The lockdown of COVID-19 pandemic has affected air quality due to the changes in human activities. Researchers worldwide observed reductions in NO 2 concentrations due to lockdown and related diminished human activities, notably the reduced industrial and vehicular use. However, limited information was available for the MENA Region. In this study, the impact of lockdown due to COVID-19 on NO 2 in two MENA major cities: Cairo, Egypt and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was assessed. NO 2 column was retrieved from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on Aura for April 2017 to 2020. The monthly mean value of NO 2 concentrations of April 2017-2019 was used as a baseline. NO 2 concentration in April 2020 was compared to the baseline to assess the impact of lockdown on NO 2 . The results demonstrated that the lockdown was associated with a reduction in NO 2 in both cities. NO 2 decreases by 40.3% and 23% in Riyadh and Cairo. By comparing the decrease of NO 2 at weekends and weekdays, it was found that in Cairo, the decrease in weekdays (16.3%) was lower than weekends (31.9%). While in Riyadh, the decrease in weekdays (43.9%) was higher than weekends (29.3%). Variation in the reduction rates appears to be related to the different lockdown regimens taken by the two countries, among other factors. The findings of the present investigation alert countries in the region about the impact of human activities on urban air population and urge them to take appropriate mitigation measures to maintain good ambient air quality to protect human health and the environment.

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Motivation to study engineering in undergraduate study is of great importance to students. It encourages undergraduate students to enroll in an engineering program and continue their studies without dropping out. Male students enroll in engineering programs with large numbers compared to female students in many parts of the world. In Saudi Arabia, there were limited engineering programs for female students. In this research, the motivation to study engineering is studied and compared between male and female students in the College of Engineering at Prince Sultan University, the first private university in Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted through a detailed survey distributed to 41 male engineering management students and 45 female architectural engineering students. These students’ performance and experience were considered and compared considering their gender to evaluate their persistence toward engineering study. According to the results obtained, the highest degree of the parents had a considerable effect on the selection of engineering major for male and female students. Most surveyed male and female students select an engineering major because of its positive impact on the community and its role in improving the way of life. Male students may differ in that they considered engineering in order to start their own business after graduation with a higher percentage compared to female students. There was a very limited role of the school in selecting engineering majors according to the surveyed male and female students. This role should be enhanced and utilized to encourage more female students to consider engineering majors in their college study.

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The architecture of Masjids has spread in areas with harsh climates and natural conditions. In previous decades, the Masjid's design was a large flat area with an inner courtyard in the middle. This architectural design of the Masjid was appropriate to the nature of the hot climate. Recently, the design of Masjids became closed and flat areas that lack ventilation and good lighting. The research paper is based on an analytical descriptive study to determine the importance of internal courtyards in historical Masjids in Egypt and the elements that affect the significance of the courtyard in contemporary Masjids. The results show the importance of using the inner courtyard when designing a modern Masjid, which achieves many positive results, regarding the climatic and social aspects, by increasing the thermal and psychological comfort of the prayers.