The National - Crossroads

Known as "the forgotten golf", sand golf has a rich heritage in the UAE, beginning with the early oil exploration camps in the 1950s. Only a few course remain in the UAE, and some are worried they could soon disappear.

To mark UN Arabic Language Day, John Dennehy finds out how Anna Zacharias, a former journalist at The National, has been getting on at Arabic language school in Oman and what expatriates can do to improve their language skills.

It has been sixteen years since the battle for Grozny in Chechnya ended. In this episode, John Dennehy speaks to Brian Glyn Williams, a professor of Islamic history at the University of Massachusetts, about the lessons from that brutal conflict and what we can expect in Syria today

Since the 2014 war with Israel, civilians have borne the burnt of the failed efforts to rebuild Gaza. Why is reconstruction so slow and who is gaining from the process? In this episode John Dennehy speaks to Antony Loewenstein, an independent journalist based in Jerusalem, about his recent trip to the enclave.

The motorway that ties the country together is now the subject of a book and film project from a Dubai think tank. In this week’s episode, John Dennehy speaks to Nick Leech, a feature writer at The National, about the road’s significance.

Auditions via Skype; instruments concealed in bags to avoid attack; and the shadow of war – the brave members of an Iraqi youth orchestra had much to overcome. In this episode, we chat to Paul MacAlindin, who became musical director of the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq and has written a book about the fraught but uplifting experience. #Iraq #classicalmusic #orchestra

The female stars of the Turkish music scene in the 1960s and 1970s offer a unique insight into the political and social challenges women faced. In this episode, John Dennehy speaks to Istanbul-based musicologist Kornelia Binicewicz about her Ladies on Records project which seeks to bring back to light these forgotten musicians. Featured songs: 00:00: Yaz Gazeteci Yaz - Selda 01:24: Hakali Seker - Zerrin Zeren 02:48: Almanya Donosu - Zehra Shah 04:30: Sevdig?im Adam - Ajda Pekkan 07:04: Utan Utan - Selda

Music journalism: is it in crisis? John Dennehy talks to staff writers Adam Workman and Saeed Saeed about the trend towards listicles in music writing, along with the highs and lows of covering local gigs and reviewing albums here.

Recorded live in Abu Dhabi's Cinema at the Space, John Dennehy speaks to film curator Mohammad Khawaja, about the demise of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival and arthouse film in the UAE.

The UAE National Pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale focuses on low-cost housing that transformed the lives of Emiratis - John Dennehy talks to Nick Leech, a feature writer at the National, about the sha'bi house.

A new type of psychedelic rock emerged out of the turmoil of the Nigerian Civil War. John Dennehy talks to Uchenna Ikonne, about how this music helped to heal the country. Songs in order of playback: Ballad of a Sad Young Woman - Wrinkar Experience In the Jungle (Instrumental) - The Hygrades Mother - Waves

Long before planners imagined its luxury hotels and quality museums, Saadiyat was a place to call home until the early 1990s. John Dennehy talks to Nick Leech, a feature writer at The National about this secret history.

Les Petits Chats were a cover band who rocked Cairo in the 1960s and 1970s. In this week’s episode, we speak to Sherif Nakhla, the director of a new rockumentary about the recently reformed group and why they symbolised a golden age in Egypt.

In this week’s episode we discuss what people can expect from the Pakistani showcase at the SXSW music festival in Texas with Adam Workman, a production journalist at The National, and the grave situation in Turkey following the raid on the Zaman newspaper with Joseph Dana, an opinion writer at The National. To read Adam's piece on the festival, visit: http://www.thenational.ae/arts-life/the-review/from-hard-rock-to-sufi-poetry-pakistani-musicians-gear-up-for-showcase-at-sxsw-festival For more information on the Pakistani band Overload, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/overload.riot/

Rumours are swirling that Mahmoud Abbas, the fading president of the Palestinian Authority, is to step down. With Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip and many viewing the PA as a tool of Israel, we talk to Opinion writer at The National Joseph Dana about who is really in charge in Palestine.

From Afghanistan to Haiti, companies are making money from misery. We talk to Antony Loewenstein about his book that investigates this dirty business. You can read Antony's story about Disaster Capitalism for the National here http://www.thenational.ae/arts-life/the-review/the-long-read-how-america-failed-afghanistan

Zohaib Kazi's Ismail Ka Urdu Sheher is a graphic novel and album about a scientist who is trying to resolve problems caused by experiments that have threatened the fabric of the universe. It is an ambitious musical project without precedent in Pakistan.

in the 1960s and 1970s, a young generation of Indians took up their guitars and grew their hair long. The country would never be the same again.

In the first episode of Crossroads, a podcast from The National’s Review section that offers a new perspective from the Middle East on books, music, politics and ideas: Central Asia finds itself hemmed in by languishing neighbours and cheap oil – while vital remittances are drying up as workers return home from Russia. Hosted by Jonathan Dennehy and produced by Deepthi Unnikrishnan