United States
Reem Abdellatif is a writer, editor, and former foreign correspondent with over 10 years of experience living and working across MENA and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
She has travelled across places like Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Riyadh, and Doha, where she moderated and hosted panels on AI, E-commerce, and women working in male-dominated industries, such as the oil & gas sectors.
As a GBV Survivor Advocate, Reem believes that intersectional feminism offers a lens through which we can better understand and interact with the world around us — particularly when it comes to business and socioeconomics. That's why her work has brought women and minority issues to public policy agendas. Her work focuses on geopolitics, economics, as well as sexual violence in Egypt and the African continent.
Having lived in Egypt for seven years, Reem has had the opportunity to cover Egypt's pre- and post-uprising era from 2010-2014. Reem has also lived in the UAE & Saudi Arabia for nearly five years from 2015-2019. This has given her the opportunity to become immersed in the GCC as the region underwent unprecedented social and economic transformation.
Reem's bylines and interviews have appeared in Goethe Institut, WSJ, LA Times, i24NEWS, Haaretz, Libération, CNBC, and others.
Reem is also Co-founder and Director of the African Women Rights Advocates (AWRA) movement.
While Egypt's economy faces pressure from several factors, such as coronavirus preventative measures, a sudden stop in tourism and record-high debt levels, one bright spot in the economy is a tech boom that has continued even throughout the global pandemic.
The impact of COVID-19 and low oil prices has led to even further expected declines in Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product, but research and development could hold the key to an economic reset.
UNITED NATIONS, New York - "I have gone to the police after receiving threats of violence," Nistula Hebbar told UNFPA, describing the relentless onslaught of abuse she experiences online. As a politics reporter for The Hindu, her words and her reputation are her livelihood.
Writer, Co-Founder, Head of Communications Current Occupation: Writer, Co-Founder, Head of Communications Organization/Institution: African Women Rights Advocates (AWRA) Language: English, Arabic Reem Abdellatif (@Reem_Abdellatif ) is a writer, activist and communications head for African Women Rights Advocates (@AWRA_org), an NGO dedicated to sustainable change for women and girls.
Happy New Year to all AWRA allies and members out there! We're excited to start the New Year celebrating the accomplishments of African women. In this exclusive interview, AWRA co-founder Reem Abdellatif speaks with Sudanese-British comedian Ola Labib, who is known for her charming personality and edgy humor.
Reem Abdellatif is Director & Chief Operating Officer of the African Women Rights Advocates movement (AWRA). Nimco Ali is CEO of The Five Foundation, The Global Partnership To End FGM.
Un homme au volant d'une voiture étincelante manque de renverser une passante. La jeune femme, surprise, s'arrête et jette un regard inquiet au conducteur. Avec flegme, ce dernier prend alors une photo de la piétonne grâce à une caméra sur le pare-brise. La photo volée s'affiche aussitôt sur son téléphone, qu'il regarde d'un air satisfait.
The country's parliament approved harsher penalties for sexual harassment in July, amending the penal code to make it a felony and increasing the penalty to a minimum of two years in prison instead of six months, alongside a fine of between $6,370 (£4,740) and $12,740 (£9,480).
When I look at my own life and how it has changed in the past few years - particularly the past two pandemic years - I can say with firm conviction that I have taken decluttering to a whole new level. I'm a first-generation Egyptian-American and the daughter and granddaughter of FGM survivors.
International supermodel Bella Hadid and her fashion designer sister Alana Hadid have joined growing calls for the release of Egyptian TikTok influencers Mawada al-Adham and Haneen Hossam, who have been convicted of human trafficking.
I was 14 when the Twin Towers collapsed. Here I was, a first-generation daughter of Egyptian, Muslim immigrants, in high school in Elgin, South Carolina, a quiet country town out of whose population of about 1,000 I was the only Middle Eastern kid.
These days, I feel every Afghan woman's pain as if it were my own. I feel that I can relate to every Afghan woman and girl, all too well. The setbacks women and girls will face in the coming days, months and years - they're also familiar.
In 2017, we all heard a wrenching and unfamiliar sound: Women's voices reverberating around the world as the first shocking stories of the #MeToo were revealed, from the United States to Europe, and even to parts of Africa. That movement, founded by American activist Tarana Burke, created a massive ripple effect that still inspires men and women around the world.
Covid-19 has exposed just how much work remains to be done to wipe out female genital mutilation (FGM) around the world. Two million girls who would otherwise be safe from the practice are believed to be at risk over the next decade as a direct result of the virus.
The shimmering coastline of Dubai's tree-shaped Palm Jumeirah island is known for its posh apartments, glitzy hotels, and upscale restaurants-but the lights in this exclusive enclave, like much of the city, have started to dim. That's because Dubai's economy, built on the hopes of globalization, was on thin ice long before the pandemic.
Vietnamese travel and lifestyle influencer Bé Hà Nguyen can be seen on her official Instagram page frolicking at a Red Sea beach resort in a bikini while embracing her partner for a kiss in Cairo - all under the #ExperienceEgypt hashtag in scenes that you typically wouldn't see in a country like Egypt.
Landlocked in pristine wilderness, Botswana is known for its colorful sunrises and lush oases where zebras or elephants can be seen sipping from its soothing waters. That's always been their natural habitat, with people always passing through as their curious visitors, observers, and sometimes sadly - their poachers.
Countries across the oil-dependent Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have made efforts to bolster their travel and hospitality sectors in recent years to build more sustainable economic models, but the spread of coronavirus is testing the strength of such reforms. "The biggest thing coronavirus has shown is how vulnerable the Gulf is to an epidemic, given its role as a travel and logistics hub," said Varsha Koduvayar, an analyst on covering the Gulf Arab states with the Washington-based...
When people around the world think of travel in the Middle East, medical tourism is typically not the first idea that comes to mind - particularly in Dubai. Most people think of visiting the coastal city for its soaring skyscrapers, luxurious shopping venues, or year-round warm weather.
We've all heard about detox retreats, or spiritual getaways. Some people have called them a new age travel trend, but wellness tourism has been around for decades. Such getaways, in the last few years, have become increasingly popular in Dubai, particularly among professionals who belong to the upper middle class and are more health-conscious or educated.
Mohamed Turisi was 20 years old and still living at home with his parents when his hopes of becoming a civil engineer in Egypt were completely dashed. Not only had he lost interest in becoming part of its oversaturated job market, but his job prospects in Egypt looked very slim.
Turkey has long been known for its vibrant and attractive tourism destinations, from the Byzantine and Ottoman palaces in Istanbul to its snow-white hot springs in Pamukkale, known as the "cotton castle" in Turkish.
Living under the ongoing threat of regional unrest and economic uncertainty, residents of the Palestinian city of Jenin in the West Bank are turning to their unique cultural identity and taste for the arts to attract tourism and participate in a cultural exchange.
From the deep blue Mediterranean coastline of Algiers to the winding alleyways of colorful Casbah, there are many spectacular travel destinations to explore in Algeria. Africa's largest country, which is just a short flight from much of Europe, is currently home to seven UNESCO-inscribed World Heritage Sites, such as the Roman ruins of Hippo Regius that stretch over vast land covered with green olive trees, flowers, and rosemary.
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said he is keen on having a business presence in Saudi Arabia as the Kingdom pushes ahead with its Vision 2030 economic diversification and social reform plan.
When oil giant Saudi Aramco announced its plans to list five percent of its shares publicly, global markets from Hong Kong to New York lined up to compete for a part of the listing - and not just because it's the most profitable company in the world.
Saudi Arabia has restored a third of its oil production which had been lost as a result of Saturday's attacks on its key oil-processing facilities, according to Refinitiv tracking data seen by Al Arabiya English. "On a normal day, around 6.4 million barrels per day (bpd) are shipped out.
The institutional portion of Saudi Aramco 's initial public offering (IPO) on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) is oversubscribed, having received over 64 billion riyals ($17.1 billion) in orders, while the retail tranche has received 10 billion riyals, a banking source told Al Arabiya English on Thursday.
Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris said on Monday that investors are waiting to learn more about Egypt's new mining law, which seeks to place the African country among the world's leading gold and copper mining destinations.
Markets are already oversupplied, which is not good for Saudi, explains Reem Abdellatif, editor-in-chief of the Argaam.
Since Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman introduced the ambitious reform plan known as Vision 2030 in 2016, the Kingdom has made strides towards diversifying its economy and reducing its dependence on oil revenues.
Dubai's ride-haling app Careem has been acquired by Uber for $3.1 billion, making it the largest buyout of a startup in the Middle East until
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Kuwait continued to invest in oil-related projects even when crude prices slipped to record l
As fiscal year 2015 winds to an end,Argaamspeaks with Ahmad Farroukh, chief executive officer ofMobily, about his expectations for the telecom sector,
Digital technologies and smart applications are by large degrees making their ways into city operations around the world. Governments have been recogn
If you turn on the TV in Saudi or the Arab world these days, you'll get the usual mix of news, religious programming, or Turkish melodramatic series.
Egyptians often tout their country as a beacon of culture, liberalism, and Muslim modesty in the Middle East. But in terms of freedoms for women, a recent study on how people in Muslim countries prefer women to dress in public showed that Egypt is significantly more conservative than its Arab neighbors.
I remember I was 5 years old as I watched my mother repeatedly climb to the highest part of the bed only to jump right back off again. I was confused. I could see that she was in emotional and physical pain. I was sad for her.
CAIRO-Egypt's Islamist government, during its brief reign, couldn't satisfy public demand for subsidized food and fuel-spurring discontent that helped the military drive it from power. The military-backed leadership that took over this summer is now wrestling with the same challenge, trying to make sure there is enough cheap bread for the country's poor.
Egyptian business tycoon Naguib Sawiris tells The Wall Street Journal his family plans to invest billions of dollars in Egypt after the ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Mr. Sawiris, a scion of the Christian family that controls the Orascom corporate empire, is currently chairman of Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding, a large mobile operator in the Middle East.
In Egypt, poverty and food insecurity have reached staggering levels in the last few years, an issue that could lead to further social unrest and political instability in the Arab world's most populous country.
Egypt's ailing economy has stabilized somewhat with a military intervention that many people believe has helped avert, for now, an economic meltdown. But Egypt's new temporary government faces the same challenge of economic overhauls that overwhelmed ousted President Mohammed Morsi.
CAIRO-Judging by Egypt's surging market and rebounding currency a day after the military ousted President Mohammed Morsi, investors believe that Cairo's new leadership will shore up confidence in the country's markets and open the way for new economic aid from Arab neighbors.
CAIRO-Living in Cairo's outskirts without access to clean water, Jihan Younes relies on her housecleaning wages to feed her three children, husband and mother-in-law. But she worries that the 800 Egyptian pounds she earns each month-now worth about $115-is buying less and less. "I pay for my meat in installments," said Mrs.
Despite sexual attacks and intimidation, hundreds of thousands of Egyptian women hit the streets Sunday to protect their rights from what they perceived as the threat of rising political Islam. Reem Abdellatif reports on the News Hub. Photo: AP.
Many women protested in Egypt in defiance of one of a dark reality-the widespread sexual violence against women who are participating in, or simply present at, antigovernment protests. On Sunday, rights groups said, some 50 women were assaulted at Cairo rallies.
SANA, Yemen -- The Israeli killing of Hamas' military chief Ahmed Jabari in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday came amid a much-altered political landscape in the Arab world, especially in Islamist-led Egypt looking to regain its regional prominence. The Muslim Brotherhood, which has long had close ties to Hamas, became the dominant force in Egypt after last year's overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.
CAIRO - In a political reversal to calm weeks of unrest, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi early Sunday rescinded much of last month's decree that expanded his powers and exposed a dangerous divide between the nation's Islamists and the mainly secular opposition. The announcement reverses most of the declaration the Islamist president issued Nov.
When I walk into Tahrir Square alone these days, carrying my notebook, I try to remain calm, act like I belong and move with the cascading crowds. If you seem scared or intimidated, they smell your fear. Like other female reporters, I have grown accustomed to being constantly on guard while doing my job.
CAIRO -- An Egyptian opposition party alleged Monday that one of its members was tortured to death by police after he disappeared last week from a protest against the Islamist-led government of President Mohamed Morsi. The Popular Current party said Mohamed ElGendy, 28, was beaten while in police custody after he went missing on Jan.
CAIRO - Adorned with delicate makeup, an anchorwoman wearing a head scarf appeared Sunday on Egypt's state television for the first time in its five-decade history. Wearing a cream-colored scarf, Fatma Nabil appeared poised as she read the latest updates on the drafting of Egypt's post-revolution Constitution on the noon news program, followed by a male anchor.
When Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi announced on Sunday that he would issue a decree to reinstate parliament, his goal was not just to reel in his presidential authorities from the military, but to secure his campaign promises, according to sources close to the newly elected president.
CAIRO - On the first Sunday after a military crackdown on a protest against the burning of a Christian community center killed 27 people last week, Coptic Christians are gathering to pray for the dead and the country seems increasingly united in a belief that the Egyptian Army is not the steward of the revolution that so many once hoped it would be.
CAIRO - The scene outside Zeinhom Morgue in the downtown Cairo slum was chilling on Friday afternoon as dozens of angry protesters mourned as they awaited the body of 24-year-old Essam Atta, allegedly tortured and brutalized by security officials in Tora Prison for smuggling in a SIM card to use in a cell phone.
By Reem Abdellatif CAIRO - In the uncertain months after country's revolution, Yosri Fouda emerged as one of the few Egyptian journalists who spoke truth to power. His popularity surged with his late night talk show, where he challenged Egypt's ruling military council.
CAIRO, Egypt - Mayam Mahmoud isn't your average hip hop artist. To begin with, she wears a veil. When the nineteen-year-old took to the stage of "Arabs Got Talent" last October, her performance left a lasting impression on young people in Egypt and the Arab world. It also earned her a death threat.
By Reem Abdellatif CAIRO - It was the middle of the night in Cairo when Ragia Omran, one of the country's most prominent human rights lawyers, rushed to C-28, Egypt's notorious military court, where almost 300 civilian detainees were being held without lawyers.