Gulf Nashra Weekly Digest
Netanyahu Infuriates Gulf, Arab and Islamic Countries; Oman Embarks on a $500 Million Mining Exploration Project; and a Book on Oil, Islam and Politics in Gulf Monarchies.
Media Coverage
Geopolitics
“UAE categorically rejects Netanyahu's 'Greater Israel vision'.” Khaleej News, August 14, 2025.
“In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the UAE’s absolute rejection of any threat to the sovereignty of sisterly Arab states, and called for the extremist members of the Israeli government to cease making statements or carrying out provocative acts.”
Go Deeper: “UAE Strongly Condemns Israeli Statements Regarding ‘Greater Israel’” UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, August 14, 2025.
“Mossad spy chief visiting Qatar to revive Gaza peace talks, Israeli officials say.” Reuters, August 14, 2025.
“Mossad spy chief David Barnea is visiting Qatar to revive Gaza peace talks, two Israeli officials told Reuters on Thursday.
The visit follows a reported expression of eagerness by Hamas for a swift return to Gaza ceasefire negotiations during a meeting with Egypt's intelligence chief in Cairo.”
Go Deeper: “Israel-Qatar Tensions Escalate After Israel Kills Al Jazeera Journalists.” New York Times, August 11, 2025.
Market & Economics
“Oman signs new exploration and mining agreements worth $500 million.” Al-Arabyia, August 12, 2025.
“Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals has signed three new exploration and mining agreements with two specialized companies, aimed at strengthening the mining sector and enhancing the added value of the country’s mineral resources.”
Go Deeper: “Oman creates new company to regulate mineral exports.” AGBI, May 28, 2025.
“Saudi wealth fund suffers $8bn writedown on ‘giga-projects’.” The Times, August 14 2025.
“The Public Investment Fund (PIF) valued the projects at 211 billion riyal — about $56 billion — as of the end of 2024, more than 12 per cent lower than the 241 billion riyal valuation given to the projects in 2023.”
Go Deeper: PIF: “Annual Report 2024.” Public Investment Fund, August 13, 2025. [PDF].
“Dubai’s GDP grows 4 percent to $32.59 billion in Q1 2025.” Middle East Economy, August 14, 2025.
“The GDP growth in the first quarter of this year marks a continuation of the strong performance achieved in 2024, when Dubai’s economy expanded by 5.8 percent at current prices to reach AED541 billion, and by 3.2 percent at constant prices, totaling AED443 billion.”
Go Deeper: “DIFC records best ever performance for the first half of a year.” DIFC, July 28, 2025.
“Salem Al-Tuwail: Kuwaiti cleric dismissed after attacking the Ibadi sect and angering Omanis.” BBC Arabic, August 13, 2025.
“Kuwait’s Ministry of Religious Affairs terminated the services of Kuwaiti cleric Salem Al-Tuwail from his duties as imam and preacher, according to an official letter circulated on social media, after confirming his violation of the mosque charter and regulatory instructions. The ministry also informed him that his license to benefit from state facilities had expired and requested that he vacate the state-provided housing, in line with procedures applied to other imams, preachers, and muezzins.”
Go Deeper: “Why did Kuwaiti cleric Salem Al-Tuwaijri criticize the Ibadi sect and Oman’s Grand Mufti?” BBC Arabic, Augests, 13, 2025.
“Kuwait Airways faces difficulties from delivery delays, regional instability, chairman says.” Reuters, August 11, 2025.
“Kuwait Airways is waiting for nine aircraft from France's Airbus. The airline has 27 jets now, expected to reach 30 by year-end, with the rest due in 2027, Abdulmohsen Alfagaan told Reuters..”
“Its plans had been based on having 33 aircraft in 2024, whereas at one point it had just 23, having also had to return leased planes.”
Go Deeper: “Flight bookings to Middle East plunge during Israel-Hamas conflict, data shows.” Reuters, October 25, 2023.
Saudi Arabia: “Aramco signs $11 billion Jafurah deal with BlackRock-led consortium.” Reuters, August 14, 2025.
“Under the deal, a newly formed subsidiary, Jafurah Midstream Gas Company (JMGC), will lease development and usage rights for the Jafurah Field Gas Plant and the Riyas NGL Fractionation Facility, and lease them back to Aramco for 20 years, the Saudi company added in a statement.”
Go Deeper: “BlackRock-led group set to invest in $10 billion Aramco Jafurah infrastructure deal.” Reuters, July 17, 2025.
“Bahrain’s economy grows 2.7% in Q1 2025 as non-oil sector, FDI show strength.” Arab News, August 12, 2025.
“Preliminary data from the Information and eGovernment Authority also showed a 5.3 percent rise in the oil sector. In nominal terms, GDP expanded by 3 percent, with non-oil and oil sectors growing by 2.8 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively. The non-oil division remained the dominant force, contributing 84.8 percent to real GDP.”
Go Deeper: “Bahrain Economic Quarterly Report Q1 2025.” Ministry of Finance and National Economy, August 11, 2025. [PDF].
“Al-Bunyan: Developing a Saudi educational model and offering 500 investment opportunities.” Al-Madina, August 14, 2025.
“Speaking at the government press conference yesterday, Al-Bunyan affirmed that the educational system has a participatory vision that aspires to leadership and aims to empower a knowledgeable generation capable of competing globally. He noted that the Kingdom is developing a distinguished Saudi educational model, not a copy of other educational systems, and pointed to the launch of 500 opportunities with investments amounting to 50 billion riyals.”
Domestic
Saudi Arabia: “Minister of Education: Development year required for teacher appointments and four annual transfer cycles” Alwatan, August 13, 2025.
“Minister of Education, Yousef Al-Bunyan, confirmed that male and female teachers will undergo one year of training at the National Institute for Teacher Professional Development. This will be their gateway to joining the educational system next year, ensuring that teachers are capable of successfully performing their duties in the educational field.”
Go Deeper: “Towards System-Level Reform through National Skills Strategies: Lessons from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” World Bank., February 13, 2025. [PDF].
“Kuwait alcohol poisoning: 23 killed as number of cases jumps to 160.” Khaleej Times, August 15, 2025.
“Late on Wednesday, the ministry stated in a statement on X that 51 people required urgent kidney dialysis and 31 needed mechanical ventilation.”
Go Deeper: “Thirteen dead and dozens ill from alcohol poisoning in Kuwait.” euro news, August 14, 2025.
Gulf Opinions
This week, Gulf commentators focused on the Israeli Prime Minister’s announcement regarding his vision of “Greater Israel,” which was swiftly followed by a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of 31 Arab and Islamic countries condemning his remarks in the strongest terms. From Saudi Arabia, Abdul Latif Aldwaihi argued that Netanyahu’s declaration represents nothing more than a continuation of historical Western colonialism. He emphasized that this project has been deliberately cloaked in multiple identities, “Jewish, Zionist, Israeli, the only democracy in the region,” to obscure its true nature and aims. Even while the Israeli army is hailed as the strongest and most “moral” in the region, its reputation has been repeatedly undermined by the endurance of the besieged Palestinian resistance. Aldwaihi concluded that the colonial project in Palestine will ultimately collapse alongside the decline of the unipolar world order, making it imperative to update international laws and conventions to address the scale of crimes committed by the West in Gaza. Similarly, Saudi commentator Hamood Abutalib underscored the role of President Donald Trump in empowering Netanyahu, arguing that Trump expanded his privileges and allowed him to act with “a great deal of freedom.” Abutalib noted that Netanyahu has intentionally violated international law, humanitarian law, and established red lines of warfare. Ironically, he added, Israel’s aggression has become so flagrant that even Britain, the state that issued the Balfour Declaration—has now declared its intention to recognize the State of Palestine. From Kuwait, Abdul Hameed Alshaiji maintained that what is unfolding in Gaza is not “a passing massacre, but rather a systematic displacement.” He described it as a deliberate Judaization campaign targeting faith, identity, and sovereignty, warning that such actions represent a grave threat to the international order. He further likened the situation to a “new Holocaust,” one protected and legitimized by the West. At the micro level, Qatari commentator Faten Al Dosari stressed that the “Greater Israel” project entails the forced migration of Palestinians to neighboring states, particularly Egypt. Such an outcome, she argued, would likely provoke a future war between Israel and Egypt, a scenario counterproductive even for an Israeli military already strained by Palestinian resistance. From Oman, Muhammad ibn Awad Al-Mashikhi contended that, despite the sharp wording of the Arab states’ joint condemnation, Israel will continue to advance its plan. He observed that “the government in Israel does not give any weight to the Arabs,” and warned that the plan will eventually succeed if Arab states do not shift their politics and responses. Statements alone, he cautioned, will prove insufficient without decisive action. Finally, Abdullah Al Hashemi of the UAE emphasized that Netanyahu’s rhetoric cannot be dismissed as mere political posturing. Instead, it is accompanied by tangible actions on the ground, including the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, land confiscation, and systematic policies designed to foreclose any chance of a two-state solution. For Al Hashemi, the message is unmistakable: the “Greater Israel” project is not a campaign slogan but an operational blueprint embedded into Israel’s daily policymaking.
More Gulf Opinions
“Building an artificial intelligence system that speaks with a Saudi voice is not a luxury, but rather a cornerstone of our digital sovereignty and global presence. In the race among nations, those who fall behind today may lose the opportunity for leadership in the near future.”
Firas Trabelsi, Okaz, (Saudi Arabia), Aug 15, 2025.
“The potential gains for Putin lie in consolidating control over the occupied territories, securing security guarantees regarding Ukraine’s neutrality, and dividing the Western front. The potential losses, however, include making greater domestic concessions than he desires or undermining the image of a complete victory if compromises are imposed. For Trump, the gains may include achieving a quick diplomatic success, reducing spending on supporting Ukraine, and redirecting priorities toward Asia.”
Abdullah Al Hashemi, Aletihad, (UAE), Aug 14, 2025.
“The fate of Hezbollah’s weapons has effectively been settled by a Lebanese, Arab, and international consensus: either the arms are surrendered to the Lebanese state, or they will be left for Israel to destroy. Maintaining them within the party’s control is no longer an option. Hezbollah is now left only with the choice of deciding to whom the weapons will be handed over, while accepting the obligations of the Lebanese state, including the principle that its members and cadres must be treated equally with all other Lebanese citizens.”
Susan Al Shaer, Al Watan, (Bahrain), Aug 13, 2025.
“Saudis no longer know the names of #ministers as they did in the past; the role of traditional #media has diminished, the state has expanded, and people's interests have diversified, so the focus has shifted from names to achievements, and from individuals to institutions.”
Dawood Alshirian, X, (Saudi Arabia), Aug 11, 2025.
“Although the ruling of the International Court of Justice closed a central chapter of these allegations—by rejecting the lawsuit filed by the Port Sudan government against the UAE—the government of Port Sudan continues to reproduce the same rhetoric. The Court, as the highest international judicial authority whose rulings carry binding force, clarified that there is no legal basis for such claims, rendering the persistence in promoting them an act of political obstinacy.”
Aisha Al Marri, Aletihad, (UAE), Aug 11, 2025.
The Gulf Nashra Picks
Book: Lowi, Miriam R., “Refining the Common Good: Oil, Islam and Politics in Gulf Monarchies.” Cambridge University Press, November, 2024.
Analysis: “Why the Gulf benefits from Trump’s trade policy.” Omar Al-Ubaydli, SEMAFOR, Aug 8, 2025.
Analysis: “Qatar Is Powering Syria.” Ahmad Sharawi and Natalie Ecanow, Foundation for Defense of Democracy, August 5, 2025.
Analysis: “Saudi Arabia and the New Syria: Constructive Pragmatism?” Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Arab Center in Washington, Aug 7, 2025.
Analysis: “Post-Oct. 7 divergent paths: Israel’s military maximalism and Saudi Arabia’s strategic de-escalation.” John Calabrese, Middle East Institute, August 7, 2025.
Analysis: “The Rise of Gulf Animation.” Lauren McMillen, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, July 29, 2025.
Analysis: “The US and Gulf should not get distracted by grand visions: peace in Gaza must come first.” Neil Quilliam, Chatham House, July 11, 2025.
Research: “Transactional Politics: Rethinking US-Gulf Security and Defense Relationships Among U.S. Decline.” Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Alternatives, June 5, 2025.
Podcast: “Unlocking the EV industry in Saudi Arabia.” Interview with Faisal Sultan, The Majlis, July 13, 2025. English.
Webinar: “The GCC States' Strategies and Security Calculus in the Iran-Israel Confrontation.” The Gulf International Forum, June 19, 2025. English. Speakers: Dr. Dania Thafer, Dr. Ebtesam Al Ketbi, Sheikh Nawaf Al Thani and Dr. Yousuf Al Bulushi.