The Gulf

The Gulf

As many of the Arab Gulf states make strides to reduce their dependence on oil and implement social and economic reforms, they continue to face political and security challenges from external and internal threats. The Gulf states must respond to evolving external relationships, threats from Iran, terrorism, and civil conflict spillover while also harnessing the powers of technological advances and innovative reforms to modernize their economies. A new generation of leadership must adapt to a booming, educated, and globally-connected youth population, often unemployed and increasingly raising concerns about the rule of law and their role as citizens.

Featured commentary & analysis

A historic opportunity for peace in Yemen

MENASource May 18, 2026

How Gulf investments are responding to the US-China critical minerals competition

By Chenjie Song and Jonathan Fulton

Gulf sovereign wealth funds are seeking to maximize return on investment while maintaining strategic optionality.
China Critical Minerals
A historic opportunity for peace in Yemen

MENASource Apr 20, 2026

The Iran war has forced the US-Gulf alliance out of the shadows

By Eric Alter

The Iran war is testing whether the informal strategic system the United States has assembled with its Gulf partners and Israel is strong enough to hold up amid a regional conflict.
Defense Policy Iran
A historic opportunity for peace in Yemen

MENASource Apr 20, 2026

‘They have been exposed’: The Iran war upends Gulf states’ security and business model

By Stefanie Hausheer Ali

The Iran war threatens the sense of security, prosperity, and opportunity that the Gulf states have spent years cultivating as they seek to diversify their economies away from oil.
Critical Infrastructure Policy Geopolitics & Energy Security

Podcast series

Listen to the latest episode of the China-MENA podcast, featuring conversations with academics, government leaders, and the policy community on China’s role in the Middle East.

Listen

Programs

Gulf Security Task Force

The Gulf Security Task Force is revisiting the question of how to best protect US interests in this sensitive, always relevant region. Our goal is to provide US decision-makers with an updated, fact-based strategy for protecting US interests in the air and maritime domain from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, and ensuring Gulf partners’ ability to assume this responsibility, with the assistance and leadership of the United States.

EXPLORE THE GULF SECURITY TASK FORCE

Learn more about the Middle East programs

Middle East Programs

Working with our allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

EXPLORE THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL’S MIDDLE EAST PROGRAMS

Content

MENASource

Feb 12, 2021

A historic opportunity for peace in Yemen

By Nabeel Khoury

There is a hard and complex road ahead, but the Biden administration has taken a major first step in the right direction.

Politics & Diplomacy Yemen

In the News

Feb 11, 2021

i24 covered the Atlantic Council’s event with Oman’s Foreign Minister
Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Feb 11, 2021

Reuters covered the Atlantic Council’s event with H.E. Sayyid Badr AlBusaidi
Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Feb 10, 2021

Fontenrose quoted in Vox on policy-making differences between Biden and Trump
Politics & Diplomacy The Gulf

In the News

Feb 6, 2021

Bloomberg covered the Atlantic Council’s event with Oman’s Foreign Minister
Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Feb 5, 2021

Khoury quoted in VOA on ending the war in Yemen
Conflict Middle East

In the News

Feb 5, 2021

Fontenrose quoted in Bloomberg on the future of the US-Saudi alliance
Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Feb 4, 2021

Kroenig appears on CNN International to discuss President Biden’s foreign policy speech

By Atlantic Council

On February 4, Matthew Kroenig appeared on CNN International where he discussed President Biden’s speech on foreign policy that he delivered at the State Department. Topics for discussion included 1) whether allies would be less likely to rely on the United States moving forward; 2) the president’s announcement that the United States will not support offensive […]

China Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Feb 4, 2021

The big takeaways from Biden’s first foreign-policy speech

By Atlantic Council

President Joe Biden campaigned on a promise of renewed American engagement with the world after the era of “America First”—and the president’s remarks were designed to show that this shift is already underway.

China Cybersecurity

In the News

Feb 4, 2021

Nabeel Khoury joins Al Jazeera to discuss the end of American support in Yemen
Conflict Middle East
Load More

Experts

Millennium fellow

Sharif Abdelrazeq

Sustainability and Innovation Engineer, Consolidated Contractors Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Middle East

Fellow

Ahmed Aboudouh

Former Nonresident Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic China

Fellow

Osamah Al Rawhani

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Middle East Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Fellow

Yesar Al-Maleki

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Geopolitics & Energy Security

Fellow

Perrihan Al-Riffai

Nonresident Senior Fellow

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Fellow

Samir Altaqi

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Middle East
Load More