Arabic press review: Debt and debility, a tale of Saudi sorrow

UAE cosies up to Hamas

The UAE is seeking to establish ties with Hamas in Gaza, according to London's al-Quds al-Arabi, despite the fact that Abu Dhabi has accused the movement of being a "terrorist organisation". A delegation of Palestinian officials began meeting Egyptian and UAE officials in Cairo on Friday.

The delegation is considering a number of issues, including the establishment of projects in Gaza, the opening of the Rafah crossing and financial aid.

The delegation includes representatives of Hamas and a specific faction within the Fatah movement led by Mohammed Dahlan, who has been living in the UAE since his suspension from the movement led by the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas.

The newspaper stated that Egyptian authorities decided to open Rafah next month, after five months of closure. The Egyptian leadership also agreed to supply Gaza with a 50mw new power line, the newspaper said.

Saudi deficit cut, but debt soars

Despite an improvement in the Saudi budget deficit, figures indicate the kingdom has started a new journey with debt, according to a report on Arabi21.

According to figures released by the Saudi government, the total deficit in the second quarter of this year was cut to $12.4bn, marking a decrease of about 20 percent compared with the deficit recorded in the same period last year.

However, government figures indicated that public debt rose from $84bn to $91bn.

Debts tended to rise amid the continuing decline in oil sale revenue by large percentages, according to the Arabi21 report.

Germany accelerates deportations to Morocco

Germany's government has recorded a large rise this year in the deportation of Algerian, Tunisian and Moroccan citizens, according to the report of the Algerian newspaper El Khabar.

The report stated that "the wave of deportations to Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco in the first months of this year has witnessed a high record, with deportations expected to reach double last year's figures".

Mohamed Morsi's son forbidden from praying

Mohamed Morsi's son Osama has complained of being denied his rights in his Egyptian prison. The former Egyptian president's son told Cairo criminal court that he is being prevented from praying and completing his higher education, and having family visits blocked, during a recent appearance, the Jordanian newspaper al-Sabeel said. 

He declared he has been "banned from having visits, and not allowed to complete postgraduate studies". 

"I am confined to a place where I do not see any other prisoners and I am not allowed to pray Jumuah," he said. 

* Arabic press review is a digest of reports that are not independently verified as accurate by Middle East Eye