In 2024, the Gulf’s energy sector is poised at a critical juncture, balancing the traditional reliance on hydrocarbons with ambitious strides toward renewable energy and economic diversification amidst global economic fluctuations and regional geopolitical tensions. The Middle East played a significant role in the global energy market in 2023, navigating the delicate …
Read More »GCC, Iran’s Northern Neighbors Expanding Financial Ties
As Iran grapples with a severe lack of foreign investment, its Arab neighbors are increasingly channeling funds into Iran’s northern regions, boosting trade turnover. On December 17, the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Azerbaijan jointly launched a substantial investment fund worth one billion dollars. This collaborative venture sees …
Read More »Water Diplomacy Woes in the Persian Gulf: Navigating Water Scarcity in the UAE and Iran
Water crisis in the Persian Gulf presents a multifaceted challenge, as it plays a critical role in climate adaptation and mitigation, environmental damages and conflicts in the region. The varying water scarcity challenges among Gulf countries raise questions about how it will affect their collective efforts against water scarcity. As COP28 …
Read More »Russia and the Gulf: Implications for Global Energy Markets and Moscow’s International Isolation
Pressure is growing around the world to cut off international purchases of Russian oil because of the Kremlin’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In recent days, the government of Poland announced its intentions to do just that, in addition to self-embargos on Russian coal and natural gas, before the end …
Read More »Why Gulf States Can (or Cannot) Replace Russian Oil and Gas
Given Europe’s need for Russian natural gas and the lack of easily available alternatives for Russia’s energy resources in the European market in the short term, solutions to political disagreements between Europe and the Middle East are more vital now than ever. Energy flows—imports and exports—constitute a major element of …
Read More »The Middle East needs to draw the right lessons from today’s natural gas crisis
Rising oil prices and the energy crisis have created the conditions for Middle Eastern countries to gradually reduce their dependence on oil and gas exports and focus on a green economy by investing more in the energy transition process. The energy crisis and Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine, along with the outbreak of the …
Read More »A volatile year ahead for energy markets in the Middle East
Analysis: As the global economy recovers from Covid-19, oil production and prices are expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels. But with changing market dynamics and acceleration towards renewables, the energy market could be in for a volatile year. The economies of energy-producing countries in the Middle East will be heavily reliant …
Read More »A new era in Turkey-UAE ties? Economic relations warm as ideological tensions linger
Analysis: Amid a trend of de-escalation, Turkey and the UAE are repairing broken ties. But while economic relations are driving the rapprochement, political differences remain. Turkey’s relations with Arab countries have been strained in recent years, but the US withdrawal from Afghanistan has created a new balance of power in the region. …
Read More »Emirati-Turkish Economic Collaboration Could Lead to a Political One
n the short term, Turkey’s economic situation is a good incentive for Ankara to reach an agreement with Abu Dhabi, which could greatly alleviate Turkey’s economic problems; in return, a retreat from the ideological foreign policy can do much to alleviate tensions in relations between the two countries in the …
Read More »Iran Can Resolve its Gas Disputes Through Active Energy Diplomacy
The failure to resolve the problems in the Crescent contract, and the dissatisfaction on the Emirati side, show that the importance of energy diplomacy is not yet understood by the officials of the Ministry of Oil and the Iranian government. Exporting natural gas to its neighboring countries has been a top priority …
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