Editorial

The first 2025 issue of the Journal of Gulf Studies centres on historical land and sea transport routes of the Gulf region in the early and medieval Islamic periods. The issue features two primary articles: the first analyses the interconnected nomenclature utilized by early Muslim geographers to define regional waterways – such as the Persian Gulf, Red Sea and Indian Ocean – and the geographic rationale behind these naming practices. The second article explores the Arab Gulf and Iran’s roles as subsidiary routes within the Maritime Silk Road, highlighting their historical influence on global trade, religious diffusion and intellectual exchange between East and West. Additionally, the issue includes three book reviews covering Zanzibari Islamic reform, women’s public policy and empowerment in the Gulf Cooperation Council and Qatar’s strategic alignment with China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Collectively, the publication reinforces the journal’s dedication to advancing academic discourse on both the historical connectivity and contemporary dynamics of the Gulf region.