Analysis
View AllVenezuela, Trump, and Implications for OPEC’s Middle Eastern Core
A founding member of OPEC is now effectively under external control, raising questions about sovereignty, influence, and the resilience of producer-led market management.
Protests in Iran: Regime Deal With Trump or Degrade Toward Collapse?
Though the Iranian regime is facing increasing pressure from protesters and armed insurgent groups, it is not yet doomed – but without a deal with the United States, the regime is likely headed for a slow collapse.
Yemen’s Continuing Crack-Up
The STC’s failed attempt at independence likely means that Yemen won’t split along North and South lines.
Abu Dhabi’s Big Bid on Culture
Alongside its bid to become a regional and global economic powerhouse, the UAE capital is also rising as a new global capital for culture.
Jan 13, 2026
Decoupled From the Internet, IRGC Media Talks of Unity
The January 13 edition of the Iran Media Review considers IRGC-affiliated media’s unverifiable account of societal cohesion amid ongoing protests.
Jan 9, 2026
The IRGC Warns Iraq’s Kurdistan Region
The January 9 edition of the Iran Media Review analyzes IRGC-affiliated media threats against Kurdish parties headquartered in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Jan 6, 2026
Khamenei Comments on the Protests in Iran
The January 6 edition of the Iran Media Review examines Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s response to a new wave of protests.
Dec 19, 2025
Iran: Searching For a Way Out of the Impasse
The December 19 edition of the Iran Media Review examines an article by the son of a late Iranian president suggesting a way out of Iran’s current foreign and domestic crises.
Putting the 2026 Saudi Budget Under the Microscope
The Saudi government projects that the budget deficit will narrow during 2026-28, but this will depend on a rebound in oil prices and tight control of spending.
Nov 19, 2025
The Saudi Trade and Investment Commitment to the United States in Perspective
The $1 trillion Saudi trade and investment commitment to the United States will be extremely difficult to achieve given the size of the Saudi economy and its current financial situation.
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.
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
Venezuela, Trump, and Implications for OPEC’s Middle Eastern Core
A founding member of OPEC is now effectively under external control, raising questions about sovereignty, influence, and the resilience of producer-led market management.
Protests in Iran: Regime Deal With Trump or Degrade Toward Collapse?
Though the Iranian regime is facing increasing pressure from protesters and armed insurgent groups, it is not yet doomed – but without a deal with the United States, the regime is likely headed for a slow collapse.
Yemen’s Continuing Crack-Up
The STC’s failed attempt at independence likely means that Yemen won’t split along North and South lines.
Abu Dhabi’s Big Bid on Culture
Alongside its bid to become a regional and global economic powerhouse, the UAE capital is also rising as a new global capital for culture.
The Gulf’s Return to Lebanon?
A new government and the movement to disarm a weakened Hezbollah are increasing Gulf states’ trust in Lebanon, but Gulf-Lebanese rapprochement is not yet right around the corner.
Recasting Syria After Assad: Saudi Arabia’s Bid to Shape a Gulf-Led Regional Order
Saudi Arabia’s early, front-loaded engagement in Syria is part of a preemptive strategy to shape conditions before rival actors can fill the vacuum.
