After a trip to the desert, where he was pictured wearing a kandora, he clearly caught the shopping bug. (source: Gulf Times)

The biggest dip in the Middle East has nothing to do with the price of oil. It's hummus , the creamy confection made from crushed chickpeas with a touch of tahini, olive oil and often-secret ingredients unique to each kitchen. Hummus is a mainstay of Arab cuisine, with competing claims by Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Israel as to ownership of the dish - a phenomenon captured in the 2012 film Make Hummus Not War . But let's not argue about its origin. Instead let's look at who makes it ...

Switzerland's Roger Federer of Obi UAE Royals returns the ball to Croatia's Ivo Karlovic of Philippine Mavericks during their International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) tennis match on December 14, 2015 in the Emirate Dubai. AFP PHOTO / KARIM SAHIB

There’s no place like home, but who says no to world exploration, especially when it comes to sweeping away the sands from (typical) stereotypes about the Middle East! Western celebs have become some of our most regular guests, jet-setting to the region for events like the Dubai Film Festival going on now , concerts, festivals, shopping, guest appearances or to simply get away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood. And nothing says I’ve got time to spare and cash to blow than a first class ticket to the Emirates ...

Santiago Bernabeu stadium

The blatant racism behind Trump's recent remarks calling for "total and complete shutdown" on Muslims entering the US has already been decried at length in the media. So we took a look at the flip-side of this absurd scenario: What if Trump was banned from the Middle East? How would his real estate empire hold up without its many Middle Eastern projects and partnerships with Muslim businessmen? Probably not very well -- and here’s why a taste of his own medicine might put a wrench in his good Arabian works ...

It turns out that Donald Trump - hotelier and presidential hopeful - really wants to be a doorman, so he can stop entry of all Muslims into the US. His are the sentiments of a madman who's pandering to fear and ignorance, not the voice of a nation. (FYI - two of three Trump wives are immigrants !) But the US - a land made up of foreigners - does have a rep for marginalizing each new wave of ethnicity as it washes up on shores. Despite this, people still ...

Fiji's Jasa Veremalua scores the try against England during their rugby final match of the Dubai leg, the first leg of the IRB's 10-leg World Rugby Sevens Series, on December 5, 2015 in the Gulf emirate of Dubai. World champions Fiji won the Dubai Sevens with a 28-17 victory over England. AFP PHOTO / KARIM SAHIB

It's countdown to Christmas, with only 18 shopping days left. Or maybe you don't celebrate Santa , but are still in the market for an unusual present. Take a tip from Al Bawaba and steer away from the malls. Instead look at these unique gift ideas that "keep on giving" by supporting artists and craftspeople and NGOs across Palestine . Go old school this year and buy direct from the artisans of Palestine - the place where Christmas began.