Colby Connelly

Colby Connelly is the director of the economics and energy program at the Middle East Institute and a senior analyst at Energy Intelligence. His research focus on regional macroeconomics, operating conditions, and political trends in the Middle East and North Africa, including oil markets, OPEC+, geopolitics, and the regional effects of the energy transition. He also contributes to competitive intelligence research by examining corporate strategies and developments in the region.

Prior to joining Energy Intelligence, Connelly worked as a research associate at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, where he focused on the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council region, with special attention to national oil companies and domestic energy markets. He spent several years working as a contractor in Saudi Arabia in support of workforce nationalization projects established as part of the government’s Saudization initiative. He designed, managed, and supported multiple training programs tailored for new employees of Saudi energy and critical infrastructure companies. He also has over seven years’ experience serving as a contributor to IHS Markit’s Middle East and North Africa country risk product.

Connelly holds an MA in global security studies from the Center for Advanced Governmental Studies at Johns Hopkins University and a BA in international affairs from James Madison University.