"*" indicates required fields

Subscribe

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy

Subscription Settings

Arab Gulf States Institute

The Enduring Saudi-Iranian Detente

The conflict between Israel and Iran demonstrated the endurance of the Saudi-Iranian detente but also revealed its key vulnerabilities.

Giorgio Cafiero

8 min read

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.

John Calabrese
John Calabrese

14 min read

President Donald J. Trump speaks during an AI summit at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, July 23, in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

OPEC Doubles Down on Oil in Long-Term Outlook

OPEC sees hydrocarbons – particularly oil – anchoring the global energy mix well into 2050.

Kate Dourian

5 min read

A resident walks across a pedestrian overhead bridge as motorists drive on a city highway clogged with heavy traffic in Beijing, March 1. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

UAE Defense Industry Ambitions

The “Make It in the Emirates” forum showcased how far the UAE’s growing defense manufacturing capabilities and ambitions have come – and how far they have left to go.

Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, left, walks through the display of the Emirati military company EDGE while attending the Dubai Air Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

Jul 31, 2025

10:00am - 11:30am

Rebuilding Syria: Opportunities and Challenges of Postwar Reconstruction

On July 31, AGSI will host a discussion on Syria's reconstruction efforts.

Register
A drone view shows destroyed buildings and massive piles of rubble, as a bulldozer stands nearby, in Aleppo, Syria, June 24. (REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano)
A drone view shows destroyed buildings and massive piles of rubble, as a bulldozer stands nearby, in Aleppo, Syria, June 24. (REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano)

Jul 22, 2025

Gulf Economic Outlook: The Role of Fiscal Policy in Navigating Gulf Countries Through Global Economic Uncertainty

On July 22, AGSI and the World Bank co-hosted a discussion on the "Gulf Economic Update" report.

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 28. (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 28. (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed)

Jun 26, 2025

Making Space: Gulf Photographers on the Scene

On June 26, AGSI opened a photography exhibition showcasing the work of 15 contemporary photographers from across the Gulf.

Image: Al Moutasim Al Maskery, Tree of Life, gallery shot. Courtesy of the artist. (Credit: AGSI)

Jun 24, 2025

Petro Diplomacy 2025: The GCC Energy Sector: Transformation, Diversification, and Global Ambition

On June 24, AGSI convened its Petro Diplomacy conference for the 11th consecutive year.

A row of oil pumps work in the desert oil fields of Sakhir, Bahrain, June 10, 2014. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

Jun 23, 2025

U.S. Strike on Iran: Regional and Diplomatic Fallout

On June 23, AGSI hosted a discussion on the United States' attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

President Donald J. Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington, June 21, after the U.S. military struck three Iranian nuclear and military sites, as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listen. (Carlos Barria/Pool via AP)
President Donald J. Trump speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington, June 21, after the U.S. military struck three Iranian nuclear and military sites, as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listen. (Carlos Barria/Pool via AP)

Jun 16, 2025

Assessing Iranian, U.S., and Gulf Reactions and Options Following Israel’s Unprecedented Attack on Iran

On June 16, AGSI hosted a discussion on Israel's attack on Iran.

Rescuers work at the scene of a damaged building in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 13. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA via REUTERS)
Rescuers work at the scene of a damaged building in the aftermath of Israeli strikes in Tehran, Iran, June 13. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA via REUTERS)

Jun 12, 2025

Yemen at a Crossroads: Navigating Political Shifts and Economic Turmoil

On June 12, AGSI hosted a discussion on developments in Yemen.

Yemenis walk past vendors in the market in the old city of Sanaa, Yemen, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)
Yemenis walk past vendors in the market in the old city of Sanaa, Yemen, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed)

Jun 3, 2025

A Conversation With Ambassador Claire Le Flécher

On June 3, AGSI hosted a conversation with Ambassador Claire Le Flécher, the former French ambassador to Kuwait.

Ambassador Claire Le Flécher, center, in discussion with AGSI Senior Resident Scholar Kristin Smith Diwan, left, and AGSI President Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman, right.
Ambassador Claire Le Flécher, center, in discussion with AGSI Senior Resident Scholar Kristin Smith Diwan, left, and AGSI President Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman, right. (Credit: AGSI)

May 27, 2025

Saudi Arabia’s Sports Ambitions: Diversification and Sustainability?

On May 27, AGSI hosted a discussion on Saudi Arabia's investment in sports.

Saudi Arabia fans cheer prior of the World Cup group C soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, November 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Saudi Arabia fans cheer before a World Cup soccer match between Poland and Saudi Arabia at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, November 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

May 20, 2025

Assessing the U.S. Military Response to the Houthis: Implications for Yemen and Red Sea Security

On May 20, AGSI hosted a discussion on the United States' policy toward the Houthis.

A police trooper stands on the rubble of a building destroyed by U.S. air strikes in Sanaa, Yemen April 27. (REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah)
A police trooper stands on the rubble of a building destroyed by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, April 27. (REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah)

May 19, 2025

A Golden Age for U.S.-Gulf Relations? Assessing President Trump’s Middle East Tour

On May 19, AGSI will host a discussion on Trump's visit to the Gulf.

Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, President Donald J. Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attend a group photo session with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, President Donald J. Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa attend a group photo session with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)

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.

Lauren McMillen
Lauren McMillen

13 min read

Entrance Hall of the Sharjah Animation Conference. (Credit: Lauren McMillen)

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.

Sean Foley

13 min read

Ammar Alsabban. (Courtesy of Ammar Alsabban)

Saudi Architecture and the Quest for Identity: An Initiative Transforming the Kingdom

In Saudi Arabia, architecture is not just about shelter – it is about storytelling.

A drone view shows a cityscape in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 1. (REUTERS/Mohammed Benmansour)

AGSI Remembers Ambassador Frank G. Wisner