The Gulf
The Sirens We Remember
A writer based in Doha reflects on living through Iran's strikes on the Gulf states during Ramadan, drawing on memories of Kuwait during the 2003 Iraq War to explore the lasting psychological and social toll the conflict is leaving on Gulf societies.
How the Iran War Came to the Gulf
Bloomberg Economics Middle East lead Dina Esfandiary and Saudi analyst Sultan Alamer join Faisal Al Yafai to discuss how the war has come to the Gulf, upending years of careful diplomacy.
Omani Women Are Reinventing the Ancient Art of Silversmithing
While silversmithing has traditionally been the purview of men smithing and selling their wares in the souks, more and more of these traditional shops are shuttering their doors as men pursue salaried government jobs, and women step in to keep silversmithing traditions alive.
Gargeean’s Bittersweet Offerings
As the Gulf’s fiscal standing rose, be it by petroleum or fruitful economic planning, whether wanted or unwanted, the cultural expression of Gargeean transformed alongside it. It became more and more difficult to preserve the traditional customs in the face of capitalism’s relentless capacity to commercialize anything, and the day’s more religious connotations, and arguably its Islamic roots, were all but forgotten.
Archaeology Gives Clues on Monastic Life in the UAE
Two centuries later, so popular understanding has it, Islam swept over the Arabian Peninsula, and all inhabitants converted. But the archaeological record suggests a different picture: Find after find is showing that Christianity coexisted peacefully with the newer religion for centuries.