Gulf States

Policy Analysis on Gulf States

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani receives President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Doha, Qatar - source: Reuters

UAE Leader Visits Qatar: An Advance, Not a Breakthrough

Sandwiched between meetings with a Taliban leader and Israel’s president, the Doha trip reflects the scope and versatility of Emirati diplomacy.

Dec 5, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Fikra Forum

Iran Team’s Ambivalent Approach to Protests During the World Cup

Iran's loss at the World Cup coincides with controversy and tensions both back home and around the globe.

Dec 2, 2022

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S. Houseini

Articles & Testimony

Inflation, Soccer, Russia’s Mischief—Will Anyone Pay Attention to OPEC+?

Whether or not the cartel tweaks production quotas at its next meeting, ongoing global crises and the approach of a dark, cold winter in Europe may yet cause economic shudders.

Dec 1, 2022

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Simon Henderson

An Iranian soccer fan protests at a World Cup game in Qatar - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Team Melli vs. Team USA: Iran’s Game of Contradictions

The regime’s often-hypocritical handling of this year’s World Cup comes to a head with a matchup against the United States, and a political victory seems unattainable regardless of the results on the field.

Nov 29, 2022

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Mehdi Khalaji

Lieutenant General Asim Munir, newly appointed as the new Chief Of Army Staff of Pakistan, meets with President Arif Alvi in Islamabad - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Pakistan’s New Military Leader and the Gulf

For U.S. and Gulf officials alike, the appointment of a potential military dictator in the world’s only nuclear-armed Islamic state bears close watching.

Nov 28, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Fikra Forum

Saudi Arabia’s Surprise Soccer Victory

The Saudi men’s team’s major upset against Argentina in their opening World Cup match has brought together many Saudis and the Arab world writ large in celebration, demonstrating the powerful pull of the game.

Nov 23, 2022

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Faris Almaari

Palestians on a Mediterranean beach in Gaza

Brief Analysis

Changing Population Patterns Will Reshape the Middle East

Several of the region’s demographic heavyweights will be surpassed, and major shifts at the global level may affect how great powers vie for influence there as well.

Nov 22, 2022

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Patrick Clawson

U.S. Army tactical microgrid equipment - source: U.S. Army

Brief Analysis

Using Microgrids to Provide Energy Security for U.S. Bases in the Middle East

The Ukraine war has shown how vulnerable military facilities are to potential attacks on a host country’s energy infrastructure, but Washington has cost-effective renewable options to mitigate this risk, especially in the Middle East.

Nov 21, 2022

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Nathan P. Olsen

A statue of the men's FIFA World Cup trophy on display in downtown Tehran, Iran - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

A Politically Challenging World Cup for Iran

Instead of attracting tourists, boosting the economy, and rallying Iranians around the flag, this year’s tournament could turn into a Pyrrhic victory for the regime given its dire political situation at home.

Nov 18, 2022

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Omer Carmi

Qatari and Saudi soccer players in the 2014 Gulf Cup final game - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Gulf Rivalries and the Qatar World Cup

Nearly two years after Gulf neighbors put a splint on their diplomatic fracture with Doha, persistent tensions and historic quarrels will form a major part of the competition’s backdrop.

Nov 17, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Arab Spring Tunisia Yemen Bahrain Egypt Libya Syria

Brief Analysis

The Sectarian Shadow Over Bahrain’s Election

The results will indicate how the Sunni government is managing its majority Shia citizenry.

Nov 10, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Fikra Forum

In 2022 Polls, Views on U.S. Relations On Par with Other World Powers in the Middle East

Regional polls from March and August reveal shifting power dynamics, as economic conditions and relations with Israel continue to weigh on citizens’ minds.

Nov 9, 2022

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Frances McDonough

Fikra Forum

MbS and Saudi Arabia’s Israel Policy: What Can We Expect from the New Prime Minister?

As Prime Minister, MbS won't throw out the Arab Peace Initiative altogether, but he will likely reframe it.

Nov 7, 2022

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Aziz Alghashian

Saudi men take pictures at the Al Souda mountain - source: Reuters

Video

Brief Analysis

Inside Saudi Arabia: A Trip Report

After leading an extensive group visit throughout the kingdom, Washington Institute scholars offer insights from their encounters with leaders in government, religion, business, and culture.

Nov 4, 2022

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Robert Satloff
David Schenker

Fikra Forum

Building Media Cooperation Between Abraham Accords Countries

For the Abraham Accords to be truly successful, cooperation between member countries must necessarily extend to partnerships of more accurate and far-reaching media sources.

Nov 3, 2022

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Najat AlSaied

Video

Brief Analysis

2022 Qatar World Cup: Sports, Politics & Human Rights

Watch an expert panel discussion of the political, diplomatic, economic, social, and strategic implications of the 2022 World Cup for Qatar and the wider Middle East.

Oct 28, 2022

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Susan L. Ziadeh
Marti Flacks
James M. Dorsey
Patrick Clawson

Fikra Forum

Two Years On, the Abraham Accords Bear Fruit

The Abraham Accords agreement between the UAE and Israel has made important steps in the direction of regional economic and political cooperation.

Oct 26, 2022

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Mohamed Maher

Brief Analysis

What to Expect (or Not) from the Arab League Summit

Participants will probably issue potent-sounding statements on Iran, oil production, and other key issues, but their rhetoric is unlikely to result in any substantive policy shifts or internal dispute resolution.

Oct 24, 2022

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Sabina Henneberg
David Schenker

Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Badruddin al-Houthi addresses a rally in Sanaa, Yemen - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

The Houthi Jihad Council: Command and Control in ‘the Other Hezbollah’

The Houthi relationship with the IRGC and Lebanese Hezbollah has grown to the point that regardless of whether fighting in Yemen wanes, the Gulf movement may still play an integrated role in Iran’s future military adventures.

October 2022

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Michael Knights
Adnan al-Gabarni
Casey Coombs

Brief Analysis

The UN Resolution Against Russia’s Ukraine Annexations: How Did the Middle East Vote?

Most of the region supported the measure, with one nay vote, a pair of notable changes since the March resolution, and several strong statements in support of territorial integrity.

Oct 18, 2022

Supported by the

Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy

The Washington Institute's Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy embodies the Institute's long-term research focus on the conservative Arab Gulf states -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman -- and the key role these countries play collectively as a primary source of the world's oil and natural gas.

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Policy Analysis on Gulf States

Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy

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Gulf States

Policy Analysis on Gulf States

Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy

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