Arabian Peninsula

DUBAI, Oct 19, 2021 – Countries in the Middle East and Central Asia have emerged from the COVID-19 shock but the path to full recovery remains uneven and fragile, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday, pointing to rising inflation …

Coronavirus and plunging oil prices may force new leader to turn to Gulf neighbours for help   Sandwiched between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Oman has long prized its neutrality, garnering a reputation as the Middle East’s Switzerland. But the Gulf …

While conflicts and crises have battered Arab cultural capitals, Saudi Arabia is hosting film festivals and bankrolling new movies. JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — A pregnant Saudi woman, far from home, finds herself stalked by inner and outer demons. A wannabe …

Exhausted from conflict and eager for growth, Middle Eastern rivals try talking IT WAS A surprising choice for a summer holiday. On August 18th Tahnoon bin Zayed, the national-security adviser of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), turned up in Ankara …

Expansion in Egypt, growth in the Gulf, and looking forward to Saudi Arabia   At an unprecedented pace, Egypt has expanded decisions to build and restore churches during the past few years, while Christian places of worship are increasing in …

With less cash to bribe the people, some strongmen will resort to repression “In the history of any nation there are special moments and seminal events,” said President Uhuru Kenyatta in August. He was celebrating Kenya’s entry to the club …

But subsidising pay is proving costly and ineffective BY NOW GULF rulers have tried almost everything. For much of the region’s modern history well-paid government jobs have been a birthright for citizens. This perk forms the core of the region’s …

By Khalid Al-Jaber and Giorgio Cafiero, for LobeLog (*) Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain’s football associations recently announced that they would participate in the Arabian Gulf Cup football tournament, which begins tomorrow. As many experts have …

New survey data shows that demonstrators feel more important, and prouder to be Iraqi, than before ! By Munqith Dagher, for The Washington Post (*) Iraq’s recent demonstrations are among the bloodiest protests in its modern history. Nearly 500 Iraqis …

As the government relaxes restrictions on men and women working and socializing together, coffeehouses are on the front lines of change. By Vivian Yee, for The New York Times (*) RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—For insight into these head-spinning times in Saudi …