The Simple, Crispy Joy of the Kerala Poppadom
ALEXANDER MCNABB: We all have our ‘guilty pleasures’ when it comes to food. Mine’s the Kerala poppadum
“New Yea Cee Having”: A Very Good Thing Indeed
ALEXANDER MCNABB: It’s definitely been worth the pain and disruption as Summer arrives with a bang in the UAE
A Non-Starter: The Many Obstacles to Closer GCC Union
DAVID ROBERTS: There will be fine talk and likely a positive joint statement will be issued but no firm action will be agreed.
Absent Middle Class Key to Gulf Stability
FRANCIS MATTHEW: In all Gulf states government dominates the economy. That dependence fosters a lack of entrepreneurial motivation.
Dubai Airport Queues, Bye-Bye! Scan To Rescue
ALEXANDER MCNABB: More high tech at Dubai Airport should lead to less furrowed brows in the Immigration Hall.
UAE School Holiday Plan: Curriculum Mayhem
ALEXANDER MCNABB: Teachers will be torn between exasperation at having to fit so much more in and glee at getting (even) longer holidays.
Emirati Ways: Why Old Must Give Way to New
FRANCIS MATTHEW: The adherence to old ways damages the acceptance of a new institutional attitude. It can also be mis-used.
Is Laughter the Middle East’s ‘Best Medicine’?
SADIA ASHRAF, CGNEWS: What impact have the group of Arab comedians who emerged post 9/11 really had?
Vending Machines for Books: A Good Idea?
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Drinks, gold, now it’s books – Abu Dhabi seems to find endless uses for the vending machine
Citizenship in the Gulf: Is It A Gift or A Right?
CHRISTINA HEBERT: It’s an issue that generates heated debate but what are the benefits of Gulf countries offering citizenship to foreigners?
Masafi Water: How NOT To Handle A Crisis
ALEXANDER MCNABB: If you’re looking for a case study of what not to do look no further than Masafi water.
Dull and Predictable: The Real Taste of Dubai
THE HEDONISTA: It was ‘the same old, same old’ at this year’s Taste of Dubai festival.
Illegal Eagles: Today, We Are All Publishers
ALEXANDER MCNABB: The platforms are public and subject to the law as any other public pronouncement would be. You publish, you take responsibility.
‘Having Fun With Evi’: And Jealous No More
ALEXANDER MCNABB: You’ve had to listen to how much fun your i-Phone dabbing friends have with Siri. Now it’s your turn.
Qatar “World’s Wealthiest”, But What Does That Mean?
ANALYSIS: Qatar has a ‘poor’ Gini index. The Gini index measures how well income is actually divided within a society, the lower the score the better.
Abu Dhabi vs Dubai: There’s a Clear Winner
ROB L. WAGNER: Don’t be fooled by the ‘smooth noises’ each emirate makes about the other when the word ‘competition’ is raised.
The Delicious, Sweet Treats of the Middle East
THE HEDONISTA: If you’re a lover of sugar then the Middle East is the place for you – it truly is ‘confection heaven’
‘What I’ll Miss About Islam’: A Dubai Expat’s View
THE HEDONISTA: When the day inevitably arrives and I wave goodbye to the Middle East I’ll miss many aspects of life here.
Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Designs: Revived But Relevant to Whom?
ROB L. WAGNER: The Abu Dhabi authorities surprisingly announced the resurrection of their three-museum project. Who’s it for, though?
Western Women: The Perils of Marrying a Saudi Man
AMERICAN BEDU: It seems obvious but the main reason many Saudi men marry Westerners is because they’re not Saudi.
