With all the political turmoil in the Middle East brought in by the Arab Awakening, let’s not forget what’s really important - sussing out which of the latest First Ladies in the region are the hottest - and taking a moment to reflect on those no longer enjoying the limelight. With a focus on those countries that have undergone a political transformation since 2011, we have scoured the internet high and low for photos of the First Ladies. Some of them are leaders in their own rights - Leila Ben ...

Ever wondered if the world of Middle Eastern politics was a jungle, who would be the lion? Of course you have! And you’ll know just what a beast of a task it is... Here at Al Bawaba we’d never assign such a controversial title to a single politician for fear of delivering an ego-boost so strong that the volatile region would immediately combust. Instead we’ve simultaneously scoured the entire region and the animal kingdom, plucking politicians and their inner animals and serving them up side by side, so you don’t ...

The countdown has begun for the 2013 Iranian presidential elections , which will mark the end of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s turbulent eight years in office. Iranians last went to the polls in 2009 for a vote that many hoped would bring real change. But the re-election of Ahmadinejad sparked days of mass protests, which ended in a violent crackdown. This time round, with Ahmadinejad’s time in office at an end, hundreds of hopefuls are vying for the top job. While Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayattolah Ali Khameini may have hoped this ...

Revered British physicist Stephen Hawking is more accustomed to making headlines in the Science section but his image has been smothered on front pages across the world recently after he pulled out of an academic conference due to be held in Jerusalem this summer. This kind of thing used to be all the rage among lefty celebs in the West, especially around the time that Israeli forces raided an aid flotilla bound for Gaza in 2010 . But since it’s been a little while since the last celeb snubbed a ...

Ahlam is stealing the show once again this series of Arab Idol . From catty comments to outrageous outfits and silly stunts, the UAE’s most notorious loud-mouthed diva has made the region’s favorite talent show all about her . Stealing more air time than the contestants themselves, ‘Ahlam Idol’ is pulling in thousands of viewers every week and taking up acres of column inches across the region. But while she might be the star of the show, Ahlam continues to inspire hate in Idol fans everywhere. Here’s everything you need ...

The Middle East is hotting up, and we’re not even talking about the weather. Arab Idol is down to to the final 10 contestants, which means tears, tantrums and tunes will be amped up to the max. A kaleidoscope of countries are represented among the finalists, ranging from Syria to Morocco, but if you’re a social media animal, only half of those stand a chance. Check out their credentials here, and let us know who you think will be crowned Arab Idol 2013. Who do you think will win Arab ...

Despite often being overlooked due to the predominance of Islam in the region, on Easter Sunday Arab Christians from all over the Middle East came out of the woodwork to mark the Christian holy day, providing a beacon of light in an otherwise dark time. Here’s a roundup of the most visually stunning celebrations of Easter that occurred across the Holy Land.

From monkeys in Munich to lateness in London and accusations of inappropriateness at Anne Frank’s in Amsterdam , Justin Bieber’s international ‘Believe’ tour has already served up more star-quality drama than anyone could have anticipated. But for those of you thinking that the 19-year-old Canadian pop sensation must have maxed out on outlandish antics, think again! As he makes his way to the Mideast ready for his double date with Dubai this weekend , you can be sure that Justin is packing a whole new load of drama. He might ...

What started as school children spray painting anti-Assad messages on a wall in Syria's southern city of Daraa has entered its third year of violent conflict. The UN estimates that over 70,000 have been killed in the fighting , with over 1.4 million fleeing to neighboring countries. The bloody conflict has now spilled far beyond Syria’s borders, threatening regional war. There are fears that the almost 100 year-old Sykes-Picot Agreement - an Anglo-French plan that created modern day Lebanon and Syria - may be threatened by increasing sectarian fighting. Jordan's ...

Sunday is the Orthodox Palm Sunday, celebrating when Jesus returned to the city of Jerusalem. The day is known as Shaa'nineh in Arabic and is one of most important dates in the Orthodox religious calendar. The event enables families to come together celebrate mass, and the day is traditionally a familiar affair and an excuse to cook up a good feast and is well celebrated across the Levant nations of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and beyond. Palm Sunday also starts the Holy Week, the run up to Easter ...

Being discriminated against for being too damn attractive is something we can all relate to at Al Bawaba. Our very own, devilishly handsome, American in Arabia was asked to leave Jordan back in ‘82! Lucky for him, he promised to shave off his alluring facial hair , and was allowed to stay in the Kingdom. However even we were surprised at the recent turn of events in Saudi Arabia involving a bit of tourist totty. The UAE’s delectable, delightful, delicious Omar Borkan al Gala was hoofed outta the country for ...