Featured commentary & analysis

Sultan Haitham makes a strong start by addressing economic challenges

MENASource Jun 24, 2025

Dispatch from the Gulf: Finding middle ground amid Israel-Iran war

By Allison Minor

Congressional delegation visit coincided with Israel and Iran squaring off in a direct military confrontation.
Iran Israel
Sultan Haitham makes a strong start by addressing economic challenges

MENASource May 28, 2025

Mickey goes to the Gulf: The UAE’s wish upon a soft power star

By Amit Yarom

In a region often defined by hard power rivalries, Abu Dhabi has chosen to compete through visibility, credibility and imagination.
Media Middle East
Sultan Haitham makes a strong start by addressing economic challenges

MENASource May 23, 2025

The Gulf is emerging as Washington’s new strategic anchor

By Joze Pelayo

The so-called US “Golden Age for the Gulf” is one rooted in strategic utility, equal footing, high-stake deals, and fewer strings.
Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

Counterterrorism Study Group

The Counterterrorism Study Group is a forum for former counterterrorism officials to review the latest threats, to understand emerging trends and future predictions, and to explore creative new proposals for improving the effectiveness of current policies and operations.

EXPLORE THE Counterterrorism study group

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

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

Content

Blog Post

Jun 11, 2020

Sultan Haitham makes a strong start by addressing economic challenges

By Marc J. Sievers

Sultan Haitham and his government have had to contend with the dual impact of the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic and the collapse of world oil prices, which the Omani government depends upon for most of its revenue.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

IranSource

Jun 9, 2020

The Gulf is watching Washington’s moves on the UN embargo on Iran

By Kirsten Fontenrose

Despite the spectrum of positions on Iran exhibited by Gulf governments, one thing they agree on is the need for the US and Europe to arrive at one voice on the embargo, and on Iran’s proxy activities across the board.

Iran Middle East

Press Release

May 28, 2020

Vice Admiral (Ret.) John W. Miller joins Atlantic Council as nonresident senior fellow

Washington, DC — May 28, 2020 — The Atlantic Council’s Middle East Programs today announced the addition of Vice Admiral (Ret.) John W. “Fozzie” Miller as a nonresident senior fellow. Miller is an expert on US foreign policy and military presence in the Gulf, and he will contribute to the program’s range of work on […]

Middle East Security & Defense

EnergySource

May 11, 2020

Increasing mutual dependence in Sino-Gulf relations is changing the strategic landscape

By Christian Le Miere

The conventional wisdom that the United States is the only viable partner for Gulf states is now being challenged by a new reality: the main importer of Gulf oil is now China. At the same time, China’s strategic goals increasingly encompass stability in the Middle East, while a more activist foreign policy under Xi Jinping ensures greater involvement in the security, as well as economic, discourse in the region.

China Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

May 6, 2020

ENEC’s Mohamed Al Hammadi: COVID-19 won’t delay Barakah nuclear plant

By Larry Luxner

Construction of the Barakah nuclear energy plant in the United Arab Emirates—the first commercial nuclear power station in the Middle East—won’t be significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the economic upheaval it has unleashed upon the world. That’s the word from Mohamed Al Hammadi, CEO of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. (ENEC), which is building […]

Nuclear Energy The Gulf

MENASource

May 4, 2020

Will Saudi Arabia’s private sector be able to hold up during a pandemic?

By Abdullah F. Alrebh

On April 3, the Saudi government issued a royal decree allocating $2.4 billion to compensate citizens who work in the private sector in facilities affected by the pandemic. However, such bounteous support might only reduce the problem, not solve it.

Coronavirus Middle East

In the News

May 4, 2020

Fontenrose joins NPR’s Morning Edition to discuss Saudi oil tankers headed toward US

By Atlantic Council

Oil and Gas Saudi Arabia
A net launched from a net-capture system just before catching its target, Quantico, Virginia (December 2018). Source: Red Six Solutions

Issue Brief

May 4, 2020

Drone attacks against critical infrastructure: A real and present threat

By Dr. Scott Crino and Conrad "Andy" Dreby

Read the Middle East Program's new paper on the use of weaponized drones in the Middle East, with recommendations for policymakers.

Drones Middle East

In the News

Apr 30, 2020

Blakemore quoted in Al Jazeera on oil price crisis and US-Saudi relations

By Atlantic Council

Oil and Gas Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Apr 29, 2020

Cohen in Forbes: Oil Prices May Recover Before 2021

By Atlantic Council

Europe & Eurasia Oil and Gas
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Experts

Fellow

Simin Kargar

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Cybersecurity Disinformation

Fellow

Mark N. Katz

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Geopolitics & Energy Security Iran

Fellow

Richard LeBaron

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business French

Fellow

Sabeen Malik

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Digital Policy Economy & Business

Staff

Layla Mashkoor

Deputy Managing Editor

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Digital Policy Disinformation

Fellow

Barbara C. Matthews

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Americas China
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