[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Arabian Peninsula and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Arabian Peninsula Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to ap@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
Regional and International Relations
Footage shows Dubai hotel damaged in New Year's Eve fire News footage shows the hotel that was damaged in a prominent incident in Dubai on New Years Eve.
Dubai blaze raises questions over skyscraper design A recent blaze at a skyscraper in Dubai has raised questions over the design of the coatings used in these tall buildings.
Dubai seeks cause of massive hotel fire at New Year Dubai authorities are attempting to determine the cause of the fire that caused significant damage at the Address Downtown hotel.
Developer pledges to repair Dubai tower in New Years fire Emaar Properties said that it intends to repair the Address Downtown building damaged in a fire on New Years’ day.
Saudi Arabia Stock Market Plans 2018 Initial Public OfferingThe Saudi stock market is considering selling shares shortly after opening itself to foreign investors.
Kuwaiti burns citizenship papers in online video A Kuwaiti citizen named Abdul Kareem al-Shimmari has been arrested on charges of insulting the Emir after he was videotaped burning his citizenship papers
Men in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia are outraged after being catcalled by women in a shopping mallA shopping mall in Saudi Arabia reports sixteen complaints by men who were complaining that women were following them around and making catcalls.
Saudi Arabia vows fresh loans to Egypt to develop Sinai, purchase oil Egypt to borrow 2.7 billion dollars from Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia and Executions
Saudi Arabia cuts diplomatic ties with Iran after Nimr execution Saudi Arabia has suspended diplomatic relations with Iran following protests targeting its execution of Nimr al-Nimr.
Saudi Arabia Cuts Ties With Iran Amid Fallout From Cleric’s Execution Saudi Arabia has suspended diplomatic relations with Iran following the fallout from the execution of a prominent Saudi Shi‘ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
Saudi Arabia severs ties with Iran as Mideast protests rage Saudi Arabia and Iran have suspended diplomatic relations after Saudi Arabia executed dozens of accused terrorists.
Iran: Saudis face 'divine revenge' for executing al-Nimr Iranian leaders have said that Saudi Arabia faces divine retribution for its execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
Saudi Arabia reopens Baghdad embassySaudi Arabia has reopened its embassy in Baghdad.
US warns Saudi Arabia's execution of prominent cleric risks inflaming sectarian tensions The United States expressed concern that Nimr al-Nimr’s execution risked worsening sectarian disputes in the region.
Tehran street housing Saudi embassy renamed ‘Nimr’ Iran has renamed the street on which the Saudi Embassy is located to Nimr Street in memory of the executed cleric.
Legal action for using Saudi verdicts to create sectarian discord The Bahraini Interior Ministry has announced it will take legal action against anyone it claims is attempting to spread sectarian violence due to the verdicts in Saudi Arabia.
Leader condemns Saudi execution of Sheikh Nimr Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has condemned the execution of a Shi‘ite cleric by Saudi Arabia.
In ways big and small Saudi Arabian women are pushing normal NPR reports on how some Saudi women are defying the country’s social conventions regarding daily life.
Protests against Saudi executions – in pictures The Guardian publishes photos of protests in Bahrain, Pakistan, and elsewhere against the Saudi executions.
Saudi Arabia executes 47 people in one day including Iranian cleric Saudi Arabia has held a mass execution of forty-seven defendants accused of terrorism including prominent cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
UK government urged to reveal its role in getting Saudi Arabia a key UN human rights roleThe opposition Liberal Democrat and Green parties are urging British Prime Minister David Cameron to disclose the UK role in securing Saudi Arabia’s seat on the UN Human rights council.
Lawmakers praise executions in Saudi Arabia Numerous members of the Kuwaiti parliament praised Saudi Arabia for carrying out executions of opposition figures.
Saudi Arabia ends 2015 with one final execution The last execution performed in Saudi Arabia was Abdulatif Zapantha, a Filipino man convicted of murdering his Sudanese landlord in 2010.
Iranian Protesters Ransack Saudi Embassy After Execution of Shiite Cleric Protesters in Tehran have ransacked the Saudi Arabian embassy after the execution of cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
Saudi execution: call for west to condemn killing of Shia cleric Shi‘a Islamic clerics urge west to condemn the killing of Saudi cleric Nimr al-Nimr
US should ask Riyadh ‘serious questions’ over executions: Clinton US Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has said that the United States should have questions for Saudi Arabia over the recent executions.
Guardian view on the Saudi execution: unjust and unwise provocationThe Guardian condemns the executions in Saudi Arabia saying that they are not only unjust but also likely to increase sectarian tensions.
Martin Rowson: The execution of Sheikh Nimr Iran-Saudi cartoon Cartoonist Martin Rowson depicts the King of Saudi Arabia presenting the Iranian Supreme leader with a bloody sword.
Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr: Figurehead Shia cleric A profile of Shi‘ite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, who was recently executed by Saudi Arabia.
How Saudi Arabia's own media reported on the execution of 47 people Portrayals of the executions in Saudi Arabian Media focused on terrorism allegations rather than international condemnation.
Saudi executions put ball of regional tension in Iran's court Iran is likely to respond to Saudi Arabia’s execution of a prominent cleric, including by boosting aid to Saudi adversaries.
Furious Iranians petrol bomb Saudi embassy in Tehran as global protests and fears of sectarian violence escalate over kingdom's mass execution of 47 prisoners including top Shiite cleric Iranians responded to Saudi Arabia’s execution of Nimr al-Nimr with attacks on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran.
Reports and Opinions
Address Kuwait's financial problems without touching pockets of citizens A Kuwaiti MP has called for the government to lift subsidy cuts.
How Well Could Saudi Arabia's 'Coalition of the Unwilling' Do in Syria? How well could the Saudi-led coalition do in Syria if it became more actively involved in the conflict?
End of Era for Lavish Handouts Kuwait is facing the end of an era in which citizens and many expatriates benefited from significant handouts from the government.
UAE hit by heavy rains and strong winds The United Arab Emirates has been affected by rare rainstorms in recent days.
Crisis in Yemen
Saudi-led coalition officially ends truce with Houthi rebels in Yemen On 2 January the Saudi-led coalition resumed airstrikes in the Yemeni conflict, which had been suspended since 15 December during attempted peace talks.
Senior Al-Qaida Leader Killed in Yemen Clashes Ali Abid al-Rab bin Talab, leader of an extremist court controlled by al-Qaeda in Yemen, was killed in fighting against pro-government forces.
Fighting erupts for control of Yemen's Aden portThe government and Houthi rebels have been battling for control over the key port of Aden in southern Yemen.
Saudi warplanes pound Sana'a gas tanks Air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition Several gas stations in Sanaa have found themselves targeted by airstrikes following the resumption of combat in Yemen.
Saudi-led coalition ends ceasefireThe Saudi-led coalition has decided to withdraw formally from the ceasefire that had held since the beginning of November.
Human Rights
BCHR Newsletter #182 This week Bahrain arrested sixty-three people on social media-related allegations, according to the Bahrain Center for Human Rights.
Saudi Arabia: Mass Execution Largest Since 1980 According to Human Rights Watch (HRW) the mass execution that included Nimr al-Nimr was the largest mass execution held in Saudi Arabia since 1980.