Analysis
View AllLow-Cost Barrels Lure Oil Majors Back to the Middle East
From the Gulf to the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa, governments are recalibrating fiscal terms, monetization strategies, and partnership models to attract international players.
Demographics Mean That Job Creation Is Top of the Saudi Economic Policy Agenda
With young Saudis continuing to enter their working age years in large numbers, robust employment gains need to continue, but slower non-oil growth may present a challenge.
Beyond the Cube: Rethinking Urban Ambition in Riyadh
If the first phase of Vision 2030 was designed to capture imagination and reposition the kingdom globally, the next phase may focus on livability and affordability.
Hearing Them Softly: Emirati Discourse Management Works the Rift
To respond to harsh Saudi criticisms, the Emiratis have sought to reframe, deflect, and calibrate, avoiding escalation while also benefitting from powerful advocates, including Senator Lindsey Graham.
Feb 24, 2026
Iran Signals Deterrence Paired With Diplomacy
The February 24 edition of the Iran Media Review analyzes Iranian messaging in the lead up to a new round of negotiations with the United States.
Feb 20, 2026
Resigned to War Yet Still Working Toward a Deal
The February 20 edition of the Iran Media Review considers Iranian media analysis on the prospects for conflict and a potential deal to prevent it.
Feb 17, 2026
Money Talks: U.S.-Iran Negotiations in Geneva
The February 17 edition of the Iran Media Review explores an Iranian deputy foreign minister’s discussion of potential economic incentives Iran is offering to the United States.
Feb 13, 2026
Revolution Day in Iran: Celebrating Survival
The February 13 edition of the Iran Media Review explores Iranian narratives surrounding the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The Saudi Fiscal Deficit in 2025 Was Larger Than Expected
The 2025 budget deficit was larger than expected. The 2026 deficit is also likely to exceed the budget target, but higher oil prices may help contain any overrun.
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.
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
Low-Cost Barrels Lure Oil Majors Back to the Middle East
From the Gulf to the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa, governments are recalibrating fiscal terms, monetization strategies, and partnership models to attract international players.
Demographics Mean That Job Creation Is Top of the Saudi Economic Policy Agenda
With young Saudis continuing to enter their working age years in large numbers, robust employment gains need to continue, but slower non-oil growth may present a challenge.
Beyond the Cube: Rethinking Urban Ambition in Riyadh
If the first phase of Vision 2030 was designed to capture imagination and reposition the kingdom globally, the next phase may focus on livability and affordability.
Hearing Them Softly: Emirati Discourse Management Works the Rift
To respond to harsh Saudi criticisms, the Emiratis have sought to reframe, deflect, and calibrate, avoiding escalation while also benefitting from powerful advocates, including Senator Lindsey Graham.
Oman Sets Its Economic Compass for the Year Ahead
A flurry of economic announcements and initiatives by the Omani government indicate a strong desire to sustain both reform progress and economic momentum amid potential headwinds.
The UAE’s Pitch for Cricket
Cricket has become a key part of the United Arab Emirates’ multipolar approach to sports investment, where franchise ownership, player markets, and transnational capital converge to support economic diversification and power projection.
