“Everything’s Up For Discussion”: Open Debate in Oman
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: Arab Spring, employment issues, relations with other countries – nothing was off the agenda during a discussion with a senior government minister
Women’s Life in Bahrain: A World Away from Dhofar
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: My first ever trip to another GCC country has been a real eye-opener, particularly when it comes to the place of women in society
Salalah Musings: Of Weekends, Sharks and Pantomimes
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: I’m really busy with academic commitments but there are some things in Dhofar that need to be written about
‘Cousin Marriage’ in Dhofar: Dangers Are Ignored
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: Its practice is still extremely common in the south of Oman. The obsession with keeping the tribe pure comes at a price though.
Mumbo Jumbo in Oman: Black Magic Still A Force
DHOFARI GUCCI: I know of a recent, rather unpleasant incident which occurred in Dhofar. It’s a reminder that even in the early 21st century black magic lives on in Oman
Salalah Dining: An Experience But For All the Wrong Reasons
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: Wa-hoo, McDonald’s has opened in Salalah. You’re in trouble if the the fast food eatery sets the standard in your home town.
The Royal Opera House Incident: One Woman’s View
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: At first there was peaceful protest but that soon turned violent. What is the significance of the Royal Opera House incident?
Jebel Akdar: Exotic, Warm and Welcoming
SARAH WALTON: It’s a place of simple but genuine pleasures, truly a delightful destination in Oman
“We Should Celebrate Oman’s Cultural Diversity”
SUSAN ALSHAHRI: It’s little known that southern Oman has several indigent languages in addition to Arabic. With little support these are in danger of disappearing, however.
‘Time to Celebrate’ Oman’s Educational Transformation
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: The advances in Omani education over the past forty years are nothing short of miraculous.
Female Genital Mutilation: Still Major Issue in Oman
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: The last time I raised this issue publicly the reaction was overwhelming but ‘woman with the incense burner’ still prowls hospitals in Dhofar
2012: A Very Tough Year in the Middle East
STEVE ROYSTON: If you look around the Middle East today you’d have to say the region is at its most unstable in the last thirty years.
Burqa Tradition Dies in Dhofar: Not Soon Enough
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: I’ve only worn a burqa once and that’s more than enough times. Its appearance in Dhofar is getting increasingly more rare.
The Mall Arrives: Is It The End of ‘Old’ Salalah?
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: A cinema, a decent cup of coffee, people watching – all great. So why does my heart sink at the arrival of Salalah’s first mall.
The Vacation: Throwing Off ‘Our Invisible Chains’
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: We sat on a beach and wondered ‘what if?’. I asked ‘why not?’ and from then things were never going to be the same again.
Birkat Al Mawz: Oman’s ‘Totally Cool’ Ghost Town
SARAH WALTON: They don’t make it easy for you to reach some of Oman’s tourist treasures but with a little effort you’ll find it. Certainly worth the trouble.
‘Insulting the Sultan in Oman’: A Balanced View
DHOFARI GUCCI: It’s well worth reading a just released article by ‘Foreign Policy’ on what’s currently happening in Oman.
Tribal Clashes in Salalah: ‘All So Medieval’
DHOFARI GUCCI: There’s no point covering our eyes, ears and mouths and pretend it doesn’t exist. A recent clash shows the strength of Oman’s tribalism
The ‘Insha’allah Attitude’ is Killing Oman’s Kids
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: I’m amazed at the attitude of the Salalah’s adults to their children’s safety. Once they’re out of diapers the kids are expected to look after themselves
Have the ‘Big Boys’ Given Up On Islamic Banking?
ROB L. WAGNER: HSBC’s decision to downgrade significantly the resources it devotes to Islamic banking has thrown the issue into sharp focus.
