Middle East Sunday Pages Blog

Why Gulf Partnerships Fail: It Is Rarely About Money Meta description: Most Western–Gulf partnerships fail over posture, not money — one side quietly acts as the senior partner until trust is gone. Here are the early warning signs.

Qatar's Father Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, died on 12 July 2026, aged 74. His legacy — and what it teaches anyone doing business in Qatar.

Formal emails get almost no reply from Gulf clients. Here is why WhatsApp and LinkedIn get opened instead — and how to fix your outreach today.

A Saudi minister booked your five-star on an OTA and your team logged it as budget. Why luxury hotels miss their most valuable Gulf guests — and the fix.

Qatar's first World Cup point came from a 94th-minute own goal. Their 14-year wait for a PSG trophy explains exactly why that's not luck. Saudi officials showed us why supporting your country is about more than just football.

Sphere Abu Dhabi will be the first Sphere venue outside the US — $1.7 billion, 20,000 capacity, Yas Island, 2029. What the announcement reveals about UAE strategy.

Oman holds preferential trade arrangements with both the United States and India — and what that actually means for Western companies.

Many leaders arrive in Riyadh backed by formidable global expertise and proven success in markets like New York or Singapore. However, the Riyadh market does not respond to "off-the-shelf" models.

On 20 May 2026 the UAE launched 'Pledge and Commitment' — a national initiative inviting citizens and residents to express loyalty to the country. What this reveals about Gulf coexistence and the cost of misreading it.