Tag Archives: Arthur Blok

It’s official: Dubai has been declared as the world’s most popular destination for 2022. The Emirate has been ranked ahead of cities like London, Rome, and Paris. “What an amazing accomplishment indeed, and Dubai has proven to the world that it is both a fun and a safe place to …

American president Joe Biden is failing in his first year in office on nearly every single major issue as support for his presidency continues to drop. Friend and foe agree that he will go down in history as the worst president ever in U.S. history. Who is brave enough to …

Another unusual situation for tourism remains for 2022 as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It has marked a significant change for everyone in the sector. That is about to change. Newly instated members of the Executive Team of Dubai-based Welcome to the World (WttW) see in some of …

Dubai-based video platform Welcome to the World celebrates this month its first anniversary. It looks back on a dynamic and turbulent year with new license holders boarded from the United Arab Emirates to Greece and Mexico.By Arthur BlokWith a straightforward concept Welcome to the World is taking over the travel …

Vaccine mandates in the United States, and a push for mandatory vaccination in various European countries. Western governments are ignoring independent scientific reports of dangers and side effects of mass vaccination of the healthy population.By Arthur BlokThe most reports are ringing the alarm bells on elevated deaths of vaccinating people …

We use Online platforms nowadays to communicate, shop, order food, get around and find travel accommodations. The UAE is the eCommerce leader among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. “Online platforms are increasingly a systematic part of our every day routines,” said Stefanie Schachtschabel founder and CEO of the new Dubai …

Dubai based global travel platform Welcome to the world is currently raising millions of investment in support of their substantial growth in the past year. Former Dutch Minister of Finance Jan Kees de Jager is the latest investor that jumped on board. Welcome to the World, is a new travel …

It has been more than two months since Tunisian President Kais Saied took over all executive powers in the country. Wednesday he surprised friend and foe by suddenly appointing Najla Bouden Romdhane as the first female prime minister in Tunisia and the Arab world. A smart cosmetic move: how much …

It goes without saying that it is not an easy skill and one has to be gifted to draw – political – cartoons. The Levant News’ own Joon W. (45) is a gifted cartoonist with a cynical sense of humor and has the talent of producing drawings that bring out …

Empty hotels, empty beaches, bankrupt cafés and restaurants. The tourism industry in Southern Spain was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic with the loss of over a billion in euros in revenue in 2020. In this unprecedented economic crisis there is still room for success proves Spanish entrepreneur Miguel Romero …

Saudi Arabia is on a path of dramatic economic and social reforms. The reforms, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, are aimed at modernizing the kingdom and are welcomed both nationally and internationally. Abir Abusulayman stands at the forefront of social reforms, in particular women’s right to choose. The …

Terrible things happen in war. Many ‘innocent’ people commit not so innocent acts. Humans are constantly at war, it must be our nature. Yet we romanticize heroic military acts and certain facets of it. While war is hell: not thrill and fun, it is a game of losers. Lebanese media …

The events and entertainment industry is one of the industries that was probably hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Actors, musicians, and singers lost a large part of their income. Some made a virtue of necessity, like Dubai based Dutch producer and singer/ song writer LYZZ. Who reinvented herself.By …

Black lives matter. A year after the killing of George Floyd it is now clear that the lives, safety and dignity of black men, women, and children all around the world are not what drives the organizers of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. It is hypocrisy that drives their engine. …

The situation in Lebanon is deteriorating. People are increasingly desperate amid the political deadlock, the financial meltdown, the rising poverty, and COVID-19. In this unprecedented economic crisis there is still room for success proves Lebanese entrepreneur Rony Abou Saab (43). By Arthur BlokAbou Saab started working when he was only …

Sunday was declared a national day of mourning in Israel following the disaster at Mount Meron in which at least 45 people were killed after a stampede broke out at Lag Ba’omer celebrations.Sunday was declared a national day of mourning in Israel following the disaster at Mount Meron in which at least …

Tunisian Human Rights and LGTB activist Rania Amdouni tried to commit suicide Monday night at her home in Tunis just days after she was released from prison, sources close to The Levant News said. Amdouni was humiliated, intimidated and attacked by a group of police officers and arrested afterwards. In …

“Tunisian authorities should drop the charges against Rania Amdouni, a prominent women’s rights defender and LGBT activist”, said Hamza Nasri a Tunisian Human Rights activist and defender. Amdouni was sentenced to six months in prison last month for ‘insulting a public officer’.By Arthur BlokNasri is a member of the Tunisian …

Facebook removed a video of an interview with former President Trump conducted by his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, saying any content “in the voice of Donald Trump” would be scrubbed from the social media platform. Is Facebook trying to erase the former US president? By Arthur BlokFacebook permanently banned the former president from their …

In an open letter to World Health Organization (WHO) and in a follow-up video interview, Dr. Geert Vanden Bossche recently claimed that by vaccinating everyone with a vaccine that does not prevent transmission, we are destroying people’s immune systems, and setting the stage for a global health disaster. The WHO …

“You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain,” Harvey Dent, district attorney of Gotham City said in “The Dark Knight”. Introducing a fatalistic idea that being a hero comes with a certain responsibility and is sometimes a dangerous task. For outsiders former …

In a statement released mid-December the World Health Organization (WHO) finally admitted what 10’s of thousands of doctors and medical professionals around the globe have been saying for months: the PCR test used to diagnose COVID-19 is unsuitable and creates way too many false positives. If the PCR test is …

After weeks of negotiations Tunisia’s parliament voted in September for a second new government in just six months. The new government of Hichem Mechichi is unique in Tunisia’s history: not one party in parliament is represented in it. The vote was won after a diplomatic offensive behind the scenes by …

President Trump is once again charging that last month’s presidential election was rigged and rampant with fraud. In an address posted on his Twitter and Facebook pages that the president described as possibly “the most important speech, I’ve ever made.” By the Levant News newsdesk Trump charged that “lots of …

The World Health Organization’s special envoy on COVID-19 urged world leaders earlier this month to reconsider ‘using lockdowns as the primary control method’ of battling Covid-19. After first creating global panic by putting the Covid-19 mortality rate higher than 3 percent and urging governments in an unprecedented move to lockdown …

The Coronavirus-hysteria has gone viral. Global media outlets report on nothing else but the consequences of what the World Health Organisation (WHO) stamped a pandemic weeks ago. In unprecedented moves people are told (forced) to stay home under lockdowns. Economies are being shut down, while the future consequences are largely …

The Saudi Journalists Association (SJA), and the organization of the Saudi Media Forum look back on a successful first edition of the international media forum that was held in Riyadh early December. By Arthur Blok | The red carpet was rolled out at the prestigious Hilton Residence earlier this month …

Saudi Arabia will host the first ever international media forum next week in Riyadh. The Saudi Journalists Association (SJA), and the official organization the Saudi Media Forum expect to attract over 1000 media professionals from around the globe to attend. By Arthur Blok | The 2-days event in the Saudi …

  A few hundred protesters gathered in front of Kuwait’s parliament last week to demand institutional reforms and action against state corruption. By Arthur Blok* | Antiestablishment demonstrations are relatively rare in the state of Kuwait. Last week’s protesters demanded an end to the perceived unwillingness of the state to …

More than seven million eligible voters both in Tunisia will head to the polls Sunday to elect a new parliament in a fiercely contested election.   By Arthur Blok* Despite a lingering economic crisis Tunisia has worked hard in the past years to remain an island of political openness in …

Detained media magnate Nabil Karoui and academic Kaïs Saïed made it through to the second round of Tunisia’s presidential election, the countries independent Electoral Commission announced earlier this week. THE LEVANT NEWS EXCLUSIVE – By Arthur Blok* | Just 45 percent of the roughly seven million strong electorate turned up …

Tunisia will head to the polls Sunday to elect a new president. More than seven million eligible voters both in Tunisia and abroad can choose from 26 presidential candidates in a fiercely contested election. By Arthur Blok* | Tunisia’s first democratically elected president Beji Caid Essebsi died on July 25 …

American president Donald Trump remains a strong supporter of the Saudi-led war in Yemen. At the same time the military intervention garners unconditional support at the home front. By Arthur Blok* Trump issued the second veto of his presidency earlier this week halting a congressional resolution that would have sought …

A distinguished mix of business, general and commercial aviation and aerospace exhibitors gathered this week at Riyadh’s Thumama Airport for the first ever Saudi International Airshow. THE LEVANT NEWS EXCLUSIVE – Riyadh – by Arthur Blok* — For the first time in Saudi history it was possible to make a …

Tunisia’s biggest challenge in 2019 is to combat illegal migration from its naval borders. With the ongoing crisis in neighboring Libya the North African country’s geographical location makes it an ideal hub for migrants looking to set off towards the European Union (EU). by Arthur Blok* Tunisia witnessed some dramatic …

Since its inception in 2009, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) in The Hague has divided Lebanon. Up until now far over half a billion USD has been spent and the meter is still running. In the past years the STL has made no arrests, it will probably never do …

By Arthur Blok — The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) is inviting public and private sector entities in the UAE to showcase their innovative solutions on Globally Great (www.globallygreat.com), the leading digital video platform focused on sustainability, innovation and happiness in the Middle East. His Excellency Dr Thani …

One of Tunisia’s biggest challenges is how to handle migrants illegally leaving its borders. Tunisia’s location at the tip of Africa makes it a springboard for migrants looking to set off towards the European Union (EU). By Arthur Blok This year’s worst migrant disaster in the country occurred in June. …

European tourists are rediscovering Tunisia. Tour operators across Europe are taking tourists back to the country this summer for the first time since an ISIS gunman massacred many people on a beach in Sousse in 2015. The only democratic country in the Arab world is considered safe again. 2018 is …

Arthur Blok has been appointed as the new Executive editor-in-chief of the Levant News website. Blok replaces Dr. Haytham Mouzahem who will focus now on his research work at the Beirut Center for Middle East Studies, from which he also the director and founder. The Dutch-Lebanese born journalist had a …

The Levant News Exclusive – By Arthur Blok* —  In Abu Dhabi the annual Sustainability Week (ADSW) kicked-off this weekend. This years’ theme is ‘Driving the Global Energy Transformation’. The event in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is largest sustainability gathering in the region, and a trendsetter in …

The Dubai Airshow 2017 opened its doors at Dubai World Central (DWC) on Sunday this week, amid concerns over regional tensions. In this year’s edition a record number of exhibitors, aircraft on display, and visitors are expected. Not to mention the launch of the first-ever Space Pavilion, and the many …

Art fans in the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have started the countdown. In a little over a month the ‘Louvre Abu Dhabi’ will finally open its doors to the public: a unique building and a first of its kind collection under one roof on the Arabian Peninsula. …

By Arthur Blok It is well known that a constant, healthy, competition is going on between two of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) leading cities: Abu Dhabi and Dubai. For decades both Emirates are competing on matters such as who has the best real estate developments, who is hosting the …