Young people in the MENA region today are better educated than their parents' generation. But higher educational attainment does not open doors to better jobs. Many youngsters go from university straight into unemployment. By Nassir DjafariMore
A lack of jobs and bleak social prospects for young people in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are undermining the political stability of what is already a deeply troubled region. The problem cannot be solved by simply modernising education and labour markets. By Nassir DjafariMore
To mitigate the root causes of flight and migration, Germanyʹs federal government is contemplating fair-trade agreements with refugee countries of origin. The North African experience shows this will require a re-think of EU policy. By Nassir DjafariMore
Scarcely any other country treats native and foreign workers as unequally as Saudi Arabia. With its pronounced disparities between men and women, the labour market also reflects the contradictions within Saudi society. Implementing the initiated reforms will be no small feat. By Nassir DjafariMore
Last year King Salman of Saudi Arabia announced a comprehensive reform programme called “Vision 2030”. Its aim is to prepare the Saudi economy for a future without oil. Whether it will go smoothly is doubtful. By Nassir DjafariMore
With the lack of sustainable development and social progress, political stability is at risk in the Maghreb. Instability may have fatal consequences for Europe. Commentary by Nassir DjafariMore
When poor countries started producing oil, they thought that was the key to economic growth and prosperity. Since then, the impact of resource wealth on producing countries has been the subject of endless debate. By Nassir DjafariMore
Pascal Mannaerts travelled to Oman at the end of 2019 in search of portrait subjects for a photo essay on women in the Gulf sultanate. Ruled by the enlightened Qaboos from 1970 to 2020, Oman enjoys a unique reputation among the Arab states – especially regarding the status and opportunities afforded to women.
