Summary: under the umbrella of the Abraham Accords Israel and its new friends in the Middle East are wasting no time in deepening security, economic and diplomatic relations.
Arab Digest editor William Law welcomes back author and analyst Jim Krane. Jim is energy research fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute and an expert on Gulf energy matters. Their conversation focusses on the quest for net zero. Are Gulf hydrocarbons producers serious about hitting their ambitious targets or is this little more than a PR mirage?
Summary: this year poses big challenges to the economies of the MENA region, many of which are already in deep trouble while a wealthy few will use their hydrocarbons revenues to ride out whatever rough weather comes their way.
Summary: the Saudi regime is signalling the prohibition on alcohol in the Kingdom could soon be relaxed, a huge step for such a conservative society.
Summary: the GCC states are continuing to push ahead on the economic front while wondering what damage Omicron will inflict.
Summary: Bahrain’s crown prince made bold commitments at COP26 but reality in the small Gulf island kingdom shows a government that continues to put profits ahead of environmental concerns.
Summary: despite Trump’s bold claims last year, other than the UAE and Bahrain no other GCC state has stepped forward to recognise Israel.
Just a little over a year after they were signed, Arab Digest editor William Law talks with Gulf State Anaytics CEO Giorgio Cafiero about the impact and implications of the Abraham Accords, the Trump-engineered deal that saw Israel triple the number of Arab states with whom it has diplomatic relations at no cost to itself but at a very great cost to the cause of Palestinian statehood.
Arab Digest editor William Law talks with Michael Stephens, Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute about the UK’s role in the Middle East after Brexit. They discuss the need for fresh thinking among policy makers and explore challenges and opportunities in a region where Britain has historical, political and economic ties.
Summary: the Saudi crown prince had a brace of wins on 7 October with the purchase of NUFC and the ditching of a UNHRC investigation into war crimes in Yemen.
