Analysis
View AllQatar’s Economic Trajectory Left Unchanged by Recent Attacks
Israeli and Iranian attacks on targets in Qatar are worrying developments for the small Gulf state, but they are unlikely to disrupt an expected acceleration of economic growth over the short and medium terms.
Iran’s Naval Exercises and Dual Messaging
Iran’s first naval exercise since the June conflict with Israel was meant to project strength and ability to threaten the regional interests of Gulf states while avoiding military confrontation with the United States and Israel.
Saudi-Pakistani Defense Pact Highlights Shifts in Alignments
Saudi Arabia’s strategic defense agreement with Pakistan is part of a wider formation of alignments within the broader Muslim world meant to counter Israel’s expanding power and ambitions in the region, as the threat perception has shifted from Iran to Israel.
The Pragmatist Who Came In From the Cold: Ali Larijani, Iran’s New Supreme National Security Council Secretary
An Iraqi-born native of Najaf but an unmistakably Iranian nationalist, Ali Larijani is expected to leverage his record of bureaucratic competence and global fluency to coordinate Iran’s security bureaucracy.
Oct 10, 2025
Technocrats Prescribe Political and Economic Reforms as Survival Strategy
The October 10 edition of the Iran Media Review examines proposals from Iranian technocrats for political and economic reforms.
Oct 7, 2025
“Cosmetic Surgery”: Iran Removes Four Zeros From Bank Notes
The October 7 edition of the Iran Media Review highlights criticism of a move by the Iranian Parliament to remove zeros from the national currency.
Oct 3, 2025
Iran: Resigned to Sanctions
The October 3 edition of the Iran Media Review considers Iranian regime efforts to downplay the return of United Nations “snapback” sanctions.
Sep 30, 2025
Iranian Media Reacts to Snapback
The September 30 edition of the Iran Media Review examines Iranian media responses to the European reimposition of pre-2015 United Nations sanctions.
Jul 1, 2025
The IMF Comments on the Saudi Economy and Policy Framework
The International Monetary Fund continues to endorse the direction of economic reform in Saudi Arabia but notes that risks from oil price uncertainty and strong credit growth will need to be carefully managed to keep the economy on a strong growth trajectory.
Apr 23, 2025
Saudi Current Account in Deficit in 2024 Despite High Oil Prices
The Saudi current account moved into a small deficit in 2024 despite oil prices of $80 per barrel. A return to a surplus is unlikely unless oil revenue moves sharply higher.
Apr 9, 2025
What Do Lower Oil Prices Mean for the Saudi Budget?
The sharp drop in oil prices over the past week will result in a larger budget deficit and more government borrowing.
Mar 28, 2025
Positive Momentum Continues in the Saudi Labor Market
Robust growth in the non-oil economy and ongoing reforms are driving increased employment and labor force participation rates and lower unemployment among Saudi nationals.
Ammar 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.
Rahina: A Jeweler’s Ode to Dhofari Heritage
Through Rahina, Fatma al-Najjar is exploring her Dhofari heritage and tapping into ancestral memories, one piece of jewelry at a time.
10 min read
Independent Researchers Are Advancing UAE History on Social Media
Independent researchers and informal collaboratives have been connecting through social media to fill in gaps in popular knowledge of the United Arab Emirates’ pre-state era.
Manama Story: Preserving the Soul of the City
The Manama Story project seeks to preserve the history of the Bahraini city, one archive at a time.
A New Gulf Partnership
In May, President Donald J. Trump embarked on a trip to the Gulf that signals a new era in U.S.-Gulf relations. AGSI's A New Gulf Partnership series explores the ways U.S. strategic relations with these countries are evolving and offers policy recommendations for the U.S. administration to maximize political and economic influence.
Nov 13, 2024
Energy and Climate Initiative
AGSIW’s Energy and Climate Initiative explores Gulf energy and climate policies, technological advances, and pressing political, social, and environmental issues ahead of COP28.
Nov 5, 2024
U.S. Presidential Election
AGSIW’s U.S. Presidential Election series explores Gulf perspectives on the 2024 election and considers how the election results may shape the future of U.S. engagement in the Gulf region.
Sep 6, 2024
Trees of the Gulf
This series looks at the vital role certain trees play in the region's collective memory, survival, and plans for the future.
All Analysis
Qatar’s Economic Trajectory Left Unchanged by Recent Attacks
Israeli and Iranian attacks on targets in Qatar are worrying developments for the small Gulf state, but they are unlikely to disrupt an expected acceleration of economic growth over the short and medium terms.
Iran’s Naval Exercises and Dual Messaging
Iran’s first naval exercise since the June conflict with Israel was meant to project strength and ability to threaten the regional interests of Gulf states while avoiding military confrontation with the United States and Israel.
Saudi-Pakistani Defense Pact Highlights Shifts in Alignments
Saudi Arabia’s strategic defense agreement with Pakistan is part of a wider formation of alignments within the broader Muslim world meant to counter Israel’s expanding power and ambitions in the region, as the threat perception has shifted from Iran to Israel.
The Pragmatist Who Came In From the Cold: Ali Larijani, Iran’s New Supreme National Security Council Secretary
An Iraqi-born native of Najaf but an unmistakably Iranian nationalist, Ali Larijani is expected to leverage his record of bureaucratic competence and global fluency to coordinate Iran’s security bureaucracy.
An Apology and New Security Guarantees for Qatar
An apology from Israel’s prime minister – delivered under the watchful eye of President Trump in the Oval Office – and a written promise of a U.S. response if Qatar is attacked go a long way toward restoring Qatar's deterrence and bolstering its security and stability following the Israeli attack.
The MENA Power Transformation: Meeting Unprecedented Demand
The Middle East and North Africa will experience an unprecedented level of energy demand between now and 2035, pushing Gulf countries to find new ways to meet that demand.
