Gulf

Oman: Rentier State No More

Oman breaks Gulf tradition with first-ever income tax on top earners, marking a bold step toward post-oil economic transformation.

An Emotional Rollcoaster: AI Governance in the Gulf

Users spiral into all-consuming obsessions with artificial intelligence, triggering delusions that tear apart families across the world.

A Ticking Time Bomb Defused: Hotline to the Gulf

The twelve-day war ended with a whimper, but Gulf states emerged holding trump cards that neither Washington nor Tehran anticipated.

Curse or Blessing? The Complex Impact of Gulf Investment in the Balkans

From the gleaming skyscrapers of Belgrade Waterfront in Serbia to the ambitious marina projects in Albania and luxury tourism proposals in Montenegro, Gulf-backed investments have reshaped the economic narrative in the Balkans, prompting public backlash over transparency, governance, and who truly benefits.

Healthy Competition: A New Challenger to the Gulf’s Aviation Titans

Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air is throwing a dose of healthy competition in the Gulf’s aviation “Big Three”: Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad.

Popular

Starmer to China: Growth Now, Alliances Later

Keir Starmer visits Beijing with UK business leaders as Europe accelerates trade deals to hedge U.S. pressure and slow domestic growth.

Davos Turns Peace Into a Punchline

At the world's most exclusive business forum, a billionaire turned a peace initiative into a punchline about territorial conquest.

Ukraine Talks in Abu Dhabi: Land for Peace

At Abu Dhabi talks, Zelenskyy put land first as Ukraine, Russia and the US met, with Washington saying peace talks near a deal.

TikTok Acquisition: Governance Versus Everyday Life

TikTok’s outage exposed how deeply the feed shapes daily life, as US acquisition debates raise questions of control.

Nile Power Struggles Boil Up

Ethiopia is projecting power in the air and along the Nile as a sudden regional split forces Egypt to navigate an altered territory.