews that Majalla conducted was with King Hassan of Morocco, in which he admitted that there are fears for Morocco.

He said, «Our house is not made of glass,” adding that the French should deal with the first and second generation of immigrants with understanding because they will be emotionally closer to the regions from which they came.

Majalla also interviewed Abu Ammar (Yasser Arafat), who said that whoever talks about the Jordanian option will not be able to turn back the clock after the establishment of the Palestinian state.

Before the assassination attempt on him, the Egyptian writer, Naguib Mahfouz, gave Majalla an exclusive interview in which he said that he had received warnings against his writings but did not listen to them. With the publication of the dialogue, the writer survived an assassination attempt.

Mahfouz said that as long as his health helped him to write, he would continue with it. On normalization, he said that as long as Egypt made peace with Israel, the Egyptians should accept normalization and he expressed his hope that the Palestinians would enter the stage of peace after forgetting the past.

Among the important technical interviews, Majalla had an interview with the Egyptian star Faten Hamama, who said that cinema has fallen to its lowest levels, and called on the Ministry of Culture to stop its support for bad films, and admitted her hatred of some of her films.

Hundreds of Classified Iraqi Documents Obtained by Majalla

1995: Exclusive Interviews and Political Scenarios for Iraq

By Majalla - London

Majalla published a special file under the headline of “The Largest Islamist Group in the Arab World: The Clash with Muslim Brotherhood”.

of “The Largest Islamist Group in the Arab World: The Clash with Muslim Brotherhood”.

In the year 1995, Majalla succeeded in entering The Egyptian authorities arrested a number of the office of the Media counselor in the Iraqi MB leading figures on charges of forming an embassy in Kuwait. The publication obtained illegal organization with branches spread all over hundreds of classified documents which revealed the country with aims to disrupt the constitution the Iraqi handling of Arab press. After liberating and take over power.

Kuwait from Iraqi invasion in Majalla held an interview with 1991, in a small office inside the the Talal al-Ayyar the General Iraqi embassy in Kuwait, Kuwaiti Secretary of the National journalist Abdullah Al-Otaibi Assembly of Kuwait, who said found a trove of declassified that “the experience of parties documents that indicted the Iraqi in the Arab world has failed.” authorities’ dealings with Arab He also said in the interview media, and revealed in detail that his country would provide how the relationship between more rights for naturalized the Baghdad regime and many citizens soon. publications was.

Majalla covered the Majalla published a follow-up establishment of the first report on Lebanon’s endorsement private investment in the Saudi of the first Arab law to fight money medical sector, represented laundering, following international calls to tackle in the opening of Prince Fahd Bin Hospital in problems that affected its banks. A political Tabuk. The event marked the private sector’s meeting led to adhering to banking confidentiality access to the region’s medical investments. The which the Lebanese people consider a foundation first phase of the project cost about 100 million of free economy, which has been adopted by the riyals.

Lebanese banking and financial system for half On the Iraqi scene, Majalla posed the question: a century.

“Who will rule after Saddam?” In an attempt Majalla also addressed the Iranian developments to answer the question, five scenarios were in a report titled, “Tehran Protests: Will the addressed, with reference to internal conflicts in Shah’s Crisis be Repeated?” Although the Iranian Saddam’s family that would eventually put an minister of Interior advised the announcement end to its members’ roles. of new price hikes be made after Nowroz, the In the arts section, Majalla had a significant Minister of Oil insisted on the timing. Thousands interview with the Lebanese singer Majda Alof the Revolutionary Guards and Basij circled Rroumi, where she confirmed that she would Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Tabriz. travel to Egypt despite all the attempts to smear Majalla published a special file under the headline her reputation there.

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Majalla Keeps Pace with Political Developments Objectively A Tour of the Most Important Milestones in 1996

By Majalla - London

Majalla conducted an interview with Saleh Al-Manea, a professor of political science at King Saud University in Riyadh, who confirmed that “the relationship with America will not be affected by Khobar Towers bombing.”

Majalla shed light on many hot topics at that historical stage, as it indicated under the title “What is happening in the Autonomous Territories- Arafat’s authority is without a law or a constitution,” that the confrontations witnessed in cities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip between the Palestinian Authority and its citizens, the most prominent of which was the storming by the Palestinian security services of the campus of An-Najah National University in Nablus, where it was clear from the collision between the two parties, the extent of the relationship between the authority and its opponents.

Majalla also covered the Khobar Towers bombing, where a truck bomb exploded in the city of Khobar in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, killing 19 people, all Americans, and wounding 386 of different nationalities. It also showed the United States› satisfaction with the Saudi authorities› handling of this event, as its objectives failed and the Saudi-US relations continued to be characterized by stability.

In this context, «Majalla» pointed out that Saudi security men rescued hundreds after they sounded the alarm. Majalla also asked about the Iranian reaction, which raised the suspicion of observers.

In addition, Majalla conducted an interview with Saleh Al-Manea, a professor of political science at King Saud University in Riyadh, who confirmed that “the relationship with America will not be affected by Khobar Towers bombing.”

Majalla also published a file on «caricatures» in the Arab world, which included a special interview with artist Mahmoud Kahil, who indicated that «the Arab painter is oppressed and is haunted

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by censorship.» He pointed out that «the killing of Naji al-Ali was a disaster for freedom and satirical Arab painting.»

Moreover, Majalla conducted an exclusive interview with former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, who indicated that; «I spent 28 years of my life in Saudi Arabia, which is more than I spent in Lebanon, but I am Lebanese and I know Lebanon and its privacy,» and revealed that he still holds a Saudi passport. Hariri pointed out that he did not become prime minister «because I am a billionaire, but rather that I represent confidence in the people›s burden more than anything else.»

Majalla dealt with the peace file between Lebanon and Israel, as it touched on 4 hot issues on the negotiating table, namely the Palestinian presence in Lebanon, water, border security, and the problem of the leadership and elements of the South Lebanon Army. It also pointed out that the post-peace battle will include media, communications and transportation.

In a separate context, «Majalla» shed light on the Iranian file, as it indicated under the title «Iran›s attempt to nationalize the authority» that religious students in Qom are lost between those who dream of the presidency and those who aspire to the Marja› “religious reference”.

Majalla conducted an interview with the Lebanese novelist Amin Maalouf, who is considered one of the most prominent Arab writers in the French language, and is the second Arab writer to receive the «Prix Goncourt». Maalouf affirmed that he is «fascinated by the history of the East.”

Maalouf also pointed out that after receiving the Prix Goncourt, he lived for a whole year in a whirlpool of travels, meetings and multiple activities, but then decided to return to the isolation of writing.

Political Assassination Attempts: Sheikh Al-Suhail, Uday Saddam 1997: Majalla Covers Death of Diana and Opens the Case of US Muslims

By Majalla - London

Special coverage focused on Prince Sultan’s visit to the United States and his exceptional meeting with US President Clinton.

In 1997, there was an assassination attempt against Uday Hussein, the son of the Iraqi President Saddam. Majalla reported on Uday’s health condition and the details of the assassination attempt. The publication dedicated special coverage for others cases of political assassinations including the Iraqi opposition figure Sheikh Taleb Al-Suhail.

Majalla interviewed AlSuhail’s wife and daughter, where his widow accused Lebanon of forging a deal with Iraq which resulted in her husband’s death.

Majalla also opened the case of Sudanese opposition and the bloody incidents that were unfolding at the time.

More publication issues were dedicated for Algeria and the bloodbath that was affecting it.

On the Gulf side, Majalla addressed the naval force in the Gulf and the risks of a war erupting there. In economy, Majalla shed light on the Gulf aviation sector under the competition over survival.

Special coverage focused on Prince Sultan’s visit to the United States and his exceptional meeting with US President Clinton.

Another significant coverage

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highlighted the visit of Prince Salman Bin Abdel-Aziz of Riyadh to Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the first visit by a Saudi official after war, the visit emphasized the brotherly feelings by laying the cornerstone of the largest mosque in the war-torn city of Sarajevo.

Moreover, Majalla dedicated more than one report to US Muslims, their organizations and lobbies, and the successful struggles they had.

In 1997, Lady Diana was killed in a car crash.

Press was blamed for the controversial accident which took place when her car was escaping paparazzi. Majalla published many reports on the late Princess and her strong ties with Arabs based on mutual respect.

Among the significant interviews conducted by Majalla, two were published in the same issue. One interview was with Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, who said that Muslims refuse the coexistence format, while the second was with the Mohammad Mahdi Shamseddine, the president of the Supreme Shiite Council of Lebanon, who confirmed that he didn’t want Lebanon to be a theocracy.

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A Look at International Political Developments 1998: Majalla Tracks Lebanese Presidential Elections

because the Egyptian army officers preferred the Germans.”

In its 1998 issue, Majalla covered the In a related context, Majalla conducted features of the presidential elections in an interview with the owner of the Lebanon where 4 prominent candidates British Harrods store, who revealed that competed, led by former Minister of his problem is with the British Queen Education Jean Obeid, former Minister and British citizenship.

Majalla interviewed Italian of Culture Fawzi international striker Marco Hobeiche, former army Simoni, who, by signing the commander General list of Paris Saint-Germain Émile Lahoud and club, gave a great boost to former MP Robert French football. Simoni Ghanem. revealed that the secret of In the Lebanese context, his success in scoring a Majalla conducted an large number of exhibition interview with the head goals is his technical skill of the National Bloc and speed.

Party, Raymond Émile Eddé, who announced his He pointed out that “Arab support for the extension women can be dangerous» of President Elias Hrawi He added, «Football has and considered Prime changed. Today, the player Minister Rafik Hariri the savior of Beirut, must have an iron will, a strong personality as he considered him as «Haussmann and excellent physical fitness, otherwise who built modern Paris.» technical talent and showmanship are not Majalla wrote about the project of enough to achieve any result.» the King Fahd Islamic and Cultural Majalla also conducted an interview Center, which accommodates more with the most famous cardiologist in than 2,000 worshipers and occupies, the world, Michael DeBakey, who has with its annexes, a land of 33,000 performed more than 60,000 heart square meters in a corner of the upscale surgeries around the world.

Palermo neighborhood in the Argentine He also worked in Arab international capital. hospitals, including King Fahad Majalla dealt with a file under the title Specialist Hospital in Riyadh. of “Very Secret: Britain Considered Majalla conducted an interview with King Farouk Number One Enemy.” It the Jordanian Minister of Interior, referred to British documents indicating who indicated that «we expected to that King Farouk “was conspiring face a catastrophe if Iraq was struck,» with Germany and the British handed revealing that «the Iraqis cut off the the Egyptians an ineffective weapon water from the Jordanian border post”.

By Majalla - London

Majalla wrote about the project of the King Fahd Islamic and Cultural Center, which accommodates more than 2,000 worshipers and occupies a land of 33,000 square meters in a corner of the upscale Palermo neighborhood in the Argentine capital.

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Important Meetings Revealed Data for First Time

1999: 100 Years Since Founding of Saudi Arabia and Arabs Not Benefiting from Kingdom’s Experience

By Majalla - London

Majalla dealt with the new wars of Europe and interviewed the President of the Republic of Serbia, who said that he will not accept commitment to anything while they are under bombardment.

Under the title of «Abdulaziz Al Saud: The Man of History», Majalla marked 100 years of the kingdom›s founding and narrated how the founding king restored Riyadh and launched his project to unite the Kingdom.

It also reviewed how his achievements continued in promoting this project and bringing together the scattered parts of large parts of the Arabian Peninsula and reuniting them.

Thus, he revived the hopes of unity, security and stability that the people of the Arabian Peninsula enjoyed under the shadow of the first Saudi state and the second Saudi state.

Majalla revealed that Arabs did not benefit from the experience of King Abdulaziz in unifying the Arabian Peninsula and how Arabs preferred failed experiments.

In the same issue, Majalla conducted an interview with Sheikh of Al-Azhar Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, who was accused by his opponents of cruelty and intolerance, but he assured Majalla that he is a weak person and hates abuse.

Under the title of “Will Washington succeed in overthrowing Saddam?”, Majalla reviewed several opinions, including that America will succeed because the Iraqi people want change and another opinion believes that change will only take place with the alliance of the people and the army at home while a third opinion said that change is not money or military aid.

This year included an article entitled “Iran after 20 years: What is left of Khomeinism and is Khatami stable?” The article dealt with a discussion about Khatami›s rule, how he will resolve the power struggle and if Khatami will be allowed to build a stable Iran?

In this issue, Majalla dealt with the new wars of

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Europe and interviewed the President of the Republic of Serbia, who said that he will not accept commitment to anything while they are under bombardment.

He also revealed that they agreed to autonomy in Kosovo and the Albanians rejected the clause not to prejudice the borders with Yugoslavia.

He wondered how they are accused of practicing ethnic cleansing when they have one hundred thousand Albanian refugees in Belgrade.

Majalla discussed the reason for the Iraqi regime›s support for the Serbs against the Balkan Muslims.

Majalla also revealed the plan of the international terrorist, Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, to escape from the French prison and how his family sought to transfer him to the prison of Venezuela.

Majalla also interviewed Syrian Vice President Hafez al-Assad Abdel Halim Khaddam, who revealed that he was twice subjected to an assassination attempt by the Iraqi intelligence, but at the same time confirmed that he is against the siege.

Majalla reviewed the story of Ethiopian cooperation with Djibouti in the Horn of Africa war.

This year also included a diversity of cultural, sports, social and artistic files.

For the first time, in a private and frank interview after the death of King Hussein, Prince Hassan bin Talal told Majalla the reasons for not removing Hussein from his position and said that King Hussein offered to abdicate to him during the Gulf crisis.

Majalla also published an investigation about Israeli Arabs and their abstinence from politics and completed a follow-up to the issue of the Muslims of Kosovo and the visit of Prince Abdullah to South Africa.

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The New Millennium is Witnessing Changes at All Levels in the World 2000: Majalla Shed Light on the Implications of George W. Bush Victory for the Presidency and on the Arabs, Wahhabism and Political Movements

By Majalla - London

Majalla published a report on the reasons for America›s hostility to the Arabs, with analysts who discussed the reasons and motives and the reasons why it always stood by Israel.

Under the title «What is happening in Russia and the Caucasus», in 2000 Majalla opened the issue of the invention of the concept of Wahhabism as a cloak for Salafi warriors, and interviewed specialists, including the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, who said that there is no point in confusing Wahhabism with political movements.

Majalla also touched on the most prominent technological inventions that will change the future, and shed light on the developments that we are beginning to see today.

Among the questions that Majalla asked specialists 22 years ago were: will the laptop become smarter than its owner? Or will technology disappear just like equipment that has completely evolved and changed? The expectations were that everything would become a digital computer.

Majalla has always been a platform for enlightened thought, and in light of the attacks that Muslims were being subjected to in some Western media, Majalla tried to correct the image, and shed light on the invention of the concept of Wahhabism as a cloak for Salafi warriors, and interviewed religious scholars who emphasized that the attack on Salafis stems from hostility to Islam. It also focused on the Islamic lobby in the corridors of the US Congress.

In the year 2000, Majalla devoted a file to the election of US President George W. Bush, and the implications of his victory for the presidency and on the Arabs.

The Arabs of America had a large share of

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Majalla’s attention, where we focused on the Arabs and America and the map of the political, economic and military reality between them.

Majalla also published a report on the reasons for America›s hostility to the Arabs, with analysts who discussed the reasons and motives and the reasons why it always stood by Israel.

Files were also published about Shimon Peres› persuading Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to return to the Intifada.

Although years had passed since the end of the Lebanese war, the magazine published an investigation about the families of the kidnapped in Lebanon, for whom the war was still a daily reality that they lived through and drained their strength. It also published reports on the prisoners of Kuwait, the kidnapped in Algeria, the Iraqi prisoners in Iran, and the Iranian prisoners in Iraq.

Majalla also highlighted Libya›s exit to the world after years of political and economic blockade.

We also published an article by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who wrote about Saudi Arabia›s future optimism and our beliefs, which are being polluted by the dirt of electronic means.

Additionally, Majalla put forward, on the lips of analysts and experts, expectations for the year 2001 at all levels; where Kazem El-Saher, an Iraqi singer, composer and songwriter, wrote about the future of the Arab song, which bodes well. In the same context, Nour El-Sharif, a prominent Egyptian actor, wrote about Arab cinema, calling for the production of a film about Intifada.

The 9/11 Attacks: Shock, Sadness, Fear, and Anger

2001: The Status of Afghanistan’s Arabs, Publishing Declassified Documents from US Intelligence

By Majalla - London

Majalla revealed the fear suffered by Arabs in America after September 11, and a fatwa to remove the veil, in addition to the documents that covered the period of the June 1967 war over Jerusalem, refugees and Israel›s withdrawal.

The year 2001 was a fateful year after the events of September 11, which cast its shadow over the last quarter of the year.

Among the important interviews conducted by Majalla in 2001 was an interview given by the British Foreign Minister who stated, «We will pursue bin Laden to the end.»

At a time when experts confirmed to Majalla that killing bin Laden is more dangerous than keeping him alive, they promoted the possibility of killing him secretly or hiding him forever. This was ten years before his death.

Majalla also conducted an interview with Bin Laden›s cook who revealed private details about him, including that his favorite food is kabsa, and that most of his visitors are Egyptians and Libyans.

Majalla also conducted an investigation on the Arabs of Afghanistan, their origins and their places of concentration.

Among the important issues revealed by Majalla was the publication of secret correspondence between King Faisal and the US government, including an American document that says, «We must speed up to achieve a difficult goal, which is to gain the trust of the Saudis.»

Majalla also revealed old documents about the hijacking and bombing of 12 American planes, and exposed facts about the secret of bin Laden›s mobile, as well as details of his diary.

Moreover, Majalla revealed the fear suffered by Arabs in America after September 11, and a fatwa to remove the veil, in addition to the documents that covered the period of the June 1967 war over Jerusalem, refugees and Israel›s withdrawal.

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Majalla was the first in its interview with Amr Moussa after he assumed the secretariat of the Arab League and said that circumstances forced him to be Secretary-General. He alleged that he did not attack anyone in the government and that his statements were misunderstood.

Majalla also provided a reading of the US terrorism list, and answered the question “What do they say about Saudi Arabia, the Gulf and the Arab countries?”

Majalla also revealed documents from US intelligence about Israel›s intention of a missile strike against Saudi Arabia.

Majalla also highlighted the disappearance of the investigatory files into the Sabra and Shatila massacres that occurred in Lebanon in 1982.

In 2001, the artist Soad Hosni passed away, and question marks still revolve around her death. In this regard, Majalla reported the story from her diary and the case to be made for political murder. Majalla interviewed the writer of her memoirs, who said that there was nothing to be frightened about, but that there was complicity in her death.

Among the important interviews conducted by Majalla was one with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, who mentioned Beirut and revealed papers on the peace talks. «Sharon is stupid and will not forget Beirut,» he said.

In another report on bin Laden, Majalla presented related reports, including the impact of events on Arab markets, and the outbreak of war on the Internet. It also raised the issue of Israel’s benefiting from America›s bombings to end the Intifada.

Majalla also highlighted Arab efforts to prevent attacks on their nationals in America.

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Publishing Reports on The Atomic Bomb and The Occupation of Iraq and Polls

2002: The Readiness for the Entry of US Forces into Iraq and Various Sports, Social and Political Reports

By Majalla - London

Majalla participated in the dialogue of Arab and American intellectuals on the fight against terrorism and victory for freedom and democracy.

Majalla revealed secrets and facts for the first time about the «Abu Nidal» organization, as it interviewed Khaled Awad, a leading member of Fatah - the Revolutionary Council. The story told of internal disputes and liquidations that claimed the lives of dozens of ISIS cadres who were executed by Abu Nidal in the Naji al-Ali Camp in Libya. He also told us the story of the splits, the internal liquidations, and the massacres of the Naji al-Ali Camp in Garyan.

Among the most prominent political files dealt with by “Majalla” are America›s training of special forces to intervene in Yemen and pursue al-Qaeda elements, Kuwait›s accusation of Iraqi officials of war crimes, the air intervention of the US forces against Iraq, and how the Americans care about the costs of the war against Iraq.

Majalla also obtained the Pentagon report on the occupation of Iraq.

Majalla also obtained reports from the White House on the use of the atomic bomb and conducted an opinion poll on the support or rejection of suicide operations.

On the eve of his selection as the best player in the world, in that year, Ronaldo›s wife, Melina Dominguez, revealed in an exclusive interview with «Majalla» that he left all his girlfriends after their marriage, and responded to the pictures that spread of her in underwear.

Regarding sports, «Majalla» interviewed the Brazilian Romario.

In addition, Majalla participated in the dialogue of Arab and American intellectuals on the fight against terrorism and victory for freedom and

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democracy.

Also, Majalla had an exclusive interview with a senior official in the International Atomic Energy Agency and who is familiar with the file of the relationship between Iraq and the agency, which dealt with the aspect related to nuclear activity.

The official spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Kim Gordon, said in an exclusive interview with Majalla, which we conducted in Geneva, that the prisoners who were captured in Afghanistan and transferred to “Guantanamo” are prisoners of war until proven otherwise, and refused to let the US authorities be the opponent and judge.

In the same regard, Majalla published the details of the mysterious journey of the Moroccan «Hamid», a Guantanamo detainee from Ceuta to Kandahar and then Guantanamo, who was accused of belonging to Al-Qaeda.

Likewise, Deputy Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohsen Armin revealed to Majalla the direct and indirect contacts with the Americans, referring to calls in Iran that existed in previous years and in the recent period to deal with America because of its remoteness in regional issues.

Among the investigations published by Majalla at that time was an investigation into the stories of the marriage of Palestinians to Tunisian women on the day that the ship Al-Maqla carrying Palestinians docked in Tunisia after the invasion of Beirut in 1982, and the problems facing these marriages, since the Palestinians wanted to return to their homeland, while the Tunisian wives sought stability in their homeland and among their families.

The Iraq War and Its Impact on the Region

2003: Intellectual Dialogue Under the Patronage of Prince Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Coinciding with the Escalation of Events in Iraq

By Majalla - London

Majalla revealed Saddam Hussein›s third surprise, under the title “The Great Escape: How did the Iraqi Plan Fail and Why was the Password Lost?” in which Majalla exposed the American plan in southern Iraq.

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this year, the door was opened to a comprehensive dialogue across the full spectrum of society about national unity and the impact of scholars on it. The sessions of the National Meeting for Intellectual Dialogue that were held in Riyadh represented a historic stage in this field, and “historic” is a word that does exaggerate the momentous occasion. It was the first time in the history of the Kingdom that a meeting of this kind took place.

An event of this magnitude and importance would not have occurred without the patronage of Prince Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, who adopted a proposal to discuss a number of intellectual issues that came to him from a number of scholars.

It is known that Prince Abdullah has worked in recent years with wisdom and foresight to address the loopholes exploited by foreign meddlers to tamper with the security and unity of society, including any external attempts aimed at diverting the political momentum or putting pressure on the legitimate foundations that represent national unity.

Regarding the importance of the dialogue sessions, under the title “The Door to Dialogue,” Majalla reviewed the opinions of the various participants from different sects, wherein the ideas they presented arose from the common conviction that the safest way to besiege extremist ideology was to admit that this meeting was long overdue.

Majalla examined all the happenings and events that coincided with the Iraqi earthquake that shook the neighboring countries amid American fear of political

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results that had not yet become manifest at the time.

Under the title «Baghdad, Washington: The Ring and the Predicament,» Majalla wrote about the way the countries of the region dealt with the Iraqi earthquake, and revealed the fact that Ayman Al-Zawahiri entered Iraq and met Saddam Hussein.

In that year, the Americans began a new era in the region, starting with Iraq, where Majalla revealed Saddam Hussein›s third surprise, under the title “The Great Escape: How did the Iraqi Plan Fail and Why was the Password Lost?” in which Majalla exposed the American plan in southern Iraq.

With the escalation of war preparations in the region that year, Majalla interviewed Saudi businessmen, who discussed the negative effects that will affect many sectors, stressing that the Saudi economy has a dose of immunity.

As for culture, Western intellectuals supported the war on Iraq, the Americans were divided over it, and the British expressed their position through singing and poetry.

The Israeli Minister, Shulamit Aloni, declared to Majalla all the faults of Israel.

On the other hand, the Lebanese President Amin Gemayel also had his share of Majalla›s interviews, during which he opened his records, saying that the Christians made a mistake and did not understand what was going on around us, and it was not yet time for self-criticism.

As for art, Majalla interviewed Kazem ElSaher, who spoke about developments in the Arab world, saying: “No people allow the occupation and plunder of their wealth in front of their eyes.”

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A Different View of Islam is Still Casting a Shadow after the Events of September 11

2004: Repercussions of September 11 and Torture inside Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp

By Majalla - London

Majalla covered the poisoning of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and revealed a secret agreement behind his poisoning.

In 2004, the Arab and Islamic world was still experiencing the consequences of the events of September 11, despite the passage of three years since the incident that dumbstruck the United States and had serious repercussions on the Islamic world as well as Arab communities residing in the United States.

The news of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp was also a constant subject on the international media, and Majalla shed light on the stories of torture inside the prisons.

It also conducted interviews with the families of prisoners who were tortured, and reported on the position of human rights associations that denounced the torture of prisoners.

Majalla also covered the poisoning of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and revealed a secret agreement behind his poisoning.

Among the important interviews conducted by Majalla, was an interview with the Shiite scholar Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah, who expected that the US occupation of Iraq would last more than ten years. In the interview, he saw that Bush sees Islam as a danger to the West and that his policy stems from a crusader perspective. He also saw that America had used Saddam in the region in order to achieve more than one goal.

Moreover, Majalla conducted an interview with former Lebanese President Amine Gemayel, who spoke about his personal memories as well as his memories of the Lebanese war.

Among the important interviews was that with Jalal Talabani, the head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan at the time, who then saw that the attacks against US forces in Iraq were not an organized resistance, and that these operations were run by Al-Qaeda and the remnants of Saddam.

Majalla also highlighted in 2014 the quiet transition in the Emirates, which transferred power to the younger generation. Majalla interviewed experts and analysts about the country›s future under the new authority.

In Darfur, Majalla entered the thicket of thorny issues, in an article entitled «Darfur: Peace Abuja or the Hammer of the Marines.» In this story, Majalla pointed out that the West›s eyes are on oil and uranium, and that there is a human tragedy and political disregard of it.

In medicine, Majalla conducted an important interview with the international heart surgeon Magdi Yacoub, who announced for the first time that Arabs have a genetic predisposition to diabetes, heart diseases and obesity.

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A New Era in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon after Rafic Hariri, and the Inauguration of German Chancellor Angela Merkel

2005: Majalla Shed Light on Many Thorny and Varied Topics Between Politics, Art and Culture

By Majalla - London

Majalla conducted a review of the 15 years from the year 1990, in which the region moved from the chaos of the invasion to reform.

The year 2005 witnessed the departure of King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz and the accession of King Abdullah to the reins of power. Majalla has devoted many issues to highlight the merits of the late King, and the vision of the new King.

2005 also witnessed the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, whose assassination caused a shockwave in Lebanon and Syria in particular.

The assassination of Hariri had preceded the issuance of UN Resolution 1559 to disarm the armed forces in Lebanon and confine them to the army, which raised questions about the future of Hezbollah.

That year also witnessed the rise of the German right-wing opposition with Angela Merkel moving steadily towards the German chancellery. At the time, the world press cheered for a woman to become the German chancellor.

Majalla also conducted an investigation about John Garang, the vice president of Sudan in the new National Coalition government, and revealed secrets about him for the first time.

In addition, Majalla conducted a review of the 15 years from the year 1990, in which the region moved from the chaos of the invasion to reform.

Among the cultural interviews that Majalla conducted was an interview with the writer Ali Salem, who had just returned from Tel Aviv, and declared that he is proud to be the pioneer of normalization with Israel. He also praised the abundance of writers in the Arab world, and said that their number has never been so many.

He considered that the Egyptian voices that rose against normalization were nothing more than a “vanishing cry,” and that he was the one who won in the end.

In art, Majalla conducted an interview with international Egyptian film director Youssef Chahine who stated that America could not tolerate his film “Alexandria… New York” and banned it because it criticized President Bush on the background of his war on terrorism. He said in the interview also that America killed more than 200,000 Iraqis because of democracy, but it does not acknowledge this to itself.

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Hamas-Fatah Clashes; US Presence in Iraq Under Spotlight 2006: Lebanese War and Humanitarian Catastrophe

By Majalla - London

Majalla covered more than one conference, including «Religious Discourse in the Light of New International Changes,» which was held in Algeria at a time of the growth of extremist Islamic groups and the rise of extremist religious discourse.

In the summer of 2006, on July 12, the Israeli army launched a war on Lebanon that lasted 33 days, after elements of Hezbollah crossed the Blue Line and kidnapped Israeli soldiers.

Majalla featured the July war in more than one article and shed light on the economic repercussions it left, including the collapse of infrastructure, the destruction of tourist facilities, as well as the environmental disaster that Lebanon experienced due to its being attacked by missiles that led to the leakage of fuel into the sea that reached the shores of Cyprus.

It also described the humanitarian catastrophe represented by the hundreds of wounded and dead who fell victim to the devastating war.

On the Lebanese issue as well, among the important interviews conducted by Majalla was an interview with Ibrahim Shams al-Din, who declared that Hezbollah does not represent all Shiites and that Iran is not the point of reference.

He said that the Shiites do not want to overthrow the Taif Agreement, which ended the Lebanese war because it was an agreement that did justice to them and strengthened their role in the Lebanese political life.

In 2006, the war was still raging between Fatah and Hamas and Majalla wrote about the war to more than one article and addressed the domestic and external reasons behind the failure of the Hamas government.

It also shed light through experts on the scenarios of exiting the war with minimal losses and the future of the Palestinian Authority after the repercussions imposed by the devastating war and the future of the national unity government.

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On the Iraqi issue, Iraq was still living in an explosive security situation and there was talk of a new strategy being studied by then-US President George W. Bush regarding his forces in Iraq, with a view to the electoral campaigns he was waging in the US. Majalla also published a number of opinion polls conducted in the West which showed that the majority wants to withdraw its soldiers from Iraq after the killing of 90 American soldiers within one month in Baghdad.

The sectarian clashes were at their height when Majalla covered the battles and conducted interviews with Iraqi leaders as well as interviews with political analysts who monitored the US policy towards Iraq and the future presence of the US armed forces on its soil.

It also published an article by Tayeb Salih in the same vein entitled «The Battle of Zallaqa: Lessons in Victory and Surprise,» in which he talked about the Battle of Zallaqa.

In this battle, Muslims won and prevented the Christian tide, extending the life of the Islamic state in Andalusia for three centuries, in a restoration of a war considered by the Arabs as one of their most important victories.

Another important article was a piece by the Egyptian writer Mona Obeid, who talked about «the bloodshed between the madness of Fatah and the recklessness of Hamas,» in which she touched on the strategies of the war and the scale of the loss and profit in a war that the Palestinian people paid for over the years.

Majalla also published an article by writer Salah Issa, in which he talked about «the clips of Field Marshal Osama bin Laden,» and ridiculed the videos that were published by bin Laden, showing him as a naive man who does not have more knowledge of Islam than a rural preacher.

Insights into War on Gaza; Turkish Democracy and King Abdullah’s European Tour 2007: Saddam Hussein’s Execution and US Strategy in Iraq

By Majalla - London

Majalla accompanied King Abdullah on his European tour where he brought to the world issues of peace and openness.

In 2007 the world was still bearing the brunt of Saddam Hussein›s execution when Majalla began its coverage and touched upon Iraqi President Jalal Talabani›s refusal to sign the execution order and Iraqi Shia scholar Muqtada al-Sadr›s death sentence.

Majalla also shed light on US President George W. Bush›s strategy in Iraq revealing that the US domestic debate at that time had entered a dangerous stage of questioning whether there really was a war on terrorism in Iraq.

Majalla published a report by American intelligence which described what is happening in Iraq as a civil war in which Iran is involved as are other regional parties whose presence Bush had strengthened.

Majalla also reported on war on Gaza, and the failure of political Islam in the Arab world.

Majalla meanwhile covered the Turkish elections and the predicament of the military. Majalla described it as a victory for democracy that put the army into a quandary at a time when development and economic stability became the real guarantors of security and stability.

In the Middle East, more than one Arab country was experiencing a hot summer and it was expected that Israel might take advantage of this situation to launch its offensive.

In the environmental area, Majalla was interested in the Paris Climate Conference, which sounded the alarm about the repercussions of climate change.

In Saudi news, Majalla accompanied King Abdullah on his European tour where he brought to the world issues of peace and openness.

On the economy, Majalla highlighted the volume of investments in the UAE, where the investment returns were the highest in the region and it was a magnet for Gulf capital.

Majalla also conducted an interview with Haifa Abu-Ghazaleh, the Regional Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, in which she spoke about the achievements of Arab women.

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Bhutto’s Assassination and Pakistan’s Future

2008: The Harassment Faced by Muslims in America after the Events of September 11

By Majalla - London

Among the hot topics that Majalla reported was the issue of the hidden dispute between the Shiites of Iraq and the Shiites of Iran.

The year 2008 witnessed the assassination of Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and Majalla focused on the details of Bhutto›s assassination and analyzes about the future of Pakistan after the assassination.

It also conducted interviews with analysts and experts who dealt with the assassination issue, theorized who was behind it and its repercussions on the country›s future.

Majalla also conducted interviews with scholars, experts and political activists who stressed the end of the era of ideologies and emphasized that political Islam is a failed option, and that the alternative is dialogue.

Majalla shed light on the harassment faced by Muslims in America after the events of September 11, and opened a file on interfaith dialogue. It shed light on the fever of a populist and political struggle that affected even cinematic works, where the «Egyptian pharaoh» bared his teeth to confront Persian nationalism.

Among the hot topics that Majalla reported was the issue of the hidden dispute between the Shiites of Iraq and the Shiites of Iran.

Among the important interviews conducted by Majalla was an interview with a prisoner released from Israeli prisons, Samir Kuntar, a Lebanese Druze member of the Palestine Liberation Front and Hezbollah, who was released as part of an exchange deal in 2008. Majalla entered his house and met his family, and he told the story of his life since he was arrested in his teens and spent many years in detention which gave him the nickname “Dean of Prisoners.”

Majalla also shed light on Israel›s exploitation of the events of September 11th to end the Intifada, as well as the debt crisis in America that caused internal political problems.

The technological development that began to loom with the new generations of phones was among the important issues to which Majalla gave a lot of attention by highlighting the most prominent discoveries and predicting the advances that would occur in the future, some of which we are already starting to use. In this area, Majalla highlighted the security holes in the websites of the banking industry.

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Iran’s Regional Role Exposed Before Becoming Public

2009: Climate Change Danger, Economic Recession and Iran’s Proxy War

By Majalla - London

Under the title «War by Proxy,» Al- Majalla opened a file 13 years ago, in which it revealed how Tehran influenced the decision of the Houthi movement.

Al-Majalla released several unique issues in 2009, including economic issues that preoccupied the world with the economic depression, sounding the alarm regarding global warming and Iran›s proxy wars in the region.

Under the title «War by Proxy,» Al- Majalla opened a file 13 years ago, in which it revealed how Tehran influenced the decision of the Houthi movement.

Al- Majalla devoted space to this file and revealed that the evidence confirms the Iranian role in support of the Houthis. It also highlighted the beginning of the Houthi movement in 1986, until it took a path opposing the Yemeni government in 2002, after secretly practicing politics for the past years.

Al-Majalla also opened the file of the Iranian interference in the Arab region and Iran›s attempt to present itself as a significant regional power.

Under the title «Khomeinism›s Dying,» Al-Majalla highlighted the Iranian elections and the struggle of conservatives and reformists in Iran, where the presidential election crisis erupted on that day, and no signs of a consensual solution appeared on the horizon.

In 2009, Iraq was still burning under a barrage of bombings that claimed the lives of thousands of innocent people. On that day, Al-Majalla interviewed Jawad al-Bolani, the Iraq Interior Minister, who saw that despite the bombings, Iraq was moving towards achieving security Al-Majalla also devoted space to the global warming and climate crisis, years before the repercussions began to become apparent and affect the daily lives of the planet›s inhabitants.

Several topics talking about this climate issue sounded the alarm concerning the Middle East in

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particular, and they addressed a conference held in NASA, during which it revealed the world›s failure to deal seriously with this file, whose repercussions are visible today.

In one of the issues, Al-Majalla asked, «Will the Arab countries alone bear the price of adult crime?» Pointed out that all expectations go toward confirming that the Middle East will be the first to pay the price of climate change, as desertification will increase, the Arab per capita share of water will decrease, crops will fall, and epidemics will spread.

Al -Majalla also highlighted the report issued in 2007 by the International Committee of Climate Change, which stated that due to the current rise in temperature, between 75 and 250 million people in Africa would suffer from water shortage in 2020, and agricultural production will fall by 50 percent in some countries.

Because 2009 was the year of economic setbacks, Al-Majalla devoted files to talk about the repercussions of the economic depression or what was known as the Great Recession and compared it through analysts to the Great Depression that preceded World War II. Al-Majalla also spoke about investing in education as a better way for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries when the region faced serious challenges on several levels, including the exchange system linked to the US dollar, which threatens to inflate assets.

One of Al-Majalla›s important interviews in 2009 was with John Chipman, General Director and CEO of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. Chipman spoke about the Manama Dialogue Conference for Regional Security, organized annually in Bahrain since 2004. He also denied that the Gulf states are in the process of buying nuclear warheads from Pakistan to balance Iranian influence in the region.

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Obama’s Foreign Policy and Arab-Israeli Peace

2010: Interviews and Files that Carried the Concerns of the Arab World

By Majalla - London

In 2010, Obama was the newly elected US president.

Majalla devoted feature stories addressing his role in Arab-Israeli peace and the consequences of not adhering to the global consensus.

In 2010, Majalla opened the file of Saudi-American relations, which had witnessed some tensions in the 1990s before being dealt a near-fatal blow due to the September 11 attacks and the events that followed.

In an article entitled «Saudi-American Relations: Beyond Oil and Security,» Majalla described how that the formula for security and oil, which used to characterize the two countries› relations, was no longer appropriate in 2010, as many regional variables played a role in defining the future of Saudi-American relations, including the Israeli-Palestinian impasse and Iranian nuclear ambitions.

The article included an account of the history of relations between the two countries.

Majalla also conducted an interview with the American ambassador in Riyadh at the time, James B. Smith, in which he stressed the strength of the Saudi-American relationship, and stressed the common orientation towards a knowledge economy.

Among the important interviews, Majalla had an interview with the former US ambassador to Iran John Limbert, who is the only American official who met the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Khamenei face-to-face, when he talked about the future of Iranian-American relations.

Limbert had left Iran 30 years ago, and had spoken to Majalla about Obama›s relationship with Iran, and the positive messages that the US president had given to Iran.

As in previous years, Majalla continued to open files on climate change, when the Arab media was not interested in this issue, and Majalla linked the economic crisis at the time with the investments that must be made by the politicians who were

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preparing for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in order to make their economies eco-friendly and reduce climate change, which became unsupported due to the crisis.

In 2010, Obama was the newly elected US president.

Majalla devoted feature stories addressing his role in Arab-Israeli peace and the consequences of not adhering to the global consensus.

Majalla revealed that no one expected that Arab-Israeli peace would be on top of the Obama administration›s priorities, especially after the visit of thenVice President Joe Biden to Israel. The visit coincided with the announcement of the construction of more settlements in East Jerusalem, which dashed hopes of achieving any progress.

In an article entitled “Al-Qaeda and Its Followers,” Majalla shed light on Al-Qaeda and the questions were asked, “Is it getting stronger, or will Obama›s promise to tear it up be fulfilled?” in an objective reading of the size of Al-Qaeda, its mode of operation, and the decline in its popularity due to the violent incidents associated with its name.

Iraq›s concerns were not absent from Majalla, as the Iraqi elections at that time were preceded by many turbulent and disturbing events, which weakened hope that there would be a real democratic state in Iraq subject to the «rule of law.»

In a feature entitled «The Future of Iraq will not be Determined by the Iraqis, but by Washington›s Will and Tehran›s Ambitions,» Majalla highlighted the seriousness of the election that was being held that year, in terms of putting Iraq›s identity and future on the line and facing difficult choices.

Among the economic files that Majalla opened in 2010 is the story about the decline in American influence and the progress of China to lead the world economically.

Exclusive Interview and Search for Fate of Region

2011: Keeping Pace with Arab Revolutions and Calm - Analysis of Aftermath of Regimes Fall

By Majalla - London

Majalla talked about the rule of the Supreme Leader in Iran, from Khomeini to Ali Khamenei and how he assumed power when he was 77 years old, leading to the turmoil in Iran at the time.

The year 2011 was a fateful year in the Arab world, during which revolutions took place, regimes fell, leaders were assassinated, and the face of the region changed.

Majalla has kept up with all the changes since the first spark of the Arab Spring, the repercussions of which are still being felt despite the passage of 11 years.

Parallel to the political developments, Majalla focused on the social dimension of the violent incidents that occurred in more than one Arab country against children in particular.

From Libya, Majalla recounted stories that were kept away from the media, such as the suffering of children who were experiencing violence face to face.

In the midst of the events that took place in Bahrain in 2011, Majalla met the head of the National Unity Gathering, Abdul Latif Al Mahmoud, who revealed foreign interference in Bahrain.

He revealed a conspiracy led by Iran and said that the protest movement in Bahrain was led by the Bahraini Hezbollah, which is backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, and whose goal was to reach power in the Kingdom, which the National Unity Gathering stood against.

Majalla also shed light on the changes that Egypt experienced after the fall of Mubarak and the emergence of the Muslim Brotherhood. The magazine also ran features addressing the Syrian revolution.

The repercussions of the economic crisis were still haunting the major countries at the time, so Majalla also devoted space to talk about the economies of the major countries, especially the United States and its plans for recovery after the depression.

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Under the title «The New Geopolitical Factors for Food from the Middle East to Madagascar,» Majalla described the issue of rising wheat prices, and their uneven impact on countries and individuals according to their purchasing power.

With the turmoil in the Middle East, and in Libya in particular, oil prices rose, which prompted the Gulf States to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the rise in oil prices in light of the ongoing political turmoil that represented a crisis for investors and market influencers.

Because the environmental aspect has never been absent from Majalla’s concerns, it has devoted articles to the environment, and shed light on the environmental movement that has undergone a tangible development in the Gulf since the beginning of the third millennium.

2011 witnessed elections in more than one country, including Turkey, where the Justice and Development Party won that year.

One of the important interviews conducted by Majalla in 2011 was an interview with Dr. James Al-Zoghbi, founder and president of the Arab-American Institute based in Washington, DC, who exposed the backdrop of policymaking in the United States of America.

He also spoke about the American view of Arabs and Muslims (in 2011) becoming more negative than it was in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks, and about what Arab- Americans are doing to influence American foreign policy in the Middle East, and how are they trying to influence American public opinion.

In an article entitled «Waiting for a Successor to The Supreme Leader of Iran: Iran is looking for a Leader for this Time,» Majalla talked about the rule of the Supreme Leader in Iran, from Khomeini to Ali Khamenei and how he assumed power when he was 77 years old, leading to the turmoil in Iran at the time.

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Assessment of Obama’s policy, Iranian Threat and Turkish File 2012: Following Course of Arab Spring and Rise of Brotherhood

By Majalla - London

Majalla opened a category for the Arab revolutions, and recalled events that began in Tunisia when the Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi set fire not only to his body, but to the entire region.

In 2012, the world was experiencing the first year of the Arab Spring, and the results of the Arab revolutions had begun to become clear, and the winners and losers appeared in the balance of the revolution.

Majalla opened a category for the Arab revolutions, and recalled events that began in Tunisia when the Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi set fire not only to his body, but to the entire region. Majalla also reported on the extension of the revolution to Libya and the role of Western powers with the intervention of NATO, the violent face of the Arab Spring, the end of Qaddafi, the violent events that began in Yemen, and the literature that led to the withdrawal of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Majalla pointed out that Tunisia was the only country among the Arab Spring countries that managed to make the transition smoothly.

In politics, Majalla opened a file on the Gulf Cooperation Council and its active foreign policy, as the turmoil paved the way for the politics witnessed by the Arab world from the beginning of 2011 until 2012 causing the fall of four political regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen, before a period of foreign political activity for the Arab Gulf states.

Majalla also reported on the contradiction between Qatar and the UAE in the policies related to the Muslim sister states, as Qatar maintained close relations with the various Islamic forces that appeared at that time throughout the Middle East.

Conversely, the Emirates came to consider the Brotherhood›s policy as a direct threat to the ruling regimes in the Arab Gulf and took direct steps to undermine the Islamists› message in the region, especially at home.

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In the United States file, Majalla reported on then US President Barack Obama under the title «Account Statement,» and highlighted the achievements and failures in his country›s foreign relations, as he accumulated some notable successes, including the significant weakening of Al-Qaeda, and the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq.

Regarding the Turkish situation, Majalla published an article entitled «The Road to Ankara» that asked whether the Arab Spring would re-activate Turkish foreign policy, and discussed Turkey›s ability to maintain its strategic role in the region.

In the Iranian problem, Majalla highlighted the Strait of Hormuz at a time when threats abounded, coinciding with a succession of maneuvers using live ammunition, and the mutual threats between Iran and the United States about who can close the Strait of Hormuz and who can prevent closing the Strait.

Majalla also addressed the issue of Iran and the policy of creating crises from Saddam to Bashar in an article entitled «Protocols of the Leader In a piece entitled “Arabs of the Gulf after the Arab Spring,” Majalla presented facts about the events of the roundabout that took place in Bahrain, in an attempt to clarify what happened in the Gulf country, which made some observers at the time join Bahrain to the countries of the Arab Spring.

Aside from politics, Majalla examined the future of the print press, in light of the momentum gained by the digital revolution in the Arab world. It also wondered whether the print press could face the challenge.

In the Internet field as well, Majalla reported on social networking sites and their importance in shaping and directing public opinion, after Facebook was one of the most important means that moved the street in the Arab Spring.

Majalla Focuses on Iranian Role and Activity of Terrorist Groups

2013: Year of Economic Difficulties for Arab Spring Countries and Dubai’s Economic Recovery

By Majalla - London

Majalla opened the file of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, in an article entitled «A History of Violence and Pragmatism.»

The year 2013 was the year of the economic difficulties that followed the Arab revolutions, but it was also the year of the economic recovery of the Emirate of Dubai, after the stifling crisis it went through, under the title «Dubai After RecoveryThe Emirate of Stability,» Majalla reported on the emerging emirate that was experiencing signs of economic recovery after the crisis of 2008 and 2009.

Majalla also published an article about Chinese-Gulf relations and China›s balanced role in the Gulf, through an interview with Jon B. Alterman, Director of the Middle East and North Africa at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He spoke about the history of China›s relationship with the Arab world, and the Chinese attempt over the years to establish strategic relations with the Saudis.

Also in the topic of economics, under the title “The Autumn of the Economy,” Majalla talked about how history has witnessed economic crises that continue for decades after revolutions until the country returns to economic stability. It also talked about a fundamental shift in the political arena of the Middle East and North Africa with the events of the Arab Spring, when the nations involved were ruled by presidents who had full influence over the country›s authorities, which led to corruption and nepotism and affected the economic situation.

Majalla also looked at the economic effects of the Arab Spring on Gulf Cooperation Council countries under the title «The Economics of the Crisis,» in which analysts concluded that the political movement in the region had no significant negative impact on the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the most influential factor changed in the petroleum market.

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Regarding the Iranian situation, Majalla spoke about the dominance of several concepts surfacing in studies related to Iran since the outbreak of the Islamic Revolution, among which was the assertion that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is the main driver of events in the country, as it and its role in Iranian politics that cast a thick shadow on Iranian political analyzes at the time.

With the activity of terrorist movements, Majalla ran features about the war on terrorism, with the progress of developments in Mali and the hostage crisis in Amenas at the time, including direct military intervention. Moreover, Majalla spoke of the fact that jihadists and opportunists alike in North Africa established a major criminal network that smuggled drugs, weapons, cigarettes and people and also kidnapped hostages for ransom.

Majalla also opened the file of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, in an article entitled «A History of Violence and Pragmatism.» It shone the light on the group›s history as the oldest and largest Islamic organization in Egypt, and as the most organized opposition group trying to oust President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Majalla described how it became the dominant political force in Egypt and, after winning the majority of parliamentary seats after the revolution, its candidate Mohamed Morsi was able to win the presidency.

In the same story, Majalla described the prospects for the Islamization of Turkey, after the Justice and Development Party became the party with the longest existence in the history of the Turkish Republic.

In art, under the title «The Traveling Cinema,» Majalla chronicled Saudi film during forty years.

It pointed out that the number of films produced in Saudi Arabia during the past forty years reached nearly 300 films, most of which were produced during the last ten years.

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Shining Light on Significant Saudi Role, Interesting Secrets in Chaos-hit Communities 2014: Diving into Scenes of Rising Islamic Movements, Spread of Terrorism

By Majalla - London

Majalla also interviewed a number of Turkish and Kurdish officials and notables who spoke about Turkey›s dilemma in supporting terrorism.

In 2014, Majalla opened several files and delved behind the scenes of Arab and international issues.

The most prominent event that characterized the year was that it was the year of the Saudi success par excellence, through the rise of political realism, the war on terrorism and Gulf reconciliation.

The beginning issues of Majalla in 2014 were about the battle of the caliphate, from the cradle of intelligence to the point of delegating states and how the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant benefited from the chaos and was able to win the favor of some societies through the social services it provided. This led to the shock of “June 30” and the Islamic movements and choices after the Arab Spring era, as well as the rise and fall of failed states and chaotic societies, the riddles of terrorism and Saudi Arabia, and the captives of ISIS. Majalla also interviewed a number of Turkish and Kurdish officials and notables who spoke about Turkey›s dilemma in supporting terrorism.

With regard to the Iranian nuclear agreement that year, Majalla wrote about the “historic mistake” and the “thin thread” between Lebanon and the Shiite group, Hezbollah’s responsibility for the assassination of prominent figures, and how Iran lost more than 100$ billion as a result of the sanctions imposed on it. Majalla reported on the Houthis and the replication of Hezbollah›s tactics in Yemen.

In addition, Majalla dealt with the so-called red lines, through which it refuted the reasons for the Gulf States› concern about the Iranian-American rapprochement.

The year 2014 was the fourth year of death, devastation and fragmentation for Syrians, as

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Majalla had a critical vision that focused on schools and education.

The Syrian crisis as well as the Ukrainian crisis have since been given special reading by the writers of Majalla, when it published an investigation on the geopolitical effects of the Ukrainian crisis.

In the same context, Majalla was alone in revealing the plans of clandestine religious groups to seize power in Egypt.

Majalla also examined French politics, as it wrote about Paris, the policeman of Africa, active in the black continent but lost in the Middle East.

Moreover, we published our interview with the then US National Security Adviser Robert McFarlane who spoke about US influence in Lebanon, Syria and Palestine, plus another separate report on the war in Gaza with Israel. We had also an interview with Dennis Ross, the former US envoy to the Middle East, who revealed to Majalla a leading and pivotal role for Saudi Arabia in the war on terrorism, saying that the world is waiting for a military role for Riyadh.

The interview also dealt with the US role in the region as well as ISIS and Hezbollah.

In 2014 also, Majalla published for the first time facts and secrets about the major turmoil in Egypt and the role of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Military Council in controlling events, as an Egyptian politician and historian revealed the covert events of the last days of the Mubarak and Sisi regimes.

Addressing issues of no less importance, such as human smuggling, water security, aircraft safety, and others, Majalla interviewed the Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, who explained to us the routes taken by illegal smugglers through the territory of Libya, which was suffering from chaos on the borders and fighting inside the cities.

Kidnapping, Recruiting Children and Minorities 2015: Addressing Issues Still Occupying the World Till Now

By Majalla - London

Majalla visited the Syrian refugee camps and documented the worst human ordeals we have witnessed in the modern era.

The emphasis by the Majalla issues in 2015 was not less in terms of importance, richness and diversity in all topics, as we have not lost sight of the major issues that have continually occupied the world for years, including the nuclear issue and ISIS, which declared war on the world, European unity, educational curricula, and the digital age, and so on.

We had an interview with eyewitnesses and dissident members of ISIS who spoke to Majalla about the crisis of minorities in the ranks of the organization, as ISIS appointed emirs from the minorities to reassure the national components.

Majalla also toured the Pakistani tribal areas, which were considered the «back garden» of extremists. The tour also inspected the site of the Peshawar school massacre, where six gunmen affiliated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) conducted a terrorist attack on the Army Public School in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar.

Majalla spoke exclusively with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who told us about the Gulf-Egyptian consensus across political parties as well as security and strategic cooperation to pursue terrorism and defuse crises in the region.

Majalla also met with the «old guard» of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after his acquittal, where they discussed the repercussions of Mubarak›s and his two sons’ innocence on his supporters and men.

Majalla opened the most ‘controversial’ international inquires under the title «Countries, Gangs and Terrorist Groups that have Legalized Kidnapping and Captivity,» and surveyed specialists› opinions about future options after

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violence had become an alternative to dialogue.

We had an interview with Denis Bouchard, a French international relations expert who revealed France›s foreign and domestic vision.

In addition, Majalla met Mohklas Yezidis from the headquarters of Al-Baghdadi’s Wilayat, including “Abu Shuja,” who told us a story that is stranger than fiction – as he went to free his cousins who had been cursed by ISIS, he was also able to free more than 100 girls.

Through Majalla, Abu Shuja revealed the whereabouts of Al-Baghdadi›s captives in Syria and Iraq.

In this context, a Syrian child told Majalla the story of his retreat from blowing himself up in Baghdad after investigating the rapid consumption of young suicide bombers, the “birds of hell,” the reasons for their recruitment as well as the means.

Majalla visited the Syrian refugee camps and documented the worst human ordeals we have witnessed in the modern era.

For 23 days, Majalla accompanied the humiliating exit of the most dangerous terrorist organization from Kobani, where it interviewed a number of ISIS elements before the withdrawal.

Majalla also reported the serious leaks by Muslim Brotherhood leaders, as it monitored the secrets of Al-Aqrab Prison, which is the most heavily guarded Egyptian prison.

We also had an interview with the leader of the Tunisian Ennahda Movement, Rached Ghannouchi, and the Secretary-General of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and published an overview of economic and technology issues that year.

Regarding Art, Majalla had interviews with Haifa Wehbe, Ragheb Alama, the international musician Yanni, who performed at the pyramids that year, as well as Laila Elwi, Solaf Fawakherji, Ilham Shaheen, Nabila Obeid and others.

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Rise of Terrorist Groups, Illegal Migration to Europe

2016: Exclusives about Issues that Affected US Judiciary and Arab World

By Majalla - London

One of the important interviews that Majalla conducted in 2016 was with Brigadier General Abu Ayyub al-Iraqi after his defection from ISIS. He revealed exclusively to Majalla sensational secrets about the emergence of ISIS and its relationship with Tehran, Hezbollah and the Syrian regime.

Several topics featured in Majalla in 2016, including the issue of Houthi flight from Switzerland to Germany.

At that time, the German Interior Minister refused to comment on Majalla’s questions about the legality of the Houthi rebel leader’s brother entering his country. The German Foreign Ministry denied knowledge of the matter, while Merkel›s government ignored the presence of a terrorist in its land.

At the time, this case was monitored by the US CounterTerrorism Administration, which pointed out that the Houthi case reflected Europe›s crisis regarding refugee assessment procedures in its territory.

Majalla later returned to complete the story when it devoted space to talk about Yahya al-Houthi›s escape and the sale of his property, after it was revealed that he had entered through Berlin with a forged passport. Al-Houthi left Germany at that time for fear of prosecution, after his case was widely publicized in the media.

One of the important interviews that Majalla conducted in 2016 was with Brigadier General Abu Ayyub al-Iraqi after his defection from ISIS. He revealed exclusively to Majalla sensational secrets about the emergence of ISIS and its relationship with Tehran, Hezbollah and the Syrian regime, saying that the organization is led by a quartet headed by Colonel Mazen Nuhairi, a former intelligence officer in Saddam›s regime. He also said that al-Baghdadi is a front man but does not lead ISIS. Majalla also exclusively obtained documents confirming the Syrian regime›s involvement in the purchase of ISIS oil. It revealed that the Syrian regime facilitated financial support for ISIS through the illegal trade between the terrorist organization and the Assad government.

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Insofar as 2016 was a Saudi year of distinction, Majalla devoted space to shed light on the Kingdom’s achievements in this regard, as the Kingdom played an important role in resolving outstanding regional and international problems, and Majalla also highlighted American support for Saudi Arabia, where America was one of the strongest defenders of arms sales to the Kingdom, estimated at 29.4$ billion.

A year after King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz took power in the Kingdom, Majalla highlighted his most important achievements, including the security and stability that the country enjoyed, and the rise of Saudi politics, which established new equations in the region. The Kingdom also leads the world in combating terrorism, ideologically and militarily.

On the social level, the concerns of the Arab citizen did not disappear from Majalla, so it devoted articles to talking about ISIS women living in Syria, and the desire of some of them to escape.

Majalla also did not lose sight of the Arab refugees and their suffering, which attended their conditions in Germany in particular, in an article entitled “The Project for Integrating Syrian Refugees into Society Puts Merkel in Trouble.”

The economy had a large share of the Majalla›s interest, which devoted articles to the Egyptian real estate market, which was then suffering from the dollar crisis, high inflation, and the rush to buy housing units, as well as the temporary success of the real estate market at the time in resisting the bubble.

It also allocated features on the Saudi economy, which was raising confidence despite the oil troubles, as the giant projects continued.

In Art, Majalla conducted interviews with the most important Arab stars to highlight their achievements and introduce readers to the most important artistic events throughout the Arab world.

Insulting Obama, Executing Gaddafi’s Comrades, Haftar’s Bets

2017: Revealing Data Published for First Time from Libya, Iraq, US Congress

By Majalla - London

Elliot Engel, a member of Congress from New York State, spoke to Al-Majalla about Iran›s policy and fears about its proxies. Besides, he spoke about relations with Moscow.

The future paths were drawn at the beginning of this year, as it started with the launch of the Saudi-Chinese summit, which gave a new impetus to the strategic partnership between the two countries. Al-Majalla discussed the impact of that partnership on the political, security, and economic fields Al Majalla conducted an interview with former US Assistant Secretary of Defense Douglas J. Feith, in which he revealed that Barak Obama was repeatedly insulted by Tehran. Feith described Saudi Arabia›s ability to combat terrorism as «unparalleled.»

In addition, Al-Majalla held an exclusive interview with Gaddafi›s special envoy, Ahmed Gaddafi Al-Dam, who revealed new secrets about the 2011 uprising. He also talked about the attempts to assassinate Gaddafi and how Gaddafi›s comrades were subjected to execution, not to natural death in prisons.

As for Congresswoman Nita Lowy, she also spoke to Al-Majalla in an exclusive interview in which she stressed the importance of the Saudi-led Islamic coalition against terrorism, stressing that the cooperation of the Arab League with Israel is the best opportunity to achieve peace.

Several security experts sounded the alarm through Al-Majalla, revealing that the pace of terrorism is faster than the movement of the security services and warning that the next is worse, dangerous and faster.

Bahraini-Saudi relations also had a share in the issues of 2017. Al-Majalla interviewed the Bahraini Minister of Information, Ali AlRumaihi.

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Al-Rumaihi confirmed that the media is a partner in protecting the Gulf›s national security in its security and economic dimensions.

Al-Majalla was not absent from Haftar›s stakes in 2017 and the significant challenges that Russia faced this year under the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Elliot Engel, a member of Congress from New York State, had a share of the interviews conducted

by Al-Majalla. He presented his perception of America›s position on the Iranian regime and Iran›s concerns regionally and internationally. Engel also told Al-Majalla about Iran›s policy and fears about its proxies. Besides, he spoke about relations with Moscow.

Kurdish activist Namam Ghafuri told Al-Majalla about the suffering of the war victims in Iraq and Kurdistan, and she described it as «beyond imagination.» Ghafuri left Sweden and returned to Kurdistan to help the victims of the war. She revealed her motives and causes and spoke about the Yazidis› situation.

Al-Majalla covered varied health, sports and art topics in 2017 and interviewed several artists such as Mervat Amin, Rania Youssef, Mustafa Qamar and others.

Al-Majalla followed the visit of Messi, the Barcelona star, to Egypt, where he visited the pyramids and listened to the songs of Fairuz and Sayed Darwish. Al-Majalla also interviewed the Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports.

The writer Mehdi Mousavi stated through AlMajalla that Iranian creators are in danger due to the mullahs› regime. He told us how he was attacked and how the news agencies of the Revolutionary Guard published news against him.

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Articles about Art, Culture and Women’s Rights

2018: Highlighting Saudi Diplomacy and Role in Resolving International Conflicts

Under the title «Iran Breathes Iraqi Lungs,» Majalla talked about how Iran faces the sanctions by withdrawing the dollars that the Central Bank of Iraq pumps into the local market through the dollar sale window that it establishes daily.

The year 2018 was the year of Saudi diplomacy par excellence, after the star of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shone in international forums.

Majalla covered the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Egypt, which lasted for two days, and opened new horizons for cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The visit was officially and popularly welcomed on that day.

Majalla also shed light on Russian and Saudi relations, which witnessed that year continuous meetings and multiple agreements, such as the G20 Leaders’ Summit, which was held in Buenos Aires in late 2018.

During that time, the rapprochement between Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin was also highlighted.

Additionally, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that personal relations are the basis of effective bilateral cooperation.

In more than one article, Majalla also focused on Saudi diplomacy as an institution that succeeded over decades in adopting approaches that preserved the Kingdom›s position at the regional and international levels and confronted all the challenges it faced.

Majalla devoted space to talk about Saudi diplomacy and resolving international conflicts, from the issue of Ethiopia and Eritrea, to the Somali crisis and other crises in which Saudi Arabia played a firm diplomatic role.

On the Iranian issue, Majalla focused on the repercussions of US sanctions on Iran, which prompted it to steal Iraqi oil. Under the title «Iran Breathes Iraqi Lungs,» Majalla talked about how Iran faces the sanctions by withdrawing the dollars that the Central Bank of Iraq pumps into the local market through the dollar sale window that it

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establishes daily.

Majalla also highlighted the fact that Iran’s banks deceived investors after tempting them to put their hard currency in Iranian banks only to return it to them in Iranian currency.

In one of the feature stories, Majalla shed light on the Turkish media as being among the tools that the Turkish state employs to serve its local policy and also exposed the extent of the repression practiced by the Turkish authorities at that time against opposition journalists who were imprisoned.

In the field of art, the Cairo Film Festival celebrates the role of women in the Arab film industry.

The Festival, in its 40th session and currently being held in the Egyptian capital, witnessed a special celebration of Arab females who are prominent in the field of film directing.

In art, too, Majalla had an interview with Muhammad, the son of the artist Fadel Shaker, who shed light on his father’s prosecution and said that he was wronged.

He talked about the secrets of his case and his escape to the Ain al-Hilweh camp for Palestinian refugees and the verdict against him. Muhammad also said that his art was an extension of his father’s art.

Majalla also covered artistic events in more than one Arab country, including Lebanon, which hosted the most important festivals. Elissa appeared at the Beirut Festival to celebrate her recovery from cancer.

In the field of culture, Majalla conducted an interview with Dr. Salah Hassan, Director of the Africana Center for Studies and Research in the US, where he spoke about the overlap between civilizations and his plan to return the African continent to the international stage through visits and participation in Arab events at a time when Arab interest in the African continent was increasing.

Putin Visit to Saudi Arabia and UAE 2019: Saudi Vision 2030, Drones War and Lebanon Protests

By Majalla - London

Al-Majalla highlighted the protests that erupted in Lebanon in 2019 and reviewed the losses incurred by Hezbollah after the October 17 revolution.

In 2019, Al-Majalla interviewed the official spokesman of the Manbij Military Council, Sherfan Darwish, who told Al-Majalla the story of Manbij with Turkey and the details of preparations for repelling the Turkish attack.

In addition, we interviewed the spokesman for the North Axis in the Popular Mobilization, who showed a three-dimensional image of Kirkuk and talked about the demise of the ISIS threat during that period.

Al Majalla conducted a special investigation about the «Saudi National Authority for Cyber Security.» The investigation shed light on the tasks and efforts, as well as the document on enhancing cyber security, which came in response to the royal directive issued in July 2018, which called on all government agencies to raise the level of their cyber security to protect their networks, systems and electronic data.

Al-Majalla also entered the world of «drones war» and how terrorist groups employ them because they are easily smuggled, purchased, assembled and manufactured.

Al-Majalla interviewed Anissa Boumediene, and she told the story of her love for Houari Boumediene, which was hidden from the Algerian intelligence.

Human rights activist Rahman Javanmardi briefed us on the protests in Iranian cities, revealing to AlMajalla that the slogan «Death to America» was heard only in the demonstrations organized by Khamenei›s supporters.

Al-Majalla conducted several other interviews with important figures such as the personal representative of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, the former Tunisian President, the former French Minister of Defense, the Omani Foreign Minister, and the former French Minister human rights activist in Iran, Rahman Gwanmardi, and the assistant to US President Donald Trump.

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Al-Majalla highlighted the protests that erupted in Lebanon in 2019 and reviewed the losses incurred by Hezbollah after the October 17 revolution.

Al-Majalla held a dialogue with a member of the US Federal Trade Commission and the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament in which they spoke about extremism, Iran, Muslim communities in Europe and other issues.

Besides, Al-Majalla shed light on the issue of drugs in Libya, the Ottoman Mandate, Wilayat al-Faqih and the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Al-Majalla exclusively interviewed the fugitives from ISIS and published the «Last Scene» documents.

Al-Majalla interviewed the activist Golrokh Ebrahimi Iraee, who resides in Tehran. Iraee wrote an article criticizing the punishment of stoning, and she revealed to us what is happening inside Qarchak prison in Iran.

Al-Majalla also highlighted Saudi Arabia›s entry into the world of space and the dream that turned into reality and Saudi e-commerce as a promising sector in Vision 2030.

Talking about art, Al Majalla interviewed Tunisian singer Lotfi Bouchnak, media presenter Annabella Hilal, Somaya El Khashab, Mai Ezz Eldin, Hend Sabry, Cyrine Abdelnour and Yousra.

In education, Al-Majalla had a long conversation with the Bahraini Minister of Education, who expressed his pride in the educational cooperation with Saudi Arabia, looking forward to strengthening it.

In the field of economy, Al-Majalla shed light on the issue of water poverty and sounded the alarm from «Hiroshima Kurdistan.» It addressed the threats of former US President Donald Trump to OPEC, cryptocurrencies, Aramco›s attacks and their repercussions.

Regarding the environment, diverse topics were discussed such as the problem of plastic, the phenomenon of coral bleaching, and the global threat from the costs of losing biodiversity and ecosystems.

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COVID -

and Assassination of Qasem Soleimani

2020: Keeping Pace with World Events and Their Background

By Majalla - London

Under the title “Hajj in the Time of Corona,” Majalla dealt with the success achieved by the Kingdom by setting controls and procedures to organize this ritual.

During the year 2020, the spread of the Coronavirus at the global level and the dangers it posed had the lion’s share of coverage by Majalla, where it worked to keep abreast of the latest developments related to the emerging pandemic through a large assortment of articles and investigations. Majalla showed how the pandemic crisis revealed a painful reality in many countries affected by the virus, especially the Arab region.

In addition, Majalla shed light on the repercussions of the pandemic on national policies, as the Iranian regime concealed the issue of the outbreak of the pandemic for fear that it would affect the electoral participation rate.

Majalla also dealt with the health crisis that hit Europe as a result of this pandemic, as Europe›s health-related suffering was not limited to the escalation of the numbers of injured or dead, but also one of the main factors was the withdrawal behind quarantine walls of many of its political leaders because of their infection with the virus.

Majalla did not neglect to address the impact of the pandemic on the global economy, in light of fears of an increase in public debt, losses in trade, and expectations of a decline in oil exports by more than 250 billion dollars in light of the spread of the pandemic.

In a related context, under the title “Hajj in the Time of Corona,” Majalla dealt with the success achieved by the Kingdom by setting controls and procedures to organize this ritual.

On the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Majalla reviewed the most prominent achievements and ambitions that the Kingdom seeks to achieve, in addition to an overview of the Kingdom›s historical relations, both at the regional and international levels.

Majalla also showed the human dimension of

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Saudi politics through the Kingdom’s provision of humanitarian aid, as its exemplary role emerged at the international and regional levels compared to the more advanced and wealthy countries.

Moreover, Majalla reviewed the latest developments in Iranian affairs, under the title «The Killing of Soleimani Shakes the Revolutionary Guard and Ignites the Conflict between Washington and Tehran» Majalla touched on how the game of political and military balance in the region would force both parties to limited reactions, in addition to discussing the impact of Soleimani›s killing on the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

Majalla also addressed the regional role of Iran›s arms in the region, under the title “The Militias: An Iranian-Turkish Tool for Dismantling the Region.”

Majalla addressed the conflict over Erdogan›s succession, when the latter ignited the anger of the opposition after he accused the municipalities of Istanbul, Mersin and Adana of the Republican People›s Party, the largest Turkish opposition party, of trying to establish a parallel government in each of the three states.

Majalla also reviewed issues related to Egypt, as it dealt with the issue of the Renaissance Dam after the case was referred to the Security Council, highlighting the fact that no decision was issued regarding Egypt’s demand for a decision obligating Ethiopia to refrain from starting to fill the dam with water.

Majalla touched on Egyptian foreign policy, especially the Egyptian references to military intervention and setting red lines in the Libyan situation.

In addition, Majalla focused on the issue of Syrian refugees in the country, where some Lebanese politicians blamed the financial collapse on the refugees, exposing the Syrians to the dangers of hate speech.

US Withdrawal from Afghanistan and 10 Years of Syrian War

2021: Arab Reconciliation, War on Gaza, Libyan Elections, Lebanese Crisis Under Spotlight

By Majalla - London

into key areas.

The year 2021 was full of political events ranging between Arab reconciliation, the war on Gaza, the delay of the long-awaited Libyan elections, the power outages and economic crisis in Lebanon, the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover, the passing of 10 years of the Syrian war and much more.

Ahmed Taher, meanwhile, covered a significant event which is the Taliban’s takeover of power in Afghanistan. He said that Taliban is an Islamist movement that has reappeared at the international and regional scene as it succeeded in regaining control over Afghanistan following a -20year absence since the American war on the country in 2001.

Majalla covered the Gulf reconciliation and its impact on the region. Our contributor Hatem Khedr said that the Arab Gulf reconciliation between Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar would have a great impact on regional stability.

By the year end, Dalia Ziada noted the Arab Gulf countries’ unprecedented diplomatic activity on both regional and international horizons. The Arab Gulf region is living a positive momentum of political and economic expansion, which indicates that the Middle East region is finally starting to recover from the painful decade of the Arab Spring aftermath.

Amal Shehada wrote about the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and how the Palestinian claim to Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood is backed by legal documents and human rights.

Majalla contributor Jassim Mohamed wrote about the Syrian civil war as 10 years have passed since its start. He said that now the Islamic State, or Da’esh, is making use of the COVID19- pandemic to restore its activities and claw itself back

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Amal Shehada wrote about the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and how the Palestinian claim to Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood is backed by legal documents and human rights. In her article, Shehada wrote that some documents which were obtained by the residents from Jordan and Turkey proved that the documents submitted to the High Court by the Israeli organizations claiming to own the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood were forged upon translation into Hebrew.

Regarding Lebanon, Hanin Ghaddar wrote about the protests that turned into violent riots in Lebanon’s Tripoli when clashes erupted between security forces and protesters, leading to more than 400 wounded and one dead. Ghaddar said that these protests – although brief and localized – could be a sign or a sample of what to come as Lebanon descends further into collapse and failure of state institutions.

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Kingdom’s Vision 2030 Transfers Saudi Arabia to Vital Destination for Culture, Entertainment

Saudi Arabia Frees its Culture from Past Burdens…

Entertainment is Gateway to Open Up to the World

By Motasem Al Felou – Jeddah There are many things in common between culture and entertainment in Saudi Arabia. A significant part of cultural activities bears a huge recreational aspect, while entertainment presents an important aspect of culture. However, the common denominator between

them both in the Saudi case is that they needed government sponsorship, supervision and incentives to be made available for citizens, residents and the rest of the world. Among the reasons behind keeping these sectors lagging behind are considering them unproductive, which led to their weak infrastructure, limiting their potentials to book publishing, songs and amusement parks, forbidding music, and spreading the Sahwa rhet-

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The number of visitors to the second edition of Riyadh Season (from October 2021 ,20 until the end of March 2022) exceeded 10 million people.

oric during the 1980s, 1990s and the first decade of the new millennium. Although that period witnessed some of the finest Saudi cultural works, including literature, painting, history and music, yet none of what is applied nowadays was available then.

Majalla Magazine was established in 1980, in line with the Sahwa trend, which took part following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the year in which the Juhayman group seized the Grand Mosque of Makkah and the beginnings of the Afghan “jihadist” movement.

Over the past 42 years, Majalla underlined the Saudi intellectual and cultural openness as part of its role as the Arab international magazine. Saudi and Arab writers strived to show the true face of the Gulf country’s culture, while keeping pace with the cultural and intellectual orientations that were competing to underline the developments of the Kingdom.

In 2016, the Kingdom launched its Vision 2030, which considered Saudi culture a productive sector that could be benefited from. It also founded the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), which succeeded in implementing Saudi entertainment projects using local tools, while attracting a remarkable rate of regional and global visitors within a short period. In 2018, the leadership decided to establish an independent culture ministry after it was annexed to the Ministry of Information, which it established in 1963.

Below is what Majalla covered during the past 40 years of the rapid cultural and entertainment transformations in the Kingdom, in addition to the commonalities between the cultural and entertainment sectors and the signing of a cooperation protocol between the Culture Ministry and the GEA.

MAJALLA AND THE SAUDI CULTURE Since its foundation, Majalla has been keen to present the Saudi cultural figures and echo their internal interactions with the Arab environment. It is a platform for presenting the ideas of Saudi and other Arab intellectuals, artists and writers. The magazine has taken advantage of being one of the beacons of the foreign Arab press as it was established only two years after launching the pan-Arab daily newspaper, Asharq alAwsat, in 1978. Its founders, Hisham and Mohammed Ali Hafiz, aka the publishers, are sons of a Saudi family that was active in the fields of journalism, culture and literature. Hisham, himself, was a writer and a poet who published several books and poetry collections, which indicates that culture has been the core of the

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The renaissance witnessed

by AlULa governorate is unprecedented in modern Saudi history. Many people knew about the antiquities present there, but the tourist, cultural and festive industry was only launched in 2018. magazine.

Majalla covered modernity and postmodern trends, as well as traditional trends and various ideological backgrounds such as nationalism, liberalism, and others in the Kingdom by publishing the opinion pieces of Saudi and other Arab writers, critics and intellectuals on the cultural developments in the country. It conducted interviews with prominent and influential figures who shaped the contemporary Saudi cultural scene. These include the novelist and diplomat, Ghazi al-Gosaibi, the Saudi poet; Prince Badr bin Abdul Mohsin, the Saudi politician, artist, and poet; Prince Khalid bin Faisal; and poet Mohammed al-Thubaiti, who had toured with the fundamentalist trends since the 1980s, as well as critics Abdullah al-Ghathami, Mohammed Ali Alwan and others. It further covered music events performed by renowned Saudi singers such as Mohammed Abdu, Talal Maddah, musician Tariq Abdul Hakim, composer Omar Kadars and other playwrights and authors. It also shed light on Saudi female writers and artists, such as painter Safeya Binzagr and poet Soraya Qabel, owner of the first collection of eloquent women’s poetry to be published in the name of an explicit author, and many others.

Majalla’s keenness to present Saudi women’s literary and cultural work by providing opportunities for their media appearances came in light of the rise of the fundamentalist Sahwa movement, which slammed women’s public activities.

The magazine also covered the Janadriyah Heritage and Cultural Festival, which kicked off in 1985. It described the event as a window from which the Saudis were able to present their tangible and intangible cultural production and invite Arab intellectuals to learn about the features of Saudi cultural life.

Majalla still covers the cultural transformations in the

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Kingdom and presents it to the Arab readers.

SAUDI CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION The Saudi Ministry of Culture was established in 2018.

Before that, it was annexed to the Ministry of information, and its role was confined to controlling publication and supervising literary clubs across the Kingdom, in addition to organizing book fairs. It has taken steps towards institutionalizing the Saudi cultural work and opening more horizons for Saudi and non-Saudi creators to contribute to the development of the cultural sector. It created 11 commissions and widened the horizon of cultural interests to include cooking, fashion, architecture and translation.

These commissions are:

The Saudi Ministry of Culture has taken steps towards institutionalizing the Saudi cultural work and opening more horizons for Saudi and non-Saudi creators to contribute to the development of the cultural sector.

1- The Heritage Commission, which is responsible for advancing and preserving the heritage sector in the Kingdom and supporting efforts to develop national heritage assets, raise awareness and generate interest in them.

2- The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, which is responsible for regulating and managing sectors by launching initiatives to enhance specialized translation work, facilitate publishing and bolster its economic feasibility by boosting the effectiveness of publishing houses and ensuring they become a profitable industry.

3- The Fashion Commission, which aims to develop the sector, drive its advancement and support practitioners in the field. It also seeks to provide funding for project owners and support talents.

4- The Film Commission, which aims to raise the level of production, and encourage authors and scriptwriters by organizing competitions and launching talent initiatives. Its vision is for the Kingdom to become a world leader in filmmaking.

5- The Visual Arts Commission, which aims to support painters, photographers, and specialists in various arts and provide a stimulating environment for them to compete, organize exhibitions, and represent the Kingdom in international forums.

6- The Museum Commission, which is responsible for presenting the Kingdom’s identity, history, heritage and culture to all, financing museums and initiatives to establish personal museums, and developing existing museums.

7- The Theater and Performing Arts Commission,

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The opening of Riyadh Season on October 20.

Red Sea International Film Festival )Getty(

which aims to support the theatrical sector and promote financing, investment and training projects and developing the sector to become profitable and attract creative artists.

8- The Libraries Commission, which is responsible for developing the sector to become a tributary of scientific and literary research as well as the culture and reading habitats and establishing cooperation formulas.

9- The Music Commission, which aims to collect, develop and modernize Saudi music and discover new talents, in addition to supporting music production, licensing music institutes, establishing opera houses, and others.

10- The Culinary Arts Commission, which specializes in the heritage of Saudi cuisine and modern cooking schools. It aims to spread the culture of Saudi cuisine and discover culinary talents as a local cultural product.

11- The Architecture and Design Commission, which is responsible for reviving the Saudi architectural heritage, as well as renovating and modernizing Saudi architecture schools, such as the Hijazi and Najd schools, among others.

The Saudi researcher interested in cultural affairs, Khalid bin Faisal, said the newly established Ministry of Culture with its young leadership does not create intellectuals or artists, as this is not its role in the first place. “Its main objective is rather preparing a cultural infrastructure that embraces all Saudi talents,” he affirmed. He pointed out that in the past, people used to learn music themselves or travel abroad to study and socialize, yet there are currently music schools across

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A significant part of cultural activities bears a huge recreational aspect, while entertainment presents an important aspect of culture. the Kingdom. He further referred to the awareness spread on intellectual property and broadcasting rights and the competitions organized to attract talents. “We also have a Cultural Development Fund, which enables entrepreneurs to submit their cultural projects and obtain funding to launch or expand them if they are existing projects.”

He stressed that Saudi Arabia now insists to produce cultural works, pointing to the movies and series broadcast on global streaming platforms. “It is a step to introduce the Saudi environment, culture and arts.”

CULTURE ASSOCIATED WITH TOURISM, ARCHEOLOGY AND MUSIC The Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, is also Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) (in northwest Saudi Arabia). Many cultures and civilizations inhabited this area for more than 7,000 years, including the ancient kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan and the magnificent Nabataeans, who built

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the city of Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region has become a major tourist attraction, especially with its hosting of the Kingdom’s premier music and cultural festival, “Winter at Tantora.” Since its launch in 2018, the event has transformed the city into a beacon of music, a chance to visit archaeological sites, refresh and carry out various entertaining activities.

In fact, the renaissance witnessed by the governorate is unprecedented in modern Saudi history. Many people knew about the antiquities present there, but the tourist, cultural and festive industry was only

An economically rich country with a young leadership and a promising vision should have a decent entertainment sector that keeps pace with the Quality of Life Program, which constitutes an essential part of the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision.

launched in 2018.

AlUla currently hosts “Winter at Tantora” festival, which attracts many Saudi, Gulf, Arab and international artists. Hence, we find that the culture industry needs tourism, leisure and travel to prosper. The city has been able to attract tens of thousands of tourists from Arab and Western countries, especially after the Kingdom facilitated the issuance of tourist visas in 2018.

According to Faisal, making the Saudi archaeological treasures available for international tourists has allowed the Kingdom to attract tourists. Beginning with AlUla was the best decision thanks to the antiquities there that date back to about 3,000 years. “Because antiquities, which are a cultural element par excellence, cannot establish a tourism industry on its own, holding festivals and attracting the most renowned artists and hosting entertainment events and hotel facilities were a means of promoting the country’s cultural and tourism sectors.”

This underlines the importance of entertainment, which was lacking in the Kingdom. Saudis needed it more than foreigners, especially as they spent about $18 billion in 2019 on tourism abroad.

ENTERTAINMENT... LOCALLY DEMANDED In 2016, a fundamental transformation took place

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The Red Sea Film Festival is best example of the integration of sectors to make the Kingdom a regional and global entertainment destination.

Cultural Tourism represents a Saudi Treasure

in Saudi Arabia, represented by the establishment of the GEA. Prior to that year, the Kingdom didn’t host any special event that satisfies the tastes of its citizens, who are used to travel the world and explore entertainment activities, including games, musical concerts, restaurants, art galleries and shopping.

An economically rich country with a young leadership and a promising vision should have a decent entertainment sector that keeps pace with the Quality of Life Program, which constitutes an essential part of the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision. Therefore, the authority was established to prepare the infrastructure to create a suitable entertainment sector.

The state’s handling of the sector is not common since entertainment activities are usually provided by the private sector. However, in this case the, situation differs as the Kingdom did not have an entertainment sector in the first place. Leading the transformation in this direction, which is closely related to the tourism and cultural transformation, needs government heft and money to prepare the right infrastructure, while delegating the private sector to implement the projects.

The entertainment authority was needed to organize and schedule musical concerts, while the private sector, such as restaurants, started creating

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their own entertainment programs and holding their celebrations.

The GEA’s steps began to actually bear fruit. For example, the number of visitors to the second edition of Riyadh Season, which was launched on October 20, 2021 and will last until the end of March 2022, exceeded 10 million people.

GEA Governor Turki Al Sheikh said that “direct and indirect income” from Riyadh Season 2019 amounted to $1.6 billion, while expenses amounted to $800 million. He also expected an increase in income for the 2021 season with lower expenses.

The final figures will be announced at the end of the season.

The Saudi entertainment sector is associated with other sectors, such as culture and tourism. For example, the Red Sea Film Festival is a cultural, entertaining, and touristic event. It is the best example of the integration of sectors to make the Kingdom a regional and global entertainment destination.

Saudi Arabia has taken further steps and launched creative initiatives in the entertainment, culture and tourism sectors to enter the post-oil era with greater confidence, especially with boosting the relative size of these sectors in the GDP. Figures remain the only language adopted by the new Kingdom.