“Only war makes it possible to mobilize all of today’s technical resources while maintaining the property system.”

- Walter Benjamin, 1936

About Sacha Robehmed

Sacha Robehmed is a graduate of the London School of Economics and a writer in Dubai focused on technology and the arts.

Articles by Sacha Robehmed

Helping the domestic helper

Sacha Robehmed 8 October 2012

Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia have now agreed to a minimum wage for domestic work.

Surf safely!

Sacha Robehmed 23 September 2012

With such tech savvy, demographically very young populations, policing the internet will always be a losing battle. Instead, we should be encouraging online engagement as a source of diverse opinion.

Dubai: a contemporary identity

Sacha Robehmed 10 September 2012

Somewhere along the way, journalistic portrayals of Dubai changed drastically. From regional success story to cautionary tale of the Middle East. And yet, Dubai has begun to develop a contemporary culture.

Christianity in the Gulf

Sacha Robehmed 13 August 2012

The Gulf countries are so frequently lumped together, in regional analysis and through their own GCC union. However, I am occasionally reminded about the vast differences between them.

Ramadan, Dubai style

Sacha Robehmed 29 July 2012

The way to ‘respect’ Ramadan is not only to abide by rules on public eating during daylight hours, but also to partake in the occasion — swapping drinks at the bar for an Iftar buffet.

Startup Weekend Beirut

Sacha Robehmed 15 July 2012

The revolution was the graveyard of the old way of doing business, which depended mainly on personal connections, corruption, and government inefficiency.

Emirates Identity Cards

Sacha Robehmed 2 July 2012

Residents are wondering why they so urgently need them. Parents are particularly questioning this, objecting that children under 15 are required to register, although they can’t drive, register vehicles, or pay water and electricity bills.

Why all the fuss over Fujairah?

Sacha Robehmed 20 June 2012

Behind the sabre rattling, analysts should not overlook growing relationships between the emirates and Asian countries.

Dubai’s competing halves

Sacha Robehmed 7 June 2012

Key to attracting tourists and business is Dubai’s cultivated perception as ‘westernised’, compared to other Middle Eastern cities. Yet this must sit alongside Emirati values

Return to Dubai

Sacha Robehmed 21 May 2012

What never ceases to amaze me is Dubai’s resilience. Back in 2009, building projects had visibly ground to a halt. People were leaving. Debts were mounting.

This week's editor

Niki Seth-Smith is a freelance journalist and co-editor of OurKingdom.

Europe from the bottom up

European Union stars in Paris. Flickr/notarim. Some rights reserved.

A new Europe can only come from the bottom up
Etienne Balibar

A social Europe must be a political Europe
Bo Stråth

As Europe is provincialized: a reply to Etienne Balibar
Sandro Mezzadra

European debate

A republican call for a basic income
Daniel Raventos and Julie Wark

Nuclear non-proliferation

oDRussia at journalismfestival .com

Mali - the plot thickens

Remote control war

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