AGSI
Gulf Oil Exporters to Build Storage in Asia
Gulf national oil companies are looking to increase stockpiles in Asia to meet customer needs, address their energy security concerns, and enable a nimbler response to unexpected market disruptions.
China’s Cautious but Steady Advance in the Gulf
Beijing keeps treading carefully around conflict in the Middle East while seeking opportunities to deepen ties with key country partners through a longer-term regional engagement strategy.
AI Is Reshaping the Yemen Battlefield
Artificial intelligence is entering the Yemen conflict through weapons engineering and U.S.-supported targeting operations, extending a regional transformation accelerated by the war with Iran.
With U.S. Withdrawal, Can Iraq Exert Control Over the PMF?
As U.S.-led coalition forces withdraw from Iraq, Baghdad is confronting the political bargains that allow armed factions to defy the state.
Gaming in the Gulf
The Esports World Cup’s staging in Paris showcased Saudi Arabia’s global gaming ambitions, and the booming sector is also helping to narrow the regional gender gap in technology and entertainment.
A New Generation Is Putting Bahraini Cuisine on the Map
Chefs Suman Ali Sayed and Dona Murad are introducing Bahraini cuisine to eateries abroad, attracting international diners increasingly interested in distinct food cultures and histories.
Talli Circle: Traditional Weaving Connects Emirati Women
Talli Circle, a new platform highlighting a traditional Emirati form of weaving, is reconnecting young Emirati women with their culture, heritage, and mothers and grandmothers.
Oct 6, 2026
10:00am - 11:00am
Is the U.S.-Iran Stalemate a “New Normal” or the Prelude to Another Explosion?
On October 6, AGSI will host a discussion on the U.S.-Iran stalemate and the prospects for a cease-fire.
Speakers
Sep 24, 2026
Saudi Arabia and Israel: Prospects for Normalization
On September 24, AGSI hosted a private roundtable with Aziz Alghashian on Saudi Arabia and Israel's prospects for the normalization of relations.
Speakers
Sep 15, 2026
Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Recalibration?
On September 15, AGSI hosted a discussion on Saudi Arabia's positioning within the emerging regional political and security order.
Speakers
Yemen’s Strategic Reckoning? The Houthis and the Expanding Regional War
On September 10, AGSI hosted a discussion on the latest escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
Speakers
Sep 9, 2026
Preparing for the Gulf’s Economic Infrastructure Buildout
On September 9, AGSI hosted a discussion on Gulf infrastructure development post-Iran war.
Speakers
Operation Economic Outcast: Will Economic Pressure on Iran Work, and Are the Gulf Countries On Board?
On September 2, AGSI hosted a discussion on the new U.S. sanctions against Iran.
Speakers
Aug 27, 2026
Roundtable With Sheikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa
On August 27, AGSI hosted a private roundtable with Sheikh Abdulla bin Rashid Al Khalifa ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States.
Speakers
Aug 25, 2026
The Challenge of Gulf-China Ties: Reassessing Beijing’s Role After the Iran War
On August 25, AGSI hosted a discussion on the impact of the Iran war on Gulf-China relations.
Speakers
Aug 11, 2026
Beyond the Strait: The Future of Global Energy Security
On August 11, AGSI hosted a discussion on global energy markets.
Speakers
Jul 14, 2026
Beyond the U.S.-Iran MoU: The Future of the U.S. Security Commitment to the Gulf and the Emerging Regional Security Order
On July 14, an AGSI delegation participated in a joint roundtable hosted by the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Jun 25, 2026
Investing in Syria: From Policy Intention to Operational Execution
The Arab Gulf States Institute, Middle East Institute Switzerland, and Università Ca' Foscari co-hosted a roundtable on U.S. investment in Syria.
Tim Callen
Visiting Fellow, AGSI
Gregory D. Johnsen
Non-Resident Fellow, AGSI
Ali Alfoneh
Senior Fellow, AGSI
Robert Mogielnicki
Non-Resident Fellow, AGSI
Hussein Ibish
Senior Resident Scholar, AGSI
Sep 28, 2026
Al Arabiya TV: In an interview, Hussein Ibish discussed the prospects for negotiations between the United States and Iran and the view that although the distance between the two is too great for a comprehensive agreement to be reached soon, another cease-fire agreement is possible because it’s in the interests of both parties.
Ambassador William Roebuck
Executive Vice President, AGSI
Sep 30, 2026
Al Jazeera: In an interview, Amb. William Roebuck discussed President Trump’s public response to the Iranians’ proposal to re-open the Strait of Hormuz and assessed each side’s leverage as these dynamics play out.
Sep 26, 2026
TRT World: In an interview, Amb. William Roebuck discussed President Trump’s reported rejection of an Iranian offer to restart negotiations, the impact of the Houthis’ military action giving them control of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, and the possibility of military escalation after the U.S. mid-term elections.
Kristin Smith Diwan
Senior Resident Scholar, AGSI
Sep 17, 2026
Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies: Kristin Smith Diwan spoke at “The State of the Middle East: Regional Perspectives and Responses,” an open forum examining the regional consequences of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, the Israeli-perpetrated genocide and ecocide in Palestine and Lebanon, and how Middle Eastern actors have responded. Diwan focused particularly on the Gulf states and their evolving strategic position in the region.
Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman
President, AGSI
Abbas Kadhim
Senior Resident Scholar and Director, Iraq Program, AGSI
Aug 31, 2026
Abbas Kadhim met with Sayid Ammar al-Hakim, head of al-Hikmah Movement and member of the Coordination Framework.
Aug 26, 2026
