Policy Analysis

Policy research on Gulf economic transformation

Policy papers and commentary on Gulf diversification strategies, industrial policy, energy transition, and labour markets.

2026

GCC 360, September Issue — Moharram & Partners, September

Why Has the Price of Oil Remained Below War-Time Expectations?, Middle East Council on Global Affairs, August

GCC 360, August Issue — Moharram & Partners, August

With Hormuz Blocked Again, How Effective Are the Gulf’s Bypass Routes?, Middle East Council on Global Affairs, August

GCC 360, July Issue — Moharram & Partners, July

It’s Time for a Climate OPEC — Gulf International Forum, June

GCC 360, June Issue — Moharram & Partners, June

After the War: Reorienting Gulf Economic Policy — Webinar, Middle East Council on Global Affairs, June

The Costs of the Iran War Ceasefire for the Gulf States — Middle East Council on Global Affairs, May

Saudi Arabia at a Crossroads: Economic Fragility Before and After the War — Carpo, May

Qatar’s Strategic Balancing Amid Escalation and Disruption — Situation Assessment, Middle East Council on Global Affairs, May

The UAE’s OPEC Exit Leaves the Gulf Further Adrift — Middle East Council on Global Affairs, May

Economic Crisis, Human Cost: The Consequences of the War on Iran for the People of the Gulf — DAWN, May

Gulf Data Centers: The Ambitions and Reality of “Petro-Compute” — Gulf International Forum, April

The War on Iran and the Complex Economics of Fertilisers and Food — Noria Research, April

Gulf AI Infrastructure: Examining the Business and Economic Case — Gulf International Forum, March

The Costs of the Iran Conflict for the Gulf — Middle East Council on Global Affairs, March

Green Hydrogen Prospects in the Gulf — Observer Research Foundation, February

The GCC’s Evolving Trade Networks: Navigating Fragmentation and Diversification (Arabic version) — Policy Paper, Middle East Council on Global Affairs, January

2025

Gulf SMEs and the Post-Oil Economy: Lessons from the Mittelstand Model (Arabic version) — Policy Paper, Middle East Council on Global Affairs, September 2025.

After the Shock: The Israel-Iran War’s Economic Impact on the Gulf (Arabic version) — Policy Note, Middle East Council on Global Affairs, July 2025.

Could Trump’s Attack on Academia Be a Boon for the Gulf? (Arabic version) — Middle East Council on Global Affairs, May

What to Expect from Trump’s Visit to the Gulf (Arabic version) — Middle East Council on Global Affairs, April

Hooked on Fossil Fuels? Analyzing the Gulf States’ Dependency on Hydrocarbons — Gulf International Forum, April

Trump is back. Should Gulf States accelerate decoupling from the U.S.? — Middle East Council on Global Affairs, May

The Significance of Hydrocarbons to Gulf States and Their Citizens — Gulf International Forum, March

What the Data Tells Us about Hydrocarbon-Producing States — Gulf International Forum, March

2024

Future of business and industry in Qatar — The Peninsula, October

Start-Ups and SMEs: Key Lessons for the GCC from Global Models — Gulf International Forum, June

The Obstacles to Unleashing the Gulf’s Entrepreneurial Potential — Gulf International Forum, May

Older

Dubai’s Economy Needs More Than Luxury Real Estate Deals — Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, June 2023

COP28: Diplomatic opportunities and challenges for the UAE (Arabic version) — Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, September 2022.

Towards a Portfolio-Based Gulf Economy? — Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, November 2021

Growth in the Gulf: Four Ways Forward — Middle East Centre, London School of Economics, July 2021

Tubes or Tracks: How (Not) to Revitalise Regional Economic and Political Integration in the Gulf — Middle East Centre, London School of Economics, June 2021

Stalling Visions of the Gulf: The UAE’s Vision 2021 (Arabic version) — Washington Institute for Near East Policy, May 2021

Stalling Visions of the Gulf: The Case of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 (Arabic version) — Washington Institute for Near East Policy, May 2021

UAE Schooling Risks Missing the Bus — Middle East Centre, London School of Economics, April 2021