Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah and the UAE’s Dubai proved to be the best Middle East hotel investment locations during the first 11 months of 2012, according to data supplied by global accountancy firm Ernst and Young (E&Y).

Using data supplied by E&Y, the coastal city of Jeddah was the top location for hotel investors, with some of the highest levels of average room occupancy in the Middle East and fast growing average room rates and yields. Jeddah is often used as a gateway for Muslim pilgrims travelling on to the Islamic holy city of Makkah for the hajj.

“Saudi Arabia experienced noticeable increases in occupancy rates, with Jeddah increasing by seven percent year-to-date, and Madina increasing two percent year-to-date. Compared to November 2011, Riyadh’s occupancy rate increased by 17 percent in November 2012, which was accredited to the various initiatives undertaken by the city to showcase lost artifacts and the introduction of new cultural experiences to the city,” the E&Y report said.

Dominating the top of the list was Dubai, which has seen growing confidence in the city and a rise in the number of hotel rooms coming on stream. Around 3,600 extra rooms were added in 2012, according to a report by real estate consultancy firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). This is set to continue into 2013, with a further 5,200 hotel rooms expected to come on stream.

“The overall occupancy rate in Dubai was at 80 percent year-to-date, rising two per cent from same period of last year… The increase is attributed to the high number of forums and conferences from the banking and finance sector, securities sector and the oil and gas sector held in Dubai during the month of November. This represents Dubai’s increasing appeal as a business-friendly environment that continues to attract major investments and international projects in addition to the stable and increasing tourism sector within the city,” said Yousef Wahbeh, MENA Head of Transaction Real Estate at E&Y.

The report said the improved climate in the UAE and increased political stability in the region was set to continue into 2013, especially with the onset of the Dubai Shopping Festival throughout January.

The third Arab Economic and Social Development Summit came to a close on Tuesday, January 22nd  in Riyadh, with the participation of several Arab heads of states and officials.

The summit was also attended by the secretary general of the Arab League and representatives of around 500 regional, Arab and international organizations. Leaders from countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Sudan, Palestine, Yemen, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Djibouti, and Comoros Islands attended the meeting held at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Hall in the capital.

Arab leaders attending the Summit renewed their commitment to fully implement the decisions made at the two previous summits in Kuwait in 2009 and at Sharm El-Sheikh in 2011. They also agreed to hold the next summit in Tunisia in 2015.

The summit examined many economic and social issues, to meet the aspirations of Arab peoples and foster inter-Arab social and economic cooperation, mainly trade and investment promotion and activating the free trade zone project.

Participants also discussed matters related notably to the common Arab stock exchange and the Arab initiative for supporting private sector’s projects.

Arab League Secretary General, Nabil Elarabi, who read out the Riyadh declaration, stressed the importance of the speedy implementation of all decisions passed at the two summits.

Also adopted was an Arab strategy for the use of renewable energy (2010-2030) aimed at meeting the growing demand for energy and diversifying sources to meet requirements for sustainable development. The strategy is also intended to set up an Arab market in partnership with the private sector for renewable energy, which will create new job opportunities.

It was also demanded that constructive measures be taken to combat hunger and to provide instant relief in emergency situations arising from food security.

A study made by the University of Westminster shows that numbers of Arab Students in the UK have significantly increased in the years between 2009/2010 and 2011/2012.

According to Higher Education Statistic Agency (HESA), there was an increase of 6.2% in the numbers of Non-EU students in the UK through the past two years in which students from Arab countries are the majority.

From 22 states of the Arab League members, students of the Gulf region make the majority with 10,270 students from Saudi Arabia alone, putting that country on the 7th position among the top Non-EU students in the UK.

By adding numbers from other Arab countries this position is greatly increased. By asking the embassies of several Gulf States in the UK, a recent study showed that there are 886 students from United Arab Emirates, 1200 students from Qatar and 2000 students from Oman for the 2011/2012 periods, showing that London is the still the main destination for Arab students in comparison to other European cities.

At the University of Westminster there are 341 students from the Middle East fully enrolled for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Trish Evans senior lecturer at the University stated: “UK Universities welcome students from all corners of the world. In recent years we have been fortunate to have several Arab students on our courses who have helped deepen understanding and build relationships across borders.”

London is home to 100,000 international students from more than 200 different nations, making it an easy to live in city. Therefore young students can blend in with each other and live a new experience without feeling alienated. By asking a number of Arab nationals in London about why they chose to study in the UK, the majority of the answers were because London is a cosmopolitan city that offers wide varieties of historical, cultural and social activities to its students. Also many chose to come to the UK because of how recognized and respected a UK degree is throughout the Arab world.

It was an old tavern, near to the Connaught Rooms, where nearly 150 years ago the Football Association was established. In such humble surroundings, the founding fathers of football probably didn’t think that 150 years later such a glitzy event would be celebrating that meeting.

The FA started proceedings in its 150th year by inviting some famous football names down to an event. It was the first time that former England managers Fabio Capello, Sven Goran Eriksson, Terry Venables and Graham Taylor were pictured with the current incumbent Roy Hodgson.

FA Chairman David Bernstein stressed how pleased he was to have such luminaries involved.

The actual anniversary of the FA’s inception happens on October 23 2013 – but the FA have numerous events across the year to celebrate. Prince William and Jose Mourinho were amongst those who couldn’t make it but sent video messages to those that were present.

Former France captain Marcel Desailly got into the spirit of the event – even tipping England for a future World Cup win.

Bernstein tempered any expectation of England hosting another World Cup on its own soil any time soon but was hopeful that the country could hold some matches in the 2020 European Championship.

The FA Cup, Community Shield and the original ‘Laws of Football’ were also shown off by the FA. The next big event in the celebrations will the FA England Awards on February 3rd. A friendly game against Brazil will follow on February 6th at Wembley Stadium where the guest of honour will be Pele.

Making history in the south-west British county, a Labour councillor has been selected as Bristol’s first Muslim lord Mayor, being the youngest person to hold the office.

“I’m absolutely jubilant to have been selected,” Faruk Choudhury told This Is Bristol. Being the first Asian and the first Bangladeshi, Choudhury will also be the youngest person to hold the office at the age of 38. Living in Hotwells with his wife and three young children, he will represent Eastville ward which he has served for nearly six years.

He will be entitled to chair full council meetings which are held in the council chamber and attended by all of the city’s 70 councillors. Choudhury took the office after winning Labour party’s nomination to stand as Lord Mayor. He will be installed at the council’s annual meeting in May.

Though being the first Muslim to fill Bristol’s mayoral post, Choudhury is not the first British Muslim to serve in a high-profile public post. Last May, councilor Abdul Razak Osman has been sworn in as the first ever Muslim mayor in the multi-cultural town of Leicester.

In May 2011, Councilor Naveeda Ikram was named as the lord mayor of the district of Bradford, the first Muslim woman to hold this high post. Earlier in November 2010, Lutfur Rahman was elected as the mayor of the East London borough of Tower Hamlets, the first Muslim mayor in Britain.

In 2007, Muslim Labour MP Shahid Malik became the first British Muslim minister after he was named as a minister under Secretary of State for the Department for International Development (DFID). Malik has also served as Justice Minister, Home Office Minister and most recently as Minister for Race, Faith and Community Cohesion.

Another Muslim MP, Sadiq Khan, was also appointed in 2007 as a government assistant responsible for parliamentary affairs. In the 2010 parliamentary elections, eight Muslims were elected as MPs in the House of Commons.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a British-born of Pakistani origin, is the first Muslim woman to serve in the British Cabinet as minister without portfolio.

A Palestinian film portraying the life of a Palestinian photographer and his son in a village witnessing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on daily basis was nominated for an Oscar in the documentary feature category.

“5 Broken Cameras,’ the documentary directed by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi, tells the story of a Palestinian man who lives in the small Palestinian village of Bilin, northwest of Ramallah, which is most famous for its popular and nonviolent weekly protests which started back in 2005. The entire movie was shot in and around Bilin and presents the stories of the director, Burnat, who took upon himself the responsibility of documenting the Israeli violations, raids, peaceful protests, the life of his son who was born with the beginning of the non-violent resistance movement in the village and other outstanding figures and friends in the village.

The title of the documentary refers to the five cameras that were smashed by Israeli soldiers while recording the struggle and steadfastness of the people of Bilin. “I started documenting what happens in Bilin from Israeli violations and raids to protests held by the residents as a way to expose the Israeli practices against Palestinians,” Burnat told a news agency. “I later decided that I want to make a movie that tells the story of Bilin through authentic Palestinian voices.” Burnat said he asked the help of Davidi who used to come to Bilin a lot to film and participate in the protests. “I don’t think the help of an Israeli director has affected the movie in the least since I am well aware of Davidi’s position regarding the conflict,” he said.

Burnat spent five years working on his documentary which received high ratings by both critics and activists around the globe and was screened in the United States and many European countries and received about 25 international awards. Burnat said that the movie is a huge success not only for him as the director or the people of Bilin, but for every Palestinian who believe in the lawfulness of the Palestinian cause.