The New Arab Readers' Favourite Journalism of 2025

As we bid it farewell, 2025 was a monumental year, marking a turning point for the MENA region after two years of Israeli genocide in Gaza, the end of the Assad regime in Syria, the waning influence of Iran in Lebanon, and a new U.S. foreign policy doctrine during the second Trump administration marked by U.S. withdrawal and transactional arrangements.

Below are our readers' favourite reports and essays published by The New Arab this year

Best of 2025

Forced to fight: How Arabs in Russia are being trapped in military contracts they can't break - Rami el-Kalyubi

Arab citizens living in Russia are falling victim to misleading procedures which aim to recruit fighters into Russia's army by forcing those wishing to naturalise their status or claim asylum to sign a declaration agreeing to serve in Russia's armed forces. Once bound by these contracts, Arab and other non-Russian individuals are deployed to the front lines, seemingly as expendable forces to exhaust Ukrainian ammunition.

Mass graves in Syria lay bare the depths of Assad's repression - Mawada Bahah

A mass grave near Damascus discovered in early December 2024 contained the remains of at least 100,000 individuals, reportedly victims of atrocities committed by the Assad regime. Reports of mass graves are not new in Syria. However, in the wake of Assad’s ousting, reports of thousands of bodies uncovered in unmarked burial sites have given insight into the scale of violence and repression under his rule, with each revelation deepening the emotional scars of a nation grappling with years of civil war.

Trump's Gaza AI video is just a taste of life under the rule of Silicon Valley's Loser Class - Alex Foley

A cabal of misanthropic, asocial, emotionally stunted losers has seized power and — whether it’s making bizarre AI videos of their unpopular Gaza proposals or scolding the leader of Ukraine for his sartorial choices — their hang-ups are everyone’s problem.

Why I didn't show up for my last day at the BBC - Mohamed Shalaby

I didn’t expect my last day at the BBC to end with my accounts locked and my staff ID suspended, as though I had been fired rather than leaving on my own terms. But that’s exactly what happened after Israel targeted and assassinated renowned Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif in Gaza.

Global Sumud Flotilla: Why activists from 44 countries are sailing to break Gaza's blockade - Liam Syed

The Global Sumud Flotilla represents the fourth major effort this year to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian territory, following the bombing of the Conscience and the interception of previous missions, including the Handala and the Madleen, both of which were illegally stopped by Israeli forces in international waters. During their final preparations, two participants — one coordinating from the ground and one aboard the vessels — spoke to The New Arab about the aims of this historic mission and their motivations for joining it.

Egypt hopes to capitalise on Aga Khan's burial to renew interest in the Aswan mausoleum - Amr Emam

The Aga Khan III mausoleum, a rectangular mosque-like building on top of a hill on the western bank of the Nile River in the southern Egyptian city of Aswan, is now at the centre of tourism hopes in the city. These hopes were stimulated by the February 9 burial in the mausoleum's tomb of Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary imam of Ismaili Muslims. Egyptian officials are now hopeful that his burial in the mausoleum's tomb will renew interest in the site, especially among the members of the Ismaili community, estimated at between 12 and 15 million worldwide.

The Maltese Falcon Poachers: How European hunters brought death and destruction to Egypt's migratory birds - Mahmoud Elsobky and Wael Elsayegh

As the sun hung low over the Nile, casting golden ripples across the water, we navigated Lake Naser. The air carried whispers of wings overhead, the soft rustle of migratory birds seeking refuge during their epic winter journey from Europe to Africa. In January 2024, it was here, in these seemingly tranquil landscapes, that we began unraveling the tangled web of illegal bird hunting - a world where beauty and brutality collide.

DW employees decry double standard in handling of internal Islamophobic misconduct - Anas Ambri

German state-owned broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) applied a clear double standard in handling Islamophobia accusations from one of its employees, an investigation by The New Arab (TNA) can establish, in sharp contrast with how it handled equivalent complaints regarding alleged antisemitism.

Looking Back

A fragile dawn: Syria's first year after Assad - Cian Ward

On the night of the 8th of December 2024, Assad fled his presidential palace aboard a Russian military helicopter. In just 11 days, the house of cards he had fought for more than a decade to protect had come crumbling down. Damascus’ streets soon flooded with crowds revelling with glee. At the same time, desperate groups of Syrians also thronged the country’s many prisons and mortuaries. Syria, a year ago, was a country in simultaneous euphoria and shock.

A 2025 cultural reckoning: How Palestinian art, music and fashion went global - Aseel Mafarjeh

For the past two years of Israel's genocide in Gaza, there's one truth that's impossible to ignore: Palestinian culture is now reaching the world in a whole new way. What was once confined mainly to local communities — like the melodies of folk songs, the intricate stitching of traditional dresses, and the flavours of home cooking — has now become a powerful form of activism, a declaration of identity, and a bridge to global audiences eager to understand Palestinian life beyond the conflict's headlines.

How many countries did Israel attack in 2025? - The New Arab Staff

Israel's cross-border military campaign deepened in 2025, with the launching of attacks in at least six countries and three international maritime zones, despite growing accusations of genocide and systematic war crimes in Gaza. Israel expanded the scope of its military operations far beyond its borders throughout 2025, carrying out air strikes, drone raids, missile attacks and maritime interceptions from the Levant to the Gulf.

How fans made Palestine impossible for sport to ignore in 2025 - Sanaa Qureshi

Over the last few years it has been increasingly difficult to follow and spectate on sport for entertainment purposes only, and in 2025 this felt heightened. Despite the expected dominance from those expected to win, there remains enough intrigue to stick around and stick it out. What is more difficult to locate is how we harness this communal act of seeing into something we can actually hold on to.

2025's most impactful films and documentaries: Stories of resistance, memory and hope - The New Arab

The cinematic landscape of 2025 has been marked by films that do more than entertain — they bear witness, provoke reflection, and preserve memory in a world defined by conflict, displacement, and resilience. Collectively, these films underscore 2025 as a year when cinema reclaimed its role as witness, storyteller, and conduit for empathy — particularly in regions affected by conflict, colonial legacies, and social upheaval.

The New Arabb Voice Podcast: 2025 in Review - Hugo Goodridge

To guide us through the tangled mess of the past 12 months, we're joined by The New Arab's Managing Editor Karim Traboulsi, and journalist Oliver Mizzi. In this episode, we look back on the 12 days of war that shook Iran and Israel, the continued efforts of President Erdogan to hold on to power, the state building project of the new Sharaa government in Damascus, the brutal war in Sudan, and the stuttering ceasefire efforts in Gaza.

Looking Forward

The key trends set to shape the Middle East in 2026 - Giorgio Cafiero

With the new year imminent, a range of geopolitical and security trends demand close attention. From the potential resumption of war between Israel and Iran to evolving dynamics in multiple hotspots, a host of unresolved variables is poised to shape the Middle East’s trajectory in 2026. In the new year, Israel will seek to further ascend as an unchallenged hegemonic force in the Middle East. How Tel Aviv goes about confronting the Islamic Republic, including what remains of the ‘Axis of Resistance’, and deploys its hard power to shape realities on the ground in post-Assad Syria, will impact the region in significant ways.

After two catastrophic years, what awaits Palestine in 2026? - Kamel Hawwash

Without dignity, a normal life, and a lack of hope, Israel intends to push Palestinians to seek another land, rather than remain steadfast in their homeland. In fact, it seems that Israel works overtime to find ways of enticing them away, going as far as organising flights to take hundreds of them all the way to South Africa – without exit stamps in their passports of course, to really ensure they aren’t able to return to their homeland.

The most anticipated books of 2026: 26 fiction and non-fiction must-reads - Sarah Shaffi

A new year always brings new books, but 2026 promises an especially rich feast of fiction and non-fiction. From sweeping fantasy and historical epics to urgent political novels and intimate memoirs, the year ahead is packed with stories that entertain, challenge, and linger long after the final page.

Israel's genocide in Gaza puts Eurovision 2026 in crisis - The New Arab Staff

Once the lights go up in Vienna, Eurovision 2026 may look very much like a regular edition. However, a boycott over Israel's continued participation in the song contest will cast a shadow over proceedings -- and may remain the biggest talking point.

Aid groups warn Israeli restrictions threaten Gaza operations into 2026 - The New Arab

Humanitarian agencies working in the Gaza Strip are warning they may be unable to continue operations into 2026 due to restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities, a move that could further deepen Gaza's already fragile humanitarian crisis.

How Qatar will bring cultural diplomacy to 2026 FIFA World Cup - Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad

As Qatar deepens its partnerships abroad through the Years of Culture initiative and prepares to celebrate the 2026 edition with Canada and Mexico, the intersection of culture, sport, and diplomacy is coming into sharp focus. These three dimensions of human connection, creativity, competition, and cooperation are complementary languages through which nations build trust and mutual understanding.