Saudi Arabia

The Gulf and Egypt: From Life Support to a Sustainable Economy?

By Richard LeBaron

With the election of former army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as Egypt’s eighth president, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait are likely to continue to provide substantial economic support for Egypt. In the aftermath of the elections, news reports indicate large aid packages are under discussion. The Gulf may add up to another […]

The Gulf rising: Defense industrialization in Saudi Arabia and the UAE

By Bilal Y. Saab

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been quietly but steadily developing their indigenous defense capabilities over the past decade, according to a new report by the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center. In The Gulf Rising: Defense Industrialization in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, senior fellow for Middle East Security Bilal Y. Saab […]

MENASource Discussions: The Quest for Leadership in the Gulf

By MENASource

As President Barack Obama prepares for his travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, many have asked: What is the purpose of this trip? Far-reaching geopolitics are at stake as fissures among members of the Gulf Cooperation Council emerge over issues related to Egypt, Syria, and Iran.

Youth Activism in the Gulf States: Breaking Taboos

The rise of social media has had a profound effect on youth throughout the world, but in the Gulf in particular this new outlet for information exchange has created a space for activism that was impossible until now. On March 21, 2014, the Atlantic Council launched a new issue brief, “Breaking Taboos: Youth Activism in the […]

Will President Obama Prioritize Nuclear Cooperation with Saudi Arabia?

By Sigurd Neubauer

Next week, President Barack Obama is set to pay King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia a high-profile visit as he seeks to restore fraught relations over Syria and Iran policy. Although the two leaders are expected to hold wide-ranging consultations over regional developments, it remains unclear whether the US president has set aside time on his […]