Newsletter: City Pulse Doha Sealine Season lights up Qatar’s desert Also this week: Courtyard gatherings, winter festivals and live music By Reve Chaaban In Doha reporting on culture
Newsletter: FutureVerse From oil to algorithms: The Gulf’s AI moment Gulf states launch AI champions, competing for regional dominance with US backing. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis With central role for Qatar, can Gulf states mediate between US and Venezuela? Venezuela's ties improved with Gulf states under Maduro, and some in the region voiced concern about the US operation. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
Gulf accounted for 43% of global sovereign wealth fund investment in 2025 Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund was the world's highest spending sovereign wealth fund in 2025, investing some $36.2 billion. Saudi Arabia
Analysis Middle East adapts to Trump’s tech agenda as Gulf AI gamble grows in 2025 By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: City Pulse Doha Fireworks, feasts and festivals: Doha’s NYE 2026 By Reve Chaaban In Doha reporting on culture
Analysis Gulf finance hubs race to expand as hedge funds flock to Dubai, Abu Dhabi By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Trump has upper hand over Netanyahu, but is it enough for Gaza? By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Will the crisis in Gaza finally force Israel to lift its siege? Qatar and the UAE have donated money to ease the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but such assistance will likely only postpone an implosion in the absence of arriving at a solution to the enclave's isolation and lifting of the Israeli blockade. United Arab Emirates
Conference for Iraq draws investors instead of donors The reported success — and failure — of a fundraising effort for Iraq could become a political football in the May general elections. Saudi Arabia
Will Israel, Qatar cooperate to save Gaza? US Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt called for Israel and Qatar to cooperate in order to save the Gaza Strip from a humanitarian crisis. Qatar
What’s behind Sisi’s recent trip to Oman? While Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is calling on Tehran and Riyadh to cool their tensions, Egypt is strengthening its ties to Oman, which has become a stable and trustworthy ally. Saudi Arabia
Qatar visit to the US aims to break Gulf gridlock Qatar is using a high-level visit to Washington to get the Donald Trump administration’s support to broker a deal to end the monthslong Saudi-led embargo. Qatar
GCC's silence on Turkey’s Afrin adventure is telling The Sunni Gulf states have failed to make a unified statement on Turkey's Operation Olive Branch in Syria, a sign of their competing interests. Legacy: Gulf
Award-winning talk show for Arab youth tackles religion, sex An Arabic-language talk show gives Arab youth a space to speak and express themselves on everything from religion to sex. Qatar
Qatar returns to Gaza scene Despite the rocky relationship between Hamas and Qatar, Doha is trying to make a comeback on the Palestinian scene in the Gaza Strip as tensions with Egypt continue to grow. Qatar
What does Gulf crisis have to do with Tunisian women? Banning Tunisian women from flying on Emirates airline may have more to do with UAE geopolitics than possible terror threats. Saudi Arabia
Algeria takes independent approach to Qatar crisis A recent meeting between Qatar's foreign minister and Algeria's prime minister highlights Algiers' unique strategy in the wake of the GCC-Qatar rift. Saudi Arabia
Will Bahrain, Israel establish formal relations in 2018? Bahrain could become the first Gulf Cooperation Council member to establish official diplomatic and trade relations with Israel, though this may largely depend on the GCC states' response to the Jerusalem crisis. United Arab Emirates
The UAE's 'alternative GCC' With no solution to the Qatar-GCC crisis in sight, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have formed their own alliance to support their regional foreign policy. Saudi Arabia