GULF COUNTRIES
Analyst
Justin Alexander
Former Economic Advisor, Qatar Finance MinistryDatabanks
Recent Country Insights
GULF WEEKLY: US sanctions underwhelm, MBS visits France, Bahrain posts weak Q1 GDP
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 28 Aug 2026
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * There were doubts about the effectiveness of new US sanctions on Iran and threats from Iran. * The shift to sanctions and the return of diplomats to US embassies eased the risk of strikes. * Two tankers were hit in Hormuz...
GULF WEEKLY: UAE bans trade with Iran, PIF’s profits double, Bahrain’s FX reserves recover
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 21 Aug 2026 · 1 response
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * As the MoU deadline expired, Trump threatened secondary sanctions on countries trading with Iran. * Trump also threatened to bomb Oman in an interview, without details. * Two bulk carriers were hit, and the UAE cut trade ...
GULF WEEKLY: Hormuz deal stalls, Kuwait’s oil production rebounds, Qatar LNG loadings rise
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 14 Aug 2026 · 1 response
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * There were no direct US-Iran strikes, but rhetoric was heated, and a Hormuz deal was not finalized. * Iran fired on three Adnoc tankers, and the US fired on a cargo ship heading for Iran. * The Houthis repeatedly struck A...
GULF WEEKLY: US strikes paused, Iran-Oman near Hormuz terms, UAE posts strong Q1 non-oil GDP
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 07 Aug 2026
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * Trump called off a major weekend attack on Iran after intervention from MBS and other Gulf states. * The depletion of US missiles and interceptors may also be a factor limiting US attack plans. * Iran and Oman say they ar...
GULF WEEKLY: War restarts after pause, Saudi deficit narrows, Kuwait privatizes pipelines
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 31 Jul 2026
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * After a brief pause, the US-Iran conflict restarted, although oil remains well down from last week, at about $87. * The Houthis and allied Iraqi militias attacked Saudi oil sites and tankers, prompting counterstrikes. * T...
GULF WEEKLY: Oil touches $100 as Houthis attack Saudi tankers, UAE-Saudi rapprochement, US-Saudi nuclear deal
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 24 Jul 2026
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * The war intensified, with four Americans killed and Trump renewing threats on civilian infrastructure. * Iran launched intense attacks on Kuwait, including power plants, and also hit Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. * The Houthi...
KUWAIT: $6bn bond issuance sees strong investor demand, despite the war
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 22 Jul 2026
Kuwait issued $6bn in 3-10 year bonds. It has not been able to export oil for nearly five months, and the deficit for the current fiscal year could exceed -20% of GDP. It will therefore need to issue more debt later this year and/or draw on its Reserve Fund for Future Generations for the first ti...
GULF WEEKLY: Conflict pushes oil back to $87, US eases chip exports to UAE, Qatar’s former Emir dies
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 17 Jul 2026 · 1 response
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * US and Iranian strikes reached their most intense since April, and oil surged as high as $87. * Hormuz transits ground to a halt with the Iranian attacks (killing two Indians) and the US blockade. * Iran attacked Kuwait h...
GULF WEEKLY: Iranian attacks on tankers shatter MoU, UAE oil at record 4.1m b/d in June, Kuwait deficit surges to -15% of GDP
GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 10 Jul 2026 · 1 response
A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines: * The most serious clashes since April happened after Iran attacked ships, including a Qatari LNG carrier and a Saudi oil tanker. * Trump declared that the MoU is “over”, but Qatari mediators are back in Iran today trying to...