When is the best time to visit the Gulf
November to March is the window: 24-32C days, outdoor festivals and peak events. Summer means 45C-plus heat, indoor life and the lowest hotel rates of the year.
Culture & Life
Expos, sport, entertainment spending and the lifestyle economy of the Gulf.
What is Riyadh Season
Riyadh Season is Saudi Arabia's months-long entertainment festival: 17 million visitors came to the sixth edition, after 19 million the season before, making it the engine of the kingdom's events economy.
Doha's museums: a visitor's guide
The Museum of Islamic Art opened in 2008 and the National Museum of Qatar in 2019. Together with Mathaf and the sports museum, they anchor a cultural district built on gas wealth.
How big is Saudi Arabia's entertainment sector
Cinemas returned in 2018 after 35 years; by 2025 the sector hosted 89 million visitors across 1,690 events, with 6,778 companies participating. The numbers behind a new industry.
How the Gulf feeds itself
The GCC imports the large majority of its food, 80 to 90 percent by most estimates. The response: stockpiles, farms abroad, and greenhouse technology at home under 2051 strategies.
How much can expatriates save in the Gulf
No income tax means take-home pay equals quoted salary. Single professionals in Dubai commonly save 25-40 percent of salary; families save less once school fees enter the budget.