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

The Gulf’s real front line in the Iran conflict runs through its water, cloud, and cables—and the links between them

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
The Gulf’s real front line in the Iran conflict runs through its water, cloud, and cables—and the links between them

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
The Gulf’s real front line in the Iran conflict runs through its water, cloud, and cables—and the links between them

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

Jul 21, 2026

The Gulf’s real front line in the Iran conflict runs through its water, cloud, and cables—and the links between them

By Alia Brahimi, John James

Gulf countries must each build resilience as a single architecture across every layer that can be weaponized.

Conflict Iran

Dispatches

Jul 20, 2026

The Houthis just announced a blockade on Saudi Arabia. What does it mean for the global economy?

By Allison Minor

Three factors will determine how disruptive the new Houthi campaign will be to global oil markets and Gulf economic stability.

Conflict Iran

Inflection Points

Jul 15, 2026

The defining issues Lindsey Graham leaves behind

By Frederick Kempe

The late senator spent his final days pushing hard for Ukrainian sovereignty and Saudi-Israeli diplomatic normalization.

Israel Middle East

In the News

Jul 14, 2026

Wechsler joins CNN to discuss the latest US strikes against Iran

By Atlantic Council

Iran Maritime Security

MENASource

Jul 13, 2026

Israel’s next government must prioritize the Abraham Accords

By Amit Yarom and Itai Melchior

The fall election could open a narrow window for Israel to reset its regional strategy and create momentum to expand normalization.

Israel Politics & Diplomacy

Dispatches

Jul 10, 2026

The Ankara summit previewed the Gulf’s new security equation

By Joze Pelayo

The war with Iran and the continued stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz have accelerated a trend that was already underway.

Conflict Defense Industry

MENASource

Jul 6, 2026

New Middle East corridors are about more than just bypassing the Strait of Hormuz

By Allison Minor

A recent Atlantic Council gathering reveals how initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) must evolve.

Economy & Business Infrastructure

Report

Jun 30, 2026

A network of corridors is the only reliable hedge against Middle East chokepoint disruptions

By Afaq Hussain, Maisoon H. Kafafy

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor was proposed in September 2023. Progress stalled shortly after, in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel. With the economic cost now clear of reliance on maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, the proposed network of road and rail corridors linking Europe and India through the Middle East has taken on even greater relevance.

Economy & Business India

MENASource

Jun 29, 2026

The new non-alignment: How the Middle East is carving out room to maneuver in AI

By Bilal Baloch

Middle Eastern countries are no longer just playing the wealthy customer, but increasingly shaping the AI future.

Artificial Intelligence Technology & Innovation

Issue Brief

Jun 24, 2026

Perspectives from the 2026 CEO Dialogue

By Nour Dabboussi, Joze Pelayo, Manal Fatima, David Maloney, Khalid Azim

The Atlantic Council’s MENA Futures Lab hosted a group of more than thirty business leaders, academics, analysts from international organizations, and policymakers for the CEO Dialogue in the lead up to the World Governments Summit in Dubai. The insights shared there reflect trends in AI, supply chain resilience, and more.

Artificial Intelligence Economy & Business
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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
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Events

Online Event Tue, July 28, 2026 • 11:30 am ET

Transforming IMEC in response to the Iran war
Critical Infrastructure Policy Europe & Eurasia India Iran