18-20 January: MENA-EX 2009 Strategic Conference and Exhibition, Jeddah
19-21 January: Gulf C4ISR 2009, Abu Dhabi
19-21 January: Oil & Gas Maintenance & Technology, Manama
20 January: The World in 2009 Executive Forum, Dubai
24-25 January: Iraq Health Summit, Dubai
25-26 January: Operational Risk Management for Banking & Finance, Manama
26-28 January: 3rd Annual Global E&P Summit, Barcelona
28-30 January: Gas Transport & Storage Summit 2009, Barcelona
2-4 February: Middle East Energy Security Forum, Dubai
3-5 February: Strategic Private Equity Investment Middle East 2009, Dubai
9-10 February: Middle East Energy 2009: The Politics of Investment and Supply, London
17-18 February: Islamic Project Finance, Dubai
24-25 February: 8th Annual Islamic Finance Summit, London
24-25 February: Middle East Trade and Export Finance, Dubai
4-5 March: Oil & Gas Contracts with Host Petroleum Regimes, Paris
23-24 March: LNG 2009, London
Briefings & Reports
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In addition to producing the flagship fortnightly Gulf States Newsletter, GSN’s team of experienced analysts also produce briefings and reports on a range of topics and issues that affect the region. Our expertise can be tapped by anyone and delivered in a range of formats. For more information contact Nick Carn. nick@gsn-online.com
Issue 842 - 5 December 2008
Saudi clerical leaders bend with Abdullah’s tolerance agenda
In parallel to an SR9bn ($2.4bn) upgrade of school facilities and teaching methods under the banner of the King Abdullah Bin Abdelaziz Project for Developing Public Education (Tatweer), the Saudi Ministry of Education (MoE) is tackling the ideological roots of jihadist activity. more
Issue 841 - 21 November 2008
First Saudi Arabia, now Jordan – Qatar mends regional relations
The impending official visit of the Jordanian royal couple to Doha signals another step in Qatar’s efforts to rebuild regional relations that were, in part at least, hurt by Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel’s irreverent reporting of regional leaderships. more
Issue 840 - 7 November 2008
REGIONAL: Middle Eastern women: huge achievements, but their full potential remains untapped
In a sign of changing times, the UK Conservative Party’s Middle East Council (CMEC) hosted a forum on 28 October in London to highlight the achievements of Middle Eastern women, and discuss what remains to be done to improve their rights. The panel included Iranian professor of politics and women’s studies at York University Baroness Haleh Afshar, First Secretary at Bahrain’s embassy in London Zeina Hamad Al-Khalifa and Stratreal Foundation’s corporate philanthropy head Sandra Al-Gudady, an Iraqi-Jordanian. more
‘Military action’ against Iran
There was a lull in the speculation over the potential bombing of Iran by the United States or – more likely – its ally Israel, with the world transfixed by Barak Obama’s victory in the US presidential election. more
Issue 839 - 24 October 2008
Oil offers lifeline as Iraq’s Maysan province is recovered by government
Maysan province provides a pointer to the evolution of politics and security under Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, in the Bush administration’s last months, where huge resources are needed to assist the traumatised, impoverished population in arguably Iraq’s most under-developed and wildest province. The biggest boost could come from hydrocarbons, if potential energy developments and the governance needed to make them work for local communities, as well as for Baghdad and international oil companies, can be put in place. more
Issue 838 - 10 October 2008
Sectarianism rears its ugly head with Al-Qaradawi’s comments
When the renowned Doha-based Egyptian cleric and scholar Yusef Al-Qaradawi launched a fierce attack on Shiites – whom he deemed heretics – for supposedly infiltrating and undermining Sunni societies, he provoked dismay even among many of those who have hitherto listened to his views with respect. Then he chose to reaffirm his discomfiting message, dispelling any question that he could have been misquoted or misunderstood by the Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm on the first occasion more
Issue 837 - 26 September 2008
GCC single currency plan acquires new momentum in an uncertain world
Turbulent times push everyone to buck up their thinking – and in this respect, Gulf Co-operation Council governments are no different from their international counterparts. more
Issue 836 - 15 September 2008
Fog of rumour surrounds failed bid to extend Saudi faction’s influence
Obtaining details and confirmations remains as problematic as ever, but some sources are talking about upheavals in the Saudi military/security establishment linked to continuing dynastic struggles in the Kingdom. According to one version of events, as many as 150 middle-ranking and junior Saudi Arabian National Guard (Sang) officers face the risk of court martial after commanders loyal to King Abdullah Bin Abdelaziz – for decades head of the organisation – uncovered attempts to construct a secret network of guard members patronised by a senior prince. more
Issue 835 - 1 September 2008
Bahrain flirts with political danger by playing the population game
Population growth is a universal feature of the Gulf Co-operation Council region at a time of booming oil-financed expansion, with a surge in construction activity and accelerating demand for services creating an almost insatiable need for labour. The GCC thus continues to suck in foreign workers to meet real present economic needs. This is also the case for some sectors in Bahrain, but there is also concern that in the small communally divided island state migration policy is serving political ends too - with potentially dangerous consequences. more
