Bader Al-Saif
Non-Resident Fellow, AGSI; Assistant Professor of History, Kuwait University
Bader Al-Saif is a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute. He is also the founding president of Al-Saif Consulting and an assistant professor at Kuwait University.
Al-Saif specializes in the Arabian Peninsula, namely its geopolitics, public policy, culture, reform dynamics, transnational trends, and gender studies. He has over two decades of experience researching and working in the Gulf Arab states, notably as deputy chief of staff to a former Kuwaiti prime minister and senior vice president of the oil and gas sector at Agility. Previously, he was a consultant to the office of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Al-Saif is the recipient of various awards and co-founded several nongovernmental organizations in the fields of education, youth empowerment, and transitional justice. He has published numerous peer-reviewed works, contributes policy analyses to multiple outlets, and is frequently quoted and interviewed by top media outlets around the world.
He holds a PhD with distinction from Georgetown University, a Master of Education and Master of Theology, both with honors, from Harvard University, and a Master of Law with honors from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He graduated summa cum laude from Boston College with a double major in political science and history.
Analysis
Nawaf al-Ahmed: A Legacy of Firsts
Nawaf al-Ahmed al-Sabah’s six-decade career was colored by a conciliatory approach, which was evident in his final post as Kuwait’s emir through deploying an unprecedented political reset and administrative overhaul.
Kuwait’s New Doctrine
Kuwait’s “new doctrine” has the potential to usher in a new era. It can either lead to radical change for the better, further decay, or entrenchment of the deadlocked status quo.
Old Playbook for New Kuwaiti Government Signals Further Stasis
An addictive recourse to the same political class and governance scheme suggests Kuwait’s new government, like its predecessors, will prove unable to effectively confront the country’s many challenges.
Events
Dec 10, 2024
How Will Gulf Partners Seek to Manage Relations With Trump 2.0?
On December 10, AGSIW hosted a discussion on the future U.S.-Gulf relations under the incoming Trump administration.
Speakers
May 22, 2024
Virtual Roundtable on Kuwait
On May 22, AGSIW hosted a roundtable on developments in Kuwait.
Speakers
Nov 7, 2023
How Is the Israel-Hamas Conflict Affecting Gulf Arab States and Their Strategic Calculations?
On November 7, AGSIW hosted a discussion on Gulf responses to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Speakers
May 31, 2023
Will Kuwait’s Upcoming Elections Help Resolve Its Political Gridlock?
On May 31, AGSIW hosted a discussion on Kuwait's upcoming parliamentary elections.
Speakers
Oct 6, 2022
Making Sense of Kuwait’s Parliamentary Election Results: Change or Continued Gridlock?
On October 6, AGSIW hosted a discussion examining the results of Kuwait's recent parliamentary elections.
Speakers
Oct 7, 2020
Kuwait After Emir Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah
On October 7, AGSIW hosted a virtual panel discussion on the future of Kuwait's leadership.
Speakers
