Despite its 5-0 defeat to host team Russia in its opening World Cup match June 14, Saudi Arabia still can take pride in being one of the 32 top teams vying for glory in the world’s most popular sporting spectacle. The now familiar face of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman could be seen in the stands next to Russian President Vladimir Putin as each cheered on his national team in the opening match of this premier event. MbS’ attendance demonstrates the priority Saudi Arabia has placed on football (or soccer, if you wish) and the high hopes for economic and political payoffs, with big plans to expand its reach back home and raise Saudi Arabia’s sports profile abroad.
On June 4, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan announced a new social support program for citizens in the emirate to double the number of the government's annual subsidized housing loans. There is a broad trend in the Gulf Arab states to whittle down subsidies and chip away at public sector wage bills, but the reality is that states are continuing to spend in large fiscal outlays. They are targeting spending, notably in grand development plans, while also trying to create new revenue streams from citizens, residents, and the private sector.
طمأن الرئيس دونالد ترامب الشعب الأمريكي والعالم، فور عودته من سنغافورة حيث اجتمع بكيم، زعيم كوريا الشمالية في أول لقاء قمة بين البلدين منذ نهاية الحرب الكورية قبل 65 سنة، أن كوريا الشمالية، الدولة التي يحكمها أقسى نظام سياسي في العالم، والتي اعتبرها ترامب نفسه قبل أشهر الدولة التي تشكل أكبر خطر على الولايات المتحدة، "لم تعد تشكل خطرا نوويا" على أمريكا، على الرغم من أن القمة لم تتبنى خطة عملية لنزع الأسلحة النووية وآليات التحقق من ذلك، أو أي جداول زمنية لتحقيق هذا الهدف. الساعات القليلة التي قضاها ترامب مع كيم، والبيان المشترك الذي صيغ بلغة عمومية وانشائية تضمنت وعود مستقبلية وليس خارطة طريق واضحة، لم تغير حقيقة أن الترسانة النووية الكورية الشمالية والتي تتراوح بين 20 و60 قنبلة نووية والصواريخ الباليستية والعابرة للقارات القادرة على حمل هذه القنابل، وعشرات المنشآت التي تطور وتبني الأسلحة النووية والكيماوية والبيولوجية لا تزال موجودة وناشطة، كما كانت قبل القمة. اطلع على المزيد
In addition to original content, AGSIW.org in Arabic is regularly updated with new Arabic translations of AGSIW's analysis. Recent translations include:
On June 12, AGSIW hosted Elena Ianchovichina, deputy chief economist, Latin America and the Caribbean, at the World Bank, for a discussion of her book “Eruptions of Popular Anger: The Economics of the Arab Spring and Its Aftermath.” The discussion was moderated by AGSIW Senior Resident Scholar Karen E. Young. In the new World Bank publication, Ianchovichina aims to understand the real causes behind what was termed the “Arab Spring.” She argues that the protests that erupted in the Arab world in late 2010 were not caused by poverty or inequality, but by the erosion of middle-class incomes and dissatisfaction with the quality of life, the shortage of formal sector jobs, and corruption.
Speaking with Bloomberg, Senior Resident Scholar Kristin Smith Diwan commented on the Saudi government's arrests of activists and business leaders. For Financial Times, Diwan discussed the context behind the portrayal of Saudi society pre-1979 in recent Ramadan serials.
For The Daily Sabah, Senior Resident Scholar Hussein Ibish commented on the regional response to the Trump administration's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.
Position Title:Program and Digital Media Intern Period: August – December 2018 Location: Washington, DC Deadline to Apply: July 15
Job Summary: The Internship Program at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington provides talented students and recent graduates with a three-month (or longer) training opportunity designed to encourage professional and personal development. We encourage out-of-the-box thinking and value fresh perspectives. Interns will receive a monthly stipend. Read more
