Arab Gulf States Institute

Qatar's first World Cup point, earned through a goalkeeper of Palestinian descent, reveals how the emirate has turned a tiny citizenry, migration, and naturalization into an instrument of statecraft and where that instrument meets its limits. – Raphaël Le Magoariec

Qatar's National Team Mirrors the State - AGSI Qatar's first World Cup point, earned through a goalkeeper of Palestinian descent, reveals how the emirate has turned a tiny citizenry, migration, and naturalization into an instrument of statecraft and where that instrument meets its limits.

Iran’s threats involving undersea internet cables and digital infrastructure in the Strait of Hormuz have transformed the crisis from an energy chokepoint into a hybrid risk for Gulf Arab economies. – Hamzah Rifaat

Digital Risks in the Strait of Hormuz Present New Challenges - AGSI Iran’s threats involving undersea internet cables and digital infrastructure in the Strait of Hormuz have transformed the crisis from an energy chokepoint into a hybrid risk for Gulf Arab economies.

A misreading of the Belt and Road Initiative has prompted a regional scramble to develop economic corridors ahead of the more foundational development of integrated manufacturing and intraregional trade. – Islam Alhalawany

Connectivity Without Transformation in the Middle East - AGSI A misreading of the Belt and Road Initiative has prompted a regional scramble to develop economic corridors ahead of the more foundational development of integrated manufacturing and intraregional trade.

If the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran holds, the Saudi economy will grow strongly in the second half of 2026 and into 2027. – Tim Callen

Saudi Economic Outlook Positive If U.S.-Iran Deal Holds - AGSI If the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran holds, the Saudi economy will grow strongly in the second half of 2026 and into 2027.

The Trump administration has positioned the United States at a crossroads between a new regime of containment against Iran or a historic drawdown of U.S. influence in the Gulf and broader Middle East. – Hussein Ibish

Will "Hormuz" be the American "Suez"? - AGSI The Trump administration has positioned the United States at a crossroads between a new regime of containment against Iran or a historic drawdown of U.S. influence in the Gulf and broader Middle East.

The Houthi movement is looking to Moscow and Beijing for the international standing Washington denies it. – Fatima Abo Alasrar

A Multipolar Foreign Policy: The Houthi Bid for International Recognition - AGSI The Houthi movement is looking to Moscow and Beijing for the international standing Washington denies it.

Video – Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the World Cup Ahmed Al Omran, Kristian Ulrichsen, and Kristin Smith Diwan.

Kingdom of Football: Saudi Arabia and the World Cup - AGSI On June 10, AGSI hosted a discussion on Saudi Arabia's growing engagement in the global soccer community.

On June 8, AGSI convened its 12th annual Petro Diplomacy conference: Energy in Crisis: Markets and Geopolitics of Supply at the Army and Navy Club in Washington, DC.

Timothy A. Lenderking, principal at Squire Patton Boggs’ Global Public Policy Practice, opened the day with a keynote briefing – setting the stage for a full day of discussion on oil markets, gas and LNG, and the future of energy security.

Thank you to all speakers and attendees for another exceptional gathering.

https://agsi.org/events/petro-diplomacy-2026-energy-in-crisis-markets-and-geopolitics-of-supply/

Saudi Arabia is eyeing the growth of a sovereign compute exchange model that, like OPEC for crude, would let it shape and stabilize long-term compute costs. – Jesse Marks

The Landlord Question: What Petro-Compute Actually Buys Saudi Arabia - AGSI Saudi Arabia is eyeing the growth of a sovereign compute exchange model that, like OPEC for crude, would let it shape and stabilize long-term compute costs.

Watch now – Petro Diplomacy 2026 Session 2: Gas and LNG – Flexibility Under Pressure with Madeline Jowdy, Alex Whittington, and Ben Cahill.

Petro Diplomacy 2026: Energy in Crisis: Markets and Geopolitics of Supply Petro Diplomacy 2026 convenes at a moment of acute strain on global...