A Message for Davos – Waste Not, Want Not
STEVE ROYSTON: Taxpayers’ money that could have been spent on new hospitals, refurbished schools, or improved public transport – down the drain.
Demographics, Expats, Rights – & Hope in Football
JAMES M. DORSEY: Just 13% of the UAE’s population has citizenship. In Qatar it’s 26% and Kuwait 34%. And those percentages are dropping.
The Hard Truths and Betrayals Revealed by The Palestine Papers
HISHAM WYNE: The release of the Palestine Papers will be seen as pivotal. Fundamental truths have been revealed.
Governments Undermining MidEast Soccer
JAMES M. DORSEY: In a soccer-crazy world of authoritarian regimes, football offers one of society’s few release valves.
Iran Bans Women from Cinemas Showing Cup
JAMES M. DORSEY: Khamenei and other hard-line government officials and clerics argue that the presence of women at men’s sporting events violates Islamic law.
Pilgrims to Jesus’ Baptism Site Welcomed by Land Mines
JONATHAN COOK: Visitors to Qasr al Yahud, in the Jordan Valley, received an unusual welcome: They had to pass through a fenced-off corridor warning of landmines.
MidEast Nations Fight For FIFA Tournaments
JAMES M. DORSEY: Middle Eastern nations are competing to stack up successful bids to host major soccer events in an effort to position themselves as regional hubs for sport.
Tunisia & the C21st Gossip Super-highway, Twitter
DAVID ROBERTS: The first thing that struck me was how often trending tweets were (completely) wrong. Twitter is great for disseminating information extraordinarily quickly.
Love Lost: When Politics and Marriage Collide
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Politics and marriage might seem worlds apart. But recent cases suggest there are more agendas than we might think.
Reading Matters: The Medium and the Word
ALEXANDER MCNABB: I honestly had my doubts about the whole Kindle thing before I took the plunge – and now I’d recommend it to anyone.
Tunisia is a Wake Up Call, but for the Pundits
HISHAM WYNE: Tunisa’s revolution has little to do with the ideals of democracy. It’s a simple cry for better quality of life.
Qatari Civil Servants Salary Tied to Performance
DAVID ROBERTS: The Qatari Government is to be applauded for linking civil servants’ bonuses to performance. Let the battle with ‘wasta’ begin.
When a Woman is Harassed by Men, Why Rush to Blame Her?
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Any further messages will be named and shamed. Such as this one I received: “Hiya i would luv to say hi, luv your eyes … x”
Fear and (Not Enough) Loving in the UAE
DAVID WESTLEY: What should be done about the demographic imbalance in the GCC? Anything, or nothing at all…
Could the U.S. be Considered an ‘Islamic’ Country?
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: What does it mean to be an Islamic country? Today’s world is not so black and white, and glib categorisations make less sense than ever.
Ten 10 Predictions for Digital in the MidEast, 2011
CARRINGTON MALIN: Some of our predictions may seem a little obvious and some may seem a little extreme, but all should provide food for thought.
New Labour Laws a Powerful Boost for the UAE Economy
DAVID WESTLEY: The new labour laws have come out in a drip feed, enough to get you interested, guaranteed to leave you wanting more detail.
Ibn ‘Big Ben’ Casts its Shadow over Mecca
DANIEL MARTIN VARISCO: One understands the need to provide hotel rooms for the faithful, but Gucci bags?
God-TV helps Israel oust Bedouins
JONATHAN COOK: The involvement of extremist Christian groups like God-TV will turn this into a religious confrontation – much harder to resolve…
Incubation City: Missing Piece of the UAE puzzle
DAVID WESTLEY: Over the years Dubai has started a host of cities acting as hubs. What it has failed to do is start something as simple as “Incubation City”.
