Non-Resident Fellow, AGSIW; Contributing Editor, MEES; Fellow, Energy Institute
Kate Dourian is a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, a contributing editor at MEES, and a fellow at the Energy Institute. Previously she was the regional manager for the Middle East and Gulf states at the World Energy Council, as well as the programme officer for the Middle East and North Africa in the Global Energy Relations Division of the International Energy Agency since September 2015. Her role included building relationships between the IEA and the governments of several Middle East and North Africa countries, using the extensive contacts that she accumulated during three decades spent in several Middle Eastern and North African countries as a journalist and energy analyst. Dourian was actively involved in the discussions that led to Morocco becoming an IEA Association country and the joint work program for which she raised funds from IEA members. She also helped write and edit the Middle East and North Africa sections of several IEA publications and contributed to the supply section of the Oil Market Report. She made presentations on behalf of the IEA in various capitals, most recently at the IEF Ministerial in New Delhi in April 2018. Dourian is often consulted on Middle Eastern matters by banks, financial institutions, and oil and gas companies. She also served as the IEA’s representative on the executive board of the International Energy Forum.
Dourian joined the IEA from the Middle East Economic Survey where she was a senior editor covering energy-related developments in the Middle East for the weekly from 2013-15. She was also responsible for compiling the monthly OPEC survey for MEES, which is one of the secondary sources used by OPEC.
From 2000-13, Dourian was the editor in chief for the Middle East for oil price reporting agency Platts, now a division of S&P Global, based in Dubai. She was also the general manager of McGraw-Hill International. Additionally, she served as a member of the OPEC reporting team and was one of the reporters assigned to compile the OPEC production numbers. While in Dubai, Dourian served as a board member of the American Business Council.
From 1983-2000, Dourian was a correspondent and then a senior editor at Reuters, serving in a number of postings including Beirut, Nicosia, London, and Rabat. She joined the energy desk in 1992, covering the Brent crude market and OPEC meetings. Prior to joining Reuters, Dourian worked as a foreign correspondent for the Associated Press, based in Beirut, Lebanon from 1981-83.
Dourian has been a speaker and moderator at international conferences and has made many radio and television appearances, discussing energy and geopolitics on a number of platforms in English, Arabic, and French on BBC, CNN, Al Arabiya, CNBC, and Al Jazeera English, and has been quoted extensively in several publications. In 2024, Dourian was recognized by Gulf Intelligence as one of the top 30 female energy analysts.
The opposing candidates’ energy policy agendas have stark differences, and each will have ramifications for the Gulf oil exporters, the global climate agenda, and international trade relations.
On October 17, AGSIW hosted a discussion on the implications of regional conflict and the U.S. presidential election on oil prices.
Iran has the capacity and desire to produce more oil and gas, but the need for new investment and the uncertain outcome of the U.S. presidential election in November represent key challenges.
While Gulf states are boosting their green energy potential, the demands of the energy transition require them to prioritize decarbonizing oil and gas production.
The next few years will be pivotal for the Gulf and the broader international community as the world’s energy architecture is redesigned to meet net-zero ambitions.
Despite some large solar projects underway in the Gulf Arab states, mainly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East does not account for a significant share of total investments in clean energy.
Chinese investors are less risk averse than their Western counterparts, hence their strong showing in the latest upstream opportunities offered by Baghdad.
On June 11, AGSIW convened its 10th annual Petro Diplomacy conference.
While other Gulf Arab oil producing states have advanced diversification policies to ease reliance on oil revenue and increase renewable energy investments, Kuwait has lagged behind.
Iraq is stepping up efforts to reduce flared gas as the first solar power plant moves forward with France’s TotalEnergies.
On April 4, AGSIW hosted a discussion on COP and the energy transition.
Oil flows are redirected as war and Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea disrupt traffic.
While geopolitical tensions have the oil market “on edge,” the IEA expects a well-supplied market amid weaker demand.
On January 25, AGSIW hosted a discussion on hydrogen in the Gulf.
While not short on ambition in its energy diversification policy, the UAE faces a particular set of challenges along the pathway to carbon neutrality.
The divergence between the IEA and OPEC outlooks is largely due to assumptions regarding the speed at which internal combustion engine vehicles will be replaced by electric vehicles.
AGSIW's ninth annual Petro Diplomacy conference examined how the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are managing the energy transition and expectations for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28, in Dubai beginning in November.
The wide-ranging effects of water scarcity in the Gulf are likely to get worse without accelerated mitigation and adaptation measures.
On June 27 and 28, AGSIW convened its ninth annual Petro Diplomacy conference.
The UAE will need to find common ground to make COP28 a success because time and the Middle East’s remaining carbon budget are running out.
If Middle Eastern countries are to reduce carbon emissions and reach their net-zero targets, solar and wind energy must be scaled up to provide zero-carbon energy and displace natural gas.
As an oil producer seeking to lead the fight against climate change, the United Arab Emirates will have the difficult task of combining its dual roles and finding common ground to make COP28 a success.
Whether oil supply will match an anticipated demand surge hinges on Russia’s response to sanctions and OPEC+ output policy.
Oil market reports highlight uncertainties relating to the speed of the recovery in China and the impact of sanctions on Russian oil exports.
The oil market is showing concerns over weakening oil demand, and new Western sanctions on Russia have introduced an added element of uncertainty in a market already reeling from the repercussions of the Ukraine crisis.
The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington's eighth annual Petro Diplomacy conference examined the upheaval in the oil and gas markets following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the role of Gulf Arab oil producing states in meeting the sudden demand surge.
On October 20 and 21, AGSIW convened its eighth annual Petro Diplomacy conference.
The conflict in Ukraine has brought about a change in the psychology and geography of the oil and gas markets, and the ramifications will be felt across the energy complex for years.
On September 15, as part of the China-Gulf Initiative, AGSIW hosted a discussion examining energy relations between China and the Gulf states.
The U.S. president got promises but no firm commitments on an oil production increase during his visit to Saudi Arabia.
The alliance of producers is hastening the timetable to restore barrels of oil to the market in a deft diplomatic maneuver that has been welcomed by Washington and Moscow.
Europe is desperately seeking alternatives to Russian gas, but the Kurdistan Regional Government has some way to go before it can produce excess gas for exportation.
The war in Ukraine has brought about a change of direction and exposed the vulnerabilities of an energy world in transition.
On March 10, AGSIW hosted a discussion examining the impact of the Ukraine crisis on global oil and gas markets and the direct effects on the Gulf region.
Should more countries follow the EU’s lead and step up efforts to seek alternative supplies of oil and gas, Russia could find itself out in the cold, whether it wins or loses the war against Ukraine.
With oil prices above $80 per barrel, OPEC and its Russian-led allies are optimistic about the future, but geopolitical developments threaten to throw the market off-kilter.
For the seventh consecutive year, AGSIW convened its Petro Diplomacy conference.
Energy transitions are by their nature disruptive, but the pandemic has introduced a risk factor that might play out for years to come.
The TotalEnergies deal with Iraq includes clean energy aspects that are a step in the right direction for the country to develop a more sustainable economy, but the focus is still on oil and gas.
Uncertainty hangs over energy markets as Washington calls on OPEC+ to open the taps, and the IEA warns of coming oil supply surplus.
On July 27, AGSIW and the National University of Singapore's Middle East Institute hosted a discussion on economic diversification efforts in the Gulf Arab states.
On July 8, AGSIW hosted a private briefing on the developing OPEC+ dispute and the repercussions for the future of the alliance as well as Saudi-UAE relations.
An OPEC+ deal, which was close to being within reach, collapsed over a dispute between the two Gulf allies, jeopardizing the interests of all constituents and leaving consumers at the mercy of market volatility.
Iraq’s deal with Masdar offers hope for Baghdad’s renewable energy agenda and for alleviating electricity shortages that have long plagued the country.
OPEC and its Russian-led allies stick to their planned oil production strategy, issuing words of caution regarding the strength of the demand recovery.
Oil prices shrugged off concerns over India, topping $70 per barrel for benchmark Brent crude in response to improved market fundamentals and drawdowns in global oil inventories.
On May 19, AGSIW hosted a discussion on the transition to renewable and low carbon energy in the Middle East and North Africa.
After more than 25 years of working alongside international oil company giants, Qatar Petroleum has the technical capability and expertise to manage its own gas business. But it is unlikely to end all its partnerships.
Ben Cahill discussed the fundamental shift in Abu Dhabi's oil policy since 2016.
A $7 billion deal with French oil major Total could provide a lifeline for Iraq’s fragile economy.
Saudi Arabia and Russia appear to be on the same page now, but OPEC+ will have to consider the impacts of its market management policies if it wants to avoid the pitfalls that have contributed to oil price volatility in the past.
OPEC+ producers seem to have adopted a wait-and-see attitude, but as maintaining production cuts becomes more difficult for the smaller producers, they may be tempted to cash in while prices are high.
The new variant of the coronavirus, new lockdowns in several parts of the world, and the slower-than-expected rollout of the vaccine cast doubt on the timing of a recovery that would sustain higher production.
The OPEC+ alliance managed to stamp out dissent within its ranks and come to a compromise deal that will keep the market guessing in the months ahead.
Signs of strain within OPEC could reflect negatively on the market by casting doubt on the commitment of OPEC+ countries to adhere to production targets.
The coronavirus pandemic has altered perceptions as to the direction of energy demand growth and more weight has been given to the net-zero commitments by major consuming countries and how these will shape the energy system in the decades ahead.
The coronavirus pandemic has delivered an unprecedented shock to the global natural gas market.
The post-coronavirus recovery may be long and painful as governments around the world grapple with the aftershocks of the pandemic.
For the sixth consecutive year, AGSIW convened its Petro Diplomacy conference, this year virtually.
Regardless of what shape the post-pandemic recovery takes, the crisis may have a far-reaching impact on future demand for fossil fuels.
The option to return to the pre-crisis model of rising oil demand is quickly disappearing.
The dash for gas will have ramifications for economic and energy models of the region’s petrostates for years to come as environmental pressures mount within the region and beyond.
A protracted slump in upstream oil and gas investment may result in the undesirable return of price volatility and market imbalance.
It will take time for the new Iraqi government to formulate its energy policies amid an unprecedented health and economic crisis. But the electricity sector is among the most in need of new investment and rehabilitation.
The dramatic crash in oil prices has led the global energy community to coordinate production cuts to stabilize market conditions.
On April 21, AGSIW hosted a virtual panel discussion analyzing the historic deal that ended the oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Saudi Arabia’s decision to proceed with plans to ramp up its oil production capacity despite collapsing demand during a global health crisis may seem rash. But is it?
On March 10, AGSIW hosted a briefing analyzing recent tensions within the alliance of OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, OPEC+, and the ensuing oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.
OPEC and non-OPEC ministers head into tough negotiations over potential further production cuts amid a whirlwind of negative signals from the market as oil prices decline and demand has been slashed.
Concerns over the coronavirus outbreak in China, the world’s largest oil importing country, pushed down oil prices, while the market failed to react to a near collapse in Libyan oil production, the continued absence of Iranian barrels, and other disruptions.
The OPEC+ group has agreed on deeper production cuts, but the next few weeks and months will show whether they have done enough to balance the market.
OPEC will need to adapt to new realities in an era of disruption and rapid transformation.
With a stable political regime, strategic location, and attractive commercial terms, Oman has managed to raise oil production to record levels and draw in foreign oil majors.
The energy world is entering an era of disruption, where traditional methods of extracting, using, and trading energy are changing rapidly and where old rules no longer apply.
OPEC appears to be stuck in a vicious cycle of cutting production only to see its share of the market filled by the United States and other, higher-cost producers that are not bound by the production restraints of the OPEC+ agreement.
Iraq aims to grow its oil and gas production capacity to meet its domestic needs, but this will take time, a commodity the country can ill afford.
The oil market has had a somewhat muted reaction to recent attacks on oil tankers, appearing to have set aside concerns about the diplomatic storm brewing in the Middle East and instead focusing on the latest oil demand projections.
The potential disappearance of some 1 million barrels per day of Iranian oil, the continued decline in Venezuela’s production, and other geopolitical disruptions make for a tight market that can ill afford any further losses.
The end to oil-import waivers comes just as OPEC and its allies were starting to enjoy the fruits of their oil production cut agreement, and the fallout from the policy to drive Iranian exports down to zero is already being felt in the volatile oil market.
Kuwait is struggling to increase oil production capacity. To put the country on a path toward a more sustainable energy future, Kuwait needs stability between its two branches of government and continuity in the energy sector.
The recent rise in oil prices takes some pressure off OPEC and its non-OPEC allies. However Saudi Arabia seems to want a deeper drawdown in global inventories before deciding whether to loosen output restrictions.
ADNOC CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber is overseeing an aggressive policy of partial privatization and has brought in new strategic partners to better serve the company’s international operations and export markets.
The International Energy Agency’s Oil 2019 medium-term outlook sees strong growth in U.S., Iraqi, and Emirati oil production, while Saudi Arabia focuses on maintaining current capacity.
The Gulf is extremely vulnerable to climate change and the clock is ticking to keep the lights and air conditioners on without causing harm to their already fragile environment.
The energy system is undergoing a radical shift away from fossil fuels in a world where oil is no longer king. However, to meet demand growth, oil and gas will remain key components of the energy mix for decades to come.
With Saudi Arabia's now-confirmed oil reserves, and an expected growth in global demand, the kingdom is likely to continue to play a central role in the energy arena.
OPEC and its non-OPEC allies are working to drain excess supply and balance oil markets, but much depends on whether the expanded oil producers’ club remains committed to production cuts.
Looking to boost oil prices, OPEC and its non-OPEC allies have agreed to curtail oil production by 1.2 million barrels per day, but the volume of barrels taken off the market may prove to be much higher.
Ahead of their December 6 meeting in Vienna, OPEC and its non-OPEC allies are considering whether and to what extent they need to curb production to balance an oversupplied market and lift oil prices. But Trump’s pressure to keep oil prices low will make their job that much harder.
Iraq’s new oil minister, Thamir Ghadhban, has managed to maneuver his way around the maze of Iraq’s sectarian politics; now, he will have to oversee a restructuring of the energy sector without upsetting the vested interests that have benefited from the absence of good governance across the Iraqi political spectrum.
While a new round of U.S. sanctions targeting Iran’s energy sector is more restrictive than previous sanctions, it is clear Washington is wary of administering a shock to oil markets.
