Opinion Economy Sobering year ahead but Saudi and UAE can weather storm Geopolitics will inevitably affect the big Gulf economies February 2, 2023
Analysis Economy Less dramatic year ahead for Middle East post-Covid and oil boom era After the sugar rush of 2022, Gulf states will have to get used to less dramatic rates of growth in 2023, as economies stabilise following the immediate post-Covid period that coincided with the spillover effects from the Ukraine crisis. GCC growth averaged 6.5 percent in 2022, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates, and the […] December 28, 2022
Analysis Development 10 events that shaped the Gulf’s economies in 2022 This last year has been book-ended by two of the largest events the Gulf has ever seen: Expo 2020 Dubai and the Fifa football World Cup in Qatar, helping the region throw off the shackles of the coronavirus pandemic. Many events share a common theme, according to Andreas Krieg, associate professor at King’s College London. […] December 27, 2022
Opinion Development Goodbye 2022: Lessons to be learnt from a year of challenges From the coronavirus pandemic to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the immense challenges of 2022 inform hopes and fears for the future December 16, 2022
Opinion Energy A new cap on Russian oil leaves world relying on the Gulf Middle East producers will be the main beneficiaries as markets look elsewhere for supply December 14, 2022
Opinion Energy Blame White House and Wall Street for global energy crunch The influence of radical environmentalism on the US Democrat administration and Wall Street bankers is damaging the global energy industry December 12, 2022
Opinion Economy Impact of EU sanctions for European companies in the Gulf GCC entities navigate a legal minefield if seen to be assisting EU companies in breaching sanctions against Russia December 7, 2022
Opinion Energy Opec+ decides to wait and see on global oil markets Sunday’s virtual Opec+ meeting did the sensible thing: it held output, but made clear it was ready and willing to intervene should the circumstances warrant it December 5, 2022
Analysis Energy Middle East under pressure to fill oil gap left by Russia The Gulf states are in prime position to plug the global energy gap caused by the Ukraine war, but other countries must also step up, experts said this week at Adipec, the region’s top energy event. In recent months, the UAE and Qatar have been in talks with Europe to sell gas to those who […] November 4, 2022
Opinion Energy Gas crisis may attract ‘energy migrants’ to Middle East International companies may have to rethink their strategy as bills continue to rise November 1, 2022
Analysis Energy Adnoc chief warns 5m barrels a day at risk if oil investment halts The head of the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has warned that the world will lose five million barrels per day of oil each year from next year if investments in the sector grinds to a halt. “Now is not the time to point out that long-term underinvestment in oil and gas has […] October 31, 2022
Analysis Energy Energy crisis inflates Gulf demand and strains Europe The Opec+ oil production cuts announced in early October look set to ensure high energy prices continue for some time – a boon for Gulf producers but a headache for energy importers elsewhere. The situation is particularly acute in Europe, where countries have been scrambling to find alternatives to Russian gas. The first instinct of […] October 28, 2022
Analysis Energy Emerging ‘consequences’ of the US-Gulf fallout over OPEC’s cuts OPEC+’s announcement last week of a two million barrel per day (bpd) production cut from November has rocked already fragile US-Gulf relations. Joe Biden pledged that “there will be consequences” for Saudi Arabia in the same week that the UAE president flew to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin. In response to Biden’s threat of retaliation, […] October 13, 2022
Opinion Energy OPEC+ cuts reopen wounds between West and GCC members Geopolitical dilemma: while the US is concerned about energy price hikes during the midterm elections, OPEC+ is acting to safeguard its own member interests October 11, 2022
Opinion Energy Behind the scenes at the controversial OPEC+ meeting The West and GCC nations can now only gain from really engaging in geopolitics and markets with cool heads and open channels of communication October 6, 2022
Opinion Development Ukraine prisoner swap highlights growing Russia-Saudi alliance Saudi Arabia’s relations with Moscow have warmed significantly. But its involvement in the prisoner swap suggests that Riyadh is also leveraging this relationship to mend its own links with the US September 23, 2022
Opinion Energy Opec+ treads fine line between oil markets and geopolitics Alliance's minimal moves on production are statement of intent as it straddles the wishes of the US and Russia September 6, 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
Opinion Energy The answer to OPEC’s investment dilemma is in its own hands OPEC members worried about 'years of underinvestment' have a choice: open up to more international partners or increase their oil output August 15, 2022
Opinion Energy OPEC’s minor production increase was the only viable option The fact that OPEC is running out of spare capacity in a constrained market is another concerning factor August 5, 2022
Opinion Biden Middle East Biden’s focus in Saudi should be on the long-term Mid-term election success will tempt the American president to go for quick wins, but he must enter into talks with an eye on the global demand for energy July 8, 2022
Opinion Energy RIP Mohammad Barkindo: a pioneer full of energy The OPEC secretary general cared deeply about climate change and was instrumental in the transition to a decarbonised world July 7, 2022
