OPEC+ versus the United States and World Democracies

Fall 2022/Winter 2023 / Essays

The OPEC+ decision to cut oil production opens the door to further politicization of the global oil industry, particularly between the United States and Saudi Arabia

Competing Economic Visions in the Gulf

Winter 2022 / Essays

Economic visions offer regional governments roadmaps for development, but they can also serve as a tool for measurement and—ultimately—accountability

The End of Corporate Janissaries in the Gulf

Spring 2021 / Essays

Gulf family companies and businesses must learn to wean off the Kafala system that has created short-sighted dependency on elite migrant workers, much like the flawed Janissary model of governance.

Iran and the GCC: Prospects for a Grand Reconciliation

Spring 2021 / Essays

To realize shared priorities and fulfill the Persian Gulf’s potential as a global cornerstone for energy and trade, hardline Gulf states must acquiesce to waning U.S. hegemony and pursue reconciliation with Iran.

Gulf Arab States Review Tax Regimes Amid Economic Crisis

May 28, 2020 / COVID-19: Global Crisis

Value-added and excise taxes offer Gulf Arab states narrow fiscal levers to help offset the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis and drop in oil prices.

Can Arab Cities Be Eco-Sustainable?

Spring 2020 / Essays

Separating fiction from reality, and corporate interests from true innovation in the new “eco-cities” of the Middle East.

Seeds of Gulf-Africa Agribusiness

Winter 2020 / Essays

When Gulf nations face food, security, and water scarcity issues, one response is to seek lucrative agricultural investments in fertile African lands. Yet, while such deals can bring benefits to the countries involved, there are also sizeable risks