Rob L. Wagner

‘This Car Is Made With Pride in Riyadh’: At Last, Saudi’s ‘Magic Export Product’?

‘This Car Is Made With Pride in Riyadh’: At Last, Saudi’s ‘Magic Export Product’?

ROB L. WAGNER: Saudi Arabia has been looking for more than 40 years for an export product that will minimize its dependency on oil. Have they found it?

 Susan Al Shahri

A Taboo Subject: The Desperate Plight of Domestic Workers in Oman

A Taboo Subject: The Desperate Plight of Domestic Workers in Oman

SUSAN AL SHAHRI: I’m a proud Omani but the way in which my fellow country people treat domestic servants fills me with shame. We must change.

 Rob L. Wagner

Christmas in Saudi Arabia: Quietly Festive

Christmas in Saudi Arabia: Quietly Festive

ROB L. WAGNER: If you’re subtle you can enjoy a surprisingly festive Christmas in the Kingdom. Many Saudis also quietly acknowledge Christian friends’ celebration.

 Common Ground News Service

The Three Key Challenges Facing Egypt’s Rulers

The Three Key Challenges Facing Egypt’s Rulers

MOHAMED EL SAYED, CGNEWS: The huge turnout showed that Egyptians are hungry for democracy. Whoever comes to power, though, has three ‘top priority’ issues to address.

 thehedonista

The UAE’s National Day, the Emirati Way

The UAE’s  National Day, the Emirati Way

THE HEDONISTA: It’s a source of much chagrin – it’s easy to find food from the middle east, but something essentially Emirati? Nigh impossible.

 Sawsan Morrar

The Call of Home on Jordan’s Diaspora

The Call of Home on Jordan’s Diaspora

SAWSAN MORRAR: The call to come ‘home’ is strong for Jordan’s diaspora, and yet the reality of coming home can be a hard adjustment to make…

 thehedonista

A Silent Grandeur: Wafi, Dubai’s Forgotten Mall

A Silent Grandeur: Wafi, Dubai’s Forgotten Mall

THE HEDONISTA: Shop assistants mimic the foyer’s statues. A janitor sweeps the floor. It is already clean. He buffs it. But it is already polished.

 Kim Willis

How Safe Is It To Travel as a Woman in Morocco?

How Safe Is It To Travel as a Woman in Morocco?

KJ, THE VIEW FROM FEZ: It’s a fascinating place but as a woman you may be worried travelling alone.What precautions should you take?

 thehedonista

The Pros and Cons of Being an Expat in Dubai

The Pros and Cons of Being an Expat in Dubai

THE HEDONISTA: Written from an Australian perspective – Vegemite and Tim Tams feature – I think there’s enough here to give everyone a flavour of what they’ll gain and lose as an expat in Dubai.

 mai abdul rahman

Incitement to Hate Should not go Unpunished

Incitement to Hate Should not go Unpunished

MAI ABDUL RAHMAN: Ignoring Rachel Abrams’ immoral bigoted tirades are not helpful or constructive. Our collective silence allows her to continue spreading her hateful poisonous ideas

 thehedonista

Eid is Just Around the Corner: So Where to Go?

Eid is Just Around the Corner: So Where to Go?

THE HEDONISTA: Eid al Adha has been my favourite – the last few years it has fallen far enough out of summer it occurs with the change of season.

 James M. Dorsey

Somali Jihadists Skewed Focus on Women Sports

Somali Jihadists Skewed Focus on Women Sports

JAMES M. DORSEY: While Al Qaeda is attempting to portray a gentler face, distributing aid to famine victims, Al Shabab, are ensuring strict adherence to a ban on women’s sports.

 Juan Cole

The Inevitably Brutal End of Qaddafi’s ‘Cult’

The Inevitably Brutal End of Qaddafi’s ‘Cult’

JUAN COLE: The demise of Qaddafi means there’s a contiguous bloc of 100 million Arabs who’ve thrown off dictatorship. The violent end was inevitable.

 thehedonista

Table 9: Time for Dubai to Create Its Own

Table 9: Time for Dubai to Create Its Own

THE HEDONISTA: Dubai is a city that has both everything and nothing. There’s very little unique, nearly everything is borrowed – and I’m not just talking about the financial crisis.

 David Roberts

Big Claims By ‘WSJ’ on Iran & Bahrain. But Proof?

Big Claims By ‘WSJ’ on Iran & Bahrain. But Proof?

DAVID ROBERTS: The Wall Street Journal has published a very curious piece indeed on the relationship between Iran and Bahrain. It’s long on allegation but very short on proof.

 Naseem Tarawnah

Film Review: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

Film Review: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

NASEEM TARAWNAH: While those of us in the Middle East may not necessarily face the exact same problems with advertising, we are facing very similar issues.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

The Return to the ‘Normal’ Life, and The First, Joyful Cappuccino of Eid

The Return to the ‘Normal’ Life, and The First, Joyful Cappuccino of Eid

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Eid marks a transition from spirituality to every day life. One Eid tradition, though, holds a special place in my heart.

 James M. Dorsey

Libya: MidEast Model or Revolution To Go Awry?

Libya: MidEast Model or Revolution To Go Awry?

JAMES M. DORSEY: Libyans unlike Egyptians and Tunisians will be in a position to dismantle the former regime’s apparatus.

 The View From Fez

Should There Be A ‘Standard Ramadan Time’?

Should There Be A ‘Standard Ramadan Time’?

IBN WARRAQ, THE VIEW FROM FEZ: With Ramadan times varying hugely around the world is it time, for the sake of individuals’ health, to adopt a standard time?

 SuhaibWebb

A Green Ramadan: Five Ways to Achieve It

A Green Ramadan: Five Ways to Achieve It

MUAZ NASIR, SUHAIBWEBB: Ramadan provides an opportunity to adopt green practices serving individuals and their community throughout the rest of the year.