A defining feature of the Middle East today is the geopolitical retreat of a once-imperial Iran. It is no longer as formidable as it was prior to the tragic events of October 7, 2023. The downsizing of this regional power ushers a new phase of geopolitics that can be appropriately described as the post-Iranian hegemony in large parts of the Middle East.
Iran’s infamous “Axis of Resistance” lies in disarray. Tehran has effectively lost Syria – a key ally and a pillar of its regional influence for nearly four decades. Not only has it lost Syria as a strategic partner, but the new leadership in Damascus, under interim President Ahmad Al Shara, has repositioned itself in opposition to Tehran, identifying with an “Arab Axis of Moderation”.
Meanwhile, Iran’s nuclear programme – once a major source of bargaining power for its leadership – has been severely degraded by the recent Israeli and American strikes. The extent of the damage remains to be verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency, but for now, it is difficult to assess the future of Iran’s nuclear capabilities. While it still retains enough power to intimidate its neighbours, Iran has suffered a significant, if not irreversible, geopolitical setback.
Domestically, the Islamic Republic is preoccupied with mere survival. Its economy is under strain due to harsh sanctions. Inflation remains at a staggering 40 per cent, unemployment is persistent – especially among university graduates – and the country suffers from poor governance and deep-rooted corruption. For example, because of mismanagement, Tehran – home to nearly nine million people – is suffering from severe water shortages, with the crisis getting worse. Socially, a new generation of Iranians is demanding reform and challenging the conservative religious establishment more openly.
Iran’s future is in suspended animation. It is, at the very least, a more inward-looking country, still recovering from major regional setbacks, including the political and military degradation of Hezbollah in Lebanon, once the crown jewel of its axis, the diminished power of Hamas in Gaza, and its struggles to impose a sectarian agenda in Iraq.
There is no credible sign of an imminent collapse of the establishment, just as it is premature to discount its place as one of the four Middle Eastern powers, alongside Israel, Turkey and the Arab Gulf states.
However, as Iran retreats, it leaves behind a power vacuum – and three key regional powers are poised to fill it.
Israel, after its victory over Iran, is undeniably the region’s military hegemon today. It holds near-total air superiority stretching from the Mediterranean to Afghanistan – and much of the Levantine airspace is now effectively Israeli-controlled. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is already speaking of a “new Middle East centred on Israel”.
But as expected, Mr Netanyahu’s ongoing offensive in Gaza and aggressive moves towards annexing the West Bank – thereby eroding the prospect of a two-state future – are generating a pushback from the international community. A region defined by Israel’s military dominance, at a time when it repeatedly engages in war and fails to address the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, is unlikely to bring sustainable peace.
Ambitious and strategically opportunistic, Turkey sees an opening in the region, particularly in Syria, where it seeks influence. Ankara sees the country as part of its strategic backyard. However, Turkey’s reach remains mostly limited to northern Syria, and it cannot match Israel’s military power across the region. It, therefore, does not geopolitically qualify to be the master of the newly shaping Middle East.
The third regional pole comprises the Arab Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar – the so-called “Gulf 3”, or G3. Economically prosperous, politically stable and hugely ambitious, the G3 are exerting power and influence. They are globally recognised as trusted partners. US President Donald Trump’s visit to the region earlier this year garnered plenty of international attention for the G3.
Like much of the Arab world, the trio will be relieved to see the near end of Tehran’s malign influence over the Middle East. A less destabilising Iran is welcome news for Gulf security.
These states are pursuing a dual strategy: continuing outreach and cautious engagement with Iran while improving their combined geopolitical heft as rising middle powers; and emerging as centres of influence while pursuing active foreign policy. Their goal is not dominance, but a more stable Middle East.
This does not imply total disappearance of Iranian influence. Rather, it signals a new phase in regional dynamics whereby the balance of power moves away from Tehran, at least for now. The opportunities associated with a shrinking Iran are immense. Fewer armed non-state actors. More space for diplomacy and peace initiatives. Renewed focus on geoeconomics as opposed to geopolitics. End of ideology, including possible end of radical political Islam.
At the end of the day, all states in the region stand to benefit from this post-Iranian hegemony of the Middle East, including Iran itself. It now has a rare opportunity to pivot from confrontation to co-operation. Much of this, however, still depends on the Islamic Republic and whether it chooses to act responsibly and pragmatically in the years to come.
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The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
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Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The years Ramadan fell in May
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
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England World Cup squad
Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wkt), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
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Virtuzone GCC Sixes
Date and venue Friday and Saturday, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City
Time Matches start at 9am
Groups
A Blighty Ducks, Darjeeling Colts, Darjeeling Social, Dubai Wombats; B Darjeeling Veterans, Kuwait Casuals, Loose Cannons, Savannah Lions; C Awali Taverners, Darjeeling, Dromedary, Darjeeling Good Eggs
In numbers
Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m
Alibaba’s new ‘Tech Town’ in Dubai is worth... $600m
China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn
The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn
Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn
Results
Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent
Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent
Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent
Company%20profile
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