Culture
Remembering as Resilience: Championing Palestinian Culture and Heritage in the Gulf Arab States
Amid the ongoing devastation in Gaza, Palestinian art has been front and center in Gulf exhibitions and events.
Culture in the Saudi National Zeitgeist
Saudi Arabia’s first Cultural Investment Conference sought to convince domestic and global investors that arts and culture in the kingdom are a value proposition and to entice them to share in this project.
AGSI Student Open House and Reception
On October 30, AGSI hosted a student open house and reception featuring the exhibit “Making Space: Gulf Photographers on the Scene.”
The Camel in the Shadow of Vision 2030
As Saudi Arabia seeks to reposition itself as a leading regional and global actor, its embrace of camel diplomacy reflects a sophisticated recalibration of tradition for modern ends.
Bahrain’s “Heatwave” and the Gulf’s Architectural Reckoning
Bahrain’s pavilion at the 2025 Venice Biennale of Architecture is emblematic of how Gulf states are leveraging architecture to address – or at least narrate – pressing environmental and social questions.
The Rise of Gulf Animation
Animation in the Middle East is a quickly growing industry, and Gulf countries are playing a leading role in creating, funding, and distributing animated stories from the region.
AI and the U.S.-Gulf Tech Axis
The convergence of Gulf capital and energy with U.S. technology leadership signals the emergence of a U.S.-Gulf AI axis with global economic and geopolitical implications.
Apr 29, 2025
AGSI x Culture Summit: A New World History: Nonhuman Perspectives in Gulf Art
On April 29, AGSI convened a session on alternative histories in art at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi.
Speakers
Exploring Oman’s History, Culture, and Cuisine: A Conversation With Chef Dina Macki
In her latest book, Bahari, meaning “ocean” in Swahili, chef Dina Macki embarks on a culinary exploration of the rich flavors and history of Omani cuisine, a food culture shaped by boundless coastlines and complex maritime history, with origins and influences spanning Pakistan, Iran, India, the Swahili coast, and Portugal. An Omani Zanzibari chef who...
Speakers
Dec 3, 2024
Book Talk: The Development of An Art History in the UAE
On December 3, AGSIW hosted a discussion on contemporary art in the United Arab Emirates.
Speakers
Oct 18, 2024
Book Talk: Gulf Women’s Lives: Voice, Space, Place
On October 18, AGSIW hosted a discussion on the lives of Gulf women, exploring how Gulf women negotiate spaces through their writing and focusing on women’s narratives.
Speakers
Oct 2, 2024
Book Talk: Saudi Youth: Policies and Practices
On October 2, AGSIW hosted a discussion on Saudi youth policy development.
Speakers
Nov 4, 2025
12:00pm - 1:00pm
After the Cease-Fire: The Regional Component of the Future of Gaza
On November 4, AGSI and ROPES will co-host a discussion about regional dynamics after the recent Israel-Hamas cease-fire.
Speakers
Oct 30, 2025
AGSI Student Open House and Reception
On October 30, AGSI hosted a student open house and reception featuring the exhibit “Making Space: Gulf Photographers on the Scene.”
Speakers
Oct 21, 2025
Book Launch: A Political Economy of Sovereign Wealth Funds in the Middle East and Asia
On October 21, AGSI hosted a discussion on the strategic economic significance of sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East-Asia investment corridor.
Speakers
Oct 20, 2025
Unpacking the Saudi-Pakistani Mutual Defense Agreement
On October 20, AGSI hosted a discussion on Saudi-Pakistani defense ties.
Speakers
Oct 15, 2025
A Conversation With His Excellency Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi
On October 15, AGSI hosted a conversation with H.E. Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Speakers
Sep 18, 2025
Book Talk: Building the Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab World: China’s Middle East Math
On September 18, AGSI hosted a discussion on the trajectory of China's presence in the Middle East.
Speakers
Millennial Gulf
View AllAmmar Alsabban: Superman With a Saudi Accent
With passions as diverse as puppetry, podcasting, and superheroes, Ammar Alsabban is redefining the creative limits of Saudi identity.
