Muhannad Shono: Creating His Own Saudi Narrative
When Muhannad Shono began his career Saudi's creative economy was not a domain to be celebrated in the kingdom.
Arts and Culture
The Gulf Arab States in Venice: Architecture, Representation, and the Perils of Politics
Five Arab countries are participating in the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale, including, for the first time, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
“Yes We Cannes”: Cinematic Diversification in Saudi Arabia
Ahmad bin Fahd Al-Mezyed, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Culture, used the 2018 Cannes Film Festival as a cinematic backdrop to garner international interest in the Saudi film and television industry.
Economy
Neom Update: Funding the World’s Most Ambitious Project
Nearly a year after Neom's announcement, the futuristic Saudi megacity is still only in the early stages of development. To meet goals of opening fully by 2025, planners must overcome a key challenge: shoring up funding.
Nepotism, Corruption, and Fraud: Business as Usual among Iran’s Political Elite
As economic conditions in Iran worsen, Iranians are shifting some of the blame from the West to domestic causes, including corruption and economic mismanagement.
Qatar, Turkey, and the Politics and Perils of Reciprocity
With Turkey’s economic woes, Qatar has leapt to its aid, but sitting uncomfortably between two critical allies, Ankara and Washington, Doha must tread carefully.
Energy
Iran Sanctions Add Uncertainty to Shaky Oil Market
The U.S. decision to abandon the nuclear deal with Iran is bad news for crude oil importers, good news for exporters, and complicated news for those with more entwined relations with Tehran.
Oil Producers Agree to Increase Supply, for Now
Mana al-Otaiba, former oil minister of the United Arab Emirates, shared a poem with OPEC at its Vienna meeting last week.
Enhancing Gas Security: An Economic Imperative for the Gulf Arab States
The Gulf Arab states are casting a wide net in their pursuit of gas-supply security.
Environment
Why Oil- and Gas-Rich Gulf Arab States are Turning to Coal
Burning coal produces almost double the amount of carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels such as diesel or natural gas.
Integrating Climate Change Policies with Economic Diversification Strategies: Challenges and Opportunities in Oman and the UAE
Since the 1930s, the Arab Gulf states have been defined by their hydrocarbon wealth.
Saudi Arabia and Climate Change: From Systematic Obstructionism to Conditional Acceptance
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil producer, is expected to double its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2014 levels.
Politics and Governance
Yemen’s War: No Longer Forgotten, but Still Unresolved
There are signs Yemen's war is no longer "forgotten," but is it any closer to coming to an end?
The GCC is Becoming More – and Less – than the Sum of Its Parts
As the United States and its Gulf partners intensify deliberations toward convening a U.S.-Gulf summit once scheduled for May, all parties are adjusting to new objectives and a shifting strategic landscape.
Is Another U.S.-GCC Summit on the Horizon?
GCC Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Negotiation Affairs Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg and Hussein Ibish discuss the state of U.S.-GCC relations and prospects for another summit.
Security
Iran’s Support of Iraqi Shia Militias Ensures Dependency and Loyalty
CENTCOM’s release of interrogation reports of Qais al-Khazali and a survey of combat fatalities shed new light on Iran’s relationship with Shia militias in Iraq.
Prospects of New Yemen Talks
Ambassador Stephen A. Seche and Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, discuss the prospects of the upcoming Yemen talks in Geneva.
Fractured Iraqi Shia Militias in Syria
In the midst of the civil war in Iraq, and as ISIL was threatening the central government in Baghdad, why were Iraqi Shias prioritizing Syria instead of defending Baghdad?
Society
Amaani Yahya: Reaching out through Rap
Amaani Yahya might not be the first Yemeni woman to rap, but she is one of the first to use the artform to try to reach people outside Yemen.
Poor Governance, Corruption Spur Iraqi Protests
Ninety percent of Iraq’s oil wealth – the fifth largest proven oil reserves in the world – lies under the three southern governorates of Iraq.
Moath Alofi: A Story of the City of Medina
Al-Medina al-Munawara is known primarily for the Prophet Muhammad’s mosque and his tomb inside it.
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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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