Gulf Nashra Weekly Digest
Iran Attacks U.S. Base in Qatar; Gulf Authors Debate U.S. Strikes on Iran; Kuwaiti Actress Arrested; Oil Prices Rise.
Media Coverage
Markets & Energy
“Oil climbs as investors shift focus to demand signals.” Reuters, June 26, 2025.
“Oil prices edged higher on Thursday as investors remained cautious about the Iran-Israel ceasefire and shifted their attention to market fundamentals after a stock draw in the United States.”
Go Deeper: “How the Iran-Israel Conflict Is Affecting Gulf Energy and Maritime Security The Washington Post, June 23, 2025.
“Gulf shares rise as Iran-Israel ceasefire holds.” Reuters, June 26, 2025.
“Stock markets in the Gulf rose in early trade on Thursday, extending gains from the previous sessions amid rising oil prices as a ceasefire between Israel and Iran appeared to be holding.”
Go Deeper: “How are Gulf stock markets reacting to recent Israel-Iran escalations?” Doha News, June 23, 2025.
Geopolitics
“Iran launches missile attack on U.S. base at Al Udeid in Qatar, no injuries reported.” CBS News, June 24, 2025.
“Explosions were heard in Qatar, multiple news agencies reported, and photos showed missiles over Qatar's capital city, Doha. U.S. and Qatari authorities said the missiles were intercepted and no one was injured.”
Go Deeper: “Why Did Iran Attack a US Military Base in Qatar? Key Facts and Analysis” Bitrue, June 24, 2025.
“GCC FMs condemn Iran’s strikes on US base in Qatar in an exceptional meeting.” Al Arabiya, June 25, 2025.
“According to the statement, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) “expressed its deep regret and strong condemnation of the missile attacks carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran targeting a military base in the State of Qatar.”
Go Deeper: “Statement Issued by the 49th Extraordinary Meeting of the GCC Ministerial Council Regarding the Aggression Launched by Iran Against the State of Qatar.” Gulf Cooperation Council, Jun 24, 2025.
“Saudi foreign minister discusses Syria’s stability with US envoy.” Arab News, June 26, 2025.
“Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi minister of foreign affairs, received Tom Barrack, the US envoy to Syria, in Riyadh..”
“During the meeting on Thursday, officials discussed ways to support the Syrian Arab Republic in enhancing its security, stability, and economic recovery, reported the Saudi Press Agency.”
Go Deeper: “Saudi Arabia’s Role in Syria’s Recovery and Arab Nations’ Renewed Engagement with Damascus.” Gulf Research Center, February 4, 2025.
Domestic
“IMF raises Saudi growth forecast to 3.5% for 2025, outstripping global average.” Arab News, June 24, 2025.
“In its concluding statement following an Article IV consultation, the IMF highlighted the pivotal role of Vision 2030 mega projects in sustaining the Kingdom’s economic momentum, noting its continued resilience amid lower oil prices and shifting international challenges..”
“The IMF projects Saudi economic growth will outpace the global average of 2.8 percent in 2025, as well as outstripping most of its Gulf peers.”
Go Deeper: “Saudi Arabia: Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV Mission.” International Monetary Fund, June 26, 2025.
UAE: “AED 858 billion in liquid assets in the banking sector.” Al Etihad, June 26, 2025.
“Statistics from the Central Bank of the UAE showed that the value of liquid assets in the country’s banking sector rose to AED 857.8 billion at the end of the first quarter of this year—an annual increase of 9%, or AED 71.2 billion—compared to approximately AED 786.64 billion at the end of Q1 2024.”
Go Deeper: “Statistical Bulletin March 2025” Central Bank of the UAE, June 24, 2025. [PDF].
“Saudi Arabia leads $2 trln Vision 2030 drive as GCC economic reforms gain speed.” Al Arabiya, June 26, 2025.
“The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are accelerating their sweeping economic transformation programs under Vision 2030 initiatives, with Saudi Arabia leading a $2 trillion regional drive to reduce dependence on oil revenues and build knowledge-based economies.”
Go Deeper: “Impact of energy intensity, green economy and blue economy to achieve sustainable economic growth in GCC countries: Does Saudi Vision 2030 matters to GCC countries.” Renewable Energy, Volume 191, May 2022.
“The Ministerial Court clears Al-Fahad of election interference.” Times Kuwait, June 24, 2025.
“The Ministerial Court has upheld a decision to dismiss the complaint filed against Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad concerning alleged interference in parliamentary elections.”
Go Deeper: “High-Profile Trial Over KD615,000 Adjourned – Royal Under Scrutiny.” Kuwait Local, June 26, 2025.
“Ronaldo renewal: Cristiano commits to Al Nassr until 2027.” Saudi Gazette, June 26, 2025.
“Cristiano Ronaldo has officially extended his contract with Al Nassr, committing to the Saudi Pro League giants until 2027, the club confirmed on Thursday..”
Go Deeper: “Cristiano Ronaldo’s Transfer to Saudi Arabia: Assessing the Broader Impact.” Football Benchmark, April 3, 2025.
“Kuwaiti actress arrested amid crackdown on drugs.” The National, June 21, 2025.
“A Kuwaiti actress has been arrested on suspicion of drug possession, as part of a nationwide campaign against the use and trafficking of narcotics.”
Go Deeper: “Kuwaiti Artist Shujoun Al-Hajri Arrested on Drug Charges Sparks Social Media Outrage.” Tesaa World, June 21, 2025.
“Saudi Arabia's PIF launches first commercial paper program.” Saudi Gazette, June 24, 2025.
“The program will allow the issuance of commercial papers through special purpose vehicles (SPVs) established outside Saudi Arabia. It consists of two sub-programs: the US Commercial Paper Program and the Euro Commercial Paper Program.”
Go Deeper: “PIF establishes its first commercial paper program, further diversifying its funding sources.” Public Investment Authority, June 23, 2025.
Gulf Opinions
This week, Gulf commentators focused on U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites and Iran’s retaliatory strike on the U.S. Al Udeid airbase in Qatar. Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, Qatar’s President of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, condemned the Iranian missile attack as “a blatant violation of Qatari sovereignty and international law,” while emphasizing Qatar’s robust military response and effective defensive measures. He reiterated Qatar’s role as a “diplomatic beacon” in the region, advocating for stability through preventive diplomacy and engagement with international institutions. Accordingly, he urged both the international community and the GCC to take action against Iran’s violations of international law. Qatar’s Al Sharq also featured an article by Kuwaiti political scientist Dr. Abdullah Khalifa Al-Shayji, who stressed that GCC countries “must urgently prioritize preventing an all-out war between Israel and Iran.” He called for the adoption of a policy of “constructive neutrality,” the condemnation of Israeli strikes, and the refusal to allow Gulf territories or airspace to be used for military operations against Iran. Al-Shayji further emphasized the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement to avoid regional escalation that would devastate economies, disrupt energy markets, and undermine regional security. Similarly, Emirati columnist Mohammed Khalfan Al-Sawafi argued that regional conflicts in the Gulf “cannot be resolved through force,” asserting that the Iranian strike on Qatar—though anticipated—undermines efforts at de-escalation. He called on Gulf states and international powers to pursue non-violent solutions, apply pressure on Israel to recognize Palestinian statehood, and avoid actions that contribute to prolonged “instability” in the region. From Saudi Arabia, Bushra Alsubaie observed that—ironically following U.S. escalation—Israel appears to be losing public support in the United States, including from its traditional evangelical and right-wing allies. Visible “opposition” to Israeli actions, widely shared across social media, has prompted criticism from unexpected corners, including former Trump supporters and figures affiliated with Fox News. Fellow Saudi columnist Khalid Almalik noted that a heated “debate” persists over whether Iran’s nuclear reactor was “completely destroyed” or merely damaged. If the latter is true, the conflict remains unresolved and poised for further escalation once the immediate fallout clears and the full implications of the attack come to light. In Bahrain, Radhi Alsammak criticized President Trump’s call to “overthrow Iran’s regime,” likening it to the disastrous 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. He warned that such policies of “external regime change” inevitably lead to chaos, sectarian strife, entrenched corruption, and the rise of armed groups. Alsammak emphasized that history offers a clear warning: dismantling governments without understanding the internal complexities fosters long-term instability and suffering. Echoing this perspective, Omani writer Jassim Bani Araba compared Donald Trump to George W. Bush, arguing that Trump is repeating the same “reckless pattern of foreign intervention” under the pretext of national security—particularly with respect to Iran. He criticized the U.S. for “manufacturing threats” to justify military action, noting that Trump now advocates for “peace through force,” contradicting his earlier promises to end American wars abroad.
More On U.S. Involvement in Iran–Israel War
“All parties involved in the war—especially the United States—must act with reason. Rigid positions will lead to an unprecedented disaster. It is essential to listen to the voices of nations calling for diplomacy and peaceful solutions, and to respect their positions and interests. The longer peace is delayed, the harder it becomes to achieve.”
Hamoud Abu Taleb, Okaz, (Saudi Arabia), June 23, 2025.
“The Gulf Cooperation Council’s recent stance on the attack against Qatar sends a clear message to Iran: relationships based on violations of sovereignty, acts of aggression, and breaches of international law, as witnessed in this incident, can never be accepted.”
Alsaid Zahra, Akhbar Alkhaleej, (Bahrain), June 26, 2025.
“Although the Iranian giant has become a dwarf, there are still foolish Arabs who believe that Iran has triumphed. A little shame, modesty, acknowledgment of defeat, and reflection on mistakes.”
Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, X, (UAE), June 26, 2025.
Gulf Nashra Picks
Book: Javad Heiran-Nia “Iran and the Security Order in the Persian Gulf.” Routledge, July 23, 2024.
Analysis: “Gulf States to the World: Not Our War, Not on Our Soil.” Dania Thafer, Gulf International Forum, June 14, 2025.
Research: Sultan Alamer, “The Arabian Peninsula Wars, 1919–1934.” A Violent Peace A Global Military History of the Interwar Period, University Press of Kansas, June 2025.
Analysis: “Why Did Iran Attack a US Military Base in Qatar? Key Facts and Analysis” Bitrue, June 24, 2025.
Research: Amna Abdulla Sadiq, “The Drought Years: The Forgotten Economic Transformations in Gulf History.” Al-Muntaqa, February, 2025. [PDF].
Analysis: “In the crossfire: How the Gulf states can steer dialogue between Iran and Israel.” Camille Lons, European Council on Foreign Relations, June 26, 2025.
Analysis: “Does Collective Security in the Middle East Still Have a Chance?” Amr Hamzawy, Carnegie, June 25, 2025.
Research: Fahad Bishara, “The Sailing Scribe: Mansur al-Khariji and the Oceanic Worlds of the Gulf.” Al-Muntaqa, June 12, 2025. [PDF].
Podcast: “The future of banking in Saudi.” with Tony Cripps SAB Bank CEO, The Majlis, June 15, 2025.
Analysis: “Why did Iran tip off US, Qatar on its missile attack targeting US bases in the Middle East? - analysis” Seth Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post, June 23, 2025.
Analysis: “Why Gulf states could be key to a lasting Iran-Israel ceasefire” Giorgio Cafiero, The New Arab, June 26, 2025.
Podcast: “Is Dubai Port World a Political Arm of the Government?” H.E. Sultan bin Sulayem CEO of DP World, Arab Cast, June 13, 2025.
Analysis: “Iran’s Attack on a U.S. Base in Qatar Is a Nightmare Come True for Gulf States.” Vivian Nereim, The New York Times, June 25, 2025.
Research: Froilan T. Malit Jr “Defying Social Inequality in the Gulf: Skilled Survivors’ Coping Routes, Racialized Capitalism, and Temporary Filipino Migrants in the UAE.” Middle East Critique, June 18, 2025.
Analysis: “Saudi Economic Outlook Amid Regional Conflict.” Tim Callen, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, June 20, 2025.
Podcast: “The GCC and Israel’s War on Iran.” Khalil Jahshan and Kristian Ulrichsen, Arab Center in Washington, June 17, 2025.