Dr. Salma Thani | American University of Sharjah
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Profile

College / Department

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of International Studies

Teaching areas

History, Culture and Society of the United Arab Emirates; Modern History of the Gulf States; Globalization; Global Problems; Gender Studies

Research areas

Gulf Studies: political, economic and social changes in the Gulf States; Cultural diplomacy in the Gulf States; Sports diplomacy; History of the UAE; Tribalism; The intersection of sport, tourism and aviation in the Gulf States; Soft power, development, national identity and national branding.

Education

PhD, Arts, Monash University, Australia, 2019
PGD, Research (arts), Monash University, Australia, 2011
Master, Public Policy, Monash University, Australia, 2010
Bachelor, E-business And Management, Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology, United Arab Emirates, 2008

Professional experience

Assistant Professor Of Gulf Studies, International Studies, American University of Sharjah, 2024 - Present
Visiting Assistant Professor, International Studies, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 2022 - 2024
Teaching Associate, School Of Philosophical, Historical And International Studies, Monash University, Victoria, Australia, 2012 - 2021

Contact

[email protected]
+971 6 515 2548

Dr. Salma Thani

Assistant Professor
PhD, Monash University, Australia

Salma Thani specializes in Gulf Studies. She received her PhD from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, where she also worked as an academic, teaching courses in international studies before joining the AUS. Her interdisciplinary approach covers a wide spectrum of research interests, including the history and contemporary socio-political dynamics of the Gulf States. She delves into the region's evolving global roles in politics and diplomacy. Her research extends to exploring how culture, history, politics, and foreign influences have shaped its socio-economic development, with a specific focus on the UAE.

Publications

Salma Thani. The Historical Development of Football in the UAE: A Journey from a Pastime to a Symbol of National Identity, April (2nd Quarter/Spring) 2022
Salma Thani And Tom Heenan. Themepark Arabism: Disneyfying the UAE’s heritage for Western tourist consumption, 2020
Salma Thani And Tom Heenan. The UAE: A Disneyland in the Desert, 2017
Salma Thani And Tom Heenan. Sport and the ‘Disneyfication’ of UAE, 2016
Salma Thani And Tom Heenan. The UAE, Qatar and the Re-shaping of Global Football’s Boundaries., 2016
Salma Thani And Tom Heenan. The Ball may be Round but Football is Becoming Increasingly Arabic: Oil Money and the Rise of the New Football Order, Journal Of Soccer And Society, 2016
Salma Thani. Why Qatar deserves to host the World Cup, 2013

Conference Presentations

Belonging Across Generations and Geographies: Evolving Attachment to the UAE, 24 Gulf Research Center Cambridge Conference, 19 July 2024
Oil Money Talks: The Rise of the Gulf States’ Power in World of Sport, 14the Annual Conference Of The Psa Sport & Politics, 2023
Kicking Goals and Reshaping Realities: Sport and Politics in the Arab Gulf States, Cmenas Fall 2023 Colloquium Series Lecture, 9 October 2023
UAE Recreating a Tourist Destination in the Middle East and a Disneyland in the desert., Emerging Themes In Contemporary Tourism Symposium, 2016
Sport & the ‘Disneyfication’ of UAE, The Sport Project: Probing The Boundaries: 4th Global Conference,, 2015
Political Economy of Oil in the UAE: Diversification of oil wealth in sport, aviation and tourism, Historical Studies Conference, 2014
The UAE, Qatar and the Re-shaping of Global Football’s Boundaries, 3rd Global Conference: Sport: Probing The Boundaries, 2014

Grants and sponsorships

Grant, Transforming Societies: Generation, Geography, and Belonging in a Diverse State, American University of Sharjah, June 2023

Awards and Honors

Congratulatory Letter on Outstanding Unit Evaluation Result for subjects taught at Monash University, Monash University, 2015

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