Brian Nicholls

Brian Nicholls lived and worked in the Gulf Region for 12 years as founding editor of Gulf Times, Qatar, now one of the most successful daily newspapers there. It was his serendipity after work on national newspapers in London, Glasgow and Manchester, and regional dailies in the North East of England where he was also an editor.  

One of the first four British journalists awarded a Commonwealth Press Union travelling fellowship, he was also a consultant to the Indian and Pakistani Press before moving to the Middle East, from where he also travelled extensively covering Opec conferences, Arab and Islamic summits and state visits, as well as major events within the Gulf Region. 

His previous publications have centred on aspects of Qatar. A journalism manual he also wrote became a standard textbook in Asia. He has written about Qatar for newspapers in the USA, South America and Spain. A BBC radio programme on oil pioneers of the Gulf was largely based on his research.

Latterly he and his wife lived on Tyneside where he edited two business periodicals and was a freelance writer and consultant who occasionally revisited the Gulf area. It was while working there he became obsessed with shedding new light on its past - and present. Sadly he passed away in 2018 before he could submit the book for publication.