history

The Middle East in London: November events calendar

If you’re based in London, there are plenty of Middle East-focused events going on throughout…

5 reasons to visit Petra

Known as the “Lost City”, the “Pink City” and even the “Rose Red City”, Petra is…

Farewell, Damascus: On the Road to Freedom

Set in 1960s Damascus, Ghada Samman’s novel is an eminent celebration of life and female emancipation, but it also serves as a poignant reminder that the same rights and freedom of women are still being fought over both in the Syria and around the world.

From Rocks To Agriculture – The Ingenuity Of The Omani Aflaj System

By Tone Delin Indrelid I can’t help but wonder what it must have been like…

Misfat Al Abriyeen: A Peaceful Oasis In Oman’s Hajar Mountains

Nestled in the foothills of Oman’s Hajar mountain range overlooking a steep valley is the…

Essential podcasts to help you understand the Middle East

Trying to understand the Middle East is complicated at best and impossible at worst. News stories give conflicting views of developments on the ground and much of the mainstream media coverage is steeped in stereotypes and lacking in nuance. The following list of podcasts are essential listening if you’re interested in the region – they deconstruct Middle Eastern history, politics, culture and the economy to give you a clearer picture of what’s going on in this fascinating and often misunderstood part of the world.

‘Dancing on the heads of snakes’: Yemen after Ali Abdullah Saleh

Ali Abdullah Saleh craftily played Yemen’s tribes, Islamist groups and foreign governments off against one another throughout his 33-year rule and he continued to do so after he was ousted from power in 2011. But his most recent power-play, an alliance with the northern Houthi insurgent group, which he previously fought six wars against, turned out to be too much of a gamble.

Iran’s city of lies – Extraordinary stories of love, sex and death in Tehran

The Islamic Republic of Iran stumbled into 2018 making headlines around the world. Thousands of…

Leena Al Ayoobi – The Bahraini Artist Recreating The Image Of Women In The Gulf

Contrary to common stereotypes, there was a time when bright colours reigned in the Arabian…