Turbanned, Bearded and Angry: Western Media on Islam
DANIEL M. VARISCO: The Newsweek cover this week is lazy and sensationalist. Not a lot has changed since Edward Said wrote a famous essay 30 years ago.
Saudi Tastes Sweet Success at the Olympics
CROSSROADS ARABIA: Congratulations to the Saudi Equestrian team for winning a bronze medal at the London Olympics….
The Dynamics, and Players in Saudi Succession
DAVID ROBERTS: A key part of Saudi succession lies in the different power blocks of family lineage, but influence also comes with ability…
Princess Basma: An Insider Speaks Out
SUSIE OF ARABIA: She is the niece of the current ruler of Saudi Arabia but is unafraid to point out the shortcomings she sees in the Kingdom.
Egyptian Feminists Challenge Soccer Chauvinism
JAMES M. DORSEY: An Egyptian feminist group has challenged the fans that played a key role in toppling Mubarak to recognise women’s rights.
Fear of Women: Endemic in Saudi Society?
AMERICAN BEDU: It has one of the highest divorce rates in the world and separation of the sexes has led to utter alienation.
The Modern Way to Announce A Baby’s Arrival
MICH CAFE: Facebook and Twitter, it appears, have taken over from newspapers in a key area of life. The recent arrival of a Royal baby in Dubai underlines this fact.
Saudi Arabia: “The Female Body is a Battleground in the War to Stem Reform”
ROB L. WAGNER: An online battle between conservatives and reformers following the Saudi Intellectual Forum illuminates their diverging opinions…
2011’s Amazing Women of the Year
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMMED: How could I possibly include all the women who filled our headlines over the past 12 months, for bravery and impact?
Dual Citizenship in Jordan: Not Acceptable
NASEEM TARAWNAH: So now those of us with dual citizenship will be required to give up our non-Jordanian passports if we wish to serve in government. Not a good sign.
Alternate View: Driven Women Privileged in Saudi
AMERICAN BEDU: According to one woman interviewed by Saudi News it’s ‘magic carpets’ rather than ‘cars’ that Saudi women need.
The Fairy Tale Wedding, Here’s to a Happy Ending…
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: At this wedding, one bride will – literally – become a princess. For their lives together, I wish them every happiness.
Picture Perfect: Dubai Sheikha’s Likeness to Her Mom
MICH CAFE: I saw Sheikh Mohammed holding Sheikha Al Jalila on the night of the Dubai World Cup. It immediately reminded me of the 1978 photo of her mother in the arms of her uncle.
Saudi Women Want Support, But Not From Western Feminists
ROB L. WAGNER: Some prominent Saudi women frequently address Saudi women’s rights on Western news shows. Yet they have little traction in Saudi Arabia.
Women in Saudi: The Employment Dilemma
STEVE ROYSTON: Difficulties facing women who wish to enter the workforce are only part of what the Saudi leadership recognizes is a slow burn of discontent.
Does it Matter how Women get to Power?
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMMED: We don’t hold women to male standards. Marriage is seen as an acceptable way to assert status. The woman need not have any of her own intrinsic merit, women are judged less on their talents
The UAE and the UK – a Special Relationship
SULTAN AL QASSEMI: Today, there are approximately 240,000 British citizens living in the UAE, with another one million plus visiting the country every year and up to 40,000 Emiratis visiting Britain annually.
