The race between the UAE and Saudi Arabia will define who sets the Gulf’s digital standards and who becomes its technological gatekeeper. Abu Dhabi's position is already well established, but Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions are fast catching up, setting the stage for a Gulf-wide AI rivalry.
Turkish President Erdoğan’s latest economic and security outreach to the Gulf could easily benefit both sides, but Turkey's ambition and the Gulf's wariness of Ankara's influence could limit their cooperation.
Critical minerals, from lithium and cobalt to rare earth elements, have become the backbone of modern industries, powering everything from defense systems to electric vehicle batteries. In today’s fractured geopolitical landscape, they represent more than resources: they are leverage.
Bangladesh’s democratic transition remains fragile. The interim government struggles to deliver reforms and prepare the country’s first credible election in 16 years, with risks ranging from orderly democratic renewal to violent breakdown.
In July, the GCC Supreme Council announced the approval of a unified tourist visa allowing foreigners to access all six countries within the bloc using a single permit. With plans to pilot this by the end of 2025, the relaxation of rules encourages multi-destination trips across the Gulf region.
On 8 August, the Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders signed an agreement in Washington that is poised to end more than three decades of bilateral tensions and open the way to better connectivity, not only in the South Caucasus but also for the Middle Corridor linking China to Europe.
The Gulf is positioned as a pivotal hub in the emerging India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC), with the potential to reshape global trade routes while diversifying its economies. This analysis explores EU–GCC integration and the geopolitical stakes driving IMEC’s future.
The cancellation of Algeria's El Hamdania mega-port highlights the struggle between political stability and sustainable growth, risking regional isolation and investor confidence amid a looming fiscal crisis.
Libya faces looming macroeconomic shocks as the Central Bank crisis deepens, risking social unrest amid rising prices and unstable infrastructure. With political divisions stalling solutions, ordinary Libyans may soon voice their frustrations, escalating tensions and uncertainty across the nation.
