If you're feeling like it has been forever since we rang in 2020, we can't really blame you. This year has come at us in such full force that it's simply hard to believe it's not even March yet.
From political to environmental, the past few weeks carried many catastrophes for Arab countries. The bad news? Things don't seem like they're going to shape up anytime soon.
In case you're wondering why Arabs want this year to be over already, here's a look at a few of the disasters that have taken place so far:
1. Trump's "deal of the century" dealt a blow to Palestinian rights
The year started with U.S. President Donald Trump revealing what he called the "Middle East peace plan" to the world in January. His proposed solution - or so called vision for peace - does not provide displaced Palestinians a "right of return" nor does it allow for the sovereign state of Palestine to form a military.
The plan was rightfully dubbed a #PeaceSham since it deprives Palestinians of their most basic of rights all while granting more power to the occupier Israel, which has been illegally stealing Palestinians' land for decades.
Trump's scheme amends borders, giving Israel more land in the Palestinian-controlled West Bank; it only gives the future Palestinian state a few blocks in eastern Jerusalem. The latter goes to Israel in its entirety, becoming the occupier's capital.
Though Palestinians all over the world rejected the plan and vowed to continue fighting for their land, the scheme dealt a major blow to them and to humanity as a whole.
2. Oman's much loved Sultan Qaboos passed away
Oman's longest leading monarch Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said passed away on Jan. 10 at the age of 79.
The ruler held his title for five decades and was considered the longest reigning Arab leader.
He was mourned by his people and countries across the world. The Omani government declared a three-day mourning period in the wake of his passing as tributes honoring him poured in.
3. Massive floods wreaked havoc across the UAE
An unprecedented rainstorm hit the UAE mid-January, waging chaos across the country. The storm flooded cities, drowned houses, and brought the Gulf nation's transport system to a halt.
The rainfall and severe flash floods left at least one dead and caused major damage to properties and cars.
People residing in Dubai said the amount of rainfall the city witnessed in mere hours was something they'd never seen before.
4. Locust swarmed Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries
This month, hordes of locusts migrated from countries located in the Horn of Africa and arrived and multiplied across Saudi Arabia.
The locusts are reported to have spread throughout the central, eastern, and western regions of the kingdom including Riyadh, Jazan, Mecca, Qassim, and more.
Many Saudis reported witnessing locust attacks that were unprecedented in their severity and made sure to document them on social media. Several other countries in the Arab world are also experiencing locust attacks and these include Jordan, Kuwait, Yemen, and Oman.
5. Lebanon's economic collapse escalated
Lebanon's ailing economy is nearing collapse this year with things registering a marked escalation in the first few weeks of 2020.
A new cabinet was formed following the resignation of former PM Saad Hariri - after the Oct.17 revolution that shook the country - but has yet to deliver any of the citizens' demands.
The new cabinet includes 20 ministers, a decrease from the previous 30, all of whom were painted as "experts and technocrats," though many of them are far from that.
With no economic plan in the works, the crisis and general state of unrest continues to worsen in the country. Unable to withdraw money from banks and facing price hikes affecting life's most basic necessities, this year is proving even more catastrophic than the last.
6. Panic rose over a World War III starting in the Middle East
We're still in the first two months everyone and yep, they featured a World War III scare.
Panic erupted over a war that could start in the region and be led by the U.S. and Iran. Tensions between the two countries reached an all-time high early in January following the assassination of top Iranian and Iraqi commanders in a targeted airstrike launched in Baghdad.
Those killed included Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, head of his country's elite Quds Force, and the deputy commander of the Iran-backed Iraqi Mobilization Forces Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The assassination - which was ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump - got analysts worried over an escalation of violence in the Middle East.
At the time, experts worried that a threat of a war breaking out in the region was very real, which had millions in a state of panic. Things seem to have calmed down this month, though many believe it's only a matter of time before tensions rise again.
7. Coronavirus caused major dips in Arab and Gulf economies
Even before the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spread to the region, its effects were taking a toll on its economies.
Saudi Arabia's oil giant Aramco is one of the companies hit by the effects of the fatal illness; its shares lost most of the gains made since going public in December. The company lost around 7 percent of profits since the start of the year. This is mainly due to the drop in oil prices caused by alarm over the new version of the disease, which originated in China's Wuhan.
Other Gulf economies have also been affected by the virus, including the UAE and its business growth.
Experts believe since the virus has reached countries in the region including Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and the UAE, it is set to have an even greater effect on each nation's economy.
8. Deaths, thefts and divorces hit Arab celebrities
The first few weeks of the year were also catastrophic for several Arab celebrities and public figures. People couldn't keep count of all the nerve-wracking occurrences taking place.
Just one day into 2020, the death of esteemed Lebanese TV presenter Najwa Kassem shocked the Arab world. The late journalist worked for Al Arabiya and passed away due to a heart attack in her home in Dubai after celebrating the New Year.
In early January, Lebanese pop star Nancy Ajram's husband was arrested and charged with the murder of a burglar who broke into the couple's home in Lebanon's Kesrouane. Syrian singer Assala also shocked fans by announcing her divorce from her filmmaker husband Tarek Al Aryan in the first few weeks of 2020.
What more will this year hold for us? This is the question every Arab person is probably asking right now. We guess we'll just have to wait and hope for better days to come.
