They Said the Gulf Would Stay Home. Look Who Showed Up at WTM London 2026
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and the UAE all came to WTM London 2026 despite October's flight disruption. Here is what their stands told Western buyers.
Zayed the Founder Day: The UAE’s New National Day, and Why Your Client Calendar Is Already Out of Date
Zayed the Founder Day falls on 7 January from 2027. What the UAE's new national day means for UK firms with Emirati clients, and how not to miss it.
Your Gulf Client Was Promoted Months Ago. You Never Heard About It.
Your Gulf client was promoted months ago and you never heard. How Gulf appointments work, how fast to congratulate, and what to write.
Joy and Sorrow, Four Days Apart: A Love Letter to Saudi Resilience
Saudi Arabia won the Gulf Cup, then Riyadh's airport was attacked. Business carried on. What Saudi resilience teaches Western firms in the Kingdom.
Qatar’s 2036 Olympic Bid and Why Doha Plays a Different Game From Riyadh
Qatar is one of 7 countries interested in the 2036 Olympics as Saudi Arabia scales back sport spending. What the split means for Western suppliers in the Gulf.
Negotiating in the Gulf: What Centuries of Trade Taught the Region About a Good Deal
The Gulf traded across oceans for centuries before oil. Why negotiating in the Gulf is how trust is built, and why opening with your final price can cost you.
Saudi National Day: What Joyful National Pride Tells Western Business
Saudi National Day on 23 September is joyful, public national pride. What Western executives miss about it, from inside the Saudi Embassy celebration in London.
How to Read the Room in a Gulf Business Meeting
A Crown Prince turned back at Delhi airport to thank his driver. What that moment shows about reading a room — and what your own behaviour says in it.
While Western Firms Debate Saudi’s Giga-Projects, the Contracts Keep Moving
Saudi Arabia is reprioritising its giga-projects, not abandoning them. A $221m Qiddiya contract shows firms where commitment is still moving.
Saudi Arabia Is Becoming More Saudi. Gulf Experience Is No Longer Enough.
Saudi Arabia is becoming more Saudi. What that changes for doing business in Saudi Arabia in 2026 — the rules, the people in the room, and the rising bar.