Policy Reports

Exploring Opportunities in German-Saudi Cooperation

Utilising playgrounds for early-childhood education for sustainable development

This policy paper explores the potential for collaboration between Germany and Saudi Arabia in the realm of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). While existing collaboration between the two states primarily focuses on energy transformation and economic cooperation, this paper suggests expanding their partnership to encompass environmental sustainability. It is argued to include educational landscapes with an ESD focus in out-of-school places, such as playgrounds, and in early-childhood and school education. Though both countries are in the midst of reforming their education systems, they have yet to mainstream ESD in their respective curricula. To address this challenge, the paper highlights the potential of parks as a platform for accessible, affordable, and inclusive environmental education, with ripple effects on health, social life, and intergenerational knowledge transfer.

Germany and Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Outlook in a Multipolar World

Shifts in the international system in the 21st century have led to an increasingly multipolar world order. Amidst this transforming geopolitical landscape, the policy report explores how Saudi Arabia and Germany share common interests, particularly a strong preference for robust institutions, rules, and norms that uphold the international system, thus enabling sustained economic growth and prosperity. Furthermore, both countries share a preference for diplomacy in their foreign policies. What differs, however, is their respective rhetoric and perceptions of how to achieve shared goals. This misalignment of approaches can lead to misunderstandings and disagreements, causing Berlin and Riyadh to "argue past each other" rather than finding common ground, hindering effective cooperation.

Preparing for the World Cup 2034

Seizing the potential for closer cooperation in football between Saudi Arabia and Germany

Germany hosted the football European Championship 2024, and Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup ten years later. EURO 2024 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup hold immense potential to catalyse football development and foster closer relations between Saudi Arabia and Germany. Beyond providing opportunities to practice together physically and engage in administrative collaboration, these events can stimulate aspiring athletes and leaders in both countries while challenging stereotypes that each holds about the other. In this vein, the policy paper provides suggestions for collaboration and learning opportunities between Saudi Arabia and Germany in the promotion of men’s and women’s football, fandom, volunteerism, and health.

Youth Empowerment as a Pillar of Saudi-German Climate Cooperation

At COP28 in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Germany committed to support young people as key voices in the field of climate diplomacy. Young generations are environmental agents: not only will they be particularly affected by climate change, but they can also act as multipliers in the negotiation and implementation of climate policy. Against the backdrop of intensifying Saudi-German cooperation in recent years, this policy paper argues for the inclusion of youth empowerment as a pillar of partnership in the climate and sustainability field. Through centring youth, Saudi Arabia and Germany can deepen mutual understanding of what youth-led climate engagement means in their respective societies and how young environmental agents engage within local communities in the two countries.

Pounds, Petrodollars, and Planned Paradises

The evolving role of Gulf capital in Egyptian megaprojects

Amidst a new escalation of Egypt’s dual debt-and-currency crisis, news broke in February 2023 that the Gulf states would once again come to Cairo’s aid, but with a twist. Instead of depositing dollars at the central bank or shipping discounted oil to Cairo, the UAE acquired the right to develop the Ras El Hikma peninsula on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast for $35 billion. This policy report places this deal within the context of post-2013 relations between Egypt and its largest external benefactors, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. It argues that in contrast to previous dollar injections from the Gulf, Ras El Hikma opens opportunities for Gulf investment while preserving the domestic economic arrangement undergirding the political status quo in Cairo.

Women in the Military of Saudi Arabia

An Emblem of Change in the Kingdom

Around the world, professions in security and defense are male-dominated. Women in uniform are clearly in the minority, even in countries with liberal societies like Germany. This makes the rapid reforms initiated in Saudi Arabia, a conservative monarchy, all the more interesting. While women were first allowed into the security sector in 2017, they have been permitted to apply for military jobs since 2021. What does the Saudi leadership want to accomplish through these steps? This policy report analyses the integration of women into the military against the backdrop of the tension between the transformative goals of Vision 2030 and the continued influence of religious conservatism in Saudi society.

Binding the Ties that Bind

Commercial Banks and Political-Economic Links between Saudi Arabia and Jordan

The policy report examines the economic ties between Saudi Arabia and Jordan, focusing on the role of commercial banks as crucial intermediaries. It discusses how Saudi investments, ownership stakes, and loans through Jordanian banks facilitate the flow of Saudi capital into various sectors in Jordan, including real estate. The report emphasises that these financial connections extend beyond governments, involving businesses and citizens, and strengthen the political relationship between the two countries. This intricate web of financial interactions demonstrates the significance of Saudi Arabia's influence on Jordan's economy and society, reaching into everyday life.

China’s Economic Ties to the Gulf

Comparisons with EU and US Economic Relations

The policy report examines China's increasing economic engagement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries compared to the EU and the United States. It highlights China's pursuit of energy resources and the GCC's reliance on importing industrial goods, leading to significant trade imbalances. China aims to deepen its ties with the GCC for energy security, while the GCC seeks to diversify its economic partners. The report also explores the foreign direct investments (FDI) of China, the EU, and the US in the GCC and Iran. Overall, the competition for energy imports and exports of goods underscores the global importance of these economic relations and their implications on global stability.

Emirati Women on the Rise

The Impact of Globalisation and Higher Education on the Key Social Institutions of Marriage and Family in the UAE

This policy report examines the influence of globalisation and higher education on Emirati society, particularly on marriage and family dynamics. The report highlights the rise of mixed marriages between Emirati citizens and foreign nationals and explores the implications on national identity, fertility rates, and divorce rates. It discusses the UAE government's efforts to support Emirati women's empowerment, challenges faced by women in mixed marriages, and the evolving role of women in society. The report concludes that the UAE is making strides in promoting gender equality and emphasises the critical role Emirati women will play in shaping the nation's future.

Omani Women Political Participation: Elections’ Challenges and Electors’ Confidence

This study sheds light on the challenges hindering Omani female political participation. In fact, even though Omani women have been enjoying the right to vote and run for parliament since 1994, female representation remains weak, never exceeding 2%. Relying on open-ended interviews and focus groups, the study establishes that above all, cultural and societal norms continue to hinder female political participation. A holistic approach is recommended to support female political participation, pertaining not only to electoral systems and national policymaking, but also to training and development as well as awareness-raising.

How did the War in Yemen Impact the Southern Movement?

The ongoing war in Yemen has been reshaping the Southern Movement. The war has empowered a few southern factions to self-govern across the southern governorates. However, the war’s shifting dynamics brought a set of challenges inside the southern camp. These challenges are mainly twofold: deepening political and military divisions coupled with the revival of pre-unification barriers that resembled South Yemen prior to 1990. All of this has created differences over the future of the south.

The Business Model of the United Arab Emirates

Challenges and Opportunities

The UAE faces a great challenge in diversifying its oil-based economy and despite the introduced reforms, there are still major obstacles but equally major opportunities.

Confrontation or Cooperation?

Inter-Branch Conflict and Kuwait’s Political Crisis

Less than 20 months into its four-year term, Kuwait’s National Assembly was dissolved on August 2nd. Thus ended a contentious legislative period characterized by the resignation of three governments and the failure to pass a budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year and a law to raise the country’s debt ceiling. Ahead of Kuwait's next parliamentary elections on September 29th, this policy report explores the roots of Kuwait's current political crisis and prospects for cooperation between the government and the forthcoming legislature in the passage of much-needed fiscal legislation.

Recommendations of the Conference on Economic Diversification in the Gulf States

The recommendation of the conference on “Economic Diversification” that was held on 30-31 August in Salalah, Oman resulted in a number of recommendations.

Bioterrorist Activities in the Middle East/Gulf, the European Union and the United States

A Critical Review of the U.S.-dominated Literature Ranging from Super/Mega- to Low-tech/Amateurish Terrorism

Why have biological weapons (BW) not been widely used by terrorists? This longitudinal study takes a new look at this old question. It looks again at the almost forgotten initial comprehensive work on “Superviolence” 1972. It questions the main thesis of the Harvard/Belfer Center volume “America’s Achilles’ Heel” (1998) written in the shadow of the ‘bio-chem clouds’ of the lethal Tokyo incidents of 1995, which opened a new area in terrorism and research on this subject. Finally, it scrutinizes the writings of prominent and productive terrorist researchers Jeffrey D. Simon and Gar A. Ackerman especially closely.

Bright Lights, Smart City

Dubai Projects Its Future at Expo

This article explores the role of Expo 2020 in terms of its functions beyond the economic and tourism related gains to the UAE. It discusses the significance of such a mega event regarding the public diplomacy angle and highlights factors such as person-to-person diplomacy and the projection of green futures as being of equal importance to the government.

The United Arab Emirates in Yemen

From Direct to Indirect Engagement and Back

This article explains why the UAE changed its strategy in the war in Yemen from direct engagement in 2015, to indirect engagement in 2019, and why this strategy was reversed back in early 2022. It also discusses Iran’s connection to the Houthi attacks on the UAE, and the prospects for UAE direct engagement in the war.

Placemaking, a stress relief tool for deliverables in GCC smart cities

The city around the public space was the founding principle of the traditional GCC cities. Today, placemaking strategies can generate a sustainable, vibrant, and livable public space as the active interface of smart cities. Engaging with the community on PPPP projects could be an effective stress relief on economic burden and constructive support in decision making for the national and local governments.

Collective intelligence and cities’ smart growth in GCC

The involvement of local research centers, together with NGOs and young designers, makers, and future inhabitants of the newly developed districts, could generate urban and social smart growth as a unique benefit for GGC existing cities during their fast-growing process. It could strongly impact local communities in terms of optimizing resources, ensuring concrete results, and immediate application of best practices while empowering young adults to embrace and lead the transformation and activating a process of informed decision-making.

A new “Agenda for the Mediterranean” should include the GCC

Why is there a need for close relations between the EU and the Gulf states?

The last face-to-face meeting at ministerial level between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council dates back to 2016. There are many reasons for this, both on the part of the EU and the GCC. A changed energy and geopolitical situation has also contributed to a decrease in mutual interest. The EU should use the realignment of its foreign and security policy, especially the relaunch of an “Agenda for the Mediterranean” in spring 2021, to also put relations with the Gulf States on a new basis. To do this, the EU does not have to give up its position on human rights issues. Instead an increased engagement with Gulf states will enhance its voice in the region.

Environmental retrofitting

A mandate for liveable GCC smart cities

Several strategies are in place in the main Gulf countries to create districts’ cooling systems. However, the target of livable and walkable districts requires a comprehensive approach, including macro and micro-scale interventions that cooperate to minimize energetic consumption and the related CO2 footprint for new and existing built environments. Reducing AC dependency through environmental retrofitting of the existing real estate would play a substantial role in fighting the heat island effect in the GCC’s cities.

Smart Cities and Quality of life

A report from the GCC

Main GCC Cities in 2021 are ranking 28th to 30th in the Smart City Index worldwide. The same cities are also scoring 14th to 55th in the Quality of Life Index. Besides the traditional urban management tools and implementation, this is showing a massive commitment in the last years to improve a comprehensive system of e-governance and services to the citizens in terms of quality of life.

Resilience, growth, and GCC smart cities

Moving toward a digital enabling cities instead of smart cities would shift the focus to a human-centric approach. And the ICT serving the social and human capital in terms of knowledge, inclusion, and participation would enhance a smart design strategy in making smart cities as a city with a focus on the high quality of life. Gulf Countries have all the tools in place for a citizen and environmental effective resilience, and are ready to give the last touch through smart design strategies.

Who is worthy of ‘Women’s Rights’?

Intersectionality in perspective in the Gulf

The series of the articles on “Women in the Gulf States” were solicited and edited by Dr. Zarqa A. Parvez with support from Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. In this final article of the series, Dr. Parvez makes a brief overview of the published articles and stresses the importance of intersectionality as a lens in addressing women rights in the Gulf States. She also calls for a more inclusive approach to women rights, and highlights direction for future research.

Invisible Intersections

Disability and Gender in Kuwait

There is a nascent realization amongst those advocating for gender equity in Kuwait that the work for women’s rights needs to be more inclusive. Although much has been achieved in preceding decades, the movement holds little relevance for women who do not conform to the able-bodied, elite, citizen default. Drawing on the author’s lived experience, this article discusses the intersection of gender, disability, and citizenship in the country in an attempt to sketch a broader horizon for the local feminist agenda.