Books 2021's best books: MEE staff and writers' favourite reads of the year This year's selection includes analysis, memoir, poetry, graphic novels and a striking new translation of the 'Arabian Nights' 17 new books by Palestinian writers that are worth reading12 books you need to read about the Arab Spring Culture Seven Middle Eastern flags and the symbolism they carry Arts Arabian brights: How the landscape of Tunisia enabled expressionist art Migration Egyptians in New York: The untold stories of early immigrants to America Books The booksellers of Cairo: An urban trail of eight of the city's antiquarian bookstores Heritage While you were sleeping: The importance of dreams in Middle Eastern culture Borders The Spanish Civil War's forgotten Arab Republicans Film Al Kameen: UAE’s Yemen war film rides nationalist fervour to break records Film Arabic Netflix shows to watch in December + More Arts Women 'Where to, Marie?': Lebanese comic book tells forgotten stories of country's feminist struggle Film Dune: How interstellar epic avoids Middle East stereotypes Culture Berlin: Inside Europe's capital of Arab culture Palestine State Mohammed el-Kurd on Rifqa, God and Palestinian resilience Music In Berlin, the DJs for Palestine movement is growing Music How North African rappers shine a light in France’s dark corners Books Between Two Islands: How British Bahrainis found a home in poetry Books Plague and poetry: How Middle East authors have written about disease Film Let it be Morning: Israeli director rejects categorisation for award-winning drama Books Five books to read on the history of Black Muslims Arts Ten bizarre Egyptian sayings to try and wrap your head around Music Omar Khorshid: Celebrating the illustrious career of Egypt's guitar legend Culture From Captain Majid to Grendizer: Five Anime shows that defined Arab childhoods Books 17 new books by Palestinian writers that are worth reading Art and photography Meet the new vanguard of Moroccan photography Books Palestine in 2048: Staring into a black mirror Books Five books on East Africa's centuries-old connection with the Middle East Art and photography Iranian gangsters: Tattoos, drug deals and a hidden underworld revealed Books 'Hot Maroc': Yassin Adnan's satirical debut novel plots the death of Moroccan politics Books From Babel to Berlin: How Arabic literature can unite the world Books Poets, fighters and dreamers: Kurdish women tell their own stories Fashion Palestinian fashion from ancient Canaan to a thobe in Congress Books Fear and loathing in Gaza: Tales of a life under siege Books Jared Kushner, here are 25 more books you should read about Palestine, Israel relations Art and photography In pictures: Lebanon astrophotographers escape to the stars Art and photography In pictures: The hidden lives of the Amazigh people Books Books and bombs: How I healed myself through fiction Art and photography Beyond realism: Iran's photographers recreate images of nation Oslo Film review: The moral Catch-22 of Oslo’s neutrality Art and photography Beirut, broken and bruised: How photographers capture the trauma of their shattered city Books Memories of displacement: Sudanese poet K Eltinae on writing 'verses in the sky' Music How the 'Djibouti Archives' restored a forgotten chapter of the country's musical history Arts Depression is forbidden: Egypt's all-woman band reminds the world to laugh Film Tunisia's Gabes film festival: Virtual reality, colonialism and Covid-19 Culture Aladdin to Thief of Baghdad: How film posters created an Orientalist fantasy Film Arab films at Cannes 2019: Strong showing for Middle East, North Africa cinema + More Food Food & Drink From mandrakes to spring onions: Five foods the Ancient Egyptians used to eat Food & Drink Arab Fairy Tale Feasts: Stories and recipes for the hungry young reader Recipes How to make lentil soup: The perfect dish to warm your soul Recipes 32 Middle Eastern recipes you can make at home Recipes How to make a delicious Yemeni masoob | Dine & Discover Recipes How to make Moroccan bastilla | Dine & Discover Food & Drink How to go vegan and stay vegan in the Middle East Recipes 'Eid has no joy without it': How to make Egyptian fattah Recipes How to make fried kibbeh from Iraq Food & Drink For the love of couscous: North Africa's favourite dish added to Unesco list Food & Drink Sharks, pumpkins and icing sugar: Who has the best couscous in North Africa? Recipes How to make spicy slow-cooked lamb shuwa Recipes How to make lahmacun: Turkish flatbreads with a meat and vegetable topping Recipes How to make Turkish cilbir and simit bread | Dine & Discover Recipes How to make this filling chicken fatteh from Syria Recipes How to make savoury kibbeh meqliyeh, Aleppo style Recipes How to make qatayef, an imperial treat from the ancients Recipes Five food bloggers share their favourite Eid recipes Recipes How to make quick and easy timman bil jizar Recipes How to make Lebanese fatayer with spinach and labneh fillings Food & Drink Why Egyptians are crazy about falafel Women She arrived in Greece homeless. Now this Iranian woman feeds hundreds Food & Drink Claims in Israeli media about shawarma stoke online anger Inside Egypt Sun-dried tomatoes give Egypt’s farmers a new lease of life + More Women Music An echo in the dark: The feminist band from Egypt fighting misogyny through music Culture Assyrian comedian Jenan Younis: We're not Arab, we're not Asian, and we're not Muslim Culture The Mother Goddess, Amazons and other female legends in Anatolian history Books Saints, scholars and queens: The women who helped forge Islam Women Iran’s female mechanics challenge male domination in the car industry Women How to plan an Arab-American wedding that will please everyone (except you) Culture Meet the woman fusing the traditional Japanese Obi with the Palestinian tatreez Women How a movie star (and my mother) made me a feminist Women 'We expected more backlash': Inside a new feminist platform that dares to be funny Fashion Yes, Saudi women dress like... this Fashion Beyond the burkini: How there's more to modest swimwear than meets the eye Women From militants to student activists: The women who fought for Algeria Culture Politics and poetry: The female Muslim wordsmith making waves Women Egypt's easy riders: How scooter sisters are taking back the road Women Halal holidays: Sun, sea and seclusion appeal to women LGBT Breaking taboos: Can Lebanon be honest about sexual health? Fashion Hijabi model of Somali origin becomes fashion editor of Vogue Scandinavia Women Women's football in Libya: The struggle to play on the field of dreams Occupation Gaza's energy pioneer keeps Palestinian lights on with affordable solar Women Iran street fashion: Seven influencers bending the rules, making waves Women How yoga is helping women in Gaza escape stress of siege Women In pictures: Iran and the masks of the Minab market Women In pictures: Egypt’s female photographers stage a revolution Workers In pictures: Domestic workers in Lebanon find relief at the beach + More Society Palestine State A visual history of Black-Palestinian solidarity Books Learn to read and write in Nubian Heritage The ghostbuster of Jerusalem: Meet the Palestinian man tracking down ghouls and jinn Palestine State The Palestinian keffiyeh: All you need to know about its origins Children How to raise your Palestinian children in the diaspora Education Teaching Arabic to kids: How families are putting the fun back into reading Heritage Ancient Egyptian death rituals: How they guided pharaohs through the afterlife Religion Yildiz Camii: Istanbul's last sultanic mosque Libya Crisis In pictures: The forgotten youth of Libya's oil-rich city Culture Eight Arab hand gestures that should be turned into emojis Heritage Ancient boardgames: Experts find the missing piece (but can't figure out how to play) Children Mostafa's story: How an Egyptian woman finally got her baby boy Heritage The British cemetery home to Middle East poets, politicians and princes Health Death cafes, doulas and dolma: Meet the woman bringing dignity to the end of life Education Love it or hate it, is homeschooling in the Middle East here to stay? Economy How a British market was inspired by the Islamic model of Medina Religion 'A balm for the soul': How we made the Cambridge mosque garden Culture Meet Syria's 'loyal, affectionate and very intelligent' Saluki dogs Culture From martial arts to the majlis: Seven Middle Eastern customs listed by Unesco Religion In pictures: A journey into the light - how a blind Syrian man found purpose in faith Education Mathematics village: Changing education, one equation at a time Occupation In pictures: How Gaza seeks work and rest from the sea Heritage This olive tree in Bethlehem has stood for 5,000 years - and this man is defending it Arts In pictures: Meet the man trying to rescue Yemen's musical heritage + More Travel Heritage Turkey: Five Roman heritage sites you should know about Heritage Ancient high-rises, prehistoric whales and other incredible sites to see in the Middle East Heritage How Yemen’s Marib became the frontier for Roman expansionism Migration 'A beacon of hope': Sicily’s enduring North African heritage Culture The hidden stories behind Istanbul's ancient neighbourhoods Heritage In pictures: Inside the home of the last Ottoman Bey of Constantine Migration The hidden lives of Arabs in Cuba Heritage The hidden Islamic history of Madrid revealed Inside Egypt The Cairo cafe serving tea since Napoleon invaded Egypt Heritage Inside the medieval castle that survived a 21st century war Heritage In pictures: Boy king Tutankhamun revealed to the public again Women Halal holidays: Sun, sea and seclusion appeal to women + More All Discover Film Dune: How interstellar epic avoids Middle East stereotypes Food & Drink From mandrakes to spring onions: Five foods the Ancient Egyptians used to eat Culture Berlin: Inside Europe's capital of Arab culture Culture Three Arabic language Netflix shows to binge on in October Food & Drink From Salt Bae to CZN Burak, meet Turkey's superstar food influencers Culture Around the Middle East in six coffees Food & Drink Arab Fairy Tale Feasts: Stories and recipes for the hungry young reader Books Between Two Islands: How British Bahrainis found a home in poetry Religion What is Arbaeen and how do Shia Muslims mark it? Heritage Quiz: Test your knowledge of the Middle East's linguistic heritage Culture From Ertugrul to Ethos, seven Turkish dramas to get you started Heritage US to formally return looted Gilgamesh Dream Tablet to Iraq Music An echo in the dark: The feminist band from Egypt fighting misogyny through music Religion What is Sukkot? The Jewish celebration explained Fashion 'Take me as I am': Halima Aden announces comeback with a new direction Media The influential Middle East figures who made the 2021 TIME 100 list Pagination First page « Previous page ‹‹ Page 1 Page 2 Current page 3 Page 4 Page 5 … Next page ›› Last page »
