Ibrahim al-Hatlani

Ibrahim al-Hatlani is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah.

Saudi Arabia | May 12, 2017

What Saudi leaders expect from Trump’s visit

Saudi officials see an opportunity to gain influence in the Middle East when US President Donald Trump visits their country later this week.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 10, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RTS1619B

Gulf | Apr 13, 2017

Is Saudi Arabia really willing to normalize ties with Iraq?

Despite some progress in Saudi-Iraqi ties, further improvement is hindered by Iranian influence in Iraq and Baghdad's inability to control Shiite militias.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir attends the opening of a meeting of the coalition to defeat the Islamic State group at the State Department in Washington, DC, on March 22, 2017.
Ministers from the 68-nation US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group are meeting in Washington Wednesday to hear more about US President Donald Trump's plan to destroy the jihadists' remaining strongholds in Iraq and Syria. / AFP PHOTO / NICHOLAS KAMM (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

Bahrain | Mar 20, 2017

Will Bahrain use military trials against Shiite leader's supporters?

Bahrain recently amended its constitution to expand military courts' jurisdiction, perhaps in anticipation of fiery protests once a verdict is announced in the trial of Sheikh Isa Qassim.

A protester, holding a Bahraini flag, confronts a riot police armoured personnel carrier in an attempt to stop it from entering the village of Bilad Al Qadeem south of Manama, January 6, 2015.
Bahraini police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to scatter protesters who gathered outside the home of Sheikh Ali Salman, a Shi'ite Muslim opposition leader on Monday, witnesses said, after he was remanded in custody for a further 15 days. Around 100 protesters angry at the decision had assembled outside his house

Saudi Arabia | Feb 20, 2017

Saudi clerics keep mum about concerts in the kingdom

The new open-minded tendencies of the Saudi Royal Court are causing controversy with the conservative religious establishment in the kingdom, especially concerning concerts.

CORRECTION - Saudis attend a concert in Jeddah on January 30, 2017.
Saudi Arabia's "Paul McCartney" took to the stage as the kingdom seeks to boost entertainment despite religious warnings of "depravity." The performance was the first major concert in seven years in the kingdom's second city, according to Arab News.
/ AFP / Amer HILABI / The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by AMER HILABI has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [AMER HILABI] instead of [AMEER A

Saudi Arabia | Dec 22, 2016

Is this the beginning of a revolution by Saudi women?

Saudi youths of both sexes are rebelling against their religious, social and political reality in light of contradictions between the religious and political speeches and deeds.

Saudi Arabia | Nov 8, 2016

How a joke about Sisi’s fridge has strained Cairo-Riyadh ties

The careless slip of a Saudi tongue was enough to anger Egyptians and end the term of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's secretary-general as Riyadh-Cairo relations deteriorate over regional alliances and halted oil shipments.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi attends during signing of agreements ceremony with Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir (unseen) at the El-Thadiya presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt October 5, 2016. Picture taken October 5, 2016. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh - RTX2Q29F

Saudi Arabia | Oct 24, 2016

Has JASTA pushed Saudi Arabia and Israel closer?

Riyadh has become convinced more than ever that the closer it gets to Tel Aviv, which it believes has influence in US decision-making circles, the stronger and safer it will become in the face of JASTA.

Protesters and family members of 9/11 victims protest in front of the White House regarding President Barack Obama's threatened veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) in Washington, U.S., September 20, 2016. REUTERS/Gary Cameron - RTSOMWI

Saudi Arabia | Aug 31, 2016

Costs of Saudi economic failures show up in electric bills

Saudis are complaining openly about their electricity bills that have doubled overnight, a dire sign for their economic future.

A Saudi money exchanger counts Saudi riyals in Riyadh August 4, 2008. Saudi Arabia's annual inflation rose 10.6% in June to a 30-year high due primarily to increases in food and housing costs, official data released on Sunday showed. The cost of living index for the largest Arab economy rose to 115.5 points on June 30 from 115 points in May, the Saudi Press Agency cited a report by the Ministry of Economy and Planning's Central Department of Statistics. REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed (SAUDI ARABIA) - RTR20M01

Saudi Arabia | Aug 17, 2016

Will Saudi women break chains of male guardianship?

Saudi women recently launched a hashtag calling for an end to male guardianship, which has been behind many of the physical and moral violations they face in Saudi society.

Female driver Azza Al Shmasani alights from her car after driving in defiance of the ban in Riyadh June 22, 2011. Saudi Arabia has no formal ban on women driving. But as citizens must use only Saudi-issued licences in the country, and as these are issued only to men, women drivers are anathema. An outcry at the segregation, which contributes to the general cloistering of Saudi women, has been fuelled by social media interest in two would-be female motorists arrested in May.REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed (SAUDI ARABI

Saudi Arabia | Jun 21, 2016

Is Mohammed bin Salman gaining upper hand in Saudi Arabia?

Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed's visit to Washington this month has some observers believing he might be the man behind all the major decisions in Saudi Arabia.