Over the past few weeks two unfounded rumors about the United Arab Emirates have snowballed on the pages of some newspapers in the Arab world and have even been picked up by newswires. Some media organizations seem so inclined to print negative news about this country that once they have exhausted the typical stories about the effects of the global financial crisis on the UAE, they no longer have an issue with presenting negative rumors as facts. Read more »
Nayef’s rise up the Al-Saud pecking order adds to the complexity of Saudi relations with the UAE
The elevation of Prince Nayef to second deputy premier has been closely observed in the UAE, where the veteran Saudi interior minister is regarded as being party to bilateral disputes since the foundation of the federation. Read more »
The Complement Between Islam and Science
Dr Elias Zerhouni’s story was not so different from many Arab youths, growing up as he did in 1960s Algeria at a time in which his country was struggling for independence from French colonialists. In 1975, at the age of 24, he made his way to the United States where he joined Johns Hopkins University as a resident trainee and worked his way up to the executive vice presidency of the university. Read more »
A Canadian model for the Gulf
It’s an impossible variable to quantify, but it could be argued that Canada’s most important export to the Middle East is hope. It manifests itself in the substantial number of Canadians of Arab heritage who have chosen to return to the region their families left for work or a better future. Their return stirs a mixture of emotions: Here are educated young Arab men and women whose Western upbringings have armed them with modern and secular education. Whether their beliefs were liberal or conservative, they respect others. They look like us and speak like us but are charged with ambition and hope for the future: They are Arabs 2.0. Read more »
Time for Arabs to get serious about Iraq
The Arab countries have been slow to establish ties with post-Saddam Iraq. But it’s in everyone’s interest that they do. Read more »
What I Learned from the Last Big Meltdown
By people generally shy from starting a new business during a financial crisis, I however did just that. It was the autumn of 2000; the world had just gone through a financial crisis known as the dot-com bubble that although not as large as the one we are suffering from today was historic nonetheless. Read more »