Gulf Nashra Weekly Digest
Gulf Commentators Reflect on Trump's Return, Rising Saudi Inflation, and Houthi Terrorist Re-Designation
Media Coverage
“Saudi economy minister says $600 bln package with US includes investments, procurement,” Reuters, 01/24/2025.
“The state news agency said on Thursday that the crown prince had affirmed the kingdom's intention to broaden its investments and trade with the United States over the next four years, in the amount of $600 billion, and potentially beyond that.”
“‘This number represents investments, procurement, public and private sector, and it's just a mirror reflection of the strong relationship,’ Alibrahim said on a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos when asked if the kingdom would increase the figure to $1 trillion, as U.S. President Donald Trump suggested to the forum on Thursday.”
Go Deeper: “The US-Saudi Economic Relationship: More than Arms and Oil,” King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, March 2021. [PDF]
“Qatar drafting new laws aimed at boosting foreign investment,” Reuters, 01/22/2025.
“Qatar plans to introduce three new laws as part of a sweeping review of legislation designed to make the Gulf Arab state more attractive to foreign investors, the new minister of commerce and economy told Reuters.”
“Qatar's new laws also come as part of the Gulf Arab state's efforts to activate its private sector and transition away from government-funded growth. Sheikh Faisal joined the government in November after serving at Qatar's $510 billion sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority, most recently as chief investment officer for Asia and Africa.”
“Saudi foreign minister calls for ending Syria sanctions during talks in Damascus” Arab News, 01/24/2025.
“‘The talks also addressed efforts to support Syria's political, humanitarian, and economic aspects, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to lift the sanctions imposed on Syria and provide all forms of assistance and support to Syria during this critical phase to restore stability across its entire territory and revive its national institutions in a manner that aligns with the aspirations and hopes of the Syrian people.’”
“Trump designates Yemen's Houthis as a 'foreign terrorist organization,’” Reuters, 01/23/2025.
“U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday re-designated Yemen's Houthi movement, known formally as Ansar Allah, as a ‘foreign terrorist organization,’ the White House said. The move will impose harsher economic penalties than the Biden administration had applied to the Iran-aligned group in response to its attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and against U.S. warships defending the critical maritime choke point.”
Go Deeper: “Assessing the Houthi War Effort Since October 20235,” Combating Terrorism Center, April 2024. [PDF].
“Emirates to resume flights to Beirut and Baghdad from February 1st,” Emarat Alyoum, 01/24/2024.
“Emirates Airlines will operate its daily flight to Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut using its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with a three-class configuration, providing more than 5,000 seats in both directions weekly.”
“The carrier will also operate its Boeing 777 aircraft for its daily flight to Baghdad. Flight EK 941 will depart from Dubai at 08:05 and arrive in Baghdad at 09:50 on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays.”
“Saudi Arabia’s inflation slows down to 1.9 per cent in December,” MSN, 01/19/2025.
“Inflation in Saudi Arabia has hovered between 1.5 per cent and 2 per cent for most of the year, with housing rents the main driver of price pressures.”
“Rents for housing increased by 10.6 per cent in December, with villa rental prices rising by 9.9 per cent, the General Authority for Statistics said, which was the primary reason for prices for the combined housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category climbing by 8.9 per cent.”
Go Deeper: “Consumer Price Index December 2024,” General Authority for Statistics, January 2025. [PDF]
“The real estate price index of the Kingdom rose by 3.6%,” Alriyadh Newspaper, 01/19/2025.
“The results of the General Authority for Statistics bulletin indicated that real estate prices in the commercial sector increased by 5.0% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter of the previous year, driven by a 5.2% rise in the prices of commercial lands. Additionally, the commercial sector witnessed a 5.1% increase in the prices of buildings, while exhibition prices decreased by 1.7%”
Go Deeper: “Saudi Arabia Real Estate Prices,” General Authority for Statistics, 01/20/2025. [PDF].
“Joy Awards 2025 captivates Saudi capital with star-studded ceremony,” Alarabiya, 01/19/2025.
“Regional and global stars got together at a mesmerizing awards ceremony in Saudi Arabia to honor Arab and international talents at the 2025 edition of the annual Joy Awards on Saturday.”
Go Deeper: Full List of Winners, VOGUE Arabia, 01/19/2025.
Gulf Opinions
This week, the return of Trump to the White House has grabbed the attention of many Gulf commentators. Ahmed Aldawas, a Kuwaiti commentator, argued that Trump brings extreme tension to world peace. Conversely, Hamoud Abu Talib, a Saudi commentator, described Trump’s return as a storm to Washington, hoping that this storm would bring peace to the world as Trump promised. Abdullah Al-Rabah, a Saudi commentator, emphasized the challenges and difficulties Trump faces in the MENA region, particularly with Iran and Israel, as contributors to instability in the region, unlike Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. In agreement with Al-Rabah, Saad Rasheed, a Bahraini commentator, argued that Trump’s work in the MENA won’t be easy, especially with the Iranian nuclear program and the recent agreement between Iran and Russia. Faisal Al-Sharifi, a Kuwaiti commentator, argued that Trump’s pragmatic behavior makes him predictable. He stated that Trump will likely continue his full support for Israel while ignoring Palestinian demands and avoiding a clear resolution to the conflict—a commitment inherited within the U.S. approach toward Israel. Second, he will implement maximum pressure on Iran. Third, he will maintain his previous policy of reducing direct involvement in conflicts abroad, describing Trump’s relationship with Israel as contradictory to Arab interests, particularly regarding Palestine.
In addition to Trump’s return, the Gaza ceasefire has sparked mixed reactions toward Hamas's role in the war. Some Gulf commentators called it a victory, while others deemed it an absolute disaster. Hamed Almarri, an Islamist Kuwaiti commentator, blamed Hamas for the consequences of the October 7 operation and criticized its leadership's decision to declare victory. Meanwhile, other commentators from Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait viewed the ceasefire as a victory for Hamas. From a broader perspective, both Saudi commentator Hamoud Abu Talib and Emirati commentator Abdullah Alhashemi argued that the aftermath of October 7 has altered the geopolitical landscape, both within the Palestinian side and regionally. They emphasized that Trump and regional leaders must recognize these changes, particularly the gap left by Iran.
More Gulf Opinions:
On Trump Return:
“America, with Trump, is capable of enforcing more serious political patterns on various issues to resolve problems that restore vitality to the economy.”
Fahd Al-Shuqairan, Asharq Al-Awsat (KSA), 01/22/2025.
“Without resolving the Palestinian issue on the basis of international legitimacy laws, the efforts of normalization and the Abraham Accords peace process will not be effective.”
Awad bin Saeed Baqwir, Oman (Oman), 01/21/2025.
“Trump's policy, in which he threatens and vows to annex other countries into the United States, expand its territory, and extend its geographic borders, thereby increasing its power and influence on the international level, would lead the world once again into the dominance and control of a unipolar power. This also implies the hegemony of the "white race" over all aspects of our planet—its land, governments, and peoples.”
Dr. Ismail Al-Madani, Akhbar Al Khaleej (BAH), 01/17/2025.
“If Trump were to propose a version of his 2020 plan, there would be no political Palestinian unity to effectively resist it. There is also likely to be little resistance from other governments in the region, especially now that the "Axis of Resistance" has been rendered inactive.”
Raja Al Khalidi, Oman (Oman), 01/22/2025.
“The relationship between Riyadh and Washington has always been strategic, not circumstantial. This became evident to former U.S. President Joe Biden, who, even without oil, trade deals, or a personal relationship, offered Saudi Arabia strategic cooperation and proposed a defense agreement. With Trump, the relationship is likely to be closer and warmer, especially since the Saudi Crown Prince invested in the relationship with him and found him to be a strong ally.”
Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, Asharq Al-Awsat (KSA), 01/24/2025.
“President Trump has strong ties with Saudi Arabia and its Crown Prince, as the kingdom supported the United States in becoming its second-largest trading partner during his first term. However, the United States dropped to sixth place in the first 11 months of the current year, with trade exchange amounting to approximately 110 billion riyals ($29.2 billion).”
Ekramy Abdullah, Al Eqtisadiah (KSA), 01/23/2025.
“OPEC must carefully manage production quotas to ensure price stability while taking the global oil surplus into account. However, the political and economic impact of the new U.S. administration will be a decisive factor in shaping the future of oil markets in the coming years.”
Kamel Al Harmi, Al Rai (KWT), 01/20/2025.
Other Topics:
“The sectarian quota system in Lebanon, upon which the foundations of the Lebanese state were built, will serve as both the pathway and the stumbling block for Lebanon. It is a double-edged sword.”
Mohammed Darwish, Al-Watan (BAH), 01/20/2025.
“A month after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, this is a clear and explicit expression of Bahrain's support and solidarity with the Syrian people and the reform directions in the new Syria.”
Dr. Jassim Bonofel, Akhbar Al Khaleej (BAH), 01/20/2025.
“The issue of forged academic degrees, issued by some universities, is considered one of the main and controversial matters, raising questions about how they were accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and how their holders were employed, especially after the higher education authorities uncovered many of them.”
Dr. Bahija Behbehani, Al-Qabas (KWT), 01/22/2025.
“What is emerging on the surface today are transformations within some factions and terrorist organizations due to the new reality, which reflects the rise of political priorities over ideological ones, or the rhetoric of interest and empowerment over principles and foundations, according to the terminology of these movements. However, this is a shift in operational strategies aimed at achieving more complex local and international objectives.”
Youssef Al-Dini, Asharq Al-Awsat (KSA), 01/22/2025.
“The establishment of an independent research center in Oman is a pressing and urgent need, not a luxury or an optional addition that can be overlooked. Such a center, in itself, contributes to solving many issues and provides a deeper understanding of needs and matters.”
Jassim Bani Araba, Oman (Oman), 01/20/2025.
“The government had the authority to independently decide on increasing all fees for many years but chose not to, despite announcing several times in the council its intention to raise electricity and water fees.”
Ahmed Baqer, Al-Jarida (KWT), 01/23/2025.
Gulf Nashra Picks
Book: Rico, Trinidad, “The Heritage State : Religion and Preservation in Contemporary Qatar”. Cornell University Press, 2025.
Podcast: “Is the Rise in Real Estate Price in Dubai Normal?” Interview with Muwaffaq Al-Qaddah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of "MAG" Group, Arab Cast - Kashf Hissab, 01/02/2025, Arabic.
Podcast: “Your Role Models Are Making You Miserable!” Interview with Hala Abdallah, a Saudi content creator, entrepreneur, and influencer, The Mo Show, 01/23/2025, English.
Interview: “A Conversation with Javad Zarif, Vice President for Strategic Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” World Economic Forum, 01/22/2025, English.
Interview: “Saudi Arabia's Economic Shifts,” World Economic Forum, 01/23/2025, English.
Analysis: “Militarized Nationalism: Oman’s Military Discipline Program,” Eleonora Ardemagni, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, 01/07/2025, English.
Analysis: “Influence Abroad: Saudi Arabia Replaces Salafism in its Soft Power Outreach,” Hesham Alghannam, Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, 12/23/2024, English.