Beyond the Headlines: a decade that changed the Middle East

The last ten years have seen profound shifts from the Arab uprisings to the reforms of Saudi Arabia, The National's correspondents reflect on the 2010s

The 2010s are all but over and it has been, quite simply, a monumental decade for the region. From terrorism to war to revolutions and reforms, the last 10 years in the Middle East have been bleak at times but there are also signs of hope.

This week on Beyond the Headlines, we're going to travel across the region, speaking to The National's writers and reporters who have been covering the biggest stories in the Middle East and around the world this decade.

We’ll talk about the lasting legacy of the Arab uprisings in 2011, how they relate to the revolutions today in Sudan, Algeria and elsewhere.

We’ll talk about the rise and fall of ISIS, the impact of extremism and the war in Syria.

But it’s not all bleak, we’ll touch on the reforms taking place in Saudi Arabia as it changes rapidly under King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. We’ll hear how the UAE put a man in space and the Arab doctors saving lives with pioneering treatments.

This is the decade that was in the Middle East, a period that will be discussed and debated for years to come.

In case you missed our last episode, Beyond the Headlines spoke to sailors stranded at sea when the companies they work for go bust.