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Culture

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Making Space: Gulf Photographers on the Scene

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

A Path to a Stronger United States in the Gulf

AGSI offers pragmatic, targeted policy recommendations for the Trump administration to maximize U.S. political and economic influence with the crucial emerging regional powers in the Gulf.

20 min read

President Donald J. Trump, fifth left, attends a group photo session with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, fourth right, UAE Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, second right, Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, left, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, third left, Kuwaiti Emir Meshal al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, second left, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi, right, during the GCC Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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)

AGSI x Culture Summit: A New World History: Nonhuman Perspectives in Gulf Art

On April 29, AGSI will convene a session on alternative histories in art at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi.

(Image courtesy of Saad Alsharrah)

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.

Abdulla Almarzooqi
Abdulla Almarzooqi

18 min read

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.

Shifaa Alsairafi

8 min read

Apr 29, 2025

AGSI x Culture Summit: A New World History: Nonhuman Perspectives in Gulf Art

On April 29, AGSI will convene a session on alternative histories in art at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi.

(Image courtesy of Saad Alsharrah)
(Image courtesy of Saad Alsharrah)

Mar 26, 2025

Exploring Oman’s History, Culture, and Cuisine: A Conversation With Chef Dina Macki

In her latest book, Bahari, meaning “ocean” in Swahili, chef Dina Macki embarks on a culinary exploration of the rich flavors and history of Omani cuisine, a food culture shaped by boundless coastlines and complex maritime history, with origins and influences spanning Pakistan, Iran, India, the Swahili coast, and Portugal.  An Omani Zanzibari chef who...

Visitors buy frankincense at Al Haffa souq, in Dhofar governorate, Oman, August 5, 2024. (REUTERS/Rula Rouhana)
Visitors buy frankincense, which is produced by Wadi Dawkah's trees and historically used to power trade routes beyond the Arabian Peninsula, at Al Haffa souq, in Dhofar governorate, Oman, August 5, 2024. Frankincense remains a vital aspect of Omani culture, used in religious rites, incense, and perfumes. REUTERS/Rula Rouhana

Dec 3, 2024

Book Talk: The Development of An Art History in the UAE

On December 3, AGSIW hosted a discussion on contemporary art in the United Arab Emirates.

Shaikha Al Mazrou, ‘Circuit Boards’, 2011. Mixed media. (Courtesy of the artist and the Lawrie Shabibi Gallery, Dubai)
Shaikha Al Mazrou, ‘Circuit Boards’, 2011. Mixed media. (Courtesy of the artist and the Lawrie Shabibi Gallery, Dubai)

Oct 18, 2024

Book Talk: Gulf Women’s Lives: Voice, Space, Place

On October 18, AGSIW hosted a discussion on the lives of Gulf women, exploring how Gulf women negotiate spaces through their writing and focusing on women’s narratives.

Women talk during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 12, 2023. (REUTERS/Amr Alfiky)
Women talk during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 12, 2023. (REUTERS/Amr Alfiky)

Oct 2, 2024

Book Talk: Saudi Youth: Policies and Practices

On October 2, AGSIW hosted a discussion on Saudi youth policy development.

Women sit among men in a newly opened cafe in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, August 2, 2019. (REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed)
Women sit among men in a newly opened cafe in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, August 2, 2019. (REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed)

Jun 26, 2025

6:00pm - 8:00pm

Making Space: Gulf Photographers on the Scene

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

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

Jun 24, 2025

9:00am - 2:30pm

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

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

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

Jun 16, 2025

9:00am - 10:30am

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

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

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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)

Millennial Gulf

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Fablemill: Bringing Stories From the Region to Life

Through Fablemill, Eman Alsabah and her team are creating content that celebrates the region’s diverse stories and speaks to a global audience.

Shifaa Alsairafi

10 min read

Eman Alsabah (founder and CEO of Fablemill), Mariam Maki (head of projects at Fablemill), and Ghufran Alhubail (producer at Fablemill). (Credit: bentrepreneur)