Budding Kurdish-UAE Relations
The relationship between the Kurdistan region of Iraq and the United Arab Emirates is shaped by political, economic, and security factors, but intra-Kurdish divisions threaten to undermine this strategic partnership.
Regional Affairs
With the Land: Environment and Nature in Contemporary Gulf Art
On October 11, AGSIW and Hunna Art will co-host a discussion exploring environment and art.
Book Talk – Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates: Foreign Policy and Strategic Alliances in an Uncertain World
On October 17, AGSIW will host a discussion on the foreign policies of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Bahrain
Bahrain Sets the Pace for Enhanced Gulf Security Cooperation With the United States
A recently signed security- and economy-focused pact marks the latest development in the United States’ close, long-standing partnership with Bahrain.
AI Offers a New Path for Personalized Education in Bahrain
AI, particularly large language models, could lay the foundation for a more technologically harmonized and effective educational framework in Bahrain.
Climate Action, Water Scarcity, and Nostalgia: Bahrain at the Venice Architecture Biennale
As new studies emphasize the rising danger of heat exposure in Gulf states, young Bahraini curators Maryam Aljomairi and Latifa Alkhayat pose architectural solutions to air conditioning overuse and waste through the atmospheric exhibition “Sweating Assets.”
Kuwait
Meaning in Material: Amani AlThuwaini’s Artistic Mantra
Through her multidisciplinary creative practice, Kuwaiti Ukrainian artist Amani AlThuwaini engages with themes of heritage and history, consumerism, childhood, and ritual.
Will Kuwait’s Upcoming Elections Help Resolve Its Political Gridlock?
On May 31, AGSIW hosted a discussion on Kuwait's upcoming parliamentary elections.
New Elections and Frustration Within Kuwait's Elite
Amid an ongoing political standoff and governing malaise, some within Kuwait's elite have challenged the Al Sabah family-led government.
Oman
Oman Steps Up Low-Carbon Ambitions
For Oman, the transition to cleaner energy sources is both an imperative and a practical economic path to a more sustainable future.
Oman Gets Economic Policymaking Right – For Now
The Omani government deserves credit for sound economic policymaking and reform progress, but the longer-term outlook for the economy remains uncertain.
Sultan Haitham the Mediator
With Sultan Haitham’s planned trip to Tehran to mediate between Iran and the United States, the Omani leader appears to be following his predecessor’s path as a regional interlocutor.
Qatar
Qatar Embarks on Major Naval Expansion
Qatar’s naval expansion will give it new amphibious, air defense, and anti-ship capabilities, but the country will face challenges to fully man its naval platforms exclusively with Qataris, given the country’s small population.
Qatar Reshuffles Cabinet and Its Relations in the Gulf and Beyond
An immensely wealthy, pivotal energy supplier seeks to consolidate its regional position and retool its leadership ambitions.
2022 FIFA World Cup: Tourism Springboard or Critical Spotlight?
Despite subjecting the small Gulf state to criticism, over the long term, hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup enhances Qatar’s brand recognition and can help accelerate the country’s tourism agenda.
Saudi Arabia
Head in the Clouds or Outer Space, Pop Icon RexChouk Is Relatable and Hilarious
Anonymous Saudi-born and raised artist RexChouk has captured the attention of viewers worldwide with his humorous depictions of everyday life in the kingdom.
Economic Empowerment of Women in Saudi Arabia – Assessing Progress and Identifying Constraints
On October 5, AGSIW will host a discussion on Saudi women's economic engagement.
A Conversation on Saudi Arabia With F. Gregory Gause, III
On September 14, AGSIW hosted a discussion on Saudi Arabia's recent diplomatic maneuvers.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE: Tackling Climate Change From Space
Emirati leaders hope the UAE Space Agency can speed up the journey to carbon neutrality and position the country as a hub of climate technology and research.
UAE in BRICS Expansion Amplifies Multialignment Trend
Joining BRICS will epitomize the UAE’s pursuit of strategic autonomy and equidistant ties.
Present Pasts: Preserving Modern Architecture in Abu Dhabi
Through its Modern Heritage Initiative, Abu Dhabi has set itself apart from other urban centers in the UAE and region.
Iran
The Regime’s Revenge: Iranian Repression Prevails, Causes More Citizens to Migrate
The regime’s failure to create an open and prosperous society for Iranians is leading Iran’s richest and brightest to reconsider their future in their country.
Envy and Admiration: Iranian Perspectives on Saudi Arabia’s Diplomatic Maneuvers
Iran may look to emulate Saudi Arabia in its efforts to reorient its foreign policy and establish a more balanced position in relations with the great powers of the East and West.
Has Regional Detente Paved the Way for Collective Maritime Security in the Gulf?
While a regional naval alliance remains distant, de-escalation has created an opening for maritime security cooperation.
Iraq
Implications of Iraq’s New Election Law
Iraq’s new election law is likely to strengthen the representation of traditional political blocs and weaken smaller parties and independent candidates, however, it is unlikely to notably alter the ethnic and sectarian composition of Parliament.
Long-Running Turkey-Iraq Oil Dispute Continues to Simmer, Despite Court Decision
A wary ruling from an international court of arbitration against Turkey complicates relations among Baghdad, Ankara, and Erbil.
Poll Launch – 20 Years Later: What Do Iraqis Think of the U.S. Invasion and Its Aftermath?
On April 27, AGSIW hosted a discussion on a new poll conducted by Almustakilla, the Independent Institute of Administration and Civil Society Studies.
Yemen
Saudi Arabia’s New Strategy in Yemen: Border and Proxies
Saudi Arabia’s new, exit-focused strategy for Yemen implicitly weakens the country’s formal institutions and provides greater political leverage for the Houthis, imposing indirect costs that could undercut prospects for a broader U.N.-led Yemeni peace process.
The Seeds of Yemen’s Future Wars
Regardless of how or when the current conflict in Yemen ends, child soldiers are not simply going to disappear.
A Conversation With Steven Fagin, the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen
On August 24, AGSIW hosted a virtual roundtable with Steven Fagin, the United States ambassador to the Republic of Yemen.
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Through its careful examination of the forces shaping the evolution of Gulf societies and the new generation of emerging leaders, AGSIW facilitates a richer understanding of the role the countries in this key geostrategic region can be expected to play in the 21st century.
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