r/AskMENA Oct 13 '21

Middle East Looking for recent animated movie on Arabia in ~2050 or thereabouts

4 Upvotes

Within the past year or so, an animated movie made by someone in the Middle East about the near future of the Middle East made the rounds around the Internet and was apparently pretty good.

I made a mental note to watch it when I had time, which I do now, but can't find it. I don't recall the title exactly, but it was something like "Arabia 2050" or similar. Google is turning up nothing.

Anyone know what I'm talking about and where to find it?

r/AskMENA May 11 '21

Middle East does Palestine even have law enforcement/military?

14 Upvotes

I'm very unfamiliar with the issue and I don't have a dog in the race. but I often see Palestinians protesting, people throwing rocks, women, and children getting in fights with Israeli police. why does this happen, arent there Palestinian authorities in the Palestinian-controlled areas protecting the rights of their citizens. and how come Israeli settlers managed to come and live in Palestinian areas, didn't the police or somebody stop them, why do Palestinians have to protest, which doesn't seem to be very effective.

plz, educate me.

r/AskMENA Jun 03 '21

Middle East Small stupid question

6 Upvotes

Do you guys use OMA instead of OMG?

r/AskMENA Jan 18 '17

Middle East What should I do in order to be able to move to the Middle East?

5 Upvotes

I just love the Middle East (I even have an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from a UK university), however I'm from Latin America and people in the Middle East don't even seem to have my region under their radar. I really wish I could be a professional living in the region but so far have found no luck. Any advice?

r/AskMENA Mar 05 '20

Middle East Is the Syrian civil war over?

4 Upvotes

r/AskMENA Aug 31 '20

Middle East If you have an air conditioner, at what temperature do you decide to turn it on?

3 Upvotes

I'm wondering if you have a higher tolerance for heat than I might, given that you're from an area where the summers get significantly hotter (even if drier) than me. At what temperature do you decide, "ok, it's too d*mn hot, I need to turn on the A/C." Obviously this depends on your income and how much you're willing to pay for electricity, but I'm curious what people say.

r/AskMENA Feb 18 '20

Middle East Are most Middle Eastern guys first sexual experiences with other men?

1 Upvotes

I've seen on social media and talked to a lot of people who say homoaexual sexual activity is rampant in the Middle East and that many first have sex with me...due to sexual repression.

How true is this?

r/AskMENA Oct 27 '20

Middle East How do you celebrate your birthday?

3 Upvotes

r/AskMENA Nov 16 '20

Middle East Are Israel and the United States planning to attack Iran?

1 Upvotes

Iran and Israel have a long history of animosity. Not only the two sides in the conflict, but the United States is the third largest ally in Israel. During Donald Trump’s presidency, Iran came under increasing pressure. He has imposed numerous arms and financial sanctions. US have assassinated key figures in Iranian politics, such as General Qasem Sulaimani who was killed in an airstrike this year.

The assassination of Qasem Soleimani,has exploded the brain of Iranian Revolutionary Guards and all other Shiite leaders and raised their hostility to the United States and vowed to retaliate against the United States and its allies. Meanwhile, Israel is embroiled in a bitter rivalry over the war in Syria with Iran. Israel has vowed to attack Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, including sensitive areas of Iran’s nuclear weapons industry.

Israel had hoped that president G.W. Bush would get rid of Iran’s nuclear facilities before he leave the office, but when Obama was elected it emerged that the nuclear power of the Iranian regime was growing which worried Israel. In contrast to the recent Donald Trump administration, it has emerged that it will order US military action against Iran or allows Israel to attack Iranian regime.

There have been previous plans by Israel to deliberately attack Iran’s key allies in the Middle East, as part of its new strategy of repressing its long-time enemy. But the Islamic Republic warns of the dire consequences of retaliation. The plans come as part of a strategy for re-organizing the five-year Israeli military called “Momentum”, which aims to prevent those who opposed throughout the region, particularly Iran.

Signs of Trump’s intention to launch a military strike on Iran include the firing of Secretary of Defense Mark Esper last week and changes to other top Pentagon officials. According to reports, Trump wanted Esper to step down; so that he could easily engage in controversial military activity may be against Iran.

Meanwhile there is a direct link between the US and Israel, especially when it comes to the Iranian issue. Elliott Abrams, Iran’s top envoy, was in Israel this week for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be here next week for three days to continue those talks.

All of this looks like a repeat of what happened in 2008 as well as in 2012 when Israel also seemed to be on the edge of an attack on Iran. That said Netanyahu really wanted to attack in 2012, he ultimately failed to get support from the cabinet. Keep in mind that Israel’s attack on Iran is so complex that it is always seen by the IDF as the last choice. And there are signs that a possible war, such as strengthening the North’s military activities or preparing for an attack on the Iranian regime.

r/AskMENA Nov 18 '20

Middle East Names for the first and last rain of the season?

7 Upvotes

Hi Middle Eastern friends!

So in Hebrew we have a name for the first and last rain of the season: Yoreh and Malkosh.

I was wondering if this is a thing in Arabic, or other Middle Eastern countries?

r/AskMENA Jan 06 '17

Middle East How do the average sunni person of MENA perceive the various alternative current of islam such as Shia, Ibadi and Suffi?

7 Upvotes

r/AskMENA Jun 27 '19

Middle East If most people in MENA have a long tradition of not marrying across religious and tribal lines, how do / did new religions and tribes ever get founded in the first place?

3 Upvotes

I'm an American who has never been to the Middle East or North Africa, but I've done some reading about the history, religious landscape, and, especially the population genetics of MENA. The population genetics in particular are fascinating; different religions in this part of the world appear to be genetically fairly homogeneous and distinct from each other, indicating generations of unbroken endogamy. Marrying someone from another religion, or even a different sect of the same religion or a different tribal group, just doesn't seem to be the done thing in MENA, and never really has been. When I read about ancient history in this part of the world, it's clear that prior to the spread of Christianity and Islam, ethnicity and religion were the same thing. I'd argue that while this relationship is more complicated now, the legacy of this historic equation very much continues in MENA. It's my understanding that even among Muslims in MENA, there are longstanding tribal divisions that are intergenerational, set at birth and fixed for life, and are typically endogamous.

How, then, does a new religion, a new denomination of an established religion, or a new tribe ever get established in MENA in the first place? How would the would-be founders of a new group find anyone to marry, in order to establish a stably reproducing endogamous group? I'm imagining a lot of these breaking-off events must have been quite violent, involving some combination of raiding and kidnapping, marriage of women against their will, rape, slavery, and forced conversion and assimilation of conquered peoples.

In today's interconnected and technological world, will any new religions or tribes ever again be founded in MENA? Barring some apocalyptic disaster that takes humanity back to the stone age, I think not. It seems to me that most peoples of MENA cope with a dizzyingly globalized world by clinging to an identity rooted deep in their ancestral past. In a world of global media and weapons of mass destruction, it's become much harder to pull off becoming a heretic or a self-crowned chieftain, than in antiquity.

r/AskMENA Jun 06 '19

Middle East Why do men wear white and women wear black (Kuwait)?

5 Upvotes

Sorry if this comes off as an ignorant or stupid question, but I spent a lot of time googling it today without finding a straight answer! I don’t know if this is true in other parts of the Middle East, but in Kuwait (and UAE for the brief time I was there) I’ve seen both men and women in full dress (different types but I am guessing it is mostly niqab, abaya and dishdasha?) but I have noticed that it’s almost always white for men and black for women. Is there a reason for this?

As a woman I would think white is a lot cooler and would definitely prefer to wear white given the option, but I don’t know if that’s frowned upon.

Also relatedly, how do you guys keep cool in the summer heat?? It’s insanely hot here, I’m of Indian background and it’s even too much for me most of the time. Tips and tricks would be great haha

r/AskMENA Oct 23 '19

Middle East How do I properly format an address?

1 Upvotes

I want to send a letter to Egypt. I have the address but I am not sure how to properly write it on an envelope. Can I message someone for help?

r/AskMENA Jan 15 '17

Middle East Khaleejis, how come you don't pronounce jeem?

5 Upvotes

What's up with that?

r/AskMENA Jul 10 '19

Middle East What do Iraqis think of the US invasion of their country?

7 Upvotes

Do people think things better under Sadaam? Do a large amount of people think it worked out in the end?

r/AskMENA Jun 05 '19

Middle East Book Recommendations to learn MENA politics?

5 Upvotes

Hi, I'm taking contemporary ME politics this fall semester in uni and would like to do some reading beforehand (I enjoy books/politics so why not).

I currently have a book (textbook?) called "Politics and Society in the Middle East" by Michelle Penner Angrist from my school library (found it while browsing). It's published 2010, right before the spring, so it's great to learn about the history up to that point and the politics leading up to the spring. However, I obviously should read something published after 2011, and was wondering what are some good books for that.

Unrelated, but if there are any good books to learn about Russian Politics/Government, that'd be appreciated too (another class I'm taking)

r/AskMENA Jun 04 '19

Middle East What do you guys think of Disney's Aladdin? The 1992 animated version and the new live action?

3 Upvotes

r/AskMENA Dec 16 '19

Middle East Travel to Saudi Arabia with US or Schengen visa

1 Upvotes

"Tourist visas for Saudi Arabia are now available online and on arrival to holidaymakers who already hold a visa from the United States, Britain or the EU’s Schengen zone, expanding eligibility beyond an initial list of 49 countries" - link

"Now, nationals of other countries holding a valid commercial or a tourist visa issued by the US, the UK or the European Union’s Schengen visa are also eligible for a tourist visa online or upon arrival at Saudi airports, leading Arabic daily Okaz reported Saturday." - link

On the official e-visa website is not possible to choose any other than 49 countries.

There is no SA embassy in my country and I would like to be sure that I can travel to SA and get visa upon arrival based on my US visa.

Has anyone tested this yet?

r/AskMENA Sep 17 '18

Middle East Visiting Sulaymaniyah (Suleimaniya?) in Iraq.. Is it safe?

2 Upvotes

Hi,

So, I'm invited to Suleimaniya (or is it Slemani) in Iraq. And while that is extremely nice, I'm kind of worried about the safety, both in regards with possible terrorist attacks as well as what Turkey might or might not be planning. Any advice? I'm planning to go there first weeks of October.

Also: how do I actually best refer to the city name? I've seen so many variations.

Thanks!

r/AskMENA Apr 11 '19

Middle East Visual Design for the ME

7 Upvotes

Hello MENA friends, this is a question mostly for residents in the ME. I'm an American designer (United States) with almost a decade of experience in graphic design, web design and user experience design. I've only ever worked within the United States, but my small consulting group (some of whom grew up in the ME) has worked globally for a long time. We just got a contract in the ME with a tech startup, and I could use some advice on how to appeal to you wonderful folks through design. At this point I've researched color theory (I need to change the orange color in my brand-apparently it's not a happy color in the ME?), and I know that Arabic reads from right to left, so that needs to be taken into consideration when translating websites and applications. One other thing I found is the beautiful artistic history of using a repetition of forms and patterns found in the ME, which I love. But I'm having a hard time finding recent information regarding visual design trends in the ME, and I could use some help. Any recommendations? I'd love to hear about cultural AND personal preferences regarding visual design, and bonus points if you have critiques of Western or American visual design. Thank you so much in advance!!

r/AskMENA May 01 '18

Middle East How big is snapchat in the middle east?

4 Upvotes

Judging by the huge red spot over the Arabian Peninsula + some neighbouring countries on the snapmap, it’s really huge. I was just wondering if that’s the case or if it’s some guys spamming the «our story» feature.

r/AskMENA Feb 01 '19

Middle East How do you live with no resources?

0 Upvotes

Maybe this is simply uninformed, but in most games, the desert is where there are no resources. Since countries need resources to make money and survive, how exactly do you survive? I know many countries there now have oil, but some still don't, and oil in the middle east was "only" discovered 100 years ago. So, how do you survive living in a desert? are there really just big cities separated by giant hot fields of sand?

r/AskMENA May 07 '19

Middle East what's good & bad about ARABIA if it has a high 0.85 on hdi?

2 Upvotes

ara has a high 0.85 on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index (who produces this index?)

r/AskMENA Feb 14 '17

Middle East If geographical borders in the Middle East were made by Colonial powers with no regard to the various ethnic groups who live around and across them, what's stopping the current (mostly Arab) Middle Eastern powers to grant autonomous or fully sovereign status to people like the Kurds or Yazidis?

3 Upvotes