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“We are explaining. We aren’t preaching.” Mina Al-Oraibi on the role of journalism in the Gulf
The editor in chief of state-owned UAE broadsheet ‘The National’, rejects the notion that journalism and government ownership are incompatible.
The US, Israel and Iran exchange violent strikes. But what’s the point of Operation Epic Fury?
US-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian leadership and the latter’s retaliatory attacks have rocked the Middle East. But is there a method behind the madness of Operation Epic Fury?
The largest US military build-up in the Middle East in decades fuels uncertainty in Tehran
Representatives from Washington and Tehran are meeting in Geneva today for nuclear talks as the US military buildup in the Middle East continues. Are the tables tilting? And what will happen next?
Amid heightened geopolitical tensions, the World Governments Summit is a masterclass in soft power
The World Governments Summit (WGS) is taking place this week at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The annual gathering has become one of the most packed fixtures on the diplomatic calendar, with attendees including…
UN special rapporteur on what the world is getting wrong about the Israel-Gaza war
Francesca Albanese, the UN’s special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, tells Monocle how the conflict in Gaza has exposed the institution’s weaknesses and what that means for global justice.
Any objections? US bombings of Iran were strategic even if reactive
President Trump reneged on his pledge to refrain from involving the US in a war in the Middle East. Whether Iran can retaliate or not the US bombings were an act of war.
Between war and peace: The UAE’s key role in de-escalating the Israel-Iran conflict
As hostilities between Israel and Iran intensify, regional neighbours in the Gulf might yet prove to be able peacemakers – if only for their own sake.
Time to deliver
Careem began in mobility before expanding into deliveries, payments and more. The firm prides itself on improving the lives of users and employees, becoming a true Middle East success story.
Movers and shakers
From redefining retail and simplifying fintech to connecting students with their ideal teachers, we meet six young entrepreneurs who have turned big ideas into emerging businesses with a wealth of real-world benefits.
From Damascus to Aleppo, Syria courts visitors in the midst of its rebuild
Syria's ancient capital Damascus beckons intrepid travellers despite years of civil war, offering glimpses of enduring beauty amid the watchful gaze of an authoritarian state.
