James M. Dorsey

Sectarian Divisions Being Played Out on the Football Field

Sectarian Divisions Being Played Out on the Football Field

Sectarian divisions fuelling conflict across the Middle East have spilt on to the soccer pitch with Iraq’s decision to boycott the Gulf Cup and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) warning the Iraqi government not to interfere in the game. It is hard to separate the divisions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims that governments in Bahrain […]

 James M. Dorsey

‘Buy Low, Sell High’: Gulf Investors New Football Strategy

JAMES DORSEY: The recent acquisition by a Saudi Prince of a lower-tier English football team points to a new direction for Middle Eastern magnates

 Steve Royston

A Natural Evolution: Don’t Meddle With Culture, Government.

A Natural Evolution: Don’t Meddle With Culture, Government.

STEVE ROYSTON: It’s a discussion without end – what should governments do or not do to promote authentic Arabic culture? And what does this actually mean?

 Crossroads Arabia

Take Causeway To Bahrain? Prepare for a Long Wait

Take Causeway To Bahrain? Prepare for a Long Wait

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Traffic across the King Fahd Causeway linking Saudi Arabia to Bahrain is increasing hugely year on year. What’s to be done?

 Steve Royston

‘A Step Backwards?’ Bahrain Set to Curb VoIP Services

‘A Step Backwards?’ Bahrain Set to Curb VoIP Services

STEVE ROYSTON: The reason for the crackdown is predictably ‘security’. The impact on much-needed inward investment may, however, be profound.

 Susan Al Shahri

Women’s Life in Bahrain: A World Away from Dhofar

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

 Steve Royston

Expat Life: Things I Would / Would Not Miss

Expat Life: Things I Would / Would Not Miss

There’s been a lot of coming and going in the Gulf region of late. In Saudi Arabia, which is making strenuous efforts to slim down its expatriate population, and Bahrain, where foreigners are reconsidering their status in light of the country’s continuing instability, the going has been more frequent than the coming.

STEVE ROYSTON: There’s been a lot of coming and going in the Gulf. In some countries going has been more frequent than coming.

 Steve Royston

The Fine Art of Political Insult, Bahrain-Style

The Fine Art of Political Insult, Bahrain-Style

STEVE ROYSTON: Yet another lively debate in the Bahraini parliament this week and the insults were running thick and fast. They follow in a long line distinguished (or not!) company

 Steve Royston

Bahrain vs Dubai: To Live and To Do Business

Bahrain vs Dubai: To Live and To Do Business

STEVE ROYSTON: Two years ago I wrote about the comparative advantages of Bahrain and Dubai and came down firmly on one side. What now though?

 Steve Royston

Bahrain: My Blueprint for Its Economic Success

Bahrain: My Blueprint for Its Economic Success

STEVE ROYSTON: Bahrain has a growing young population and the challenges the island state faces in ensuring they’re fully employed are considerable

 Steve Royston

An Evening With ‘Mars and Venus’ in Bahrain

An Evening With ‘Mars and Venus’ in Bahrain

STEVE ROYSTON:

 Juan Cole

Obama’s Speech: Is Era of ‘Perpetual War’ Closing?

Obama’s Speech: Is Era of ‘Perpetual War’ Closing?

JUAN COLE: President Obama’s inauguration speech is sure to trigger panic among the ‘we must have war’ crowd. But does he really mean it?

 Steve Royston

Budaiya: The Simple Pleasures of a Bahraini Market

Budaiya: The Simple Pleasures of a Bahraini Market

STEVE ROYSTON: A wealthy part of the island which is close to several troubled Shia villages Budaiya hosts a market that points to the past

 David Roberts

The Kingdom of Surprises: Engaging With Saudis

The Kingdom of Surprises: Engaging With Saudis

DAVID ROBERTS: It’s a while since I’ve left Qatar but the differences between the tiny peninsula state and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are striking

 Common Ground News Service

Corruption ‘On the Increase’ Across Arab World

NADA AKL, CGNEWS: Corruption is so deeply ingrained in societies across the Arab world that promoting transparency seems an almost hopeless task

 Juan Cole

2012: Top 10 Developments in the Middle East

2012: Top 10 Developments in the Middle East

JUAN COLE: It’s been another extraordinary year across the Middle East. Here is my take on the most significant changes this year

 Steve Royston

The People and Events That Mattered in 2012: My Choice

The People and Events That Mattered in 2012: My Choice

STEVE ROYSTON: It’s by no means scientific or representative but here are the people and special moments that resonated with me this year

 Steve Royston

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.

 Common Ground News Service

Climate Change: The Arab World Has ‘Finally Got It’

Climate Change: The Arab World Has ‘Finally Got It’

WAEL HMAIDAN, CGNEWS: The striking sight of people demonstrating in the street in Doha in favour of climate regulation is a sign of significant change

 Juan Cole

The Top Ten ‘Hotspots’ in the Arab World Today

The Top Ten ‘Hotspots’ in the Arab World Today

JUAN COLE: From Jordan to Tunisia, from civil war to pilfered Palestinian land the Arab world is in a febrile state.

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