Analysis Can Gulf states slash costly reliance on Western consultancies? A one-year ban on PwC acquiring work in Saudi Arabia has highlighted the Gulf states' dependency on Western firms and the need to develop local consultancies and talent. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Can Saudi Arabia afford giga-projects with oil prices under $75 per barrel? Riyadh could soon run a current account deficit as oil revenue declines amid huge spending commitments toward ambitious Vision 2030 projects. Saudi-led OPEC has also deferred an output increase plan to allow more time to reach desired oil prices. By Jennifer Gnana , Samuel Wendel
UAE's final unit of Barakah nuclear reactor hooked to grid: What we know The Emirates is the only Gulf country with a nuclear power program, though neighboring Saudi Arabia also has atomic power ambitions. United Arab Emirates
Saudi entity denies its ship hit as Houthis claim attack on Greek tanker Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri denied reports that its tanker Amjad came under attack by the Houthis, the Yemeni armed group that has stepped up attacks on oil tankers in the Red Sea. Yemen
Analysis Telegram CEO's arrest spotlights UAE’s investment-based citizenship laws By Jennifer Gnana In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics
Qatar to provide coronavirus vaccines for Afghan evacuees COVID-19 tests and vaccines will be administered to Afghan evacuees who don't immediately depart for other flights, the Qatari Foreign Ministry has said. Qatar
Yemen's Houthis hope Afghan turmoil will speed up agreement to end war Yemen's Houthi rebels are drawing comparisons between the Taliban takeover of Kabul, which caused President Ashraf Ghani to flee Afghanistan, to their own takeover of Sanaa and Aden in 2014 and 2015. DONT USE - Gulf Pulse
Controversy in Qatar over electoral law’s exclusion of tribe Seven people have been referred to prosecutors for “publishing fake news” regarding the Al Murrah tribe’s discontent with the regulations for Qatar’s upcoming election. Qatar
UAE sets new climate standard for Gulf with goal of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions The UAE could become the first Gulf state to set a net-zero goal, raising questions over emissions of fossil fuels produced to power the global economy. Legacy: Gulf
Houthis revive Shiite festivals to strengthen grip on north Since the Houthi seizure of Sanaa in 2014, the group has brought new sectarian pressure to Yemen's north, forcing both Shiites and Sunnis to observe Shiite customs. Legacy: Gulf
Yemen's Houthis blow up homes after losing control in Al-Bayda, Marib Houthi rebels used to brag of blowing up homes of top government officials between 2010-2014, and once the group took control of Sanaa in 2014, they continued sporadically attacking opponents' homes. But the latest attacks have captured media attention as they coincide with military defeats. Legacy: Gulf
Saudi judoka earns praise for facing Israeli opponent at Tokyo Olympics Tahani Alqahtani is the first Saudi woman to compete in judo at the Olympics, bucking the trend of Middle Eastern and North African athletes refusing to face Israelis at the games. News Brief
Sunshine-rich Gulf slow to adapt solar, clean energy The share of renewables in Gulf states’ electricity generation is marginal, and the region still utilizes fossil-fuel driven power grids, but the potential for clean energy is substantial. Legacy: Gulf
UN body rules in favor of expanding Qatari airspace The judgment by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) comes six months after GCC summit ending three year embargo of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt. Legacy: Gulf
Saudi-Ethiopian relations strained by Nile dam dispute Saudia Arabia favors the downstream nations Egypt and Sudan in the yearslong Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam crisis. Legacy: Gulf
Saudi Arabia’s race for Gulf economic leadership takes to the sky The kingdom diversification plan goes head-to-head with flag carriers Emirates and Qatar Airways, as intra-Gulf economic rivalries heat up on all fronts. Legacy: Gulf
Raisi to enter maze of regional factors in guiding diplomacy with Riyadh Iran’s incoming president, Ebrahim Raisi, says he will focus on regional ties, particularly Gulf Arab neighbors. Iran
