[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Arabian Peninsula and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Arabian Peninsula Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to ap@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
Regional and International Relations
Saudi Arabia sends troops and fighter jets to military base in Turkey ahead of intervention against Isis in Syria Turkish government officials acknowledged a buildup of Saudi troops in Turkey, ready for deployment into Syria.
Increase gender diversity in GCC corporate leadership With five new female ministers added to the Emirati cabinet, corporations in the Gulf Cooperation Council should follow suit.
Congress skeptical of increased Saudi commitment to ISIS fight in Syria Congressmen met with the Saudi foreign minister to discuss sending ground troops in Syria this week.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain ban Iranian ships from ports - reports Shipping restrictions imposed by Saudi Arabia and Bahrain make it more difficult, but not impossible, for Iranian ships to reach international markets.
To counter Iranian rival, Saudi Arabia steps up Washington lobbying Saudi Arabia uses PR companies to help influence senators and policy officials in the wake of US negotiations with Iran.
Six Killed in Shooting Rampage in Saudi Arabia The mass shooting occurred inside an educational building in the southern part of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia Turns To Plan B As Low Oil Prices Rattle Economy One radio show explores the ways in which Saudi Arabia could adjust to falling oil prices.
Saudi Arabia vows to ramp up aid to Maldives The Maldives will join the Saudi military alliance, as gesture for aid money for economic and educational support in the coming years.
Special zones set to help Qatar diversify economy In efforts to steer away from reliance on oil and natural gas, Qatar establishes free enterprise economic zones.
Qatar and Pakistan sign $16 billion gas deal The new deal will account for twenty percent of Pakistan’s LNG needs.
Kuwait Petroleum International says oil prices could reach $50 a barrel mid-2017 The company remains optimistic about the eventual rise in oil prices in the coming years.
Kuwait backs alliances against Islamic State, but no troops A clause in the Kuwaiti constitution prevents Kuwait from fighting in offensive wars, though the country still supports the alliance to fight the Islamic State.
Saudi Arabia asks UN to move aid workers in Yemen away from rebel-held areas The United Nations rejects Saudi pleas to relocate aid workers in rebel-held areas.
Why Is This Random Gulf Country Helping Pick Your Emojis? Oman wants to help shape the way Arabic is used online.
Saudi Arabia cuts funding for students abroad The Saudi program that currently supports around two hundred thousand students studying outside the country will soon be facing major cuts as part of overall reductions to the education budget.
The Gulf Has Welcomed Thousands Of Syrians But They’re Constantly Living In Fear The GCC’s residency and work policies leave Syrians in precarious situations throughout the Gulf countries.
GCC debt to double, and assets to slide by 2020 Budget shortfalls across the GCC will lead to massive borrowing and tapping into savings.
Saudi Arabia manufactures warships for KuwaitAl Arabiya reports on Saudi-manufactured ships.
Protests in Bahrain in run up to Arab Spring anniversary Bahrainis mark the fifth anniversary of the Arab uprisings with marches near the capital.
Bahrain says ready to commit ground forces to Syria Echoing similar pledges from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain will join if a US-led coalition of ground troops in Syria comes together.
Oman leader Sultan Qaboos to travel to Germany for medical checks Concerns over succession remain as the Omani leader approaches age seventy-five.
UAE sets up ministries for HAPPINESS and TOLERANCE The new Emirati government will now have eight new positions, one of which is occupied by a twenty-two year-old youth affairs minister.
Reports and Opinions
Why Saudi Arabia Still Needs an Arab Spring A historical analysis of how the western relationship with Gulf monarchs developed.
Pakistan’s balancing act between Iran and Saudi Arabia One analyst unpacks the need for Pakistan to develop ties with Iran while at the same time balancing Saudi influence.
New government projects in Oman must take into account economic realities Saleh Shaibany argues for a change in mindset for large-scale construction projects in Oman.
Saudi Arabia Is Winning Its War Against The U.S. Oil Industry The complicated relationship between Saudi and US oil production explained.
Saudi Arabia's Syria Strategy: Rewriting the Middle East's Political Map Saudi Arabia’s latest call to place ground troops in Syria could set off a wave of risky consequences, one analyst argues.
At least with decency Badriya Darwish argues for the need to respect expats and the work they do in Kuwait, while also creating training institutions for Kuwaitis to learn jobs like nursing.
Wahabism and the new doctrine of 'acceptable racism' One columnist looks at the politicization and misrepresentation of the term “Wahabi” in western media.
16 of the worst Google translate signs in GCC A look at some translation mishaps across supermarkets in the GCC.
Crisis in Yemen
90 Seconds: Leaked UN panel report on Yemen The report contains evidence of targeting civilians, illegal attacks, and a call to create an “international commission of inquiry” in Yemen.
Yemen war: ‘Breakthrough’ as supplies reach war-torn city of Taiz Much needed medical supplies finally arrived to hospitals in Taiz.
Against all odds, Yemen is fighting water shortage by harvesting its fog A fog-harvesting program, which began in 2003, continues to help community members in Yemen fight off water shortages.
Pro-government forces seize camp outside Yemen capital Sanaa remains held by Houthi rebels, as pro-government forces backed by Saudi Arabia’s coalition draw nearer.
Yemen: Airstrike Kills Family in Capital Airstrikes took the lives of two journalists at their home in Sanaa, earlier this week.
In Yemen war, hospitals bombed to rubble, starvation spreads Half the population of Yemen faces food insecurity, and the repeated bombing of hospitals leaves Yemenis in fear of going to medical facilities.
Indian doctor speaks of Yemen's humanitarian crisis One MSF doctor shares his observations on the conflict in Yemen, from malnutrition, to the targeting of medical facilities, and possible outbreaks of disease.
Yemen: UNICEF raises alarm about child malnutrition in ‘the forgotten war’ The war in Yemen places a great burden on already strained resources to combat malnutrition and other preventable diseases.
Top al Qaeda commander killed in Yemen drone strikes The US government continues to carry on with drone strikes in Yemen, targeting both Al Qaeda and the Islamic State in the country.
Human Rights
Not Just Kafala: Qatar’s Band-Aid Treatment For A Deep Wound Does Not Recognise 6 Main Systemic Failures Additional problems such as the lack of access to legal aid and resources must be addressed if Qatar wishes to fully reform labor laws in the country.
How Bahrain’s crushed uprising spawned the Middle East’s sectarianism Bahrain’s multifaceted conflict of political, religious, and economic tensions represent the region’s overall problems.
Bahrain at impasse five years after uprising bid – Economic crisis exacerbates crisis Renewed calls for dialogue between opposition parties and the Bahraini regime could be one solution for the country’s mounting economic problems.
British arms sales to Bahrain total £45m since Arab Spring - while claims of torture and oppression continue The UK amped up sales of weapons to Bahrain in the last five years, a new report finds.
Bahrain: Hopes for justice and reform fading five years since 2011 uprising Amnesty International’s latest report on Bahrain highlights a lack of hope in light of continued human rights violations and injustice.
UAE: Jordanian Journalist Held Incommunicado Human Rights Watch reports that the detained journalist has not been permitted to speak to family members or a lawyer.
NGOs Commemorate the Five-Year Anniversary of Bahrain’s Peaceful Uprising NGOs petition the government to free political prisoners and allow peaceful protest.
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