Analysis
January’s Asian Cup Semi-Final Soccer Match Further Inflamed UAE-Qatar Tensions
The ongoing diplomatic and political crisis between Qatar and the UAE, which began in June 2017, overshadowed the UAE-hosted Asian Cup 2019.
US-Taliban Peace Talks Heighten Tensions Between Qatar and UAE
As negotiations continue between the U.S. and the Taliban to broker a ceasefire in the 17-year war in Afghanistan, Gulf rivals, Qatar and the UAE, are gearing up to play a key role in the peace process.
Morocco Enters Third Week of Nationwide Teachers’ Strike
Some 70,000 Moroccan teachers are demanding change after a new contract plunges their futures into doubt.
Mauritania Targets Qatar and the Brotherhood
Mauritania’s authorities have joined leaders of several other Arab states in accusing Qatar of fueling regional instability.
EU Leaders Ignore Egyptian Executions, Align with Autocrat Al-Sisi
As the world harshly condemned the recent spike in Egypt’s executions of young Egyptians, EU leaders met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt to consolidate Euro-Arab cooperation.
Tunisia’s Undemocratic Three-Year State of Emergency
Citing threats of resurgent terrorism, Tunisia’s government is prolonging a state of emergency imposed in 2016 that permits continuing abuses of its citizens’ human rights. Contrary to the government’s claims, continued exercise of emergency powers only threatens the country’s democracy and stability, creating conditions conducive to the reemergence of extremism.
Saudi Arabia’s Sponsorship System: Slavery in Disguise Undermines Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia has a bold 2030 vision that relies on the employment of more Saudis and fewer foreigners. Yet its well documented, abusive labor sponsorship system persists, effectively keeping foreign workers at the mercy of their Saudi sponsors and preventing expansion of the foreign workforce that will be needed to meet the Vision 2030 goals.
Building Sandcastles: Money Laundering Through Dubai’s Luxury Real Estate Market
Whether money launderers, kleptocrats, drug dealers, bank robbers, or ISIS, the common denominator of criminals worldwide is that they must move their money. With sanctions and tighter regulation in other places, Dubai has become a favored real estate market for pouring millions of dollars of illicit funds into luxury real estate.
Presidential Crisis: Venezuela’s Tripartite Partnership with Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah
Recent economic and polit...
Iraq’s Uneasy Road to a Green Economy
Faced with chronic electricity shortages, Iraq has set a target to meet 10 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2028 through deployment of large-scale solar, wind, and biomass sources.
