The separate Emirati and Saudi Hyperloop projects exemplify how nation-centric current infrastructure planning in the Gulf is, and how regional megaproject competition is helping nobody. The GCC needs to be more committed to economic integration and political coordination, which can be boosted by reviving and updating the ailing Gulf Railway venture. Read the full article here: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mec/2021/06/08/tubes-or-tracks-how-not-to-revitalise-regional-economic-and-political-integration-in-the-gulf/

Internal competition and unnecessary megaprojects are drawing attention away from the human capital and technology expertise needed for the UAE to transition away from oil. (for Arabic version click here) Read the full article here: The Stalling Visions of the Gulf: The UAE's Vision 2021 Internal competition and unnecessary megaprojects are drawing attention away from the human capital and technology…www.washingtoninstitute.org

Normalisation, the Poisoned Chalice that Shows the UAE Must Return to Diplomatic Neutrality The corniche of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. Source: Shenli Leong, Flickr The current violence in Israel puts the…blogs.lse.ac.uk The current violence in Israel puts the UAE’s foreign policy in the spotlight as the government is waking up to a wave of pro-Palestinian fervour from its citizens and Arab neighbours. In the last ten years, the UAE has burst onto the diplomatic scene, from Yemen and Qatar to Libya…

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 repeats old mistakes of relying heavily on new megaprojects and ignoring regional advantages in research and education. (for Arabic version click here) Read my new analysis on the Gulf’s economic Visions on the Fikra Forum of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy: Stalling Visions of the Gulf: The Case of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 repeats old mistakes of relying heavily on new megaprojects and ignoring regional advantages…www.washingtoninstitute.org