Who We Are
The Middle East—a region of 17 sovereign states with 6.2% of the world’s population—holds 48% of global oil reserves and 38% of natural gas, while producing over half of the world’s energy and nearly a quarter of industrial output. And yet, its share of the global GDP remains under 4%. Why?
Geographically, it is at the center of the world—bridging East and West, North and South. Historically, it is the cradle of civilization. The Middle East is where writing, agriculture, medicine, law, philosophy, and religion first emerged. It shaped early trade, pioneered mathematics, and preserved ancient knowledge that sparked the European Renaissance. And yet, today, when people outside the region are asked about it, they often conjure up images of terrorism, war, authoritarian regimes—and the stereotypical camel-riding, lizard-eating Arabs. Why?
The region is home to Arabs, Persians, Turks, Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Jews, and more. It is religiously diverse, geographically stunning, and culturally rich—stretching from the snowy peaks of Iran to the green hills of Lebanon, from the deserts of Arabia to the beaches of Tunisia. And yet, despite all this, the Middle East accounts for less than 7% of global tourism. Why?
This disconnect between reality and perception demands a closer look. If a region so central to human history and contemporary geopolitics remains so misunderstood, the consequences affect us all.
We are a group of scholars—specialists in international relations, economics, history, sociology, and law—who also come from the region. We speak the languages, understand the cultures, and have lived the experience. That allows us to bridge academic knowledge with local insight, and to offer a more complete picture—beyond the headlines, beneath the noise.
In the age of information, truth should be easier to access. But paradoxically, misinformation spreads faster than ever. Simplified narratives dominate. Complex realities are reduced to soundbites. In this environment, distortion is not just common—it’s systemic.
We believe the region deserves better. We believe the world deserves better. And we believe that knowing the Middle East is necessary for understanding the world.
This website is our attempt to bring the region into clearer focus—not by offering a single answer, but by asking better questions, grounded in data, guided by expertise, and informed by local knowledge.
We aim to go beyond the surface. Beyond stereotypes. Beyond the veil.
This is Middle East Unveiled.
Our Mission
To lift the veil of ignorance and bias that dominates much of the (often Westernized) media coverage of the Middle East—by grounding every piece we publish in substantiated evidence, structured through rigorous scientific inquiry, and cemented with journalistic integrity. We are committed to unveiling the region’s complexity, reality, and humanity.
Our Vision
By 2030, we aim to rank among the top 10 most trusted and authoritative platforms covering the Middle East—setting the standard for accuracy, depth, and credibility in regional storytelling and analysis.
Our Team
Dr. Sahand E.P. Faez
Editor in Chief and Founder
Dr. Sahand E.P. Faez is an Economist from Iran. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Mazandaran, Iran. He is also in the process of receiving a PhD in International Relations from the National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan. In his research Dr. Faez focuses on how macro-level national and international policies affect citizens’ livelihoods at a micro-level. His studies all focus on the Middle East and its political economy. He is the author of “The Price of War at Home: An Analysis of Civil War in Yemen and Syria” and has published more than 20 scientific papers on the region’s political, economic, and social issues. He also has several years of experience as a journalist both in Iran and Taiwan. He has authored several Op-Eds in Iran and was the editor of Middle East Weekly from 2020 to 2021.
Zanst Osman
Chief Expert on Middle Eastern Geopolitics
An Iraqi Kurd living in Taiwan, Zanst Osman holds an M.A. in International Politics. He specializes in international affairs with focus on the Middle East and its issues. He is the author of “The Courage of the Kurds: The Kurdish People and their Pursuit of Independence”. Zanst Osman has several years of journalistic experience in Iraq, Kurdistan, and the wider Middle East. He has also collaborated with media organizations across the region, particularly in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Dr. Mojtaba Ghasemi
Non-resident Fellow
Dr. Mojtaba Ghasemi is a professor of Law and Economics at the Faculty of Law, Shahid Beheshti University, Iran. He holds a PhD in Law and Economics from the University of Siena, Italy. His research interests include the analysis of social security systems and legal analysis of macro-level topics.
