Articles
Some acts of charity can begin in a shopping mall
Justin Thomas scans the invisible lines between selfless acts of kindness and calculated generosity
It’s not just children who are from a third culture ...
Justin Thomas unpacks the impossibility of returning to a normal life and shifting definitions of a place called home for expats
Should we really be going on a summer holiday?
Justin Thomas explains why the UAE should not have a school summer holiday per se but one that follows the lunar calendar
In the digital age, every parent is now a filmmaker
A camera can never capture how we feel at the special moments in our lives, says Justin Thomas.
Digital messages are fuelling all sorts of deceit
Justin Thomas asks: what to do with those bulk-sent Ramadan blessings messages that will soon fill our inbox?
In the Gulf, marriage falters while divorce prospers
Justin Thomas examines some worrying demographic trends concerning relationships.
Education is more than the sum of your marks
As the end of term approaches, Justin Thomas ponders the real meaning of grades
The craze for fitness centres can work out well
Justin Thomas unpacks the recent popularity boom in UAE fitness centres
Arabia Felix, the happy land – with an envy problem
The tragedy of 'Dubai-bashing' is that many people will never be able to truly experience what the city has to offer, argues Justin Thomas
Much unhappiness in gender-skewed cities of men
Justin Thomas explains why it might be helpful to look beyond the physical living conditions of labour camps and consider the psychological consequences of living in gender-skewed environments
Something worth chewing over: the benefits of gum
Justin Thomas highlights the cognitive benefits of chewing gum and its place in Arab history
We’re all guilty of beauty bias – but few admit it
The reasons driving the growth in cosmetic surgery are more than skin deep, writes Justin Thomas
Be unaware of cultural differences at your own peril
Most attempts to teach others about the culture of the UAE fail to scratch the surface, writes Justin Thomas.
Face it, Emiratis are just better at recognising people
An Abu Dhabi study on face recognition has shown that Emiratis are better than Americans at recognising faces, in part because locals have a good eye for a nose.
Improving airline safety begins with knowing what went wrong
After a tragic week for the airline industry, it is time to find out exactly happened and make sure it never happens again, argues Justin Thomas
