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.
My 10-Point Plan To Rid Oman’s Roads of Carnage
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: Enforcement of rules is essential if the daily horror that occurs on Oman’s roads is to be minimised. Here are my suggestions.
Saudis’ Water Consumption ‘Unsustainable’
CROSSROADS ARABIA: Advances in solar power and nuclear plants will help Saudis address their energy issues but water consumption is a major issue.
The Salalah ‘Invasion’: Some Planning Please
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: We’re all suffering from post-invasion stress in Dhofar following the unprecedented influx of tourists during Eid.
The Great and Not-So-Great About Ramadan
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: As the Holy Month draws to a close I find myself contemplating the various aspects of a modern day Ramadan
Omani Bloggers: More Questions than Answers
DHOFARI GUCCI: I’m not interested in being plucked out of my home in the middle of the night for a post I wrote two years ago. Must I go through every single blog post and review it?
U.S Power: The Ultimate Guarantor for Gulf States
DAVID ROBERTS: The Saudi authorities have been actively promoting a union of Gulf states but with little success. There’s a clear reason why.
It’s US: Why Americans Should Support the Arab Spring
JUAN COLE: Americans have given up too soon on the Arab Spring. They have bought into overly large generalizations, some of them purveyed by right wing American pundits…
Blood-Letting & Freak Shows: The Dhofar Festival
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: The first drops of rain tell me that the Dhofar Festival is not far away. If you’re up for the weird it’s a great destination
Oman and Censorship: The Line You Can’t Define
ALEXANDER MCNABB: The rule in this issue is that the freedom of individuals stops when the freedom of other individuals starts. But where is that dividing line?
Crackdown on Omani Online Community
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: A number of individuals have been arrested but it’s not clear what they’ve done and what the boundaries actually are.
Salalah Summer: The Thobe Before the Rains
SUSAN AL SHAHRI: It’s a staple of every woman’s wardrobe in southern Oman and it comes with its own mythology
