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Yemen Crisis Reverberates in Oman as Diplomacy Steps In
As it has done at similar junctures, Omani diplomacy moved to extinguish the flames of disputes that have recently flared between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, following an airstrike carried out by fighter jets of the Saudi-backed “Coalition to Support Legitimacy” on Yemen’s port of Mukalla. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al…
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The GCC’s 2026 Economic Outlook
In the Middle East, political and security conditions rarely serve the economic ambitions of its countries. The region, where armed conflicts stretch across vast areas, has long curbed — and at times obstructed — economic growth. Even so, GCC countries have managed to push their economies forward, posting strong growth rates in recent years. Reports…
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Did Beijing Seek to Mediate between Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Yemen?
China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, carried multiple files and messages during his visits to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, renewing debate over whether Beijing is pursuing new objectives in the Gulf or simply extending its long-standing focus on economic cooperation. In Saudi Arabia, Wang delivered a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping to…
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Kuwait Faces Major Overhaul of Personal Status Law
More than 40 years after Kuwait enacted its Personal Status Law, the country is now confronting a wide-ranging draft amendment to one of the legal frameworks most closely tied to the daily lives of families. The proposed reform goes beyond minor adjustments. It seeks to rebuild the law from the ground up, amending 134 articles,…
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The GCC’s Money Game
Over the past decade, Gulf states have redrawn their foreign financial policies, shifting away from the “open-handed aid” model that had characterized them for earlier decades. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi — along with Doha and Kuwait — no longer view assistance as an expression of emotional solidarity or a purely moral commitment to “brotherly Arab…
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Gulf Defense Strategy: The High-Stakes Balance Between Autonomy and Alliances
Gulf states’ weapons manufacturing stands today at the intersection of two routes: imperative localization and foreign procurement. The two tracks of this equation, once viewed as separate, have become increasingly intertwined. That convergence was on full display at the 2025 Dubai Airshow with the unveiling of the Badr-250, the first medium-size defensive aircraft built entirely…
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The Gulf’s “Magic Wand”
In what looks like a race among them, Gulf countries are trying to attract professional talents and secure the labor force needed to carry out their development plans. Over the past few years, these states have adopted new approaches to open sustainable pathways for the entry of investment and human capital, and to fuel emerging…
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Gulf Forges Ahead on Digital Finance
Gulf countries are entering a new phase of monetary transformation, with digital currency markets witnessing an unprecedented boom. These nations have already made significant strides, positioning digital currencies as part of a broader Gulf project to reengineer their economic structures within long-term visions of diversification and digital transformation. As part of this project, the United…
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Dubai’s Bubble Fears
Since moving from Beirut to Dubai in 2023, Lebanese expatriate Mohammad Yassin has watched property prices and rents soar and felt the growing strain on middle-class budgets. “Owning a home in Dubai, amid the ever-rising cost of living, has become a distant dream, even for people with steady incomes,” Yassin said. Like him, many residents…
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The Mideast’s Answer to China’s Belt and Road Is Faltering
In September 2023, a massive project was announced that was said to have the potential to reshape global trade: the corridor linking India, the Middle East and Europe. Leaders of the Group of 20 signed the preliminary agreement in New Delhi at the time, showering the project with praise. Former U.S. President Joe Biden described…