Inzamam Rashid
Gulf states project an image of unity but a proxy media war tells a different story
Under normal circumstances, the Gulf monarchies are at pains to project an image of calm, cohesion and predictability. Disputes are managed quietly and disagreements smoothed over with summitry and ritual declarations of unity. But…
Is the Iranian regime on the verge of collapse?
As anti-government protests erupt across the country, the Iranian regime’s resilience is being tested as never before. Will it survive?
The Gulf’s best mediators are not immune to conflict – even with each other
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have presented themselves as the twin pillars of Gulf power for much of the past decade. Aligned on security, broadly synchronised on diplomacy and increasingly influential beyond the region,…
Opinion
The Gulf is finally launching a unified tourist visa – but why did it take this long?
2 min read
What Design Miami’s Dubai debut means for the Gulf’s creative economy
The arrival of Design Miami at Alserkal marks a decisive moment for the Gulf’s creative scene, challenging established fairs and elevating the UAE’s cultural ambitions.
Saudi Arabia’s latest alcohol policy shift lowers the bar for raising a glass
Riyadh looks set to loosen alcohol prohibitions for select foreign residents in the kingdom. The discreet change widens access to booze in the country’s only liquor store amid suggestions that additional outlets will soon…
Amid flying taxis and sustainability deals, the Dubai Airshow tests the industry’s lofty promises
The return of the Dubai Airshow next week to Dubai World Central (DWC), the unfinished future home of the world’s largest airport, is symbolic. The biennial show’s choreography will be familiar: fighter jets in…
Museums should ask questions. But does Cairo’s new Grand Egyptian project provoke too many?
There are few cultural projects that have so perfectly captured both a nation’s ambition and its inertia as the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). Two decades in the making, more than $1bn (€870m) spent and…
Dubai Design Week has matured by focusing on perspective over scale
Dubai Design Week 2025, which begins today and runs until Sunday in Dubai Design District (D3), arrives at a moment when the city’s design ambitions are no longer being underestimated. What began a decade…
