Gulf Nashra Weekly Digest
Emiratis Discuss ICJ Genocide Case on Sudan; Saudi Defense Minister Meets Khamenei; Qatar to Invest in Egypt; New Book Explores Middle East Power Plays.
Media Coverage
“Saudi defense minister meets Iran’s Khamenei, delivers letter from King Salman.” Al Arabiya, April 17, 2025.
“During the meeting, Khamenei expressed support for closer ties between the two countries..”
“‘We believe that relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia will be beneficial for both countries, and the two countries can complement each other,’ Khamenei was quoted as saying by Iran’s official IRNA news agency.”
Go Deeper: “What a U.S.-Saudi Nuclear “Pathway” Might Mean for the Iran Talks.” The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, April 16, 2025.
“Syria's Sharaa meets UAE counterpart in second visit to a Gulf country as leader.” Reuters, April 13, 2025.
“Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with his United Arab Emirates counterpart in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the Syrian leader's office said, making a second visit to a Gulf state as the country's new Islamist rulers seek to reassure foreign partners they will create an inclusive political system.”
Go Deeper: “The Gulf Shifts Policies in Response to the “New” Syria.” Carnegie, January 31, 2025.
“Qatar and Egypt agree to work towards a package of $7.5 bln in direct Qatari investment.” Reuters, April 14, 2025.
“Egypt is pushing ahead with efforts to secure funding from Gulf neighbours and foreign partners as it seeks to tackle heavy foreign debts and a gaping budget deficit.”
Go Deeper: “Realigning priorities: Egypt's strategic shift toward Qatar, Turkey, and Iran.” Middle East Institute, July 25, 2023.
“Oman signs an agreement to establish the world's first Liquid Hydrogen Corridor to Europe.” Zawaya, April 17, 2025.
“At the heart of this corridor is the world’s largest hydrogen liquefaction, storage, and export terminal to be established in the Port of Duqm. Hydrom, as the orchestrator of Oman’s green hydrogen sector, will ensure upstream production is aligned with national plans and that the project integrates seamlessly into Oman’s broader hydrogen infrastructure and policy framework.”
Go Deeper: “Renewable Hydrogen from Oman” International Energy Agency, June 2023. [PDF].
“Expected to Attract Strong Inflows in the Kingdom.. “Fitch”: 1.3 Trillion Riyals Asset Management Volume in 2026.” Albilad, April 17, 2025.
“Recently, data from the Capital Market Authority showed that assets under management by licensed financial institutions exceeded one trillion riyals by the end of Q4 2024, reaching 1,052.9 billion riyals, marking a 6% increase, or approximately 55.7 billion riyals, compared to the previous quarter.”
Go Deeper: “Saudi Arabian Asset Management Industry Exceeds SAR1 Trillion.” Fitch, April 16, 2025.
“$1.5 Trillion in Financial Wealth Expected in the UAE by 2028.” Aletihad, April 13, 2025.
“Investable financial wealth in the UAE currently represents 81% of the country’s total financial wealth, and this percentage is expected to rise to 83% by 2028, opening vast prospects and significant opportunities for wealth management firms, according to Alexis Calla, Chief AI Officer at Alpheya, a wealth management technology company based in Abu Dhabi..”
“He added that although the region holds the highest share of private wealth, 70% of this wealth is managed outside its borders — creating vast untapped opportunities.”
Go Deeper: “UAE’s wealth surges to $2.9 trillion, set to reach $4.4 trillion by 2028: Report” Fast Company Middle East November 28, 2024.
“Allocation of 1.7 Billion Dinars for 90 Construction Projects in the Fiscal Year 2025–2026.” Al Qabas, April 12, 2025.
“Around 39 government entities are participating in the implementation of the 2024–2025 Development Plan projects in Kuwait. Infrastructure projects accounted for the largest share, with approximately 36 projects at a total cost of around 428 million Kuwaiti dinars..”
“Projects aimed at enhancing the role of the private sector in the Kuwaiti economy reached about 16 projects, with a total cost of 72 million dinars. Meanwhile, projects focused on improving health and community well-being were allocated approximately 140 million dinars, to be spent on around 19 projects.”
Go Deeper: “Kuwait: State Budget for Fiscal Year 2025/2026” [PDF].
“Indonesia, Qatar to create $4 bln joint fund investing in Indonesia.” Reuters, April 15, 2025.
“Sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia said it will form a $4 billion joint fund with the Qatar Investment Authority that will focus on investment in Southeast Asia's largest economy..”
“The fund will focus on projects in downstream industries, or industries that process Indonesian commodities, as well as renewables and health facilities and other relevant sectors, such as technology, Danantara said in a statement on Tuesday.”
Go Deeper: “Qatar’s Growing Investments in Asia: Economics vs Geopolitics.” Italian Institute for International Political Studies, Jun 18, 2024.
“Record Attendance: 105,000 Spectators Watched the Race from the Stands” Al-Ayam, April 14, 2025.
“On race day alone, 37,700 people flocked to the circuit to attend the international race and enjoy the entertainment activities and concerts. The total attendance over the course of the Bahrain Grand Prix reached 105,000 spectators across all race days.”
Go Deeper: “Decision-Making Dynamics: Analyzing the Economic Influence of Sports Tourism on Bahrain's Growing Industry.” 2024 International Conference on Decision Aid Sciences and Applications (DASA), 2024.
Kuwait begins the merger process of KIPIC and KNPC” Kuna, April 15, 2025.
“acting CEO Engineer Wadha Al-Khatib said in a statement directed to both employees -- a copy of which obtained by KUNA-- that the merge was based on well-studied legal and professional foundations aimed at boosting Kuwait's oil sector companies under KPC..”
“She emphasized that the initiative seeks to unite efforts based on each company's specialization, by expanding their capabilities and enabling greater achievements.”Go Deeper: “Kuwait Starts Combining Government Oil Companies in Big Industry Change.” The Arab Today, April 16, 2025.
Gulf Opinions
This week, Emirati commentators turned their attention to Sudan following the commencement of hearings at the International Court of Justice, where Sudan accused the United Arab Emirates of “complicity in genocide.” In response, the UAE categorically denied the allegations and redirected criticism toward the Muslim Brotherhood, accusing the group of orchestrating instability in Sudan through covert political interference. Anwar Gargash, Special Advisor to the UAE President, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, underscored this view in a Tweet, asserting that "the Muslim Brotherhood's complex towards the Emirates is nothing but the complex of extremism in the face of tolerance, ideology in the face of development, incapacity in the face of achievement, and failure in the face of success," further describing their legacy as one of "ruin" sustained by "a weak and resentful media echo." Echoing this perspective, columnist Mohammed Youssef condemned the Muslim Brotherhood for exploiting Sudan’s internal instability to pursue its political agenda, alleging that the group disseminates “misinformation” and aligns with foreign actors in an attempt to “regain lost influence.” He commended the UAE’s leadership for actively countering these efforts while providing “humanitarian support” to Sudanese refugees. In another article, Youssef placed direct blame on Sudanese General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan for the destruction in Khartoum and Omdurman, contrasting this with what he described as the UAE’s long-standing humanitarian and developmental role in Sudan. Similarly, Dr. Abdullah Al Awadhi criticized the Sudanese military leadership for externalizing blame, particularly towards the UAE, while failing to address “internal” shortcomings and the root causes of the ongoing conflict. He emphasized the UAE's consistent “humanitarian contributions” and its advocacy for a “civilian-led political transition” in Sudan. Mohammed Al Bashari expanded the analysis by framing Sudan’s crisis as a “regional” security concern. He argued that Sudan’s prolonged instability, exacerbated by the Muslim Brotherhood’s resurgence post-2013 and their cross-border political Islam agenda, threatens broader regional peace. Al Bashari warned that without a comprehensive national vision and a renewed social contract, Sudan risks fragmentation with “spillover effects” on neighboring states. In a related critique, Noura Al-Tunaiji rejected the Sudanese Armed Forces’ claims at the ICJ as “unfounded and politically motivated.” She praised the UAE’s legal and diplomatic approach, highlighting its continued commitment to “humanitarian aid” and regional stability. Al-Tunaiji contended that true justice arises not from “fabricated accusations" but from meaningful political solutions. Finally, former UAE diplomat Ahmed Al Hosani articulated the UAE’s balanced and principled approach to the Sudanese conflict. He emphasized the country's dual strategy of providing “humanitarian assistance and facilitating diplomatic dialogue among Sudanese factions. Al Hosani also refuted the accusations directed at the UAE, characterizing them as “politically driven, " and reaffirmed the nation's dedication to supporting Sudanese civilians and fostering “regional peace.”
More Gulf Opinions
On Sudan
“The UAE's support for Sudan at the bilateral level has included non-repayable direct grants and concessional loans, either interest-free or with symbolic interest rates. As for the large Sudanese community in the UAE, there is no need to elaborate further, I will leave that to the legacy of the sincere brotherly relations that once existed between the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may he rest in peace, and the late President Jaafar Mohammed Nimeiri.”
Abdullah Alhaj, Aletihad, (UAE), April 11, 2025.
“The Kingdom [Saudi Arabia] was the only country that early on recognized the gravity of what was unfolding in Sudan. It provided civilians with the opportunity to distance themselves from the horrors of war, welcomed those at risk as guests in Jeddah, and offered aid to those unable to leave Sudan. Moreover, it worked to host meetings between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in Jeddah with complete neutrality, aiming to contain the crisis from the outset.
Khalid Al Malik, Al Jazirah, (Saudi Arabia), April 18, 2025.
“We are living through a real media war waged against us by the proponents of the dark, Daesh-like, Brotherhood-inspired, terrorist ideology. The war is not only against the UAE but against the consciousness of all Arabs and the purity of their thought. And indeed, the UAE is the target to expose their intellectual pus.”
Ali Alameri, X, (UAE), April 14, 2025.
“The Emirates calls for collective action to save lives at the ‘London Conference on Sudan.’”
Abdullkhaleq Abdulla, X, (UAE), April 16, 2025.
Other Topics
“The Kingdom’s strategic geopolitical location and strong financial resources position it to lead a global and innovative transformation in the field of nuclear energy. At the same time, investments in nuclear energy will create expanded employment opportunities for Saudi companies across sectors such as construction, manufacturing, services, and utilities, thereby contributing to job growth within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Ali Alhazmi, Okaz, (Saudi Arabia), April 17, 2025.
“As for the military option, it is viewed as having catastrophic consequences for the world, as it would inevitably push Iran to resort to its ‘secret weapon,’ a rapid pursuit of developing a nuclear bomb. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) grants states the right to withdraw from the agreement if their national security is threatened.”
Abdul Latif bin Nakhi, Alrai, (Kuwait), April 16, 2025.
“Yesterday at the Kremlin, Palestine, the urgent need to halt the brutal Israeli aggression on Gaza, and the stability of Syria in its new era were among the key issues discussed by His Highness the Prince [of Qatar] during his meeting in Moscow with the Russian President.”
Jaber Al Harami, Al Sharq, (Qatar), April 18, 2025.
“Oman's role as a mediator has been pivotal, providing a neutral ground for dialogue. The current negotiations reveal contrasting objectives: the U.S. seeks to maintain control over the process, while Iran aims to preserve its national dignity without compromising its core interests. Both parties approach the talks with conditional intentions, influenced by the geopolitical changes in the region over the past two years.”
Asim Al Shaidi, Oman Daily, (Oman), April 12, 2025.
“The Bedouin and the nuclear take off.”
Fahad Deebaji, X, (Saudi Arabia), April 15, 2025.
“Foreign companies are acquiring Omani companies; the question is, where is the Omani trader? Why don’t Omanis consider investing outside the real estate and contracting sectors? The state must intervene to address this dilemma and stop the enormous waste that contractors profit from, instead of directing their efforts toward establishing factories and companies that create jobs!!”
Zakariah Almuharmi, X, (Oman), April 18, 2025.
Gulf Nashra Picks
Book: Edited by Marc Lynch, Simon Mabon “Order and Region Making in the Middle East.” Edinburgh University Press, May, 2025.
Analysis: “What a U.S.-Saudi Nuclear “Pathway” Might Mean for the Iran Talks.” Simon Henderson, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, April 16, 2025.
Podcast: “Why Do Companies Avoid Sponsoring Our [Saudi] Clubs?” Mortada Podcast, April 16, 2025.
Analysis: “How Trump’s Economic Policies Could Reshape America and the Gulf Region.” Mohammad Al-Rumaihi, Gulf International Forum, April 16, 2025.
Analysis: “MENA Energy Recap, Q1 2025: Tariffs and Sanctions Loom Large as Trump Returns.” Colby Connelly, Middle East Institute, April 15, 2025.
Analysis: “Beyond the Stalemate: Rethinking EU-GCC Trade Engagement.” Houda Barroug, Gulf Research Center, April 14, 2025.
Analysis: “Why the Gulf won’t pick a side in the trade war” Omar Al-Ubaydli, Substack, April 15, 2025.
Podcast: “The Formation of Saudi Identity with Nabil AlKhowaiter.” The Majlis Podcast, November 17, 2024.
Analysis: “Saudi & US talking nuclear energy for the Kingdom, China-GCC talking nuclear too, China-Algeria Business forum on investment held in Algiers.” Jonathan Fulton, Substack, April 16, 2025.
Analysis: “Middle East Space Roundup: 7 to 13 April 2025.” Middle East Space Monitor, Substack, April 14, 2025.