Gulf Region

Country: Gulf Region

Mahathir Mohamad smiles during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on 10 May 2018 (photo: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Hoe)

Malaysiaʹs Mahathir targets corruption

Graft links to the Gulf

Newly elected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir is adopting policies that could re-shape the southeast Asian nationʹs relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. By James M. DorseyMore

Malaysia: Mahathir's difficult inheritance Women as Sharia judges in Malaysia: A step forward in equal rights Acquittal of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim: A small victory for democracy in Malaysia

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

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-war Political transformation under Mohammed bin Salman: Saudi Arabiaʹs perilous pivot Qatari foreign relations: The point of no return?

Arabic writing on a blackboard (photo: dpa)

The uncertain future of Modern Standard Arabic

A language in decline

Substantial numbers of schoolchildren in the Gulf are losing their ability to communicate in Arabic. The development may well herald the onset of language loss in the region. By Sawsan KhalafMore

Arabic in Latin Script: Lost in Arabic Arabic literature as a cultural asset: Uncharted waters Culture and education in the Islamic world: The lonely Arab crowd

Sisyphusʹ sister: "Vacuum" – video installation by Palestinian artist Raeda Saadeh (photo: Sharjah Art Foundation Collection)

The Emirate of Sharjahʹs March Meeting

A fresh take on the figurative

The DNA of art is no longer just western: known as the "March Meeting", the spring exhibition in the Arab desert city of Sharjah displays an undreamed-of diversity. By Georg Imdahl More

Seventh Sharjah biennial: Exploratory artistic drilling in the Gulf Photography exhibition in Sharjah: "Focus Orient": A photographic journey into the past Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation: Vatican treasures in the Gulf

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (l) greets Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah (r) upon his arrival in Tehran on 1 June 2014. Kuwait's Emir started a landmark visit to Tehran focussed on mending fences between Shia Iran and the Sunni-ruled monarchies in the Gulf (photo: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images)

Geopolitics in the Middle East

End the Arab-Iranian tug-of-war

You can’t change regional geography, notes the political analyst Khaled Hroub. Iran and the Arabs will always be neighbours, but we can change and re-shape history and politics. The common interest must therefore lie in ending the period of conflict and moving towards co-operation and regional security More

Iran′s image in the Arab world: Conservative regime and open-minded society The aftermath of the Arab Spring: The changing map of Middle East power Michael Luders on the sanctions on Iran: "The objective is regime change"

Saudi men walk out of the entrance to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh on 4 March 2013 (Getty Images/AFP/J. Martin)

Qatari foreign relations

The point of no return?

The crisis between Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt on the one hand and Qatar on the other appears to be approaching tipping point. The possibility of Doha's departure from the GCC and new alliances with Turkey and Iran is likely to trigger major shifts in the regionʹs balance of power. By Stasa SalacaninMore

Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Sticking his neck out for Qatar Qatar vs. UAE: The not-so-beautiful game Saudi ultimatum for Qatar: Turning up the heat?

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 pie Qatar diplomatic crisis: Playing the waiting game Oil and development in the Middle East: A two-edged sword

Publicity material about Oman′s ruler, Sultan Qaboos (photo: Deutsche Welle)

Sultanate of Oman

A happy symbiosis

It is rare that a ruler is able to concentrate so much power in his own hands while remaining popular with his subjects: Sultan Qaboos has achieved a synthesis of tradition and globalisation. By Ingrid ThurnerMore

Oman's succession problem: Neither heir nor spare Saudi ultimatum for Qatar: Turning up the heat? Cultural change in Oman: From camels to classics

Film director Danya Alhamrani (left) and producer Dania Nassief (photo: Jordis Zahring)

Documentary: "A Silent Revolution"

Pioneering Saudi women

Thanks to the courage of a few, Saudi Arabian women are now managing companies and will soon be allowed to drive cars. The documentary "A Silent Revolution" showcases Saudi Arabia's female movers and shakers. Elizabeth Grenier talked to director Danya Alhamrani and producer Dania Nassief More

Berlinale 2016: Interview with Saudi director Mahmoud Sabbagh: ″Testing the water... to make a change"Women′s rights in the Arab world: The key to change Saudi economic policy: How much reform?

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 failures Mohammed bin Salman′s political agenda: The Saudi parable Saudi-Iranian conflict: Sleepwalking into war

A man sits next to a mural of Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in Sharm al-Sheikh (photo: Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images)

The role of Egypt′s armed forces

A military empire

After the Arab spring, the Egyptian military gained unprecedented influence. Able to count on the financial support of several Gulf monarchies, it maintains tight control of the political arena and the Egyptian economy. By Ingy Salama More

Sisi's Egyptian crisis: ″Where are the youth?″Tahrir Square's democracy activists: The forgotten heroes ′Pharaoh′ Mubarak′s acquittal: Some are more equal

Demonstration against German arms exports in front of the German Parliament in Berlin (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

Germany's arms exports controversy

When doves cry

The embargo on arms exports to countries involved in the conflict in Yemen recently agreed by Germany's two biggest political parties must be maintained and underpinned by binding criteria in a law on arms exports, writes Markus BickelMore

Germany′s arms exports to the Islamic world: Profiteering from terrorism Turkey′s incursion into Syria: The Kurdish quagmire Non-fiction: Sebastian Sons′ ″Auf Sand gebaut″: Saudi Arabia – a difficult ally

Protests in Tunis against President Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel (photo: Reuters)

Arab response to Trump's Jerusalem decision

Walking a fine line

A little-noticed subtext to furious protests across the Middle East and North Africa against US President Donald J. Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is simmering anger at Arab governments. An essay by James M. DorseyMore

Trump's Jerusalem decision: Unleashing a new wave of radicalisation?US foreign policy: Donald Trump versus Middle East peace Social unrest in the Arab world: Guilty of gross negligence

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) together with Saudi Arabia′s King Salman (photo: picture-alliance/abaca)

Power play in Saudi Arabia

Charting a seismic shift

With an unprecedented wave of arrests, the young Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is trying to consolidate his power in the country. But he is making some dangerous enemies. An analysis by Karim El-GawharyMore

Saudi arrests of princes consolidates another's power grab Saudi economic policy: How much reform?Reform in Saudi Arabia: Progress or megalomania?

A woman stands at a barbed wire fence, in the background on the other side stands a crowd of people (photo: Benjamin Haas/Fotolia)

Islamic debate about human rights

The erroneous 'cultural distinction'

Syrian writer Morris Ayek is critical of those who claim that when it comes to human rights, Islamic countries are "culturally distinct" from the rest of the world. In his opinion, this discourse directly contradicts the universality of Islamic valuesMore

Political discourse in the Arab world: Last ditch democracy Political discourse in the Arab world: Defaming democracy The Arab Spring in historical perspective: Revolutions take time Liberalism in the Arab world: Merely treading water

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the Vision 2030 presentation – a plan to transform the Saudi economy (photo: Getty Images/AFP)

Reform in Saudi Arabia

Progress or megalomania?

The crown prince of Saudi Arabia says he wants to fundamentally change his country. But the inexperienced and impulsive young Mohammed bin Salman could quickly find himself in over his head, says Nader AlsarrasMore

Saudi economic policy: How much reform?Saudi Arabia′s labour market: Loosing the chains Iran and Saudi Arabia: Chalk and cheese

Country: Gulf Region

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