NATO and the GCC: what lies ahead?

Situation Assessment

Read more

The Gulf Caught Between Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab

Afkar

Read more

The End of Saudi Restraint in Iraq

Afkar

Read more

Recent
Publications

view more
September 23, 2026
Issue Brief -
The Iraqi Development Road: A Promising Corridor amid Unresolved Fault Lines

Linking Iraq’s Grand Faw Port to Türkiye and Europe, the Development Road promises trade, jobs and regional integration. Its success depends on financing, Iraqi governance, relations with Iran and progress on three interconnected Kurdish issues.

learn more
September 21, 2026
Policy Brief -
Pakistan: A Patron of Last Resort for Middle East Security?

Pakistan is emerging as a security partner for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, but its nuclear ambiguity, limited power-projection capabilities, and ties with Iran raise serious questions about the credibility of its guarantees.

learn more
September 17, 2026
Situation Assessment -
NATO and the GCC: what lies ahead?

This situation assessment examines the evolving relationship between NATO and the GCC following the 2026 Ankara Summit. It explores defense cooperation, maritime security, the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, and the role of the Mecca Defense Alliance in an emerging layered regional security order.

learn more
September 23, 2026
Issue Brief -
The Iraqi Development Road: A Promising Corridor amid Unresolved Fault Lines

Linking Iraq’s Grand Faw Port to Türkiye and Europe, the Development Road promises trade, jobs and regional integration. Its success depends on financing, Iraqi governance, relations with Iran and progress on three interconnected Kurdish issues.

learn more
September 23, 2026
Issue Brief -
The Iraqi Development Road: A Promising Corridor amid Unresolved Fault Lines

Linking Iraq’s Grand Faw Port to Türkiye and Europe, the Development Road promises trade, jobs and regional integration. Its success depends on financing, Iraqi governance, relations with Iran and progress on three interconnected Kurdish issues.

learn more
September 21, 2026
Policy Brief -
Pakistan: A Patron of Last Resort for Middle East Security?

Pakistan is emerging as a security partner for Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, but its nuclear ambiguity, limited power-projection capabilities, and ties with Iran raise serious questions about the credibility of its guarantees.

learn more

Events

view more
3 September 2026
past event 1:00 pm GMT - 4:00 pm GMT
The Gulf Between Two Names: Identity, Geography, and Power
learn more
31 August 2026
past event 4:00 pm GMT - 5:00 pm GMT
The New Syria: Regional Reintegration and Reconstruction
learn more
27 August 2026
past event 1:00 pm GMT - 2:00 pm GMT
The War of the Straits: From Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb to Suez
learn more
03 September 2026
past event 1:00 pm GMT - 4:00 pm GMT

The Gulf Between Two Names: Identity, Geography, and Power

learn more
31 August 2026
past event 4:00 pm GMT - 5:00 pm GMT

The New Syria: Regional Reintegration and Reconstruction

learn more
27 August 2026
past event 1:00 pm GMT - 2:00 pm GMT

The War of the Straits: From Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb to Suez

learn more

Afkar

view more
September 28, 2026
Facing the AI Challenge in Journalism

Media outlets face a challenge that goes beyond simply choosing between adopting or rejecting Artificial Intelligence (AI). Outlets are faced with designing a system that integrates digital infrastructure with professional standards. Qatar appears well-positioned for this task, thanks to its digital infrastructure, research investments, and the regional and international presence of its media. Qatar launched… Continue reading Facing the AI Challenge in Journalism

learn more
September 28, 2026
Yemen Shines Spotlight on Mecca Agreement Moving from Promise to Practice

The recent escalation around Saudi Arabia and Yemen has transformed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement from an ambitious political declaration into an immediate test of regional security cooperation. Signed on August 7 by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan, the pact was presented as a significant step toward a more autonomous and institutionalized form of collective… Continue reading Yemen Shines Spotlight on Mecca Agreement Moving from Promise to Practice

learn more
September 24, 2026
Lebanon’s Camps and Palestinian Legitimacy

The most obvious places to assess the implications of these elections are Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, where the results would directly shape political authority, government, and institutions. But viewed from Lebanon’s Palestinian refugee camps, the elections reveal another, perhaps more complex, dimension. It is important to distinguish between two separate but interconnected electoral… Continue reading Lebanon’s Camps and Palestinian Legitimacy

learn more
September 28, 2026
Facing the AI Challenge in Journalism

Media outlets face a challenge that goes beyond simply choosing between adopting or rejecting Artificial Intelligence (AI). Outlets are faced with designing a system that integrates digital infrastructure with professional standards. Qatar appears well-positioned for this task, thanks to its digital infrastructure, research investments, and the regional and international presence of its media. Qatar launched… Continue reading Facing the AI Challenge in Journalism

learn more
September 28, 2026
Yemen Shines Spotlight on Mecca Agreement Moving from Promise to Practice

The recent escalation around Saudi Arabia and Yemen has transformed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement from an ambitious political declaration into an immediate test of regional security cooperation. Signed on August 7 by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan, the pact was presented as a significant step toward a more autonomous and institutionalized form of collective… Continue reading Yemen Shines Spotlight on Mecca Agreement Moving from Promise to Practice

learn more
September 24, 2026
Lebanon’s Camps and Palestinian Legitimacy

The most obvious places to assess the implications of these elections are Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza, where the results would directly shape political authority, government, and institutions. But viewed from Lebanon’s Palestinian refugee camps, the elections reveal another, perhaps more complex, dimension. It is important to distinguish between two separate but interconnected electoral… Continue reading Lebanon’s Camps and Palestinian Legitimacy

learn more