Author: Matthias Sailer

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The flags of Saudi Arabia, the European Union and Germany (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

Saudi Arabia and the West

Europe's window of opportunity

A new social contract is being drawn up in Saudi Arabia. This presents Germany and its EU partners with new opportunities. But if these are to be properly utilised, they should demonstrate greater commitment to defusing the conflict with Iran. By Matthias SailerMore

Geopolitics in the Middle East: End the Arab-Iranian tug-of-warPolitical transformation under Mohammed bin Salman: Saudi Arabiaʹs perilous pivotQatari foreign relations: The point of no return?
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (photo: picture-alliance)

UAE foreign policy and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi

Hardly a ruler in waiting

Architect of the United Arab Emiratesʹ assertive foreign policy approach is the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi: he it is who ultimately makes the decisions, in consultation with several of his brothers and the ruler of Dubai. Report by Matthias SailerMore

Saudi Arabian and UAE foreign policy: A finger in every pieQatar diplomatic crisis: Playing the waiting gameOil and development in the Middle East: A two-edged sword
Military parade in the United Arab Emirates (photo: picture-alliance/dpa/Emirates News Agency)

Saudi Arabian and UAE foreign policy

A finger in every pie

When it comes to furthering their own interests, few political actors are currently attempting to influence developments in the Middle East and North Africa on so many fronts as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). By Matthias SailerMore

Saudi Arabia's foreign policy: Catalogue of political failuresMohammed bin Salman′s political agenda: The Saudi parableSaudi-Iranian conflict: Sleepwalking into war
Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

Qatar′s political isolation

The latest scapegoat

Against a background of long-simmering conflicts regarding Iran and political Islam, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their allies have abruptly severed relations with Qatar. Thanks to the USA′s new stance in the Gulf region, both nations now feel free to drastically step up pressure on Qatar. By Matthias SailerMore

Trump backs Saudi over Qatar row, then urges 'unity'US Middle East policy under Donald Trump: A recipe for further catastrophes?Panama Paper revelations: The Emirs of Panama
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (photo: picture-alliance/AP)

Saudi domestic policy

Salman the Powerful

The power concentration of recent years continues in Saudi Arabia. The winner is the Salman branch of the royal family, which is systematically extending its political influence. But bearing in mind the planned economic reforms, the family is running a high risk. By Matthias SailerMore

Non-fiction: Sebastian Sons′ ″Auf Sand gebaut″: Saudi Arabia – a difficult allyOil and development in the Middle East: A two-edged swordPanama Paper revelations: The Emirs of Panama
German Chancellor Angela Merkel visiting Egyptian President Al-Sisi in Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo on 02.03.2017 (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Angela Merkel′s visit to Egypt

Blinkered realpolitik

No head of state looks forward to meeting a national leader known for the brutal silencing of his critics. Had Angela Merkel pursued a more courageous line in foreign policy, she could have saved herself a deal of discomfiture. By Matthias SailerMore

Sisi and the European Union: The long arm of the dictatorEgypt′s repression of academics and journalists: The Regeni murder falloutRLA winner Mozn Hassan on civil repression in Egypt: ″Now′s the time to be creative″Post-revolution transformation in Egypt and Tunisia: Let them eat cake!
Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi visiting the new Saudi King, Salman bin Abdulaziz, in Riyadh on 1 March 2015 (photo: picture-alliance/Office of the Egyptian President)

Relations between Saudi Arabia and Egypt

Conditional support

Relations between the Gulf States and Egypt are undergoing readjustment. Saudi Arabia will continue to support Egypt, but the conditions for this support have changed. By Matthias SailerMore

Saudi Arabia and Iran after the death of King Abdullah: No prospect of rapprochement On the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia: "Riyalpolitik", conservatism and modernisationTurkey's mosque-building programme: Does Turkey aspire to the leadership of the Islamic world?Iran's foreign policy: All options are openFourth anniversary of Egypt's January Revolution: Graveyard silence replaces revolutionary euphoria
Anti-American protests in Cairo (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

After the Military Coup in Egypt

State-tolerated Xenophobia

Egypt has been flooded by a wave of xenophobia. Not only Americans, but above all Palestinians and Syrians are suffering from regime-tolerated media agitation against foreigners. Matthias Sailer reports from CairoMore

Egyptian Novelist Alaa al-Aswani: ''Mubarak's Regime Remains Intact''Egypt's Revolution at the Crossroads: A Battle That No One Can Win?Egypt after the Coup: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Revolutionaries in Egypt celebrate the ouster of president Mohammed Mursi (photo: Reuters)

President Morsi Ousted

Revolution in Egypt, Again

The celebrations across Egypt following the ousting of President Mohammed Morsi look very much like those in 2011, when Hosni Mubarak had to go. But whether this new revolution is here to stay, is unclear. Matthias Sailer reports from CairoMore

Political Upheaval in Egypt: A Clear Message for the BrotherhoodPost-Mubarak Egypt: Veering off the Path of ProgressInterview with Saleh Diab: ''Egypt Doesn't Need Dollars, It Needs a Clear Plan''
Anti-Morsi demonstration in Cairo, Egypt (photo: Reuters)

Morsi's Islamist Regime

Attacks on Egypt's Opposition on the Rise

Rights groups say attacks on opposition activists and critical media in Egypt are on the rise. In parliament, the Islamist regime is quickly trying to pass legislation that will further limit citizens' freedom of speech. Matthias Sailer reports from CairoMore

Freedom of Speech in Egypt: Belly Dancer Exposes Islamists' Double StandardsThe Muslim Brotherhood and Women's Rights in Egypt: A Project of Patriarchal ExtremismControversial NGO Law in Egypt: Attack on the Heart of Civil Society
The entrance to the Tahrir Lounge in Cairo (photo: Hammuda Bdewi)

The ''Tahrir Lounge'' in Cairo

Grassroots Democracy

In a project funded by Germany, a team of young Egyptians in Cairo is trying to boost civil participation and create political awareness without subscribing to any particular ideology. By Matthias SailerMore

Intercultural Dialogue: Goethe Institute Supports Post-Arab Spring Cultural WorkStart of the Trial against NGO Staff in Egypt: A Bizarre and Legally Controversial Case
Mursi's 'Dialogue meeting' in Cairo (photo: Reuters)

Constitutional Crisis in Egypt

No More Time for Dialogue?

Faced with ongoing street protests, President Morsi has made some concessions. But the underlying conflict continues – and the opposition has called for more protests. Matthias Sailer reports from CairoMore

Morsi Cannot Govern Against His PeopleMorsi Expands Executive Power in Egypt: I Am the State!The Egyptian President's Track Record Thus Far: Multiple Morsi
Mass rally of supporters of President Morsi in Cairo (photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Political Power Struggle in Egypt

Deeply Divided

Demonstrations for and against Egyptian President Morsi took place this weekend in Cairo. Egyptians face the uneasy choice of supporting a constitutional draft or starting the process over from the beginning. Matthias Sailer reports from CairoMore

Morsi Expands Executive Power in Egypt: I Am the State!Interview with the Egyptian Muslim activist Asmaa Mahfouz: ''There is no war between Islam and America''
Protests in Egypt against Israel's air strikes in the Gaza Strip (photo: Reuters)

Egypt and the Gaza Crisis

Mounting Pressure on President Morsi

After the Israeli attacks on Gaza, Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi is under increasing pressure to balance domestic and international expectations. The anger among Egyptians over Israel and the US could even force Morsi to insist on renegotiating the peace treaty with Tel Aviv. By Matthias SailerMore

Commentary by Barak Barfi: How New Is Egypt's ''New'' Foreign Policy?The Egyptian President's Track Record Thus Far: Multiple Morsi''The Band's Visit'': An Israeli-Egyptian Utopia
Cover of the Egyptian comic magazine El Doshma (copyright: Ahmed Omar)

Profile of the Egyptian Comic Illustrator Ahmed Omar

''The View from the Other Side''

Comic illustrator Ahmed Omar is primarily known for his cartoons in "El-Doshma". His comics address the issues of corruption, injustice – and the search for a better life. Matthias Sailer introduces the artistMore

Comics Artists in the Arab World: Swimming against the TideThe Iranian Graphic Novel ''Zahra's Paradise: ''An Artistic Insight into a Sinister World''The 99'' Cartoons: Islamic Super-Heroes
Meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (photo: dpa)

The Gulf Monarchies and the Arab Spring

Counter-revolution in the Gulf

Far away from the attention of Western media, the oil-rich Gulf monarchies are currently trying to avoid being hit by the wave of uprisings and revolutions in North Africa and the Middle East. So far, they have not only been successful in doing so, they've even managed to exploit the uprisings for their own purposes. Matthias Sailer reportsMore

Nervousness in the Gulf: Carrot and Stick DiplomacyThe Arab Uprising in the Gulf Region: The Potential for Further ProtestThe Gulf States: A Hypermodern Centre of the Modern Global Economy

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