Dossiers

Cultural heritage manifests itself in many different aspects: architecture, food, art, music, literature and much more.

©Goethe-Institut Cairo/ RUYA, Reem Hasebou

Dossier
Cultural Heritage

The protection of cultural heritage is a central component of cultural policy efforts in many countries. In this context, preservation, restoration, communication and reflection of the historical dimensions are important components of dealing with cultural heritage. How do cultural actors in the region reflect this? What discourses and initiatives are there for the preservation of cultural heritage?

More dossiers

Surviving with Art

Art is often poorly paid and artists have to fight for funding for their projects and their own survival. How do artists in the region manage? What new ideas and concepts are there?

Berlinale Bloggers 2024

“We are particularly proud of this year’s selection which achieves the best possible balance between auteurs we cherish and admire and powerful new voices in the independent cinema landscape,“ says Carlo Chatrian, Artistic Director. Germany's largest film festival will take place in Berlin from 15 to 25 February 2024. Our bloggers from around the world will be reporting on new films and the people behind them, awards ceremonies and more. Read along!

An illustration of an industrially dystopic world

Sustainable production for a future worth living

Living sustainably and consuming in an environmentally friendly way: That's what more and more people want. But how can production be truly sustainable and what are the conditions for this? What initiatives are there in the MENA region and how do they try to implement sustainability, including from social and ethical aspects, in their production processes? And why is that so important?

Focus: COP

On the occasion of COP 28 in Dubai, for the month of November and December, climate change and environmental problems like water pollution, overfishing and deforestation and its effects on the MENA region is the special focus of RUYA. How is climate change experienced in the region? And what are local initiatives to tackle this challenge? Find out more here.

Future Prospects?!

Young people in the MENA region are struggling to find their footing in life. Unemployment rates are high, opportunities are scarce, inflation is rising, economies are crumbling, different types of crises determine everyday life. How does the young generation cope with it? And how do they see the future?

Berlinale 2023

A constantly evolving Festival: This is how the 73rd Berlinale, which runs from 16 to 26 February 2023, describes itself. Our bloggers from eight countries are also curiously moving back and forth between the film festival's cinemas – and presenting their highlights from a selection of more than 400 films.

Tausende Menschen stehen zusammen und bilden drei große Figuren, die sich an den Händen fassen.

Solidarity

What is solidarity? How does it manifests itself? And why is solidarity so important? Solidarity, as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is the support of one person or group by another because they share feelings, ideas, opinions or goals. In this issue, our authors show a wide range of lived solidarity in the various countries of the region.

Special Edition: Coronavirus

The current corona pandemic has a strong impact on our lives. “Ruya” takes a closer look on how the society in Middle East and North Africa is affected and also gives voice to people who have useful advice and insights for others.

Women, children and men in a dry area filling up their bottles from a well.

Water is Life

Water is one of the most important elements of our planet. As a source of life, it is also one of the most threatened commons by the way we use it, pollution and climate change. In cooperation with our special partner Afaq Magazine, the leading environmental magazine of Palestine, Perspectives discloses problems and shows initiatives, new ideas and possible solutions from the region, on how the water resources and coasts can be protected and conserved.

Protest in Tunis in spring 2012 against the conservative-Islamic Ennahda party

Women's Movements

Only if women are given the same rights, opportunities, and respect as men, can societies truly flourish and reach their full potential. The edition “Women’s Movements” is about women who are devoted to change in their respective society and take an active role in it.

Three photos. The left depecting a mother looking at her young son. The photo in the middle showing a man looking at an empty city square at night. The photo on the right showing a woman with brown hair looking at the camera.

Migration

Is migration good or bad, how can and should it be dealt with? Those and other questions were subject to sometimes heated discussions between politicians, economists, media representatives, “experts,” as well as ordinary people and neighbours. However, important voices more often than not failed to be heard: those of migrants and persons with migrant background themselves.

Generational Conflict

The conflict between young and old, which was particularly pronounced during the Arab Spring, is ongoing and erupts time and again. But how does it differ from one Arabic country to the other, or what distinguishes it in the Arabic diaspora in Germany? And what visions of the future do the young generations hold?

Dossier Cultural Heritage