Event Reports

State of Play: Strategic Competition and Regional Agency in the Gulf

Roundtable on great-power dynamics and middle-power manoeuvring in Qatar

As the global order shifts and rivalries intensify, the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have become a key arena where great-power dynamics intersect with a growing desire for regional agency and multi-alignment.

Shared Interests, Shared Actions in Maritime Security

Securing the waterways around the Arabian Peninsula

Headlined by the Houthis and the Islamic Republic of Iran, threats to the waterways surrounding the Arabian Peninsula are more acute than ever. As these risks multiply, the traditional guarantor of maritime security the world over – the United States – preoccupies itself more and more with its own hemisphere, leaving the task of reliably safeguarding passage through Bab Al Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz increasingly in the hands of regional powers. How can Europe, the Gulf states, and other impacted countries work together to address this challenge?

German Arab Gulf Dialogue on Security and Cooperation in Berlin

Dialogue even in times of crisis

Amid the conflict between Israel and Iran, leading representatives from the Gulf states and Germany gathered for the 7th German-Arab Gulf Dialogue organised by the KAS and DAFG. Although the conference focused on overcoming current challenges in the Middle East and Europe, it also highlighted opportunities and potential for closer cooperation: Especially in times of crisis, stronger cooperation between Germany and the Gulf states is necessary.

Forging Stronger Ties between Germany and Qatar

Insights from Norbert Lammert’s and Gerhard Wahlers’ visit to Qatar underscores shared priorities in diplomacy, development, and culture.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Economic and Political Heavyweights in the Middle East

Dialogue programme for four members of the German Bundestag

In April 2025, KAS organised a delegation trip to Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai for four CDU parliamentarians from the newly elected German Bundestag. The first such trip since February's federal elections, the dialogue programme sent a powerful signal: Germany wants to bolster its cooperation with the Gulf states under the new, CDU-led government in Berlin. The delegation's Saudi and Emirati interlocutors welcomed this message with open arms.

Economic Diversification in the Gulf States

Measuring change and the role of the private sector

How can the diversification of Gulf-Cooperation-Council (GCC) economies best be measured? How can the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and Smart Investment Gateway effectively transmit information contained in their GCC Economic Diversification Barometer into policy discussions being held in Muscat, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and other capitals in the Gulf? Held in Muscat, Oman, these questions motivated the KAS Regional Programme Gulf States’ February workshop on economic diversification across the GCC.

Transformative Diplomatic Strategies for Contemporary Geopolitical Challenges

Panel Discussion at the Doha Forum

In an era where traditional diplomatic boundaries are rapidly dissolving and middle powers adopt an increasingly important role, leading voices from Germany, Qatar, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates convened at a panel at the Doha Forum to challenge conventional understandings on global conflict resolution.

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

How Do GCC Countries Fare in the Global Competition for Talent?

On 1–2 December 2024, the Gulf Research Centre and KAS hosted an expert workshop in Riyadh, convening scholars, policymakers, and representatives from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and key migrant-sending nations, including India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and Egypt, alongside representatives from international organisations. The workshop examined evolving labour and migration patterns in the Gulf, with a particular lens on Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the broader competition among GCC countries for global talent.

Gulf-Asia Cooperation: Prospects, Challenges and Implications for Europe

KAS and DERASAT convened a panel discussion to launch a KAS publication on 20 November 2024 in Bahrain. Senior experts discussed the deepening economic and strategic ties between the Gulf and Asia, with opening remarks stressing their growing importance for Europe’s future engagement.

Young Parliamentarians Programme

In the context of the Young Parliamentarians programme, Bahraini youth explored parliamentary processes, democratic governance, and civic engagement through lectures, interactive roundtables, and a policy-making simulation, culminating in a final presentation at the Shura Council, showcasing their proposals, leadership, and impact on Bahraini public policy.