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Monday، November 2, 2026NEWS ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA
Sala News

Sala News — NEWS ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sala News?
Sala News is an English-language publication covering the whole Middle East and North Africa — from the Gulf through Egypt and the Levant to the Maghreb: business, energy, travel, heritage and society, with every news item dated and sourced.
What countries make up the MENA region?
MENA — the Middle East and North Africa — typically spans about 19 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. Definitions vary slightly; all combine Middle Eastern and North African economies in one region.
What is the difference between the Middle East and MENA?
The Middle East generally means the Asian part of the region plus Egypt, while MENA adds the North African states — Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya — to the same grouping. MENA is the standard term in business, energy and development statistics.
What is the Maghreb?
The Maghreb is the western Arab world: Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, sometimes plus Libya and Mauritania. The name means “where the sun sets.” The region blends Arab, Berber and Mediterranean cultures and ties Europe to Africa through trade and migration.
Which languages are spoken across MENA?
Arabic is the dominant language across most of MENA, with dialects varying by country. Hebrew is spoken in Israel, Persian in Iran, Turkish in Turkey, and Kurdish across several states. French is widely used in the Maghreb, and English is the region’s working business language.
What is OPEC and which MENA countries are members?
OPEC, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, coordinates oil production policy among member states. MENA members include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar (which left in 2019), Iran, Iraq, Algeria and Libya. The group’s decisions move global oil prices.
Why is the Suez Canal important?
The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, letting ships sail between Europe and Asia without rounding Africa — cutting roughly 7,000 kilometers. It carries about 12% of world trade and is a major source of foreign currency for Egypt.
What is the Gulf Cooperation Council?
The GCC — Gulf Cooperation Council — is a political and economic union of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, founded in 1981. It coordinates tariffs, visas and market access across the Gulf and negotiates as a bloc on trade.
What are the best months to visit Morocco?
March to May and September to November offer Morocco’s most comfortable weather: warm days in Marrakech, bearable Sahara heat and cool evenings in the Atlas. Summer suits the coast — Essaouira, Tangier — while winter days are mild inland but cold at night in the desert.
What are the must-see heritage sites in the Middle East?
The region holds some of the world’s great sites: Petra in Jordan, the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Petra’s rival Palmyra ruins in Syria (access limited), Bethlehem’s old city, the Persepolis ruins in Iran, and the mud-brick skyscrapers of Shibam in Yemen — plus UNESCO-listed Levant old towns.
How important is tourism to Egypt’s economy?
Tourism is one of Egypt’s top foreign-currency earners, contributing around 8–12% of GDP directly and indirectly and employing millions. Visitor numbers have repeatedly set post-2021 records, centered on the Nile, Red Sea resorts and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Do I need a visa for Dubai or Egypt?
Many nationalities get a free Dubai visa on arrival for 30–90 days, including US, EU and UK citizens. Egypt requires a visa for most travelers — obtainable on arrival, online (e-Visa) or at consulates; Gulf residents often qualify for simpler entry.
What currency is used in the Middle East and North Africa?
Currencies vary by country: the UAE dirham, Saudi riyal, Egyptian pound, Moroccan dirham, Tunisian dinar and Israeli shekel among them. Most Gulf currencies are pegged to the US dollar, while North African units float or are managed against the euro.
What is MENA’s biggest economy?
Saudi Arabia has the region’s largest economy — around $1 trillion in GDP — followed by Turkey (when counted in MENA+), Israel, the UAE and Egypt. The Gulf states lead in GDP per capita, driven by energy, finance and sovereign investment.
How does Sala News choose what to cover?
Sala News prioritizes verifiable regional developments — policy, business, energy and heritage — plus practical travel guides anchored to real sites and seasons. News items are dated and sourced; guides answer what, where, when and how much for real trips.