Veranstaltungen

Highly Skilled Migration to the Gulf

Labour Reforms and the Global Competition for Talents

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States are reshaping labour markets to become global talent hubs. Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s strongest economy and home to nearly half of the GCC’s foreign workforce, is spearheading reforms to attract highly skilled migrants. Vision 2030 aims to diversify and decarbonise the economy, promote technical innovation, develop new sectors, and boost employment, particularly for women. The UAE has emerged as a competitor, introducing Golden Visas in 2019, followed by Green Visas and other permits, revolutionising its immigration landscape. The webinar will reflect on Saudi Arabia’s labour and migration reforms over the last decade and their outcomes, with a comparative insight into the UAE.

Transformative Diplomatic Strategies for Contemporary Geopolitical Challenges

Panel Discussion at the Doha Forum

Today’s geopolitical challenges require new thinking and diplomatic approaches such as flexible and inclusive strategies, leveraging advanced technologies, and applying creative solutions. Unlike traditional diplomacy, which often relies on formal protocols, bilateral negotiations, and the promotion of specific ideologies, innovative approaches to diplomacy transcend traditional Western and non-Western divides. It embraces diverse actors, digital platforms, and collaborative initiatives to foster dialogue, build consensus, and achieve shared goals. Through virtual summits, digital platforms, and citizen engagement, it promotes transparency, inclusivity, and participatory global governance. This empowers non-state actors, facilitates rapid communication and information sharing, and enables a more agile response to crises, including humanitarian emergencies, peacebuilding efforts, climate change, global health threats, and economic development. This panel in partnership with the Center for International Policy Research (CIPR) and The Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) will illuminate different innovative diplomatic practices, examining the foreign policies of Qatar, Germany, Italy, and UAE.

The Future of Labour and Migration in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf

Highly Skilled Migration to the Gulf

'Decentralisation and its Role in Economic Development and Creating Job Opportunities'

in Economic Development and Creating Job Opportunities

In cooperation with the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Smart Investment Gateway, the KAS Regional Programme Gulf States is organising a workshop on 27 November 2024 in Muscat, Oman to discuss the country’s decentralisation reforms, which form a pillar of the Sultanate’s ambitious Vision 2040 agenda. Titled “Decentralisation and its Role in Economic Development and Creating Job Opportunities,” the workshop will feature inputs from German experts in the fields of economics and political science, who will present on the historical development of Germany’s federal system of government, along with challenges that the Federal Republic faces today with respect to spurring regional economic transformation and development. From the Omani side, presentations from His Highness Dr Adham Turki Al Said and Shaikh Saeed bin Rashid Al Qutbi will focus on the strategic importance of decentralisation to Oman’s Vision 2040 and the relationship between decentralisation and regional economic development in Oman. The workshop will be held under the patronage of His Highness Qais Mohammed Al Yousef, Oman’s Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion.

Gulf Asia Cooperation: Prospects, Challenges and Implications for Europe

Publication Roll-out

The past decade has witnessed a significant strengthening of ties between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and key Asian countries. This burgeoning relationship spans multiple dimensions - economic, political, and cultural - rooted in mutual interests and strategic priorities. Concurrently, Europe has also cultivated deeper relations with Asia. The European Union (EU) maintains comprehensive partnerships with major Asian powers, particularly South Korea, India, and Japan. These relationships have taken on renewed significance in light of recent global developments: the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe's resulting energy crisis, the ongoing transformation of the global order, and escalating United States-China tensions. These factors have underscored the critical importance of enhanced EU-Asia collaboration, especially within the GCC region. This discussion brings together experts who have examined these complex relationships through various lenses. Their analysis addresses several crucial questions: · How have Gulf-Asia relations evolved, and what implications does this hold for European engagement in the region? · What opportunities and challenges does strengthening Gulf-Asia cooperation present for Europe's vision of open strategic autonomy and initiatives like the EU's Global Gateway? · How can Europe effectively leverage and contribute to Gulf states' third-party partnerships? · Given their strategic geographic position, how can Gulf states facilitate Asian connectivity projects while ensuring European interests are served? · Do the GCC's relationships with Asia and Europe operate as complementary or substitutionary forces, and what are the implications for future regional cooperation and global strategic partnerships?

Development of Renewables and Clean Technologies in Saudi Arabia

Challenges and Opportunities

Together with the Hydrogen Diplomacy (H2Diplo) Office in Saudi Arabia, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)'s Regional Programme Gulf States will organise the second meeting of its Fireside Chats on Energy, Climate, and Sustainability series in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Featuring inputs from leading Saudi academics and practitioners in the field of energy and climate research, this fireside chat will provide a space to discuss the opportunities and challenges characterising the Kingdom's efforts to expand the proportion of renewables in its domestic energy mix and decarbonise its industries. The fireside chat will take place under the Chatham House Rule. Please note that this is a closed event.

Youth Voices from the Gulf Region

New Ideas and Experiences

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s Regional Programme Gulf States and the Gulf Research Center are hosting a side event at COP28 (UAE) on December 8, 2023, at 12:00 pm at the Siemens Showcase Center, focusing on climate change engagement with youth from the Gulf region. This event is the outcome of a policy paper contest held by both organisations, with the top four papers chosen to present their ideas at COP28. The primary objectives are to amplify the voices of young individuals from the GCC nations on climate change, introduce innovative concepts to propose to their respective governments, and foster the creation of robust climate change networks among GCC youth.

Young Perspectives on Joint Cooperation

Enhancing the Saudi-German Academic Exchange

In partnership with the Gulf Research Center, the Regional Programme Gulf States of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung will carry out a two-day workshop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The workshop will bring together young researchers and practitioners from Germany and Saudi Arabia for two days of dialogue, exchange, and learning how to write policy papers about German-Saudi cooperation in the fields of energy, security, sports, and culture. Please note that this is a closed event.

Gulf Humanitarianism in Flux: Arab Gulf Development Actors and their Development Policy Engagement

Join us on the September 28th at 6:30 pm for the launch of Dr. Sebastian Sons' policy study, "Gulf Humanitarianism in Flux"

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 at the halfway point

Achievements and challenges

In partnership with Highbridge Advisory, Chatham House, and the Decision Support Center of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Regional Programme Gulf States of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung will carry out a one-day workshop at Chatham House in London, United Kingdom. The workshop will examine Saudi Arabia's progress on its Vision 2030 as it reaches the halfway mark.