John Ridley

Based in Beirut, I travel extensively throughout The Middle East, researching, writing and talking on Middle Eastern current events, politics, culture, Palestine and the growing regional water crisis.

 For much of the past thirty years I have lived and worked in Oman, Yemen, The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Bahrain, Iran and Jordan. Whilst working for The BBC World Service in Oman I studied Middle Eastern politics & history, as a result I have a unique knowledge and understanding of the region, its people and culture. 

During the Iraq war in 2003 / 2004 I was invited to become a regular broadcaster / commentator with Saudi Arabian Radio for a weekly political discussion programme. Since then I have written two authoritative books on the Middle East and write for a number of major newspapers, magazines and web sites.

 In addition to writing, I frequently talk on the Middle East in public and private events and am regularly asked to broadcast commentary on current events for a num