Gulf Nashra Weekly Digest
Saudi Arabia Launches Media Campaign Against Netanyahu; Non-Oil Sectors and Revenues Grow in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain; and Concerns Rise Over the New Omani Citizenship Law.
Media Coverage
“Saudi Arabia and the UAE vie to become Ukraine peace summit destinations.” Semafor, February 14, 2025.
“Saudi Arabia and the UAE are positioning themselves to host talks aimed at ending the Ukraine war as US President Donald Trump pushes for a resolution.”
Go Deeper: Both UAE and Saudi Arabia expressed their desire to host the summit.
“World Bank forecasts 3.4% growth for Gulf economies in 2025.” WAM, February 12, 2025.
“The World Bank projects that the economic growth rate of Gulf countries will reach 3.4 percent in 2025, rising to 4.1 percent in 2026, compared to an expected 3.3 percent growth rate for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as a whole.”
Go Deeper: “Gulf Cooperation Council: Pursuing Visions Amid Geopolitical Turbulence: Economic Prospects and Policy Challenges for the GCC Countries” IMF, 12/19/2024.
“Oman tightens citizenship rules: New law defines loss and revocation criteria.” Gulf News, February 10, 2025.
“A foreigner who acquires Omani citizenship through marriage to an Omani woman will lose it if the marriage ends in divorce or desertion within five years.”
“Under Article 26, an individual may be stripped of their nationality if they insult the Sultan or the Sultanate, whether verbally or through actions. Membership in organizations or parties that promote ideologies harmful to Oman’s interests is also grounds for revocation.”
Go Deeper: “ICSRF calls on Oman to be patient with activists and amend Article 26 of the Omani Nationality Law” ICSRF, 02/02/2025. [PDF].
“Qatar venture capital funding expands 135% in 2024: QDB.” ZAWAYA, February 07, 2025.
“Qatar’s VC (venture capital) funding reported a remarkable 135% year-on-year rise to an all-time high of QR115mn [$31.6 million] in 2024, defying 19% and 29% decline globally and in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region respectively.”
“Qatar now ranks the fourth most transacted country in the region, capturing 5% of the region’s total deals.”
Go Deeper: “Qatar Venture Investment Report 2024.” QDB, February 2025. [PDF]. English.
“Real GDP growth of 2.1% in the Kingdom of Bahrain.” Akhbar Alkhaleej, February 13, 2025.
“With a growth rate of 3.9% in the non-oil sector, notable sectors in Bahrain that saw significant increases in constant price growth rates include the information and communications sector at 11.9%, business activities at 8.1%, and public administration at 5.9%. The financial activities and insurance sector is the largest contributor to the real GDP, accounting for 17.7%.”
“The trade volume between Bahrain and GCC countries decreased by 10% on a year-on-year basis in Q3 2024, dropping from $1.96 billion in Q3 2023 to $1.76 billion in Q3 2024.”
Go Deeper: “Bahrain Chamber: Economic reports Q-3 - 2024.” [PDF].
“Exclusive: Trump poised to attend Saudi-backed conference in Miami in February, sources say.” Reuters, February 12, 2025.
“Among other attendees poised to attend the FII Priority summit are TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Oracle CEO Safra Catz, as well as Yasir Al-Rumayaan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund, the $925 billion Saudi sovereign fund, according to the FII website. The public website doesn't list Trump as an attendee.”
Go Deeper: “Saudi Arabia and Trump: Expectations and Challenges Ahead.” The Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, 18 November, 2024.
“Elon Musk's The Boring Co signs preliminary deal on Dubai Loop project.” Business Standard, Feb 14, 2025.
“Elon Musk's The Boring Company and Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) have signed an initial agreement to build the Dubai Loop, an underground high-speed transport network spanning 17km (10.6 miles), they said on Friday.”
Go Deeper: “The Hyperloop: A 200-Year History of Hype and Failure.” The MIT Press Reader, January 21, 2025.
“UAE proposes Ramadan ceasefire in Sudan, army rejects proposal.” Middle East Monitor, February 12, 2025.
“The UAE called yesterday for a ceasefire in Sudan during the upcoming month of Ramadan, an official has revealed, but the Sudanese army rejected the call, as the country’s civil war approaches the end of its second year.”
Go Deeper: “Conflict in Sudan: A Map of Regional and International Actors.” Wilson Center, December 19, 2024.
“Saudi Arabia to host Arab summit on Trump's Gaza plan.” France 24, February 13, 2025.
“Saudi Arabia will host the leaders of four Arab countries at a summit on February 20 to discuss President Donald Trump's proposal for a US takeover of Gaza, a source with knowledge of the preparations said on Friday.”
“The leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will attend the summit, to take place ahead of an Arab League meeting in Cairo one week later on the same issue, the source said.”
Go Deeper: “The Day After the War in Gaza.” New Lines Magazine, February 10, 2025.
“Kuwait ready to return to international debt markets, finance minister says.” Reuters, February 10, 2025.
“Kuwait's Finance Minister Noora Al Fassam said on Monday that the country was prepared to return to international debt markets soon.
“Kuwait last issued bonds in 2017. The passage of a debt law that would allow it to return to the debt markets has been hampered for years by infighting between successive parliaments and cabinets.”
Go Deeper: “Kuwait forecasts budget deficit of more than $20bn” AGBI, 02/03/2025.
“UAE President, Vice-President welcome international guests to World Governments Summit 2025.” World Governments Summit, February 10, 2025.
“The Summit, held under the theme ‘Shaping Future Governments’, is taking place in Dubai from 11th to 13th January. WGS 2025 will host over 30 heads of state and government, more than 80 international and regional organisations, 140 government delegations, and more than 6,000 attendees.”
Go Deeper: “The Reshaping of UAE Foreign Policy and Geopolitical Strategy” Carnegie, 01/04/2022.
“36.2 billion total foreign investments in Oman, with a growing share for non-oil sectors.” Oman, February 07, 2025.
“Total foreign investments in Oman increased by 15.3%, reaching OMR 36.2 billion [$ 94.12 billion] by the end of 2023, compared to OMR 31.4 billion at the end of 2022. Foreign investment inflows accounted for 11.8% of the GDP at current prices, which stood at OMR 40.7 billion by the end of 2023.”
Go Deeper: “Investment Opportunities in Oman.” Gulf Research Center, Aug 2023. [PDF]. English.
Saudi Arabia: “2024 Budget: Rise in expenses and expansion of non-oil revenues despite the deficit.” Al Riyadh, February 13, 2025.
“[I]n the fourth quarter, oil revenues recorded 170.8 billion riyals [$ 45.5 billion], marking a sharp decline of 31% compared to the same period last year, reflecting the impact of global oil price fluctuations.”
“On the other hand, non-oil revenues grew by 10%, reaching 502.4 billion riyals [$ 133.97 million] by the end of 2024.”
Go Deeper: “Saudi Budget Statment FY 2025” Ministry of Finance, 02/13/2025. [PDF].
“Leading regionally and surpassing the G20 nations, the Kingdom achieves global leaps in e-government.” Albilad, February 12, 2025.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has achieved an unprecedented digital milestone by advancing 25 places in the United Nations' 2024 e-Government Development Index, entering the top ten globally as the first Middle Eastern country to reach this high rank. Regionally, it ranked first and second among the G20 nations, and sixth worldwide among 193 countries.”
Go Deeper: “The state of gen AI in the Middle East’s GCC countries: A 2024 report card” Quantum Black, 2024. [PDF].
“Dubai welcomes 18.72 million international visitors in 2024, up 9% YoY.” WAM, February 09, 2025.
“Dubai welcomed 18.72 million international overnight visitors from January to December 2024, a 9% year-over-year (YoY) increase that surpasses the previous record of 17.15 million in 2023”
Go Deeper: “Tourism Performance Report January - December 2024.” DET, 2024.
Gulf Opinions
Trump’s Gaza plan and Netanyahu’s remark that “Saudi Arabia has enough land to provide a state for the Palestinians” have dominated discourse among Gulf commentators this week. An unprecedented Saudi media campaign against Netanyahu was launched after the strongly-worded statement released by the Saudi foreign ministry. The government-owned channel Al-Ekhbariya TV released a video describing him as a “Zionist and a son of Zionist” who “genetically inherited extremism from his father and grandfather.” Talal Al-Gashgari also asserts that during World War II, under Adolf Hitler's rule, the Jews were the victims. Yet, surprisingly, they are now, albeit to a lesser degree, “adopting” Hitler’s exclusionary practices. Meanwhile, Saudi Shura Council member Yousef Al-Saadoun criticized Netanyahu, describing him as a “criminal” who began implementing “Zionist” plans in 1996. Finally, Hailah Abdullah maintains that such statements aim to “divert attention” from the ongoing crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinians in Gaza, including “ethnic cleansing.”
Gulf authors have expressed firm opposition to President Trump's proposal. Awad Saeed Baquwair from Oman places high expectations on the upcoming Arab Summit in Cairo on February 27, suggesting that it should serve as an opportunity to reaffirm the Arab nations' firm stance on safeguarding regional security and Palestinian interests. He warned that neglecting these issues could have negative repercussions for American interests in the Middle East. Similarly, Saleh Abdulaziz Al-Karim from Saudi Arabia argues that the proposed American and Israeli "displacement" plan would be detrimental to Israeli interests, particularly given the strong international and regional opposition to the idea. From Kuwait, Ahmed Al-Jarallah expressed gratitude for the recent visit of the Jordanian King to Washington, asserting that King Abdullah II conveyed a "unified" Arab stance to the American president—namely, that "there will be no displacement" in Gaza. Mohammed Khalfan Al-Sawafi, an Emirati commentator, warned of the dangers posed by American and Israeli proposals, emphasizing that such actions undermine the foundations of international law, which is based on the principle of "respect for the sovereignty of states." He argued that these proposals would only exacerbate conflicts rather than resolve them. Likewise, Faisal Al-Sheikh from Bahrain stressed the risks associated with recent statements from Trump and Netanyahu regarding Gaza, asserting that they clearly violate the principle of sovereignty and pose a threat to international peace and security.
More Gulf Opinions:
On Trump’s Gaza Plan:
“Faced with this tragic reality, the Palestinians have no choice but to defend their land, while the Israeli adversary, fearful of the resistance, continues to commit further crimes. Caught between these two positions, the establishment of a Palestinian state will be delayed, and Israelis will continue to endure fear, panic, and instability.”
Khalid bin Hamad Al Malik, Al-Jazirah (Saudi Arabia), 02/13/2025.
“Shimon Peres, the architect of the ‘New Middle East’ concept, has passed away, but Gaza remains. Ultimately, displacement will not occur, God willing, and four years is but a brief period in the lifespan of nations.”
Abdulaziz Al-Kandari, Alrai (Kuwait), 02/12/2025.
“The fall of Gaza and the displacement of its inhabitants clearly means the elimination of what remains of the Palestinian cause, but this fall will not be the end of the road, as much as it will be the beginning of the extension to fulfill mythical and superstitious prophecies.”
Bader Al-Abri, Oman Daily (Oman), 02/11/2025.
“On February 4, President Trump announced a plan to displace the residents of Gaza. Within less than 24 hours, the UAE declared its categorical and decisive rejection of the idea of displacing Gaza's residents and categorically rejected any infringement on the rights of the Palestinian people. This is the only official stance of the UAE. It is also principled and humanitarian”
Abdulkhaleq Abdullah, X (UAE), February 14, 2025.
Other Topics
“[Trump] seems to be only looking for his own benefits which will affect the whole world and there will be repercussions.”
Kuwait’s Prime Minister. Youtube, February 11, 2025. English Subtitle.
“Washington will lose credibility with its allies, prompting many countries to reassess their security alliances. Meanwhile, international institutions such as the United Nations and NATO, which heavily rely on U.S. leadership, will erode.”
Hamad Al Jedei, Alrai (Kuwait), 02/13/2025.
“The world is currently experiencing a transitional phase in the global order. The Western-led system of recent decades has not entirely collapsed, nor has a new order fully emerged—and its birth appears to be a difficult one. During this challenging and uncertain period, major global events may unfold.”
Muhammad Al Rumaihi, Albayan (UAE), 02/09/2025.
“Investing in cybersecurity is not an option, but a necessity, to ensure sustainability and prosperity in the digital age.”
Amal Almohannadi, Al Raya (Qatar), 02/13/2025.
Gulf Nashra Picks
Book: Soubrier, Emma, “Qatar and the United Arab Emirates: Diverging Paths to Regional and Global Power.” Lynne Rienner Publishers, April 2025. English.
Analysis: “President Trump’s Gaza ploy: Exercising leverage over Saudi Arabia?” Gause Gregory, Middle East Institute, February 12, 2025.
Research: “Legislative-Executive Paralysis in Kuwait.” Allarakia Luai, Cambridge University Press, January 31, 2025.
Analysis: “Trump II and American-Gulf Relations.” Ulrichsen Kristian, Arab Center Washington DC, February 11, 2025.
Webinar: “AGSIW Outlook 2025: Gulf States at the Nexus of a Shifting World Order.” Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, February 06, 2025.
Report: “Kuwait: General Budget 2025/2026.” AlShall Consulting Company, February 09, 2025. [PDF]. English.
Analysis: “Distortionary Effects of Kuwaitʼs Cheap Electricity and the Case for a Just Reform.” Alsayegh Osamah & Krane Jim & Alhajraf Salem, Baker Institute, January 29, 2025. [PDF].
Analysis: “Emirati and Saudi Ambitions for Next-Generation Fighters.” Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, February 11, 2025.
Podcast: "Behind the scenes of building Laysen Valley, The Zone, and Riyadh Front.” Socrates Podcast, February 08, 2025. Arabic.
Podcast: “From Crises to Peaks: The Art of Risk and Seizing Opportunities - with Adel Al-Ghanem” Jadwa Podcast, February 04, 2025. English subtitles.
Commentary: “Trump’s Gaza Comments Aren’t Receiving a Warm Welcome in the Middle East” Amr Hamzawy, Andrew Leber, and Marwan Muasher, Carnegie, February 11, 2025.