What a difference a year makes in the Middle East. One year ago this week, Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, handed over power to his son Sheikh Tamim, joining a short but seemingly growing list of monarchs who have abdicated in favor of their relatives. At the time of his abdication, Hamad left behind an empire of soft power and influence that spanned the entire region. Twelve months on, things could not be more different. Read more »
Articles
Despite the venom spewed by renegades, we are united
Can the GCC truly be certain that all its member states consider the security and integrity of other member states their top priority? There should be no room for doubt – but sadly there is. Read more »
Beyond the Odalisque: a perspective on Algeria’s cultural scene
A few months ago, a controversy erupted after I suggested in an article for Al Monitor that Gulf cities are slowly replacing the traditional Arab capitals of Beirut, Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus as centres of culture in the Arab world. The premise was based on the underinvestment in culture – museums and galleries in these abovementioned cities and by association the production and display of art, is diminishing, while it is expanding in the Gulf cities where museums are being built and cultural programmes developed. Algeria’s art scene, abundant with talent and a rich history of modern and contemporary art, can provide a counter-balance to the burgeoning Gulf art scene. Read more »
Gulf atheism in the age of social media
The Gulf states have a long association with Islam; after all, the religion was founded in the Arabian Peninsula more than 1,400 years ago. More recently, movements such as Wahhabism and Salafism were also founded here. However, over the past few years a rising number of Gulf nationals have started to distance themselves from religious practice and in some cases started to openly criticize the application of religion in society. Read more »
Vigilance the antidote to cyber attacks
Many of us in the UAE take the daily use of secure internet for granted. However, there are criminal elements who are ready to take advantage of unsuspecting users. UAE residents should be proactive and not just rely on government to guarantee their internet security. Read more »
What an El Sissi presidency would mean for Egypt’s relations with the Gulf States
For most countries in the Gulf, therefore, an El Sissi presidency will bring a familiar, trustworthy and capable partner on issues of common concern such as Iran, the Middle East peace process and Turkey. On the other hand, Qatar’s continued support for the Muslim Brotherhood in exile will likely be seen as a direct challenge and threat to Egypt’s new popular strongman. This may result in the further deterioration of relations. Read more »