Society

Art, Food, Education, Health, Life and Death – A Window into Middle East Society

Saudi Education – A Fight to Enter the 21st Century…

Saudi Education – A Fight to Enter the 21st Century…

The ministry has big plans for education but also mountainous challenges. The religious establishment, in control for so long, are in almost every office... This control goes way back to 1960 when girls were allowed to get an education.…

The Essence of Islam: Are We Missing the Point?

The Essence of Islam: Are We Missing the Point?

To some, a Monet is only a collection of dots. To others, it is a perfect masterpiece. To some, Islam is nothing but a code of rules and regulations. But, to those who understand, it is a perfect vision of life.…

Taxis in the UAE – Who’s Being Taken for a Ride?

Taxis in the UAE – Who’s Being Taken for a Ride?

It’s expensive stuff, this taking a taxi. And yet the drivers seem to be worse off than ever – although I don’t see the large numbers of middlemen at the taxi companies and regulators suffering.…

Just for a Moment, I was Mistress of my Being

Just for a Moment, I was Mistress of my Being

I appreciated that very moment, the wondrousness of my breath, and the stillness of everything being in exactly the right place at the right time.…

The under-appreciated Sargon Boulus

The under-appreciated Sargon Boulus

A new translation of Boulus poem made M. Lynx Qualey reflect on how little-known the towering, excellent Boulus is in English—outside of Banipal readers.…

On being a Muslim: One size does not fit all

On being a Muslim: One size does not fit all

Recent marketing and advertising research concludes that ‘Muslims are diverse’. Why can’t Muslims be of the same opinion?…

Gender Apartheid: Is a ministry for women needed?

Gender Apartheid: Is a ministry for women needed?

Last week news came out that the government is seriously considering a women’s affairs ministry, but is this really gender apartheid? In Saudi, women are “the other”, something to be taken care of and guided lest it go wayward. …

The number ’9? car plate could be worth much more than the 10m paid for it

The number ’9? car plate could be worth much more than the 10m paid for it

10 million dirhams was paid last Saturday at auction in Abu Dhabi for the number 9 plate, but its value could be much more if the cash was put to good use.…

Wedding Night: A tale by Deaf Brown Trash Punk

Wedding Night: A tale by Deaf Brown Trash Punk

I wanted to bring Sabina, writer and short film maker, onto the radio show I co-host but there's a slight glitch - being deaf is a slight impediment...…

Holidays abroad shouldn’t mean breaking the law

Holidays abroad shouldn’t mean breaking the law

Since we expect tourists to be on their best behaviour when they visit the UAE, it's only fair that we feel equally outraged when our own misbehave elsewhere.…