ع
Sections
  • Politics
  • Culture & Social Affairs
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • Documents & Memoirs
Regions
  • Gulf
  • MENA
  • Europe
  • USA
  • Asia
  • World
More
  • Videos
  • Cartoons
  • World in photos
  • Infographics
  • Profiles
  • Newsletter

LATEST ISSUE

Latest Issue
Magazine Archive
النسخة العربية
  • Politics
  • Culture & Social Affairs
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • Tag
  • mecca

Installation "The Black Arch" by Saudi sisters Raja and Shadia Alem is seen at the pavilion of Saudi Arabia taking part in the Venice Biennale for the first time on 2 June 2011, in Venice, Italy. Marco Secchi / Getty

Shadia Alem and the art of sacred continuity

From Mecca to the global stage, Saudi artist Shadia Alem's work unfolds as a continuous practice shaped by memory, spirituality, and place

Mimoza Al-Arrawi 18 March 2026
Lady Evelyn Cobbold, a Scottish aristocrat who converted to Islam and performed the Hajj in 1933, becoming the first British Muslim woman to do so. Getty Images

The Orientalists who entered Mecca in disguise

For centuries, Mecca was the pinnacle of exploration for Western travellers. Shrouded in mystery, it captured the imagination of a small but daring group of European Orientalists

Abdullah Al-Rashid 06 June 2025
Lina Jaradat

The world's first coffeehouse was in Mecca

In 1511, there were places in Mecca specifically designated for selling and drinking coffee, known as coffee houses. Decades later, the first café opened in Istanbul.

Abdullah Al-Rashid 15 November 2024
  • Popular
  • Editor's Pick
Matt Murphy
Business & Economy

The skyrocketing cost of Epic Fury

19 March 2026

From military spending to energy markets, the US-Israeli war on Iran is driving rising costs, with the Strait of Hormuz emerging as a central pressure point

Thuraya Shahin
Sara Gironi Carnevale
Politics

US public opinion is decisively shifting against Israel

20 March 2026

Until fairly recently, most Americans sided with Israel. These days, most side with the Palestinians. That will eventually influence US foreign policy.

Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy
Pete Reynolds
Business & Economy

Energy infrastructure attacks and the new security imperative

17 March 2026

By attacking Gulf energy infrastructure, Iran aims to apply economic and geopolitical pressure as a way to avoid large-scale conflict

Jessica Obeid
A member of the security forces, holding a picture of Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, observes protesters as they gather for a rally in support of the new Supreme Leader in Enghelab Square in Tehran, on 9 March 2026. Getty/ Al Majalla
Politics

Decapitation strikes unlikely to topple Iran's regime

18 March 2026

Instead of taking down the Islamic Republic, what the assassinations have done is harden public support and accelerate the regime's militarisation

Alex Vatanka
Lina Jaradat
Business & Economy

Strait of Hormuz: the waterway critical to global trade 

18 March 2026

Any disruption in the Hormuz has cascading knock-on effects that extend far beyond energy markets, impacting international trade. Al Majalla explores all this and more.

Al Majalla - London

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter

Get the best of Al Majalla, straight to your inbox.

Your newsletter subscriptions are subject to Al Majalla privacy policy and terms and conditions.

OPINIONS

Are the US and Iran fighting their final war?

Ibrahim Hamidi
Ibrahim Hamidi

The US-Iran war is mainly good news for Russia

Anton Mardasov
Anton Mardasov

Cultural genocide: Israel's war on Palestinian memory

Atef Abu Seif
Atef Abu Seif

The US-Iran war puts the entire world at risk

Fares Garabet
Fares Garabet
MORE FROM OPINIONS
logo
  • Politics
  • Culture & Social Affairs
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • Documents & Memoirs
  • Gulf
  • MENA
  • Europe
  • USA
  • Asia
  • World
  • Videos
  • Cartoons
  • World in photos
  • Infographics
  • Profiles
  • About Al Majalla
  • Al Majalla Team
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact us
logo

© Al Majalla Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

0:00:00
0:00:00