26-29 September: Affordable Housing Development Summit Middle East, Manama
27-28 September: Unconventional Gas, London
3-5 October: Middle East Investments Summit 2010, Dubai
3-6 October: SWPF - Saudi Water & Power Forum 2010 Conference & Exhibition, Saudi Arabia
3-7 October: Funds Forum Middle East, Bahrain
4-6 October: POWER-GEN Middle East 2010, Doha, Qatar
10-12 October: The 3rd annual Saudi Arabia International Oil & Gas Exhibition & Conference, Dammam
11-12 October: Unconventional Oil 2010, London
12-14 October: Offshore Middle East 2010: The 3rd Annual Offshore Middle East Conference & Exhibition, Doha
18-19 October: Maghreb/Middle East Renewable Energy Conference, Marrakech
24-27 October: MENA Mining Congress 2010, Dubai
26-28 October: Iraq Mega Projects 2010 Conference & Exhibition, Istanbul
27-28 October: Gas to Liquids 2010, London
21-23 November: Private Equity World MENA 2010, Dubai
29 November-1 December: Iraq Petroleum 2010 Conference, London
6-8 December: Smart Grids Middle East, Dubai
Briefings & Reports
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Need an expert briefing to support an investment decision?
GSN’s team of experienced analysts are often called on by governments and their agencies, financial institutions, and energy companies to comment on developments in the Gulf region. Our analysts are available for private briefings (either by telephone or in person) and can produce tailored reports and research on a range of topics and issues. For more information contact Mark Ford. Email:mark@cbi-publishing.com
Politics, succession & risk in Saudi Arabia report
Politics, succession and risk in Saudi Arabia is a GSN special report, published in January 2010. The new report analyses Saudi policy on issues including succession, domestic and regional politics, defence, energy and financial trends, and features extensively researched biographical entries on 1,200 Al-Sauds from the ruling family’s main branch, together with profiles of leading cadet branch businessmen, and a range of maps and graphics.
Read more about the report
Islamic Finance Report
Published in June 2009, this GSN report is an essential reference tool for both newcomers, and well-established bankers and practitioners. Read more
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On the page below you will find a selection of articles from the GSN archive. Please note that while some of the content is free to access, all items preceded by a padlock symbol () require a subscription.
UK deputy chief of defence staff Lieutenant General Simon Mayall was in the Gulf region in early July for meetings. Issue 881, 16 July 2010.more
Human rights panel
The Gulf Co-operation Council has finalised plans to set up a new regional Commission for Human Rights, which the GCC claims will employ independent and impartial experts. Issue 881, 16 July 2010.more
Petraeus returns to the fray as ‘Runaway General’ McChrystal resigns over magazine article
The Obama presidency has acted decisively to remove a dissenting voice from the top military team, opening the way for a further reshuffle of US generals, but not necessarily a change of tack on the operational front in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Gulf Issue 880, 2 July 2010.more
GCC looks on as Petraeus job threatens to lock US into AfPak conflict
Gulf Co-operation Council states have long been the focus of efforts by US administrations and their regional military structure Central Command (Centcom) to enforce the Pax Americana. But with some GCC allies already feeling distanced from high-level contacts in Washington, the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal as head of US Forces and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, and his replacement by Centcom commander General David Petraeus, threatens to leave them feeling even more distanced from the US civil-military relationship. Issue 880, 2 July 2010.more
Key officers in the US command
A new head will have to be appointed to US Central Command (Centcom). In the interim, deputy Centcom commander and US Marine Corps Lieutenant General John Allen will serve as acting commander while Petraeus is deployed to Afghanistan. Issue 880, 2 July 2010.more
Saudi Arabia leads way on project financing deals
A cluster of new financing facilities has raised well over $10bn, boosting the GCC’s project finance market Issue 880, 2 July 2010.more
Rising tensions between the two neighbours and complications involving Saudi Arabia, rather than any financial or technical issues, may have led to the estimated $4.5bn Friendship Bridge between Bahrain and Qatar being cancelled, GSN was told – although financial strains were also apparent in the mega-project. Issue 879, 18 June 2010.more
Saudi mediation cools tensions in Middle Gulf
Recent tensions between Manama and Doha are forecast to cool following reported mediation efforts by the Saudis. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Hamad on 27 May rang Saudi King Abdullah to thank him for helping to appoint a new Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) head, a rotating post. Sheikh Hamad also rang Bahrain’s King Hamad to praise him for accepting the Saudi initiative. Qatari premier and foreign minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani was in Riyadh for talks with King Abdullah on 21 May. Issue 878, 4 June 2010.more
Expat banker’s complaint to UN rights body could set precedent in Gulf
Expatriates in the Gulf are used to horror stories about exit permits refused, passports withheld and people being held indefinitely under house arrest, but most accept it as one of the risks of working in a developing country (GSN 835/14, GSN 765/1). Issue 878, 4 June 2010.more
Another day another GCC maritime spat
The shooting of Bahraini fisherman Adel Ali Mohammed by Qatar’s Coasts and Borders Security Department has once more highlighted tensions within the Gulf Co-operation Council region over maritime borders. It has also sparked debate in Bahrain over the impact that reclamation work is having on the local fishing industry. Issue 877, 21 May 2010.more
Import-dependent GCC faces up to food security problems as open market fails to deliver
With the cost of the GCC’s food imports expected to double by 2020, Gulf governments know they need to outsource agricultural production to more fertile countries. But this throws up some potentially explosive issues as richer countries are accused of imperialistic land-grabbing Issue 876, 7 May 2010.more
Pressure builds for F-22 sales to Gulf
If Iran acquires an advanced, ‘double-digit’ surface-to-air missile (SAM) from Russia or China, the only aircraft capable of operating safely within its airspace would be the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. The F-22 is extremely stealthy, with all-aspect, -40 dBsm radar cross-section signatures, and can operate within the engagement envelope of the S-300PMU series, which Iran is constantly accused of seeking to buy or reverse-engineer Issue 876, 7 May 2010.more
Border issues pose potential for conflict
Public tensions have died down following reports of a skirmish between Emirati and Saudi vessels that was blamed on a dispute over the route of the Dolphin pipeline which brings Qatari gas to the UAE (GSN 874/1). But outstanding border issues continue to stoke tensions in several Gulf jurisdictions, with upsurges in nationalist sentiment showing that feelings over territory and sovereignty remain important in states that are only a few decades old. Issue 875, 23 April 2010.more
Nuclear no longer a dirty word as enthusiastic Gulf states line up to develop industry
The civil nuclear plans of GCC and neighbouring states point to a new assertiveness among Gulf economies, whose need to diversify energy sources is greater than the temptation to keep up with regional nuclear leaders Iran and Israel Issue 875, 23 April 2010.more
Saudi-UAE naval clash over Dolphin pipeline points to brittle GCC relations
Both parties have yet to deny or confirm the incident, but a reported clash between Saudi and Emirati patrol boats has attracted much media attention and highlighted the potential for friction among GCC allies that has provoked renewed fears for Gulf security Issue 874, 9 April 2010. more
Raytheon and MBDA fight for GCC missile sales
Despite the US company’s $170m deal with the UAE, European firms are proving increasingly strong competition for air-launched missile systems contracts Issue 872, 5 March 2010.more
Pentagon attacks quality control on missile defence programmes
Senior United States Department of Defence officials have criticised the defence industry for inadequate quality control on missile defence programmes, saying the administration planned to use more fixed-price contracts. Issue 874, 9 April 2010. more
US commits assets to GCC missile shield
As the international community debates its next steps on Iran’s nuclear programme, Washington has made a show of increasing its commitment to missile defence in the Gulf Issue 871, 12 February 2010. more
How GCC systems fit into US plan
The United States’ announcement of the deployment of missile defence systems in Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states signals a tougher tone towards Iran rather than any major new military initiative in the region. Issue 871, 12 February 2010. more
US running out of options on Iran
The Obama administration is turning from engagement to containment as Tehran’s domestic crisis frustrates policy
United States policy on Iran is little clearer than it was the day President Barack Obama took office, according to GSN’s soundings among US diplomats and Central Command (Centcom) planners. Issue 870, 29 January 2010.more
Gulf states mediate in Palestinian-Israeli conflict
Saudi Arabia is taking a lead in helping to reconcile Fatah and Hamas to move ahead with the peace process Issue 869, 15 January 2010.more
Flight 253 scare sparks scramble for scanners
The attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on 25 December is a wake-up call for the Gulf’s many powerful air carriers and airports, and will lead to a new wave of procurement of whole-body imaging scanners and explosive trace detectors. For major transit hubs such as Dubai, the challenge will be particularly onerous. Issue 869, 15 January
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