Gulf Nashra Weekly Digest
Gulf Authors Discuss The Global Trade War; An Old Climate Record Discovered in Saudi Arabia; World Court Hears Sudan's Complaint Against UAE; And A New Book On Gulf Religious Soft Power.
Media Coverage
“Mideast Stocks: Most Gulf markets retreat as global trade war escalates.” Zawaya, April 9, 2025.
“Most stock markets in the Gulf ended lower on Wednesday, tracking a global selloff triggered by the latest U.S.-China trade war escalation. U.S. President Donald Trump's eye-watering 104% tariffs on China came into effect on Wednesday, prompting a swift retaliation from Beijing in the form of duties of 84% on U.S. imports.”
Go Deeper: “The oil-rich Gulf states are better-positioned to weather the tariff storm — but crashing crude prices could spell trouble.” Natasha Turak, CNBC, April 9, 2025.
“Oil retreats after sharp rally as US-China trade war escalates.” Reuters, April 10, 2025.
“Oil prices retreated by more than 2% on Thursday as fears of a deepening U.S.-China trade war and a possible recession eclipsed earlier relief created by President Donald Trump's announcement of a 90-day pause on some tariffs against most countries.”
Go Deeper: “Saudi will not waste a Trump-fuelled oil crisis.” Reuters, April 09, 2025.
“Iran Warns Regional Countries Against Launching Strikes on Its Territory.” Alroya, April 06, 2025.
“The official said that Iran has sent warnings to Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, and Bahrain, stating that any support for a U.S. attack on Iran — including allowing the U.S. military to use their airspace or territory during such an attack — would be considered a hostile act.”
Go Deeper: “Supreme Oscillation: Khamenei’s Trump Strategy.” Ali Alfoneh, The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, Apr 9, 2025.
“US-Iran Talks in Oman Set to Rewrite Middle East Diplomacy.” Kuwait Times, April 9, 2025.
“On Friday, the daily learned that security-level talks had produced a mutual agreement to advance to the diplomatic stage. President Trump shocked the international community by announcing that the U.S. and Iran would engage in high-level negotiations the following Saturday — although Iranian officials insist the meeting will be indirect and mediated by Oman.”
Go Deeper: “Oman’s Diplomatic Balancing Act: Bridging East and West Across a Divided Middle East.” MEIS, April 07, 2025.
“Sudan tells World Court UAE fuels Darfur genocide.” Reuters, April 10, 2025.
“Sudan's complaint to the Hague-based ICJ - known as the World Court - is in connection with intense ethnic-based attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and allied Arab militias against the non-Arab Masalit tribe in 2023 in West Darfur, documented in detail by Reuters.”
Go Deeper: “Sudan accuses UAE of 'complicity in genocide' at world court.” BBC, April 10, 2025.
“Saudi Arabia Unveils 8-Million-Year-Old Longest Climate Record.” Asharq Al-Awsat, April 10, 2025.
“According to the study, the Saudi desert—currently one of the world’s largest geographic barriers due to its extreme aridity—once served as a natural corridor for animal and human migrations between Africa, Asia, and Europe.”
Go Deeper: “Heritage Commission: Saudi Arabia Was a Green Oasis Millions of Years Ago, Study of 'Duhool Al-Summan' Reveals.” SPA, April 9, 2025.
“Government to unveil action plan on April 10.” Kuwait Times, March 29, 2025.
“The Kuwaiti government, which assumed office on May 12, 2024, is nearing the one-year mark in office. However, despite its significant legislative and executive powers, there have been concerns regarding the lack of a clear work program outlining its policies, goals, and strategies for addressing the country’s key challenges.”
Go Deeper: “Kuwait’s authoritarian shift makes room for economic reform.” The Banker, March 20, 2025.
“640 Cases of Kuwaiti Citizenship Revoked or Lost.” Al Qabas, April 10, 2025.
“The Higher Committee for Implementing Kuwaiti Citizenship held a meeting today, Thursday, chaired by Acting Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef, and decided to revoke or strip Kuwaiti citizenship from 640 cases, in preparation for submitting them to the Council of Ministers.”
Go Deeper: “Will Kuwait’s Parliamentary Democracy Be Restored, Reformed, or Repudiated?” Omar Al Jasser and Nathan J. Brown. Carnegie, March 13, 2025.
Gulf Opinions
This week, Gulf commentators turned their attention to the ongoing global trade war and its implications for the Arab Gulf states. Awad Baquwair from Oman emphasized that President Donald Trump’s trade policies have “adversely” affected both the U.S. economy and global markets, leading to rising prices and heightened market instability. He argues that such “protectionist measures” are unsustainable and could potentially trigger a global economic recession. As a remedy, he advocates for the diversification of trade partnerships to “safeguard” national economic interests. Similarly, Mouza Alabbar from the United Arab Emirates contends that Trump’s trade approach risks “destabilizing” the global economy by undermining international cooperation and disrupting interconnected supply chains. She suggests that these policies could pave the way for “a new economic model,” one that emphasizes socially and knowledge-driven economies, embraces cultural diversity, and fosters equitable international partnerships. From Qatar, Nawaf Al Thani concurs with these assessments, arguing that Trump’s broad imposition of tariffs, although intended to revitalize the U.S. economy, has instead “destabilized global markets.” Drawing parallels to the Great Depression, he warns that such “protectionist policies” may lead to a global recession. He urges a return to multilateral trade negotiations aimed at reforming and modernizing globalization rather than dismantling it. Taking a more critical stance, Radhi Alsammak from Bahrain condemns Trump’s aggressive trade strategies as a revival of “outdated protectionist doctrines” that threaten global economic stability. In Kuwait, Tariq Boresli discusses the implications of Trump’s decision to impose a 10% tariff on exports from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to the United States. He expresses concern about the potential “negative impact” on Gulf exports—particularly in petrochemicals and aluminum—and recommends that GCC nations diversify their export markets and strengthen domestic production to mitigate these risks. From Saudi Arabia, Abdullaziz Alwathnani addresses the repercussions of these tariffs on the Saudi economy. While he notes that the direct effects may be “limited,” he warns of broader consequences for global trade, energy demand, and oil prices, which could pose significant economic challenges. Also writing from Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Al Jumaiah offers a different perspective in his article titled “Trump’s Tariffs: A War on China, Not the World.” He argues that Trump’s tariffs are primarily aimed at curbing China’s economic ascent rather than disrupting the global economy as a whole. He views the trade conflict as “a strategic effort” to counter China’s growing global influence, an approach that may result in long-term economic tensions between the two superpowers. Finally, Ali Alhazmi, another Saudi commentator, presents a critical view of the international trade system itself. Referring to the World Trade Organization (WTO), he asserts that it is effectively “on death row,” arguing that the rise of economic nationalism and the prevalence of unilateral trade measures—particularly under Trump’s leadership—have severely undermined the WTO’s credibility and effectiveness.
More Gulf Opinions
On Trump Trade War
“The irony, however, is that the greatest victims of these measures are the very billionaires who support Trump, foremost among them Elon Musk, whose current status remains unclear: whether he still holds the official position Trump appointed him to, or if he has since stepped away.”
Faisal Al Sheikh, Alwatan, (Bahrain), April 7, 2025.
“The UAE's economy is the most adaptable among the Arab economies to President Trump's tariff decisions. Indeed, it may be the economy that will benefit the most, given its stability, diverse sectors, solid foundations, and flexible legislation. This makes it attractive to major Asian and European companies, which have already begun seeking a safe haven in the UAE.”
Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, X, (UAE), April 9, 2025.
Other Topics
“The situation appears as though the United States has been slow in eliminating the Houthis, as its actions remain limited, even while carrying out continuous attacks around the clock. Official statements do not indicate any significant impact in dismantling the Houthis' weapons arsenal.”
Khalid Almalik, Aljazirah, (Saudi Arabia), April 9, 2025.
“The Zionist aggression on Gaza has made no distinction whatsoever between Muslims and Christians, targeting mosques and churches alike. This war is purely an act of ethnic cleansing, as those behind it view us as a people unworthy of life.”
Sara Alrashid, Aljarida, (Kuwait), Apr 11, 2025
“In Bahrain, we need to enhance public awareness through awareness campaigns and educational programs that explain how to benefit from artificial intelligence without compromising our privacy and personal freedoms. We must approach it as a smart tool that serves us, not one that controls us.”
Othman Adel, Alwatan, (Bahrain), Apr 12, 2025
“Although the talks in Muscat are considered a positive step, the challenges remain substantial, particularly in light of the deep divisions between Washington and Tehran over the nuclear file, economic sanctions, and Iran’s regional role.”
Saif bin Khalfan, Alwatan, (Oman), April 9, 2025.
“Some analysts attribute these accusations to political motivations driven by the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan, a group known for its longstanding hostility toward the UAE. The UAE has distanced itself from transnational movements and firmly rejects any external allegiances promoted by such dangerous organizations, allegiances that fundamentally contradict national values.”
Ahmed Alhosani, Aletihad, (UAE), April 11, 2025.
“Two Saudi students from North Carolina State University had their visas revoked and returned to Saudi Arabia.”
Sultan Alamer, X, (Saudi Arabia), April 6, 2025.
Gulf Nashra Picks
Book: Hoffman Jon “Islam and Statecraft: Religious Soft Power in the Arab Gulf States.” Bloomsbury, January 23, 2025.
Paper: “Gender Politics and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Scholarship Program.” Nermin Allam, Carnegie, February 5, 2025.
Analysis: “OPEC+ Hikes Output as Trump Tariffs Rattle Global Markets.” Kate Dourian, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, April 7, 2025.
Research: “Refounding the Kingdom: Saudi Arabia from Islamism and Wahhabism to ‘Moderate’ Islam.” Cole Bunzel, Middle Eastern Studies, Apr 2, 2025.
Essay: “Saudi Arabia’s Water Future: Addressing Scarcity and Ensuring Sustainability.” John Calabrese, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, Apr 3, 2025.
Analysis: “Exclusion of Other Powers: Significance of Iran-US Negotiations in Oman and Their Potential Outcomes.” Mohammad Alzghool, Emirates Policy Center, Apr 11, 2025.
Podcast: “How is Decision-Making Done in the Emirate of Ajman?” with H.H. Sheikh Rashid Al Nuaimi, Qisas Podcast, Apr 11, 2025. [Arabic only].
Analysis: “Saudi Arabia’s Calculated Re-engagement in Syria and Lebanon.” Arab Center in Washington, Apr 8, 2025.
Commentary: “U.S. Tariffs Threaten to Undermine the Economies of the Gulf.” Mohammad Salami, Gulf International Forum, April 2025.
Analysis: “Post-Peak: China’s Declining Oil Demand and Future Implications for Gulf States.” Emirates Policy Center, 8 Apr 2025.
Research: Rabuffetti Fiorella & Wills Emily “The problem with the Comoros solution: affect, citizenship, statelessness and the Kuwaiti Bidoon.” Citizenship Studies, 19 Mar 2025.
Podcast: “Saudi Arabia’s Role as the Gulf’s Monarchical Ruler.” with Ali Shihabi, The Mo Show, Mar 29, 2025. [English].
Analysis: “Saudi Arabia's Cautious Approach to the Syrian Kurds: Balancing Stability and Geopolitical Interests.” Carnegie, April 9, 2025.
Webinar: “Shaping Syria’s Future: GCC States’ Role in Stability and Reconstruction.”Gulf International Forum, [Youtube], Dec 23, 2024.
Analysis: “As Europe Adjusts to Life Without U.S. Security Umbrella, Lessons for GCC Abound.” Rashid Al-Mohanadi, Middle East Council on Global Affairs, April 3, 2025.
Analysis: “Strategic Alliances: The Gulf States and Africa in a Multilateral World.”Michael Wilson Gulf Research Center, April 10, 2025.