Aya Batrawy

Arab states that once opposed and even sought to topple Syria's leadership are now building ties with the regime that is still in power, despite years of civil war.

Earthquakes in Syria exposed the devastating needs of people in the war-torn country and raised questions about the impact of U.S. sanctions.

The streets of Cairo are busy, vibrant and noisy, but Ramadan brings another kind of flow: Religious beats from a small band.

Their highest level public meeting in years was held in China, which brokered an agreement last month.

Egypt's economic crisis compels people to make hard spending choices, and challenges the government to accept more foreign aid to support a rapidly growing population.

The world's biggest oil company has announced it made $161 billion in profits in 2022, a whopping figure for the corporation and its main shareholder, the Saudi government.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are restoring full diplomatic relations in a deal brokered by China, a move that could reduce tensions in the region and that asserts China's growing influence in the Gulf.

NPR gained rare access to parts of Syria after last month's devastating earthquakes, photographing what life is like for people who were already coping with a years-long civil war.

The earthquakes in western Asia are prompting Arab states to re-engage with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, despite the ruthlessness of his regime.

Ukrainian visitors and expats are flocking to Yoy restaurant for borsch, companionship and cultural events. Diners from Russia enjoy it too. The UAE has refused to pick sides in the Ukraine war.

Traveling with an aid flight into government-held areas of Syria shows problems that go back before the recent earthquake - like poverty and loss from the civil war.

Appeals for aid to Syria were falling short even before this month. Aid groups are trying to marshal more aid pledges while attention is still on the quakes, but the road to recovery will be long.

The U.N. says hundreds of millions of dollars are needed to help the millions of people impacted by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. There's concern that donor fatigue could impact support.

Hope is fading for finding survivors after Monday's devastating earthquake. But widely shared footage of volunteers pulling people alive from rubble in northwest Syria has lifted spirits.

A 1.5 million square-ft. zone of Dubai known as International Humanitarian City is the world's largest aid hub, with warehouses for U.N. agencies, Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations and others.

In a glitzy neighborhood in Dubai, the largest city in United Arab Emirates, a new restaurant offers Ukrainians a taste of home thousands of miles away.

The UAE has picked a top oil executive to lead global climate talks this year. He's using his platform to galvanize investments in clean energy, but is also backing fossil fuels.

The United Arab Emirates is preparing to host this year's global U.N. climate summit, but its pick to lead the talks is raising eyebrows.

Visiting Saudi Arabia last summer, President Biden tried to reassure Arab leaders of U.S. commitment to the region's security. But Gulf nations aren't necessarily rushing to side with Washington.

The United Arab Emirates is calling for a U.N. Security Council meeting. A far-right Israeli minister visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a move criticized by Arab states that have ties with Israel.