Framing Women’s Rights and Intersectionality in the Gulf

In the past two decades, women’s rights have become one of the most urgent issues in Gulf societies and received much attention worldwide. Locally, women’s rights have often been discussed through the debate on “Feminism” without a clear conceptualization of what “feminism” really means in the Gulf context. This article deconstructs some of the concepts around “women’s rights in Gulf” and brings into the discussion the themes intersectionality, identity, and inclusion. The aim is to pose questions and to problematize some of the existing notions and debates on women's rights. This article intends to contribute to re-defining the scope of research on women in Gulf by outlining a new framework of addressing the topic through the lens of intersectionality.

The Relations between China and the Gulf States

As China becomes a more consequential extra-regional actor in the Gulf, it is necessary to understand its approach to developing a presence there. Its approach, long dominated by a focus on economic relations, has resulted in a deep and broad set of bilateral relationships. This article examines China’s regional presence from two approaches: as a set of bilateral relationships shaped by a somewhat consistent regional policy, and as a response to systemic pressures and opportunities vis-à-vis its relationship with the US.

Determinants of Economic Diversification in the Gulf Countries

The Sultanate of Oman as an Example

The Omani economy has, like other Gulf economies, grown at an accelerating rate during the past five decades, fueled by oil revenues, the wise management of available resources and the use of those resources to build the constituents of a modern state. Nevertheless, the growth that has been achieved through direct reliance on oil revenues has resulted in several challenges. The Policy Report dives into determinants of economic diversification in the Gulf States using the example of the Sultanate of Oman.

Enhancing education in Kuwait through collaboration and community engagement

en.v launched the Kuwait coalition for educational reform in 2019 as part of its efforts to mobilize multi-sector change makers to effectively tackle systemic challenges through an inclusive, bottom-up approach. The Regional Programme Gulf States at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has supported this pilot, making it possible for local students, educators, administrators and practitioners from 20+ institutions across the private, philanthropic, educational and civic sector to join together in this long-term collective impact initiative.

Europe and the Gulf States - A workshop

Developing a Common European Political, Economic and Security Vision towards the Gulf States

The Regional Programme Gulf States at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has held a workshop at Cadenabbia, Italy entitled “Europe and the Gulf States: Developing a Common European Political, Economic and Security Vision towards the Gulf Region.”

Perspective from the Gulf Region: MENA's Post-Covid-19 Recovery Must Include Its Youth

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing problems in the MENA region’s educational and employment sectors. Weaknesses in digital infrastructure and technological inequality have had an impact on students' access to education. Furthermore, there is a significant increase in joblessness in a region whereby the unemployment rate has persistently been higher than the global average. This paper examines the inter-related issues of educational disruption and increasing unemployment by exploring the causes of these phenomena. It also proposes several recommendations to remedy the situation based on the perceptions of Arab youth, as the generation most likely to suffer long-term effects from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Smart cities, chances for a new model from the Gulf States?

Are the titanic investments in the Gulf Countries still enough to funding iconic smart cities of the future? The so-called “Dubai model” has shown, so far, its counterpart of dystopic communities and a crescent urban sprawl, while the technological development of smart cities can’t progress without a significant re-shaping in urban and community-oriented models. This is a call to the Gulf region on site-specific smart cities, rooted on their innate collective intelligence of desertic living.

The three E’s: Enhancing a multidimensional model for economic cooperation between the Gulf states and the European Union

Despite intensive trade relations, potential for a comprehensive economic cooperation model between the EU and the Gulf on a multilateral level remained untapped so far. Both the EU and the Gulf states are highly interested in social stability, economic growth and diversification. Therefore, the current period of regional de-escalation and conflict fatigue offers a historical window of opportunity to address joint challenges, identify mutual interests and create inclusive business partnership models. Such a cooperation should be based on a comprehensive nexus between economic interests and social sustainability to overcome dependencies on fossil resources and to foster ongoing economic diversification. Thus, a focus in EU-Gulf economic cooperation on three sectoral E’s – energy, empowerment and entrepreneurship – could aim to establish such a nexus.

Perspectives on the role of Yemen’s CSOs in the current civil war

Recent decades have witnessed a great deal of interest in the capacity of civil society to make a positive contribution to post-conflict peacebuilding. However, the case of Yemen suggests that prolonged conflict can have negative transformative impacts on civil society actors that severely constrain their potential to make such a contribution.

Out of Africa

The Influx of African Migrants to the UAE

This paper explores the main reasons that lead East and West Africans to leave their country of origin (push factors) and reasons that draw them to the particular destination, the United Arab Emirates (pull factors). Increased migration of Africans to the UAE and GCC States in the past two decades coincides with some important developments. Among these developments are the tightening of European and North American immigration policies, political and economic crises in various African countries, and labour recruitment agencies in African countries that have actively recruited prospective migrants to the Gulf with false promises.