Report of the OxGAPS symposium held at the University of Oxford on 16 November 2013.
Dr Mona Hejres (Bahrain) making a point at the OxGAPS Symposium. On her right is Melkar al Khoury (Lebanon). Click to read Symposium summary.
Category Archives: GCC Countries
Oxford graduates argue for a multi-tiered approach to achieving a successful labour migration policy in the UAE
Most GCC countries depend on millions of foreign workers to keep their economies moving. Their presence is often the cause of debate, and sometimes controversy. In this op-ed for oxgaps.org, Oxford graduates Froilan T Malit Jr and Ali al Youha argue for a four-tier approach in dealing … Continue reading
8 March: International Women’s Day
8 March is International Women’s Day. From the City and University of Oxford, on behalf of the Oxford Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies Forum (OXGAPS) we extend our congratulations to all women, and especially those in Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, … Continue reading
Posted in Archive, GCC Countries, Gender, Iran, Iraq, Yemen
Tagged International Women's Year 2014
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Jeddah Art Week adds vibe to Peninsula art scene.
Art on the Arabian peninsula is swinging. From Abu Dhabi to Sharjah, and from Kuwait to Sana’a, artistic expressions of different forms – paintings, theater, photography, galleries, and more are fast becoming genuine expressions of popular culture. The Saudi Red … Continue reading
In memory of Dr Abdullah Omran Taryam – an Emirati statesman, intellectual, and foremost, a journalist.
OxGAPS co-ordinator, Dennis Sammut, reflects on the life and work of Dr Abdullah Omran Taryam who died yesterday. The death of Dr Abdullah Omran Taryam, the founder and chief Executive of the al Khaleej Newspaper Group in the United Arab Emirates, at the age … Continue reading
Posted in Archive, GCC Countries, History, Media
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Enchanting Jabreen Castle mesmerises visitors to Oman.
Tourism is a relatively recent phenomena in many parts of the Arabian peninsula, and the interior of the Sultanate of Oman cannot be said to have been, at least until recently, a popular tourist destination. Yet for those who want to … Continue reading
Posted in Culture and Entertainment, GCC Countries, History
Tagged Jabreen Castle, Oman, Oman Tourism
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The battle for the minds of young Saudis.
There are high hopes that the recent appointment of a new Minister of Education in Saudi Arabia marks a significant attempt to modernise the country’s education system. In this op-ed, Dennis Sammut discusses the tasks ahead for Prince Khaled al … Continue reading
Table manners can lead to divorce in Kuwait.
A woman in Kuwait has filed for divorce one week into her marriage after she discovered that husband did not like to eat peas with a fork and preferred to use bread. Accusing him of failing to abide by table … Continue reading
Saudi Arabia’s announces record budget of SR855 billion for 2014.
Saudi Arabia’s budget for 2014 will amount to SR855 billion (approximately USD 228 billion) in 2014, an increase of 4.3% over this year’s budget, and the highest ever in the Kingdom’s history. However commentators have described the increase as modest, … Continue reading
Posted in Economy and Finance, GCC Countries, Government and Politics
Tagged Saudi Arabia, Saudi Budget
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OxGAPS symposium offered an open space for debate on important issues.
Many participants in the symposium held in Oxford on 16 November have commented on the importance of the event and how it contributed to providing an open space for debate on many important issues affecting the Middle East Region at … Continue reading
Posted in Archive, GCC Countries, Gender, Government and Politics, History, Iraq, Religion, Social Issues
Tagged OxGAPS, OxGAPS Symposium
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Dubai celebrates: Crown Prince hoists flag on the top of Burj Khalifa.
Dubai is in celebration mood today as it joins the rest of the United Arab Emirates in celebrating the country’s national day. The event has however also coincided with the selection of Dubai as the city to host the 2020 world … Continue reading
Posted in Archive, Culture and Entertainment, GCC Countries
Tagged Dubai, Expo2020, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed
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Do Saudi students abroad defy stereotypes?
An article on the website of the Saudi newspaper, Arab News, last week has caused something of a debate. The article written under the byline of Ali Harbi, Detroit, says that “Saudi students studying in the United States are defying … Continue reading
Posted in Archive, Education, GCC Countries
Tagged Arab News, OxGAPS, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Students in US
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Saudis snub world community. The Kingdom rejects seat on Security Council citing double standards.
In this op-ed for oxgaps.org Dennis Sammut discusses the implications of Saudi Arabia’s refusal to accept a seat on the United Nations Security Council, to which it had just been elected. It was the ultimate snub to the world community, … Continue reading
Eid Mubarak! The Muslim world celebrates Eid al Adha.
We extend Eid greetings to all members of OxGAPS, all our subscribers on oxgaps.org, and our friends on facebook, and to all Muslims celebrating Eid al Adha. The image shows Doha, capital of Qatar lit up for Eid. (picture courtesy … Continue reading
Posted in Culture and Entertainment, GCC Countries, Religion
Tagged Eid, Eid al Adha, OxGAPS, Qatar
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Two Oxford post-graduates discuss labour migration in the UAE – the challenges and responses.
The GCC region is the most popular destination for temporary labour migrants of any world region, and flows have continued to increase over the past three decades. In a recent article on the website of the Washington based Migration Policy Institute, … Continue reading
Posted in Economy and Finance, Foreign Workers, GCC Countries
Tagged Foreign Labour in the GCC, GCC, UAE
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Saudi film about a girl and her bicycle makes debut in Oscars.
Haifaa Al Mansour’s drama Wadjda, about a young girl determined to win money to buy a bicycle she’s forbidden to ride, has been selected as Saudi Arabia’s official submission for the Oscar’s foreign-language category. It marks the first time the … Continue reading
Posted in Archive, Culture and Entertainment, GCC Countries, Gender, Hero of the week, Media
Tagged Haifaa al Mansour, Oscars, Saudi Arabia, Waad Mohammed., Wadjda
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Dates have been an important part of Gulf diet for centuries.
A Saudi man inspects dates during the “Ahsa Festival for Palms and Dates” in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia held recently, where total sales of dates reached SR4 million during its first three days. Picture Credit: Saudi Press Agency, … Continue reading
Posted in Culture and Entertainment, GCC Countries
Tagged Eastern Province., Saudi Arabia
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There are 180 million people living in the six GCC countries, Iran, Iraq and Yemen. Half of them are under 24.
The region of the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula consists of nine countries, the six GCC countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Iran, Iraq and Yemen. Together these nine countries have … Continue reading
Posted in Archive, GCC Countries, Iran, Iraq, Yemen
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OxGAPS Forum supports Dubai’s bid to host EXPO 2020.
OxGAPS – The Oxford Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies forum has become a supporter of the bid of Dubai to host EXPO 2020. A decision is expected to be announced in Paris in November. A spokesman for OxGAPS Forum said: … Continue reading
Posted in Archive, Culture and Entertainment, Economy and Finance, GCC Countries, Media
Tagged 2020 Expo, Dubai, OxGAPS, United Arab Emirates
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Iraq to restore the arch of Ctesiphon
Iraqi authorities have contracted a Czech firm to carry out a 10-month restoration of the ancient Arch of Ctesiphon as part of a plan to boost tourism to the once-popular site. Through the decades of conflict that have wrecked Iraq, the famed … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture and Environment, Archive, GCC Countries, History, Iraq
Tagged Baghdad, Ctesiphon, Iraq, Taq-i Kisra
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Untapped Human Capital: Rethinking young UAE Nationals in the labour market.
Two recent Oxford University graduates, Ali Al Youha and Froilan Malit have made practical suggestions as to how young UAE professionals can become active development players in their country and region-wide. Their op-ed, which appeared recently in the Dubai daily … Continue reading
Posted in Archive, Economy and Finance, Education, Foreign Workers, GCC Countries
Tagged Ali al Youha, Emiratisation, United Arab Emirates
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