Saudi Arabian rules allowing girls to play sports could create more problemsMay 06, 2013
By mandating boys and girls stay separate, the rules are creating logistical challenges for schools. Elizabeth Dickinson reports
Japan seeks Saudi oil to fuel economic recovery
May 04, 2013
Prime minister seeks to ensure energy supplies as nuclear plants are shut off.
Fresh coronavirus outbreak kills five in Saudi Arabia
May 03, 2013
A deadly new virus from the same family as Sars kills again in Saudi Arabia with two others in intensive care, their health ministry confirms.
Bahrain says it arrested 22 over 'terror acts' in the past two months – rights groups differApr 29, 2013
Opposition and human-rights groups say opposition-stronghold neighbourhoods are excessively penalised for their political views. Elizabeth Dickinson reports
Bahrain shuts out UN torture probe
Apr 26, 2013
UN mission to assess the country's progress in eliminating torture has been cancelled by authorities, who say investigation would disrupt national dialogue. Elizabeth Dickinson reports
Apr 24, 2013
Since the fall of the shah of Iran in 1979, US warships and aircraft have become a routine presence in the Arabian Gulf. Now, the military seems to be moving in the opposition direction. Elizabeth Dickinson reports
Kuwaiti opposition figure granted bail to appeal conviction for insulting emir
Apr 23, 2013
Musallam Al Barrak has paid bail of 5,000 Kuwaiti dinars (Dh64,400), and although his conviction has not been overturned, his appeal hearing will continue on May 13. Elizabeth Dickinson reports
Apr 22, 2013
Government backs crown prince, who says there is a 'time and a place' for him to join talks aimed at ending Bahrain's two-year political crisis. Elizabeth Dickinson reports
Bahrain assures safety of F1 teams and fans during Grand Prix
Apr 20, 2013
Pro-democracy groups are using the race to draw international attention to their demands. Elizabeth Dickinson reports
Clashes erupt in Bahrain on eve of F1 race
Apr 19, 2013
Shiites accuse race of being a public relations ploy to cover up political unrest, and vow to step up protests during this weekend's event. Elizabeth Dickinson reports
Saudi bolsters campaign against illegal expat workers with jail terms
Apr 18, 2013
Minister of Labour says any employer hiring illegal expatriates in the kingdom will face fines and jail sentences
Anonymous hacks Kuwaiti government website
Apr 18, 2013
Twitter account called Anonymous Kuwait, which associates itself with the international hacking collective Anonymous, posts speech that earns opposition leader five-year prison term. Elizabeth Dickinson reports
Kuwait opposition MPs treading a well-worn path to courtApr 11, 2013
After months of gathering on the streets to protest, in public squares to rally, and in private homes to debate, members of Kuwait's opposition are more often these days to be found in court. Elizabeth Dickinson reports from Kuwait City
Uncertainty grips thousands of expat workers facing Saudi deportation plan
Apr 03, 2013
Undocumented foreign workers may face arrest or deportation following kingdom's bid to ease unemployment among its citizens
Kuwait's bidoon may still be in limbo Apr 01, 2013
Up to 120,000 inhabitants of Kuwait are bidoon jinsiya, or 'without nationality' in Arabic. Yet they are not certain they will benefit from proposed extensions to Kuwaiti citizenship. Elizabeth Dickinson reports from Kuwait City
GCC-Iraq ties at lowest point in decadesMar 20, 2013
Ten years after the US-led invasion the region's order has altered immensely, with Iraq moving closer to Iran and further from the GCC. Elizabeth Dickinson reports from Kuwait
Students' shock at death of Kuwaiti classmate in Sharjah
Mar 17, 2013
Mubarak Meshaal al Mubarak died in hospital on February 26 from internal bleeding suffered during three days of torture, allegedly carried out by the two fellow students who knew him best.
CVs of new Shura Council members reveal that outside the world of academia, employment that matches the stellar educational qualifications of Saudi women is rare.
Weapons sent to Syrian opposition in safe hands, says KerryMar 06, 2013
The secretary of state's comments indicate the US does not object to the transfer of arms if directed towards opposition forces viewed as moderate. Elizabeth Dickinson reports
Youth take up battle against bureacracy in Kuwait
Mar 03, 2013
Young people are tired with a system where, without a wasta, or connection, it's tough work dealing with government offices. Elizabeth Dickinson reports from Kuwait City
GCC states expect new ideas from the new top US envoy
Feb 28, 2013
What are widely seen as the US's timid efforts to force Bashar Al Assad from power in Syria are expected to be the focus of Gulf frustrations during the US secretary of state's visit. reports
Oman taps cosmopolitan tradition in bid to become Gulf's art hubFeb 19, 2013
The resurgence of the arts is opposed by some, including religious figures and Omanis who feel government money should be spent elsewhere. Elizabeth Dickinson reports from Muscat
Police and mourners clash at Bahrain funeral of teen killed in protest
Feb 17, 2013
Government say opposition is to blame as police officers use stun grenades and tear gas to disperse crowds you gathered to bury a teenager shot dead by security forces.
Teen killed as Bahrain erupts in protests to mark uprising anniversaryFeb 15, 2013
Clashes between government forces and protesters leave a 16-year-old boy dead and dozens wounded, as Bahrain marks the second anniversary of its uprising. Elizabeth Dickinson reports from Manama
Bahrain talks 'must succeed or outcome will be a disaster'Feb 14, 2013Delegates from across Bahrain's political spectrum are meeting with hopes of ending a political impasse. But some warn there is no room for failure. Elizabeth Dickinson reports from Sakhair
Potent Mix of Hope and Fear Keeps Oman's Arab Spring Quiet
Feb 11, 2013
Oman, perhaps more than any other Arab Spring country, has transitioned back to calm following a combination of promised reforms. Elizabeth Dickinson reports from Muscat
Kuwait, 'the back office of logistical support' for Syria's rebelsFeb 05, 2013
Behind the scenes, Kuwait has played a no-less pivotal role in the 22-month uprising than its neighbours, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Elizabeth Dickinson reports from Kuwait City
UAE to give aid of Dh1bn to Syria
Jan 31, 2013
Pledges made for humanitarian aid as UN chief blames Bashar Al Assad for causing 'death spiral' in his country. Elizabeth Dickinson reports from Kuwait City
Kuwait meeting aims to raise more than $1bn for Syria aid
Jan 30, 2013
Meeting aims to raise funding and avoid the political controversy a new UN relief plan has generated among opposition. Elizabeth Dickinson reports from Kuwait City
Bahrain's missing men leave families behind, equally punishedJan 29, 2013
All but 23 of the 662 Bahrainis arrested in unrest-related circumstances have been men, according to the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. But the women left on the outside feel the punishment, too.
Oman entrepreneurs work to solve problems of 'Omanisation'
Jan 20, 2013
As unemployment soars in the sultanate, employers in the private sector use training programmes to counteract a largely unskilled workforce. Elizabeth Dickinson reports from Muscat
'Some domestic workers work up to 100 hours a week'
Sri Lankan activists protest in Colombo after Rizana Nafeek, a domestic worker, was executed in Saudi Arabia. A new study has brought to light the hardship many domestic workers face in the Gulf.
Jan 12, 2013
Amid stalling government reforms, Bahrain’s mainstream opposition loses support
Dec 18, 2012
Mounting frustration among once-moderate critics and opponents of the government has translated into growing support for groups whose goals and tactics are more extreme.
Kuwait's new parliament session marred by protests
Dec 17, 2012
Hundreds of opposition politicians and youth activists gather in downtown Kuwait City to protest against the assembly's convening, as emir vows firm response.
Bahraini court cuts activist's jail sentence
Dec 12, 2012
Bahrain's appeal courts has reduced the prison sentence of prominent human-rights activist Nabeel Rajab from three years to two.
Saudi Arabia reform still easier said than done
Dec 11, 2012
Conservative voices are putting the brakes on attempts at progress, while more young Saudis are less willing to accept backlash as a reason not to proceed.
Qatar backs UN General Assembly push for Syria intervention
Dec 10, 2012
Qatar is urging countries opposed to Syria's regime to take their case to the UN General Assembly, where it would likely win support for a broader international intervention.
Bahrain's crown prince calls for more dialogue
Dec 09, 2012
The crown prince is seen widely as a moderate voice within the Al Khalifa family renewed the call for negotiations and reform with an appeal to Shiite religious leaders.
Kuwait warns it will take 'all necessary measures' to break up protests
Dec 05, 2012
Kuwait's ministry of the interior has warned that it will break-up any unlicensed demonstrations, following two nights of clashes between protesters and security forces in out-lying areas of Kuwait's urbanised coast.
Boycott clouds Kuwait elections
Dec 03, 2012
Opposition says its plea to Kuwaitis to boycott the vote was extremely effective, with just 28.8 per cent of all eligible Kuwaiti voters casting ballots.
Kuwait’s election highlights divisions and frustration
Dec 02, 2012
A polling station in the mostly pro-government, Rumaithiya district was buzzing with voters, but just a five-minute drive away in the tribal district of Salwa, the few voters there were vastly outnumbered by police.
Kuwait: to vote or not, that is the question
Dec 01, 2012
As some Kuwaitis go to the polls today, a brewing political crisis has come down to this simple question: to vote or not to vote, as one Kuwait Times columnist put it.
Nov 27, 2012
Hamas's rising profile – and the possibility that it could move away from the patronage of Riyadh's arch rival, Tehran – may entice Saudi Arabia to cultivate stronger ties, analysts say
Qatar pushes to the forefront in Gaza diplomatic efforts
Nov 19, 2012
Doha has taken a hawkish tone in the current crisis, adding diplomatic influence to its previous financial and humanitarian support for Hamas.
Syrian rebels sign unity deal
Nov 12, 2012
Syrian opposition forces agree to unite dissidents, exiles, military councils and local activists in one coalition in opposition to the president, Bashar Al Assad.
Access to arms as sticking point on Syria opposition deal
Nov 11, 2012
After electing a new executive leadership on Friday, the SNC said yesterday it needed guarantees from the international community that it would provide, or allow, the flow of arms to the rebellion
Syrian opposition moves towards deal
Nov 10, 2012
The new council, which will likely be announced on Saturday, would broaden the range of opposition forces under a single umbrella and increase the representation of Syria-based dissidents and rebel fighters.
Syria's main opposition group shuns women leadership
Nov 09, 2012
The Syrian National Council (SNC) is set to redress the imbalance by appointing four female candidates by decree but the episode in Doha underscored the divisions within the group.
Kuwait election boycott gains momentum despite warnings of 'chaos'Nov 08, 2012
The political opposition has organised increasingly boisterous protests in central Kuwait City to contest changes to the electoral system.
Syrian National Council agrees to invite factions
Nov 06, 2012
More activists and political groups from inside Syria will join the main opposition in move likely to consolidate support behind the rebel Free Syrian Army and dilute the influence of militant Islamists.
Dissident in bid to unify Syria opposition
Nov 05, 2012
Riad Seif, a former parliamentarian who has spent the past decade in and out of jail for opposing the Syrian president, hopes to persuade the Syrian National Council to join his US-backed initiative to rebuild his country's opposition.
Fears over US-led bid to unite Syria opposition
Nov 04, 2012
Discord overshadows talks on replacing the Syrian National Council.
Kuwait arrests former MP over comments about emirOct 31, 2012
Local media reported that Mussallam Al Barrack, who attracted the most votes in elections in February, was arrested at his home on Monday night after hosting an opposition diwaniya.
Kuwait bans large public gatherings after clashes
Oct 24, 2012
Ruling follows mass rally in which at least 29 protesters and 11 policemen were injured as security forces tried to disperse tens of thousands of protesters using tear gas and stun grenades.
Saudi's case for women lawyers is paying off
Oct 24, 2012
Enormous amount of opportunities loom for Saudi Arabian women after decision to allow females to apply for licences to practise law.
Morocco's king tours Gulf as economy weakens
Oct 18, 2012
Morocco's two strongest industries, tourism and agriculture, are down this year, largely attributed to regional unrest, the euro crisis and insufficient rains.
Bahrain court cuts sentences of protesting teachers
Oct 22, 2012
An appeals court has upheld the convictions but reduced the sentences of two teachers charged with trying to overthrow the government during Arab Spring-inspired protests
Iran dispute threatens political talks in Bahrain
Oct 17, 2012
Bahrain summoned the Iranian chargé d'affaires, Mahdi Islami, on Monday over claims that Tehran was interfering in Manama's internal affairs.
Doha's Four Seasons Hotel Tea Lounge a painful exile for Syrians in Qatar
Oct 16, 2012
Many Syrian rebel leaders and businessmen have passed through Doha since the uprising against Bashar Al Assad began - but a coherent, unified opposition remains painfully elusive. Elizabeth Dickinson reports from Doha
Haj at the Heart of Global Public HealthOct 15, 2012
As another new flu virus presents health agencies around the world with a new challenge, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca stands as a model of what can be achieved in so-called mass-gathering medicine.
Saudi Arabia’s female artists express their Soft Power
Oct 14, 2012
With grace, subtlety, and an indefatigable drive, young women are creating new boundaries for a contemporary art scene that barely existed just a few years ago.
October 9, 2012
Saudi Arabia's finance minister rejected an International Monetary Fund scenario that the country that the country would be running a slight deficit beginning in 2017.
Gulf embraces Latin America as trade triples
Oct 02, 2012
Gulf countries gathered yesterday and today in Lima, Peru, to focus on economic ties at the third summit of heads of state and government of South American and Arab countries (ASPA).
US urges Gulf to build regional missile defence system
Oct 01, 2012
If implemented, the proposed missile defence system would unite what is today a patchwork of national missile defence systems in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
Detention of almost 1,000 female Haj pilgrims causes diplomatic rift Sep 28, 2012
Saudi officials have detained 908 Nigerian women at the Jeddah airport in a dispute over whether they were to be accompanied by male guardians.
Sep 26, 2012
The ruling is likely to embolden opposition forces in the country, who had accused the ruling family of trying to gerrymander voting lines in their favour before calling new elections, now likely to be held around the New Year.
Sep 26, 2012
The outsized, upstart airline reflects its national roots with a global clout widely exceeding what seems possible from a country of 300,000 citizens. With western carriers reeling under recession, the skies still look clear over Doha.
Qatar's role as peace broker at risk in Syria
Sep 24, 2012
For the past decade, Qatar has mediated in conflicts from Darfur to Yemen. But is a more clearly defined policy real politik or just bias?
Bahrain tells UNHRC it will 'reform and uphold human rights'
Sep 20, 2012
Bahrain tells United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva that it will work toward further reforms, however violent expressions of dissent will not be permitted. Read Article Bahrain tells UNHRC it will 'reform and uphold human rights'
Sep 19, 2012
Just as Doha's businesses have filled the demand for global fast food, they are also leaping at the chance to appeal to the newly health conscious.
Sep 18, 2012
Ties between Qatar and China seem to have grown in fits and starts, held back by what analysts say is a lack of expertise in Doha about the best ways to enter the Chinese market and a reticence to do so amid growing disagreement over the conflict in Syria.
'Jeddah's Katrina' back in spotlight as officials face trial over deadly floodsAug 31, 2012
More than 120 people died and 22,000 people were displaced in Saudi floods and when the waters receded, people began publicly questioning why houses were built on floodplains and why the disaster response was so slow.
Bahrain upholds prison sentences for activists
Sep 04, 2012
A Bahrain appeals court has upheld jail sentences against 20 opposition figures, including eight prominent activists facing life in prison.
Yemen to unveil its plan for recovery
Sep 04, 2012
The Yemeni government is expected to present a detailed plan for completing an Arabian Gulf-orchestrated political and economic transition today at a summit in Riyadh.
Aug 29, 2012
The abduction came just days after Kuwait, the UAE and several other Gulf states warned their nationals to leave Lebanon, amid heightened tensions in the country over the crisis in Syria
Region's states to tackle Syria crisis anew
Aug 28, 2012
Arabian Gulf states and Iran meet at summit of Non-Aligned Movement, and hope for better results than when they met at Mecca.
US arms sales hit record high over deals with Arabian Gulf countries
Aug 28, 2012
The tripling in sales compared to 2010 represents growing concerns among Gulf states and their American allies about the possibility of a nuclear-armed Iran as well as a more fragile region in the aftermath of the Arab Spring.
Saudis arrest terrorists 'with deviant foreign links'
Aug 27, 2012
Terrorist cells that had reached 'an advanced stage' of preparations to mount attacks on 'security men, citizens, residents and public facilities' uncovered by Saudi Arabia.
Aug 17, 2012
Iran's foreign minister says Syria's suspension from the OIC was in breach of group's charter and inappropriate since no representative from Syria was present to defend its position.
Bahrain human rights chief jailed for three years over protests
Aug 16, 2012
A Bahrain court has sentenced prominent Shiite rights activist and head of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Nabeel Rajab, to three years in prison over "unauthorised" protests against the monarchy.
Saudi king out to build bridges with Tehran
Aug 16, 2012
King Abdullah invites Iranian president to sit beside him at meeting aimed at bringing the Muslim world together on Syrian problem.
Aug 15, 2012
Riyad Hijab urges officials and military leaders to join Syria's revolution and says president Bashar Al Assad's regime now controls less than 30 per cent of the country.
Bahrain court adjourns retrial of 20 leading opposition 'plotters'
Aug 15, 2012
Among the detainees – including seven who remain at large – are the leader of the opposition group Waad, Ibrahim Sharif, who had been sentenced to five years in prison, and the prominent activist Abdulhadi Al Khawaja, who had been given a life sentence.
Syria faces suspension from OIC 'top table'
Aug 14, 2012
Saudis urge 'decisive and firm measures' to end the conflict as Muslim nations gather.
Gulf ministers consider formal union
Aug 06, 2012
Analysts say differences over economic policy, as well as a preoccupation with the crisis in Syria, would likely stall implementation of any plans.
Saudi Arabia almost doubles aid to war-torn Syria with US $72m donation
Jul 31, 2012
The funds will nearly double the money now available to provide basic services such as food, shelter, clean water and health care inside Syria and to the 120,252 Syrian refugees who have been registered by the United Nations in neighbouring Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.
Jul 29, 2012
Opposition in Kuwait pushing for greater democracy and Islamists' shifting stance leaves liberals with a dilemma as they face prospect of minority role.
Jul 29, 2012
Prince Bandar bin Sultan may be in place to help the Saudi government's allies, including the US, with its latest knotty problem in the region: how to push Syrian President Bashar Al Assad from power.
Nervous Iraq keeps its eye on neighbouring Syria
Jul 27, 2012
The spillover of turmoil from its neighbour has thrust Baghdad once again into the heart of the region's geopolitical jigsaw puzzle.
