David Roberts

Qatar’s Surprise Abdication: So What Happens Next?

Qatar’s Surprise Abdication: So What Happens Next?

DAVID ROBERTS: Once again Qatar has caught the world by surprise with an abdication which has resulted in one of the world’s youngest leaders coming to power.

 David Roberts

‘A Difficult Neigbourhood’: How Qatar Manages Its Relations

‘A Difficult Neigbourhood’: How Qatar Manages Its Relations

DAVID ROBERTS: The Qatari authorities have a very difficult diplomatic tightrope to walk and they have to play their hand with consistent skill

 David Roberts

Keeping the Balance: Qatar’s Rulers Walk Tightrope

Keeping the Balance: Qatar’s Rulers Walk Tightrope

DAVID ROBERTS: Qatar’s been punching above its weight in foreign affairs but its rulers are mindful of the voices of its small local population

 Richard Silverstein

Erdogan to Gaza: The Siege Begins to Lift, Slowly

Erdogan to Gaza: The Siege Begins to Lift, Slowly

RICHARD SILVERSTEIN: Hard on the heels of Qatar’s high profile visit and investment in Gaza comes news that regional super-power Turkey plans a visit.

 David Roberts

Clear Motive: What’s Qatar Really Up To In France?

Clear Motive: What’s Qatar Really Up To In France?

DAVID ROBERTS: Qatar’s plan to invest a large sum of money into one of Paris’s poorest areas has led to attacks from left and right. So what’s happening?

 Jonathan Cook

How Israel Starves Gaza: The Facts Revealed

How Israel Starves Gaza: The Facts Revealed

JONATHAN COOK: Evidence has recently emerged of the programme that Israel initiated to manufacture further Palestinian despair.

 James M. Dorsey

Worker Deaths: Trade Unions Finger Point Qatar

Worker Deaths: Trade Unions Finger Point Qatar

JAMES M. DORSEY: Qatar has repeatedly denied it exploits foreign labour. “The Ministry has received no complaint of forced labour and it is inconceivable that such a thing exists in Qatar…”

 Crossroads Arabia

Progress or Not? The ‘Digital Eid’ Has Arrived

Progress or Not? The ‘Digital Eid’ Has Arrived

CROSSROADS ARABIA: It seems that no element of life is safe from the encroachment of social media – not even sacred Eid customs

 James M. Dorsey

Questions Continue to Surround Bin Hamman

Questions Continue to Surround Bin Hamman

JAMES M. DORSEY: The appointment by Qatari and UAE soccer bodies of individuals who worked with Mohammed bin Hamman raises more questions

 James M. Dorsey

FIFA Corruption Probe Set to Examine Qatar Bid

FIFA Corruption Probe Set to Examine Qatar Bid

JAMES M. DORSEY: The recently announced investigation by FIFA into allegations of past corruption will inevitably put Qatar 2022 in the spotlight again.

 James M. Dorsey

Qatar’s Women Athletes Spotlight Religious Differences

Qatar’s Women Athletes Spotlight Religious Differences

JAMES DORSEY: The participation of Qatar’s women athletes opens up differences between it and the Islamic thinking in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

 James M. Dorsey

Trade Unions Reject Qatar’s ‘Labour Rights’

Trade Unions Reject Qatar’s ‘Labour Rights’

JAMES DORSEY: According to the ITUC “workers are dying in Qatar as they build World Cup stadiums, suffering large scale exploitation every day.

 David Roberts

A Non-Starter: The Many Obstacles to Closer GCC Union

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.

 Crossroads Arabia

Labour: Qatar Trade Union Gets the Go Ahead

Labour: Qatar Trade Union Gets the Go Ahead

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Qatar is to allow the formation of trade unions. In addition, it will end the current system of sponsorship for foreign workers.

 David Roberts

Examining Saudi-Qatar Relations

Examining Saudi-Qatar Relations

DAVID ROBERTS: if Qatar’s role is tempered by lack of Saudi support, the region will be without a state willing to push the boundaries of regional politics.

 David Roberts

The Kuwaiti Elections: Tribal and Bitter

The Kuwaiti Elections: Tribal and Bitter

DAVID ROBERTS: Until these groups can come together bitter arguments, recriminations and stalled political and economic sectors will typify Kuwait.

 James M. Dorsey

Qatar World Cup 2022: Sponsorship versus Principle – To Serve or not to Serve?

Qatar World Cup 2022: Sponsorship versus Principle – To Serve or not to Serve?

JAMES M. DORSEY: The outcome of FIFA’s dispute with Brazil and Russia is certain to shape the soccer body’s certainly forthcoming debate with Qatar.

 James M. Dorsey

Pork, Alcohol and Qatar: Setting the Limits to ‘Modernity’ and Global Ambition

Pork, Alcohol and Qatar: Setting the Limits to ‘Modernity’ and Global Ambition

JAMES M. DORSEY: The debate will determine Qatar’s effort to become a global sports hub, and its positioning as a forward-looking sponsor of change.

 David Roberts

Tension Between the United States and Iran Escalates: Is Conflict Now Inevitable?

Tension Between the United States and Iran Escalates: Is Conflict Now Inevitable?

DAVID ROBERTS: It appears that both the United States and Iran’s domestic political requirements have spun the region into a dangerous spiral.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

What High Heels Say About Economic Cycles

What High Heels Say About Economic Cycles

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Usually, in an economic downturn heels go up as consumers turn to more flamboyant fashion as a means of escape…