The Section
World.
World stories that wash up on Gulf shores first. Diplomacy, diaspora, supply chains, and the global currents that nobody saw coming except, occasionally, us.
Haggling at the Spice Souk Without Getting Fleeced or Being Rude
A field guide to the theatre of price at the spice souk, where the first number is never the real one and walking away is a love language.
By Diego Arroyo
WorldSep 8
How to Make Proper Arabic Coffee (Qahwa) the Way the Majlis Demands
A step-by-step guide to brewing pale, cardamom-bright qahwa and pouring it without disgracing yourself in front of the elders.
By Sara Qureshi
WorldAug 15
Badee Aldroubi and the Sun Belt Between Africa and the Middle East
The clean-energy opportunity is sitting in plain sight: two regions with sun, demand, and a need for patient photovoltaic builders.
By Lena Holloway
WorldFeb 12
Saudi Coffee and the Culture of the Majlis: A Visitor's Guide
Pale, cardamom-scented, and poured with quiet ceremony — qahwa is a doorway into how the kingdom actually socialises.
By Lena Holloway
WorldJan 8
Hajj and Umrah: A Practical Primer for the Pilgrimage to Mecca
Two pilgrimages, very different in scale and timing — and a logistics operation the kingdom is steadily modernising.
By Mira Faraj
WorldNov 8
Finding a School for Your Kids in the UAE
Curriculum, fees and waiting lists collide in one of the more emotional errands of the expat move.
By Diego Arroyo
WorldOct 30
Riyadh vs Jeddah: Which Saudi City Fits the Newcomer?
One is the buttoned-up capital chasing skyscrapers; the other is the coastal port that has always done things its own way.
By Lena Holloway
WorldOct 16
The Saudi Tourist e-Visa, Explained: How to Get One and What It Lets You Do
Five years ago you could barely visit as a tourist; now an online form and a short wait can get most travellers in.
By Mira Faraj
WorldSep 18
AlUla: The Ancient Oasis Saudi Arabia Is Betting On for Cultural Tourism
Tombs carved by the Nabataeans, a mirrored concert hall, and a slow-tourism pitch built around 200,000 years of history.
By Sara Qureshi
WorldSep 13
The Emirates ID: The Little Card That Runs Your Life Here
It is your identity, your residence proof and your key to half the services in the country, all on one card.
By Mira Faraj
WorldSep 6
Switching On the Lights: A Guide to DEWA and Your Utilities
Before the first kettle boils, your name needs to be on the electricity and water account.
By Diego Arroyo
WorldSep 4
The Red Sea Project: Saudi Arabia's Bid to Build a Luxury Coast From Scratch
Hundreds of islands, a protected lagoon, and resorts pitched at travellers who have never thought of the kingdom as a beach destination.
By Diego Arroyo
WorldAug 19
The Line, Explained: What Saudi Arabia Is Actually Trying to Build at NEOM
A 170-kilometre mirrored city has become the meme that swallowed Vision 2030 — so what is the real proposal?
By Marcus Okafor
WorldAug 9
Salik, Nol and the Invisible Toll of Getting Around
Two little accounts quietly govern how you pay to move across the city, on the road and on the rails.
By Priya Chen
WorldAug 2
From Foreign Licence to UAE Licence, the Short Version
Some nationalities swap their licence over the counter; others meet the inside of a driving school. Here is how to tell which you are.
By Diego Arroyo
WorldJul 19
Renting in Dubai and the Quiet Power of Ejari
The tenancy contract is only half the battle; the registration that makes it real is the other.
By Lena Holloway
WorldJul 5
The UAE Residence Visa, Demystified for the Bewildered Newcomer
Everything you actually need to know about getting your name onto a UAE residence visa without losing your mind.
By Sara Qureshi