Analysis Energy Sharjah wins waste-to-energy race as rest of region cleans up its act Dubai had the Gulf’s first “seven-star” hotel and Abu Dhabi hosted the inaugural “day-night” Formula One Grand Prix. The emirate of Sharjah can claim a UAE first too – one that is less glitzy but potentially more transformative – the first waste-to-energy power plant. The Sharjah waste-to-energy facility, officially inaugurated in May, adds another dimension […] August 23, 2022
Opinion Iran nuclear deal Riyadh offers wary support for revived Iranian nuclear deal Saudi views Iran’s nuclear programme with concern, but remains worried any revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action won't contain Iran's missile programme or its support for militias August 18, 2022
Analysis Energy Oil firms ride high but sector braces for more ‘realistic’ prices The Middle East’s oil and gas sector will remain buoyant into 2023, even as global oil prices become more “realistic” after surpassing a 15-year high of $123 per barrel in March, according to analysts. Oil prices hovered just below $90 per barrel on Tuesday, having gradually come down from $100/barrel at the end of July […] August 16, 2022
Analysis Economy GCC embraces public-private partnerships to drive projects Public-private partnerships will become more important across a wider range of sectors in the Gulf region as countries continue to diversify their economies, say experts. With the total value of planned and unawarded projects in the GCC countries expected to reach $2 trillion, governments are seeking more private sector support in infrastructure projects delivery. “Both […] July 28, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East ‘Could do better’: the experts’ verdict on Biden in Middle East Did the US president achieve his objectives on his tour of the Middle East? AGBI asked seven analysts to give Biden marks out of 10 President Joe Biden hoped to usher in a new era in Washington’s relationship with the Middle East during his whistlestop tour last week – seeking to reinforce America’s commitment to […] July 19, 2022
Opinion Manufacturing The Gulf can become the crucible of world industry if it acts now The GCC economies are diversifying already. If they can move further and faster into manufacturing, they could win a great prize July 19, 2022
Analysis Economy Sheikh Mohamed underlines ties with France on first foreign trip The Louvre Abu Dhabi is perhaps the most visible symbol of the flourishing relationship between the UAE and France. The museum on Saadiyat Island, which opened in 2017 under an agreement between the two governments, is said to be France’s largest cultural project abroad. Given this backdrop of cultural and commercial ties, France was a […] July 19, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East Biden boosts relations but fails to move the dial The president hoped to reset Washington’s relationship with the Middle East last weekend. In this in-depth analysis, AGBI explores how he performed on Israel, Iran, human rights and oil President Joe Biden’s whirlwind tour of the Middle East sought to reinforce America’s commitment to the region after several years of disengagement. In a speech to […] July 19, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East The road from Jeddah: US and Saudi set out their 19 priorities Clean energy, investment deals and space exploration are at the heart of the Jeddah communiqué – the partnership agreement issued by the US and Saudi governments after President Joe Biden’s meeting with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Among the agreements reached during the president’s visit on July 15 and 16 was a […] July 18, 2022
Opinion Biden Middle East Against the odds, Biden achieved a low key US-Gulf reset The US president did enough to restore relations with Saudi Arabia to what they were a decade ago but what comes next is paramount July 18, 2022
Opinion Biden Middle East Sink or swim? Biden’s tour puts US reputation on the line The President has a delicate balancing act as he courts favour with America's Middle East allies July 15, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East Biden’s ‘Jerusalem Declaration’ could slash UAE-Iran trade The US and Israel pledged today to deny Iran nuclear weapons – a move that could dissuade global trade partners from dealing with Tehran, experts have said. The freshly united stance from US president Joe Biden and Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid represents a rare show of unity by allies long divided over Iran diplomacy. The […] July 14, 2022
Biden Middle East What the papers said: Day one of Biden’s Middle East trip A round up of some of the opinion and views published by regional and international media on US President Biden’s trip to the Middle East. LOCAL PAPERS: Abu Dhabi’s The National: Joe Biden’s trip to Jerusalem met with ambivalence and optimism The National noted that while there is cautious optimism that Biden will help to […] July 14, 2022
Opinion Biden Middle East A picture could paint a thousand words when Biden meets MbS There are many issues to discuss but a simple photograph may reveal all we need to know about US-Saudi relations July 8, 2022
Analysis Biden Middle East Biden’s Saudi visit is a test of pragmatism over populism Ever since the White House announced in June that US President Joe Biden would be embarking on a trip to the Middle East – the first of his presidency – the possible motives behind it have been the subject of keen debate. Slated to take place from July 13-16 the trip has also been the […] July 8, 2022
Analysis People & Lifestyle Security is what MbS wants most of all from Washington As the architect of Saudi Vision 2030, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman quickly won plaudits the world over as a great moderniser and the face of reform in the kingdom. But the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 complicated matters. Shunned by many leaders – both political and business – MbS has […] July 8, 2022
Opinion Biden Middle East Partner or pariah? Biden must make his mind up on Saudi Murder and the Yemen war versus rising prices at the pump - the US president will have to use all his powers of diplomacy to get what he wants July 8, 2022
Energy UAE firms sanctioned in Iranian oil shipment crackdown The United States has imposed sanctions on four United Arab Emirates-based companies accused of being part of an international network engaged in the illicit sale and shipment of petroleum, petroleum products, and petrochemical products from Iranian firms to China and elsewhere in East Asia. The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control […] July 7, 2022
UK Morocco trade envoy resigns amid Johnson leadership crisis Boris Johnson, the British prime minister, is set to resign today following a swathe of party resignations. Among those to submit their resignation was Dr Andrew Murrison, trade envoy to Morocco, who submitted a strongly-worded letter yesterday saying that Johnson’s position had become “unrecoverable” over his handling of the row over disgraced deputy chief whip Chris […] July 6, 2022
Opinion Banking and Finance MENA’s crypto mining industry needs to catch up The challenges for digital asset mining in the region include the power costs needed in a hot climate June 30, 2022
Energy UAE ‘at forefront’ of global climate fight after new $50bn pledge The UAE is now at the forefront of the global fight against climate change after President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan pledged an extra $50 billion investment over the next decade. That’s the view of Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, the country’s Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, following the UAE President’s commitment announced […] June 18, 2022
Qatar pledges £10bn investment in key UK sectors The UK and Qatar have signed a new Strategic Investment Partnership which will see Qatar invest up to £10 billion over the next five years in key sectors of the UK economy including fintech, zero emissions vehicles, life sciences and cyber security. Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, welcomed the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim […] May 25, 2022