Analysis
View AllA Saudi Plus World Cup 2034: A Chance for Gulf Unity and Resilience
A Saudi decision to invite Gulf partners to cohost the World Cup would reinforce the kingdom’s role as the driving force behind a more integrated, connected, and resilient Gulf.
A Glimpse of UAE Oil Export Plans
A brief reopening of oil exports in June suggested the path ahead for the United Arab Emirates.
Have Saudi Labor Market Reforms Run Their Course?
Recent data suggests that the positive impact of a decade of reforms to improve Saudi labor market outcomes may now be waning.
Qatar LNG Past & Future
As Qatar looks to the future, it will have to assess the battered landscape of the global LNG industry, reassure its customer base, and rethink its approach for a very different market.
Jul 24, 2026
Iran Vows Retaliatory Attacks Across the Region and Beyond
The July 24 edition of the Iran Media Review highlights messages from Iran’s armed forces threatening to attack regional infrastructure and U.K. military bases.
Jul 21, 2026
Fight, Negotiate – or Both?
The July 21 edition of the Iran Media Review analyzes Iranian media messaging about whether Iran should escalate or negotiate with the United States.
Jul 17, 2026
Qalibaf Emerges as Iran’s De Facto Wartime Leader
The July 17 edition of the Iran Media Review examines a written statement by Iran’s parliamentary speaker laying out Iran’s strategy for the future of the conflict.
Jul 15, 2026
Iranian Parliament Presses for Escalation
The July 15 edition of the Iran Media Review examines remarks by an Iranian hard-liner advocating for Iran to escalate against the United States without abandoning the U.S.-Iran cease-fire.
May 6, 2026
Spending Surge Puts Saudi Budget in Large First Quarter Deficit
The Saudi budget recorded a large deficit in the first quarter of 2026 as spending surged, but higher oil revenue during the rest of the year should limit the size of the annual fiscal deficit.
May 5, 2026
Gulf PMIs Raise Specter of Stagflation
Business conditions in the Gulf generally improved in April, but they remained weaker than before the Iran war. There are signs that price pressures are increasing as the conflict impedes trade.
The Iran War and the Saudi Economy
Data shows that the Saudi economy is being negatively affected by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, and the impact will likely continue for the next few months at least.
Apr 2, 2026
Saudi Equities Outperform Global Markets
Saudi equity prices have risen since the start of the Iran conflict, outperforming many regional and global markets. Whether this continues will depend on how and when the conflict ends.
Ballad: Moza Almatrooshi’s Homage to the Landscape
Moza Almatrooshi, an Emirati artist and chef, reflects on the inaugural season of ballad, her community culinary initiative.
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.
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
A Saudi Plus World Cup 2034: A Chance for Gulf Unity and Resilience
A Saudi decision to invite Gulf partners to cohost the World Cup would reinforce the kingdom’s role as the driving force behind a more integrated, connected, and resilient Gulf.
A Glimpse of UAE Oil Export Plans
A brief reopening of oil exports in June suggested the path ahead for the United Arab Emirates.
Have Saudi Labor Market Reforms Run Their Course?
Recent data suggests that the positive impact of a decade of reforms to improve Saudi labor market outcomes may now be waning.
Qatar LNG Past & Future
As Qatar looks to the future, it will have to assess the battered landscape of the global LNG industry, reassure its customer base, and rethink its approach for a very different market.
Ballad: Moza Almatrooshi’s Homage to the Landscape
Moza Almatrooshi, an Emirati artist and chef, reflects on the inaugural season of ballad, her community culinary initiative.
The Emir Who Refused To Hide
Under Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Qatar would be known – as a mediator, a broadcaster, a host of mega sports events, and an investor – and that notoriety would itself become a form of security: deterrence by relevance.
