Analysis
View AllUkraine’s Counterdrone Assistance to the Gulf States
Ukrainian help dealing with Iranian drone attacks could lead Gulf Arab states to rethink their neutrality in the Ukraine-Russia war.
Why the Gulf Arab States Matter So Much – But Decide So Little
The Gulf Arab states have discovered that wealth without hard power, and alliance without political influence, leave them exposed to other countries' wars.
The Squeeze on Erbil
The war in Iran both underscores the urgency and will delay action on a U.S.-brokered Peshmerga-Baghdad redeployment in the disputed territories.
Air and Missile Defense in the Gulf
The war is demonstrating that missile defense can blunt Iran’s strategy – but only if the United States and its regional partners ensure that their defenses can keep pace with the scale and speed of future conflicts.
Mar 24, 2026
Iran: Resilience, Defiance, and Willingness to Talk
The March 24 edition of the Iran Media Review considers Iranian messaging projecting a mix of defiance and a possible willingness to negotiate with the United States.
Mar 13, 2026
Quds Day in Iran
The March 13 edition of the Iran Media Review examines Iranian media reports of regime defiance at Quds Day rallies as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran continues.
Mar 10, 2026
New Leader, Old Policy
The March 10 edition of the Iran Media Review analyzes Iranian messaging after the election of a new supreme leader.
Mar 6, 2026
Tehran Warns Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government
The March 6 edition of the Iran Media Review highlights an Iranian military official’s warning to the Kurdistan Regional Government to stay out of the escalating U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
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
Ukraine’s Counterdrone Assistance to the Gulf States
Ukrainian help dealing with Iranian drone attacks could lead Gulf Arab states to rethink their neutrality in the Ukraine-Russia war.
Why the Gulf Arab States Matter So Much – But Decide So Little
The Gulf Arab states have discovered that wealth without hard power, and alliance without political influence, leave them exposed to other countries' wars.
The Squeeze on Erbil
The war in Iran both underscores the urgency and will delay action on a U.S.-brokered Peshmerga-Baghdad redeployment in the disputed territories.
Air and Missile Defense in the Gulf
The war is demonstrating that missile defense can blunt Iran’s strategy – but only if the United States and its regional partners ensure that their defenses can keep pace with the scale and speed of future conflicts.
Iran War Tests Oman’s Foreign Policy
Iranian attacks on Omani ports and oil tankers are straining Oman’s long-standing “friend to all” regional foreign policy, but Muscat still has a part to play in achieving peace.
Attacks Will Not Mutate the UAE’s DNA
The United Arab Emirates has repeatedly shown that it doesn’t just “bounce back” after a crisis; it “bounces forward.”
5 min read
