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Saudi Arabia’s MBS wins as Biden fails to deliver on Israel, oil for US

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Joe Biden has had to return empty handed from his first visit to the middle east as U.S. president. The hyperbole surrounding his visit to Israel failed to provide any tangible results as Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Sultan emerged as the man in control of the political landscape in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid had called Joe Biden’s visit ‘historic’, with President Isaac
Herzog painting Biden as a ‘Biblical messiah ofpeace’. As Biden headed to Riyadh, news came of Saudi Arabia opening its airspace to ‘all nations’. The announcement didn’t mention Israel, and Saudi was quick to play down any talk of normalisation ofrelations between the two states, saying the move had nothing to do with the diplomatic ties with Israel.

Joe Biden came to Riyadh armed with criticism of Saudi’s MbS over the war in Yemen and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Reports say Biden did in fact raise the assassination with MbS, who
termed it a ‘mistake’. The Saudi crown prince however, was in no mood to go on the backfoot raising the killing of Palestinian-American journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed while covering an Israeli operation in West Bank. Reports say Shireen was shot to death by Israeli forces.

With oil prices at an all-time high due to the disruptions in supply chain caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine, Saudi flexed its muscles by hosting a big inter-Arab summit.

The summit put to rest any plans of building a regional security alliance which would see Arab states partnering with Israel to counter Iran. The second goal was to get the Arab nations to agree to increasing oil production which would ease the prices of crude oil, but once again the gulf countries declined to commit on any such agreement, keeping all discussions over oil production to the meeting of the OPEC group on August 3.

Biden who had declared he would make Saudi Arabia a “pariah” after the 2018 murder of Jamal Khashoggi, professed a long standing alliance with the gulf states declaring, “the United States is invested in building a positive future of the region, in partnership with all of you—and the United States is not going anywhere.

Written by Raghav Chopra ,Senior Journalist
Special to Headline.ae

Announcements

Saudi Arabia to Host 2034 FIFA Men’s World Cup; 2030 edition to span three continents

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World soccer’s governing body, FIFA, has confirmed that Saudi Arabia will host the men’s FIFA World Cup in 2034, while the 2030 tournament will be held in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with special celebratory matches in three South American countries. The announcement was made on Wednesday by FIFA President Gianni Infantino following an extraordinary virtual Congress.

Both tournaments were awarded through uncontested bids and confirmed by acclamation. “We are bringing football to more countries, and the number of teams has not diluted the quality. It has actually enhanced opportunities,” said Infantino, highlighting the expanded global reach of the tournament.

The 2030 World Cup will be a landmark event, taking place across six nations and three continents. Morocco, Spain, and Portugal will serve as the primary hosts, while Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will hold celebratory matches to mark the centenary of the inaugural World Cup, hosted by Uruguay in 1930.

While Argentina and Spain have previously hosted the tournament, Uruguay will host again for the first time in a century. Portugal, Paraguay, and Morocco will join the World Cup’s history as first-time host nations.

In 2034, Saudi Arabia will become the second Middle Eastern nation to host the FIFA World Cup, following Qatar’s 2022 edition. This milestone further cements the region’s growing influence in the world of football.

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Education

Inaugural Sport Impact Summit champions global change through the power of sport

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The inaugural Sport Impact Summit (SIS) 2024 united over 200 global leaders, dignitaries, and changemakers at Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, to champion the transformative power of sport in addressing critical global challenges, including climate action, sustainability, and human health.

The summit, held under the esteemed patronage of His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of Sports, and in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Suhail Al Maktoum, Executive Director of the Sports Development Sector at the General Authority of Sports, provided an engaging platform for impactful discussions, innovative partnerships, and actionable solutions.

Key highlights included the UAE Ministry of Sport Masterclass, presented by Oxford SDG and Sport Impact, showcasing best practices in sustainability leadership. The summit also featured powerful stories of innovation and advocacy from organizations like McLaren, Deloitte, ATP Tour, Nitto, Sail GP, and Reflo, emphasizing the sport industry’s role in fostering environmental stewardship.

The event’s agenda also included:

-Moneyball Talk: Hosted by Dureka Carrasquillo, this session explored the evolving financial landscape of sustainability sponsorship in sports with insights from 1.5 Capital, SURJ, Udinese Calcio, and VTV Consulting.

-Player Power Panel: Featuring Justin Coghlan, Dominic Thiem, and Lucy Shuker, the panel highlighted athletes’ increasing influence in driving meaningful change.

-Biodiversity Tour: In partnership with Goumbook and Atlantis Dubai, this initiative highlighted the critical connection between sport and environmental preservation.-Mike Ford, Co-Founder of SIS, noted, “The overwhelming enthusiasm we’ve witnessed confirms the sporting world’s readiness to take bold action to address sustainability and human health challenges. This summit marks the beginning of a global movement. We are thrilled to announce a series of future masterclasses across the region and the launch of the Sport Impact Summit 2025, aligning with the Dubai Fitness Challenge next year.”

Sean Morris, Co-Founder of SIS, added, “The success of this summit underscores the collective power of sport and the necessity of collaborative action. This event has catalyzed partnerships and ideas that will shape the future of sustainability in sport, driving tangible progress toward a better world.”

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Announcements

Etihad Airways adds 10 new destinations for 2025

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Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, announced the launch of ten new destinations starting in 2025.

The new destinations are Algiers, Atlanta, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Krabi, Medan, Phnom Penh, Taipei and Tunis. They will complement Etihad’s previously revealed new destinations for 2025: Prague, Warsaw, and Al Alamein.

Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “Launching ten new destinations in a single day underscores our unwavering commitment to growing our airline with a fantastic route network and world-class, customer-focused service. This incredible milestone would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of our team and the ongoing support of our guests.”

Etihad’s expansion is set to bring tens of thousands of new visitors directly to Abu Dhabi, boosting its position as a premier destination for leisure, business, and cultural tourism. The move aligns with the UAE capital’s efforts to attract international travellers and reinforces its reputation as a hub of connectivity, innovation, and hospitality.

“The launch of these ten destinations is supported by our impressive hub, Zayed International Airport, which boasts the ‘wow’ factor and ample space to accommodate our rapid growth, further enhancing the exceptional guest experience,” said Neves. “2025 marks a pivotal year for Etihad, with more than 90 destinations in over 50 countries, a fleet of more than 110 aircraft – including our amazing new A321LRs – welcoming over 20 million guests onboard. Most importantly, it will support us in bringing over a million visitors to Abu Dhabi to enjoy our home.”

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