Gulf national oil companies represent a new pool of capital for global gas investment, and with some of their first forays in the United States, Gulf gas deals suggest Washington’s relations with Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are improving.
Can the offshore Al-Nokhatha discovery help Kuwait’s oil and gas investments sail ahead?
While under current conditions achieving food self-sufficiency is likely to remain aspirational, taking bold steps could radically improve the UAE’s food security in the interim and make the goal of food self-sufficiency more achievable down the line.
Saudi and Emirati efforts to expand the countries’ presence in Africa’s critical mineral industry bring the potential for both economic collaboration and geopolitical tension with China.
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.
Gulf governments are looking to privatize their energy-intensive utility sectors, aiming to make public utilities more environmentally and financially sustainable.
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.
The climate crisis has shifted the Saudi approach to agriculture from rent distribution and coalition building to strategic investment to ensure Saudis have enough to eat.
Iraq is stepping up efforts to reduce flared gas as the first solar power plant moves forward with France’s TotalEnergies.
As Central Asian states seek to diversify their economic partnerships, the UAE and Saudi Arabia double down on green investments in the region to bolster their energy transitions.
Global shifts have revitalized the move toward hydrogen as an energy source. However, discussions often center on cost and technical barriers, neglecting critical questions regarding water as a feedstock in hydrogen production.
Tracking the efforts and successes of civil society elements in underscoring the urgency of addressing climate change will remain a key bellwether for progress on issues relating to global warming, energy transition, and sustainability.
Gulf creative communities turn to their crafts to reimagine sustainability in the region.
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 absence of a functioning state exacerbates Yemen’s environmental disasters, compounding the humanitarian crisis caused by years of conflict.
Iran’s oil resurgence is a critical market and political development, but the Iranian energy industry remains in a shaky state.
Without an integrated energy transition strategy and political will to implement difficult reforms, Iraq will be unable to reach its climate ambitions.
Whether it is water and food scarcity, migration pressures, or infrastructure damage due to extreme weather events, the pace at which Gulf governments are willing to implement pro-climate policies might not be fast enough to mitigate the most pressing challenges.
For Oman, the transition to cleaner energy sources is both an imperative and a practical economic path to a more sustainable future.
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.
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.
Energy cooperation is a central factor in not only China-Gulf economic relations but also the triangular – and often fraught – relationship among the United States, Gulf states, and China.
A better understanding of the potential impact of AI and clouds on energy consumption will enable informed decisions today regarding investments in energy sources, ensuring adequate supplies to meet the energy needs of the future.
The Middle East could become the center of an electric spider’s web, but such dreams face massive challenges.
The wide-ranging effects of water scarcity in the Gulf are likely to get worse without accelerated mitigation and adaptation measures.
COP28 is expected to create momentum for the Gulf states to advance their climate action ambitions and climate policy implementation.
Cooperation on UAE-produced clean energy serves Japan’s interest in diversifying its renewable energy mix while also boosting the UAE’s global position as a reliable green energy supplier.
The UAE is seeking to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the energy transition rather than merely avoiding pitfalls along the way.
Unlocking the full potential of eastern Mediterranean gas will require the convergence of commercial objectives, political will, and strategic partnerships.
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.
International renewable energy certificates, which are increasingly popular in the Gulf, can help fuel the growth of the renewable energy industry as the world transitions away from fossil fuels.
It is difficult to reconcile Saudi Arabia’s vision for sustainability with The Mukaab in its current form – but it’s not too late for a course correction.
While the global energy transition will present challenges for the Gulf Arab states, there are climate-compatible ways to use a significant portion of Gulf hydrocarbon reserves.
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.
Beyond the criticism of environmental activists and praise of supporters, the appointment points to Gulf efforts to address the regional dilemma posed by climate change, highlights UAE exercise of soft power, and underscores U.S.-UAE cooperation.
GCC states will see advantages and disadvantages from either outcome in the U.S. presidential election but will rely on the persistence of long-standing ties.
Learn MoreThe United Arab Emirates’ global trade and investment policy is providing an alternative vision to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Modi’s strategy in his third term reveals a deliberate effort to maintain strategic autonomy while navigating the complex and volatile Middle East.
Undeterred by the politically and militarily decapitated Hezbollah, Israel is free to target critical components of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, and Iran's perceived weakness may fuel domestic opposition.
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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