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AL-KHALEEJ

With global power shifting towards multipolarity, the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar – have become increasingly central to global diplomacy, trade, and security. As their economies seek to play leading roles in emerging technological sectors, and governments gain increasing confidence in their autonomous foreign policy decision-making, Arab Gulf states have adopted different strategies to leverage new realities and develop more diversified economic and security arrangements. Gulf states have also positioned themselves as mediators in regional and international conflicts. This raises questions about the nature of Gulf mediation and how it can deliver sustainable political solutions where traditional approaches have failed. At the same time, the Gulf is at the heart of global economic security, with key trade routes passing through volatile areas. This has led the states to rethink their national security strategies and defense cooperation beyond historical allies. Fiker Institute’s Al-Khaleej Program sets out to analyze how Arab Gulf states will navigate an increasingly fragmented world order, how these dynamics will shape intra-Gulf relations, and what impact they will have on the Gulf’s foreign relations and domestic policies.
Gulf Foreign Policy Amid Escalation & Alliances
Policy Briefs

Gulf Foreign Policy Amid Escalation & Alliances

The US and Israel’s strikes against Iran since February 28 mark a pivotal moment in the Gulf’s security architecture. They transformed what had previously been a gradual recalibration of alliances into an immediate strategic dilemma for the GCC states. Iran’s direct attacks targeting Gulf territory and infrastructure exposed the double-edged nature of hosting US military assets, which […]

Dr Khalid Al-Jufairi
Working Group on Gulf Foreign Policy: Meeting I – Key Takeaways
Reports

Working Group on Gulf Foreign Policy: Meeting I – Key Takeaways

As part of its Al-Khaleej Program, Fiker Institute launched the Working Group on Gulf Foreign Policy in March 2026 in response to the ongoing Iran War. The Group seeks to establish a coordination mechanism that convenes expert voices from the six GCC countries to exchange views on the current developments and the future policy trajectories of the GCC states. 

Fiker Institute’s Al-Khaleej Fellows React
Commentary

Fiker Institute’s Al-Khaleej Fellows React

The war that started on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran has since spilled over into a regional conflict, with Iranian missiles and drones targeting all six GCC states and energy supply disruptions causing global economic impacts. In light of this escalation, Fiker Institute’s Al-Khaleej Fellows, Dr Khalid Al-Jufairi, Ahmed Buhejji, and Rumaitha Al Busaidi, […]

Dr Khalid Al-Jufairi, Ahmed Buhejji, and Rumaitha Al Busaidi
Resilience & Restraint: The Gulf amid the Iran War
Commentary

Resilience & Restraint: The Gulf amid the Iran War

On the 28th of February 2026, the ever-peaceful skies of the Gulf were invaded by a cowardly act of unjustified ‘retaliation’ from Iran. While shocked, people remained cautious and interpreted the attack as aimed at the United States’ bases, citing the previous ‘retaliation’ on Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base last year. This view was soon challenged by […]

Aysha Taryam
The Iran War: A View from the UAE
Commentary

The Iran War: A View from the UAE

It was a hot day in August 1990 when my cousins arrived from Kuwait. They had been made refugees due to Saddam Hussein’s forces’ invasion of their homeland. There was the kind Rasha, who was around my age, her older sister, the confident Alaa, and the innocent Mohamed Saad, who quickly became the closest to me. I ended […]

Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi