AGSI
Qatar’s National Team Mirrors the State
Qatar's first World Cup point, earned through a goalkeeper of Palestinian descent, reveals how the emirate has turned a tiny citizenry, migration, and naturalization into an instrument of statecraft and where that instrument meets its limits.
Digital Risks in the Strait of Hormuz Present New Challenges
Iran’s threats involving undersea internet cables and digital infrastructure in the Strait of Hormuz have transformed the crisis from an energy chokepoint into a hybrid risk for Gulf Arab economies.
Connectivity Without Transformation in the Middle East
A misreading of the Belt and Road Initiative has prompted a regional scramble to develop economic corridors ahead of the more foundational development of integrated manufacturing and intraregional trade.
Saudi Economic Outlook Positive If U.S.-Iran Deal Holds
If the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran holds, the Saudi economy will grow strongly in the second half of 2026 and into 2027.
Book Talk: Iran and the Bomb: The United States, Iran and the Nuclear Question
On June 16, AGSI hosted a discussion on the evolution of Iran's nuclear program.
Speakers
Jun 10, 2026
Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the World Cup
On June 10, AGSI hosted a discussion on Saudi Arabia's growing engagement in the global soccer community.
Speakers
Petro Diplomacy 2026: Energy in Crisis: Markets and Geopolitics of Supply
On June 8, AGSI convened its Petro Diplomacy conference for the 12th consecutive year.
Jun 4, 2026
Screening of Iraqi Film “The President’s Cake”
On June 4, AGSI and the National Museum of Asian Art co-hosted a screening of “The President’s Cake.”
Speakers
Jun 4, 2026
Will a U.S.-Iran Deal Bring a New Order for the Gulf?
On June 4, AGSI hosted a discussion on the implications of a potential U.S.-Iranian agreement for Gulf security.
Speakers
May 20, 2026
Toxic Spillover: Conflict and Environmental Risk in the Gulf
On May 20, AGSI hosted a discussion on the environmental impacts of the Iran conflict.
Speakers
May 12, 2026
Book Talk: Realizing Saudi Vision 2030: Governance, Institutions and Human Capital Development
On May 12, AGSI hosted a discussion on the implementation of Vision 2030.
Speakers
May 12, 2026
Iraq in a New Middle East: Government Formation and Regional Challenges
On May 12, AGSI hosted a discussion on the new government in Iraq.
Speakers
Apr 30, 2026
Kuwait Reception
On April 30, AGSI hosted a special reception honoring the diplomats and staff recently evacuated from the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait.
Apr 21, 2026
Inside Iran’s Wartime Leadership: Power, Succession, and Regime Stability
On April 21, AGSI hosted a discussion on the evolution of Iran's leadership during the war.
Speakers
Apr 15, 2026
Iran at the Intersection: Conflict, Technology, and Digital Control
On April 15, AGSI hosted a private workshop on understanding how the dynamics of Iran's defense technology, information control, and geopolitical competition connect, led by Visiting Scholar Sara Bazoobandi.
Speakers
Conversations Across Time: Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026
The Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale returned a third time with intergenerational dialogues that created a timeline of change, adaptation, and reflection in Saudi Arabia.
Screening of Iraqi Film “The President’s Cake”
On June 4, AGSI and the National Museum of Asian Art co-hosted a screening of “The President’s Cake.”
Resilient by Design: Infrastructure and the Future of UAE Urbanism
Rather than pursuing the next iconic tower or artificial island, the UAE’s urban development model is shifting toward systems that are less visible but more essential.
Robert Mogielnicki
Non-Resident Fellow, AGSI
Jun 18, 2026
Bloomberg: Robert Mogielnicki spoke about the economic considerations behind the UAE’s approach to future engagement with Iran.
Jun 8, 2026
Robert Mogielnicki contributed the chapter “Investment Prioritization: The Multidirectional Roles of Gulf SWFs” in the forthcoming volume “The Foreign Policies of the Gulf Cooperation Council: Geopolitics and Global Order in the 21st Century” to be released by Bloomsbury in October.
Kristin Smith Diwan
Senior Resident Scholar, AGSI
Hussein Ibish
Senior Resident Scholar, AGSI
Tim Callen
Visiting Fellow, AGSI
Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman
President, AGSI
Jun 19, 2026
Politico: Amb. Douglas A. Silliman commented on the U.S.-Iranian MoU and the possibility of a final agreement.
Jun 3, 2026
Embassy of the Netherlands in Seoul: Amb. Douglas A. Silliman gave a briefing on the Iran war to European and Asian ambassadors accredited to South Korea. Silliman discussed progress toward an MOU solidifying a cease-fire, possible talks on Iran’s nuclear program, and the impact of the war on energy markets in Asia and Europe.
Ambassador William Roebuck
Executive Vice President, AGSI
Ali Alfoneh
Senior Fellow, AGSI
Abbas Kadhim
Senior Resident Scholar and Director, Iraq Program, AGSI
