Source : AP / 28 Mar 2014

Attitudes toward women’s equality are dimmer in North Africa than in the rest of the continent, according to a new poll of about 50,000 people across 34 African countries.

The Afrobarometer poll, conducted in 2011-2013 and released Thursday, found women are at a disadvantage compared to men across Africa, but support for women’s equality is growing.

Source : Arab news / 19 Feb 2014

Saudi individuals use on average nine times more electricity than their fellow Arab counterparts in Egypt, Algeria, Sudan and Morocco, according to a report published on Tuesday.

These countries have 185.6 million people, seven times more than Saudi Arabia. Egypt has a population of 79.39 million, Algeria 37.76 million, Sudan 36.43 million and Morocco 32.06 million.

Source : Eat-halal.com / 18 Feb 2014

According to the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce’s annual report for 2013 released recently, food exports from Brazil to Arab countries reached a record high of 17 million tons for the year with meat, sugar and cereals as the predominant products. Brazilian meat topped the list at over USD 4 billion, a 3% increase in value compared to 2012 with sales volume touched 2 million tons in 2013, representing more than 10% of Brazilian exports to the region. The UAE is the biggest commercial partner for Brazil among Arab countries, with its total imports growing over 5% to reach USD 2.5 billion

Source : SG / 13 Feb 2013

Arabian Gulf pension funds are expected to double to $5 trillion by 2020 as regional governments plan for the retirement of their burgeoning populations, reflecting an annual growth of about 8.8 percent from 2012 to the end of the decade, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said in its report.

Source : AP / 30 Nov 2013

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art in Washington is receiving a $1.8 million gift from Oman, the largest donation in the museum’s history.

The gift announced Wednesday will fund a series of programs called “Connecting the Gems of the Indian Ocean: From Oman to East Africa.” It will focus on Omani arts and culture and the links between cultures in East and North Africa and the Middle East.

By Ali Fayyaz / 06 Nov 2013

Saudi Arabia ranked 10th globally and first in the Arab world in terms of the lowest poverty rate, according to a recent poverty report released by the World Bank.

“Jobs can provide a transformational path out of poverty for men, women and youth. Beyond an individual’s income, jobs can bring great value to society through their broad influence on living standards, productivity and social cohesion,” said Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank Group.

By Ali Fayyaz / 05 Nov 2013

Saudi Arabia ranked 10th globally and first in the Arab world in terms of the lowest poverty rate, according to a recent poverty report released by the World Bank.

“Jobs can provide a transformational path out of poverty for men, women and youth. Beyond an individual’s income, jobs can bring great value to society through their broad influence on living standards, productivity and social cohesion,” said Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank Group.

By Ali Fayyaz / 05 Nov 2013

The technological boom has had a negative impact on reading habits.

A survey recently conducted by Arab News revealed that only two in ten people read on a regular basis. The survey also revealed that 80 percent of individuals do not read during their free time.

Source : Thenational.ae / 26 June 2013

The UAE is the happiest Arab country and the 17th happiest in the world, a UN-commissioned report says.

The World Happiness Report, published by the University of Columbia's Earth Institute, indicates the happiest countries "tend to be high-income countries that also have a high degree of social equality, trust, and quality of governance".

Source : Khalil Hanware / 20 June 2013

Saudi Arabia topped the list as foreign direct investment (FDI) into Arab states rose by 9.8 percent last year.

Despite unrest in some of them, FDI in Arab states exceeded $ 47 billion in 2012 compared with $ 42.9 billion the previous year, the Kuwait-based Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corp. (AIECGC) said in its annual report released yesterday.