Middle East/Persian Gulf

Middle East, North Africa, Persian Gulf: Political Unrest Continues to Spread

Date: February 23rd, 2011 |

Following in the footsteps of successful popular revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, citizens in multiple countries across the region continued to organize mass demonstrations against their rulers, often resulting in skirmishes between government forces and protesters. In Libya, the government was using the military against its own citizens, and in Bahrain, tens of thousands of [read more]

Yemen: 7 of 9 Abducted Foreigners Killed in North

Date: June 17th, 2009 |

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Nine foreigners, including three children, were abducted June 11 in northern Yemen near the city of Sa’ada, and seven of them were found murdered on June 15. Two of the children were found alive. Authorities suspected Shiite Zaidi rebels but they denied the charge. Other analysts feared the execution of foreigners signaled a new turn [read more]

Kuwait: Political Rallies in Advance of May 16 Elections

Date: April 22nd, 2009 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait City reported that political rallies will begin soon for parliamentary elections to be held May 16. The gatherings usually occur in the evening and are usually peaceful, but both vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be dense in areas where rallies occur. Police will likely increase the number of traffic checkpoints [read more]

Yemen: Attack on Tourist Site

Date: July 4th, 2007 |

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Authorities have tightened security around government buildings and foreign facilities in response to the suicide car bombing of a group of Spanish tourists at an archaeological site in the troubled eastern province of Marib. Seven Spanish citizens and two Yemenis were killed in the bombing, which was blamed on al-Qaeda. The U.S. Embassy in Sana’a [read more]

Saudi Arabia: Terrorist Warnings for Outskirts of Riyadh

Date: May 23rd, 2006 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh has received information that terrorists may be targeting foreigners who camp or exercise on the outskirts of the city or farther out in the desert. The Embassy is barring diplomats from such activities and urges others to avoid them as well, including group runs in isolated areas or other activities [read more]

Kuwait: Public Gatherings Banned to Prevent Sectarian Strife

Date: September 22nd, 2010 |

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Authorities banned all public gatherings in an effort to head off sectarian strife between its majority Sunni Muslims and minority Shiites as tensions flared over an exiled Kuwaiti Shiite’s comments allegedly disparaging the Prophet Mohammed’s wife, Aisha. Violators of the ban could face two years in prison. Several Sunni groups had planned demonstrations to demand [read more]

Yemen: Violence in South Raises Concerns about Country Splitting

Date: May 6th, 2009 |

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Several violent incidents occurred in Yemen in the past year, and violence in the south in late April-early May raised concerns that the government may now be facing a second insurgency and the threat that the country could dissolve. A prominent tribal leader called for a separate southern state at a large rally on April [read more]

Yemen: Attacks on Foreign Residences, U.S. Embassy Prompt Departure of Embassy Personnel

Date: April 10th, 2008 |

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The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa has ordered the departure of non-emergency staff and their families from Yemen following a series of violent incidents, most recently the April 6 attack on the Hadda residential compound in Sanaa where many foreigners live and the March 18 mortar attack on the U.S. Embassy. Three explosive rounds were fired [read more]

Dubai: Police to Chase Reckless Drivers

Date: December 26th, 2006 |

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Police have been trained in high-speed driving skills and are now authorized to execute hot pursuits of reckless drivers. Until the plan went into effect Dec. 22, police avoided chasing motorists because of the likelihood of causing accidents. A crackdown on dangerous drivers in November reduced by 42 percent the road fatalities in this city [read more]

Saudi Arabia: Non-Religious Tourists Now Welcome

Date: May 9th, 2006 |

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Saudi Arabia is hoping to develop a tourism industry outside the religious pilgrimage market and will start issuing regular tourist visas to foreigners in June. Until now most visitors not arriving on work assignments have been religious pilgrims going to Mecca for the hajj or the lesser pilgrimage, umra. Officials hope to draw visitors from [read more]

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