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Saudi social reforms will create economic openings

Location:

SAUDI ARABIA

The rapid social changes under way, such as letting women drive and reopening cinemas, largely focus on creating new economic opportunities. They also serve a political purpose…

Gulf states’ internal security crackdown may intensify

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GULF STATES

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have in recent months stepped up regulation on cyber issues: Bahrain arrested six people on March 31 over "defamatory" tweets. The wider…

Kuwait faces rising threat from Islamic State group

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KUWAIT

The June 26 suicide attack inside the Imam al-Sadiq Mosque killed 27 people and was Kuwait's worst terrorist attack in over three decades. The attack, claimed by Islamic State…

Arab enemies may impose new sanctions on Qatar

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QATAR

Hopes for a swift resolution of the Gulf crisis were dashed on June 23 when details emerged of a list of 13 demands sent by the four countries that launched a boycott of Qatar on…

Political and fiscal reforms will be slow in Bahrain

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BAHRAIN

The country has struggled with internal unrest for decades, and the government ensured that opposition representatives were prevented from standing in the election. Despite the…

Prospects for the Gulf states to end-2018

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PROSPECTS H2 2018

Prospects for the Gulf states to end-2018.

Gulf prime ministers’ roles will ensure the status quo

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GULF STATES

Prime ministers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are part of the ruling families. They often combine the role with that of crown prince or sovereign ministerial…

Gulf states may co-opt US policy agenda

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GULF STATES

In a packed, high-profile programme, Trump will meet Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders, attend bilateral Saudi talks and address a summit of Muslim rulers. This comes four…

Saudi social change will lag, especially for women

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SAUDI ARABIA

Nearly a year into the ‘Vision 2030’ strategic plan, Riyadh is also seeking to boost the economy and combat boredom among Saudi youth through some cautious steps towards social…

Prospects for the Gulf states in 2018

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PROSPECTS 2018

Prospects for the Gulf states in 2018.