Traditions are carried forward, local dialect is preserved, Arabian hospitality and respect for elders are upheld in this community meeting place. It’s time that the social role of the majlis is acknowledged and strengthened once again. Read more »
GCC
McCarthyism in Gulf social media
Post-Second World War America was a period of economic growth and prosperity for many citizens but it was also a dark period in which a powerful US Senator by the name of Joseph McCarthy initiated a process of publicly accusing individuals of harbouring communist tendencies without regard for evidence. Read more »
GCC foreign ministers take centre stage
The Gulf states should progress, in a rapidly shifting Arab political landscape, to an era of closer coordination in foreign affairs; if not willingly, then by necessity. Gulf nationals will look upon their foreign ministers to fulfill this challenge. Read more »
Gulf states must repay Egypt favour
Wealthy Arab countries should support Cairo in this time of need, 20 years after receiving Gulf War assistance. Read more »
An independent intellectual sphere is vital to the Gulf
Perhaps no Arab is better known as a public intellectual than the great late Arab American scholar Edward Said, whose writings and lectures resonated across the world. Said once wrote: “The role of the intellectual is not to consolidate authority, but to understand, interpret and question it.” Read more »
A collection of citizen voices urges the GCC to cooperate
Every year, Gulf citizens collectively hold our breath, hoping that a specific 24-hour period ends in a better way than it started. This day starts tomorrow at the Gulf Cooperative Council summit in Abu Dhabi, where the last leg of the Formula One Grand Prix was held last month. But unlike the competitors in that race, we can all emerge winners from this upcoming event. Read more »