Country: United Arab Emirates

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Algerian author Said Khatibi (image: private)

Algeria – wasteland for Arabic literature

Big Brother is watching you

In May 2023, Algerian author Said Khatibi won the prestigious Sheikh Zayed Award in the young author category for his historical crime novel "Nihayat al-Sahra'" – in English, 'the End of the Sahara'. Claudia Mende caught up with Khatibi in Abu Dhabi for Qantara.deMore

English in Algerian schools and universities: What's the best language option for Algeria?Human rights in Algeria: Banned, intimidated, driven into exileRemembering Mohammed Dib: The grand seigneur of French-language Algerian literature
Iraqi prime minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani (image: AFP)

Connecting the Gulf with Turkey

Iraq's Transport Corridors – no place for Kurdistan?

Excluding Kurdistan from a new infrastructure project in Iraq, designed to connect the Gulf with Turkey via road and rail, is purely political – despite the economic unfeasibility argument. Commentary by Sardar AzizMore

Iraqʹs wrangle over natural resources: The battle for Kurdish oilMiddle East oil states: Surging energy prices likely to de-rail reforms?The uncertain future of Kurdish autonomy: What next for Iraqʹs Kurds?
Demonstrators in Barcelona support those imprisoned in Morocco's Rif region for speaking out against the government (image: Paco Freire/ZUMA/picture alliance)

Transnational repression

Why a friendlier Middle East is more dangerous for activists

Authoritarian governments often harass and hinder their critics, even if those people are outside the country. As former enemies become friends in the Middle East, will they cooperate to shut down opposition voices? By Cathrin SchaerMore

Growing repression in Morocco: Creating an atmosphere of fearPolitical activism in the Gulf: The UAEʹs policy of zero toleranceRepression in Sisi's Egypt: Egyptian media workers – systematically intimidatedErdogan′s Turkey: The repression goes on
President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walk past the honor guards during an official welcoming ceremony at Al Watan Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (image: TUR Presidency/Murat Cetinmuhurdar/AA/picture alliance)

Turkey's realpolitik in the Gulf

Dropping long-held convictions to seek deeper ties

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the Gulf states in July was his most productive so far, signing defence cooperation and other deals worth billions of dollars. But is a strategic partnership really possible while Turkey and the UAE continue to back conflicting sides in various regional crises? By Leyla EgeliMore

Turkey: Erdogan's search for partners in the Middle EastGrowing Arab dissatisfaction with the West: The Arab world tilts eastwardsNot-so-splendid isolation: Erdogan's geopolitical nightmare
People protest in Iraq over unpaid salaries (image: Feriq Ferec/AA/picture alliance)

Arab states in crisis

In search of a miracle cure

Given the political, economic and social challenges in Arab countries, fragmented individual measures are no longer enough. What is needed is comprehensive, far-reaching reform. Essay by Marwan MuasherMore

Arab states in crisis: The ruling classes' dereliction of dutyThe Middle East's "Axis of Failure": Arab autocrats – ruining their own statesAuthoritarianism and underdevelopment in the Islamic world: Islamic clerics and statesmen in an unholy alliance
A man walks in the desert in Saudi Arabia, 23 October 2022 (photo: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)

Climate change in MENA

Is the Middle East prepared for extreme heatwaves?

Experts say that as intense heat becomes more frequent, the Middle East will see a rise in heat-related deaths. Despite gaps in public health planning, this region could teach the world a lot about extreme heat. By Cathrin SchaerMore

Heatwave in Egypt: "Not only the prices are going up, the temperatures are too"Climate change in Morocco: Dry winters and scorching springsInternational disputes about water: On a knife-edge between peace and conflict
Man stands behind a bar in a restaurant with the skyline of Dubai in the background (image: Karim SAHIB/AFP)

Fusion food in UAE

Glitzy Dubai hungry for culinary fame

French chef Renaud Dutel never thought his career would take him to the United Arab Emirates' glam hub of Dubai, but has found there a culinary capital in the makingMore

Gulf states and sustainability: Desert-grown superfood puts 'healthy' burgers on UAE menusVlogging and Arab family values: "Filming every moment"Tourism in Saudi Arabia: Journey to al-Ula
Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) is welcomed by Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman at the Palace of Yamamah in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 8 December 2022

Growing Arab dissatisfaction with the West

The Arab world tilts eastwards

Arab public opinion is shifting on the topic of great power competition in the Middle East, with implications for the future of the region. By Walid Al-SheikhMore

20 years Iraq War: Farewell to the old world orderVladmir Putin's war in Ukraine: Why the public support in the Arab world?Russia's interventions in Ukraine and Syria: What drives Putin is evident from SyriaUkraine war: Iran – at Putin's beck and call?
Wall projection of Vision 2030 logo (image: Karim Sahib/AFP via Getty Images)

MbS and Vision 2030

Saudi Arabiaˈs great transformation

With Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is attempting to move away from economic dependence on hydrocarbons. Given the vast resources that the kingdom is deploying, the enthusiasm shown by young Saudis and the speed at which reforms are moving forward, the strategy could ultimately benefit the entire Middle East. By Rabah Arezki and Tarik M. YousefMore

'The Line' in Saudi Arabia: Mohammed bin Salman's febrile dreamReform in Saudi Arabia: Progress or megalomania?Gulf States: Saudi economic policy: How much reform?
Arabic Language Center booth at the Abu Dhabi Book Fair (image: ADIBF)

Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

"We're not looking for Western recognition"

The United Arab Emirates has made cultural dialogue its mission. At the 2023 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, the country confidently presented itself as the custodian of Arab culture. Although the book fair is a place for authors and publishing companies to meet and talk, there were limits to what could be openly discussed. Claudia Mende reports from Abu DhabiMore

Literary power politics: Spotlight on the UAE's 30th Abu Dhabi Book Fair Abu Dhabi Book Fair: Arabic literature, criticism and commerceQantara dossier: "Arabic literature"
Poster for the 15-episode Egyptian series "Tahta-l-Wisaayah", translated as "Under Guardianship"

Vlogging and Arab family values

"Filming every moment"

Household labour has become popular viewing in Arab cultures where the distribution of such tasks is among the world’s most inequitable. Indeed, family vloggers' urge to "film every moment" may well prove the most politically significant content of all. By Kaitlyn HashemMore

Lebanon: Influencers join together to fight hate speech Ramadan series "Smile, General": Dynasty of fearMiddle East: Why are Ramadan TV specials so controversial?
Tuwaiq Palace Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (image: Rashid & Ahmed Bin Shabib)

“Hot Cities: Lessons from Arab Architecture”

Inspiring cities of the future

“Hot Cities: Lessons from Arab Architecture” at Germany's Vitra Design Museum provides valuable food for thought about the ways architecture can deal with climate change. Numerous examples from Arab countries illustrate how they have been defying the heat for thousands of years. By Joseph CroitoruMore

Mohamed Elshahed's "Cairo Since 1900": In pursuit of other modernismsSaudi Arabia's urban development: The Crown Prince's bulldozersQantara photo essay: Saudi Arabia seen from above
Nabataean rock tombs at Hegra, al-Ula, Saudi Arabia (image: Philip Breu)

Tourism in Saudi Arabia

Journey to al-Ula

Saudi Arabia used to be more isolated than North Korea. Now the country is presenting its friendly face to the world and wooing Western tourists. Text by Karin A. Wenger, photos by Philipp BreuMore

'The Line' in Saudi Arabia: Mohammed bin Salman's febrile dreamReform in Saudi Arabia: Progress or megalomania?Gulf States: Saudi economic policy: How much reform?
Sudanese men brandish guns (image: AFP)

Sudan's ongoing hostilities

A disaster waiting to happen, says expert

Fierce fighting is continuing between Sudan’s regular army and the paramilitary RSF. With so many proxy interests playing into the current situation, the outcome of the conflict is wide open, says Marina Peter of the Sudan ForumMore

Sudan army versus the RSF: The generals' power struggleSudan anti-putsch protests: "We have to keep fighting"Sudan's coup puppetmasters: The UAE – pulling Sudanese stringsPolitical crisis: Sudanʹs deadly counter-revolutionary militia
Heavy fighting in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan (image: Marwan Ali/AP/picture alliance)

Sudan army versus the RSF

The generals' power struggle

Sudan's military and the RSF militia are fighting for power while the country's civilian population watches helplessly from the sidelines. The bloody events over the last few days can be summed up in one sentence: this is not a civil war. An analysis by Karim El-GawharyMore

Sudan's path to democratic transition: Will the Sudan deal hold?Sudan anti-putsch protests: "We have to keep fighting"Political crisis: Sudanʹs deadly counter-revolutionary militia
Yezid Sayigh is a researcher at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut (image: https://carnegieendowment.org/)

Economic crisis in Egypt

Debt on the Nile

For leading economist Yazid Sayegh, the cause of Egypt's current economic and financial crisis lies primarily in the government's policy of excessive borrowing. He also criticises the way German and European politicians handle the Sisi regime. Interview by Mahmoud HusseinMore

Economic crisis on the Nile: Is Egypt the 'new Lebanon'?Egypt's deepening economic crisis: Abdul Fattah al-Sisi’s vanity projectsSiemens wins major contract in Egypt: High speed up the Nile valleyThe Egyptian economy: Going, going, gone

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