[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
GCC investors eyeing opportunities in Russia Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia increase investments in Russia’s Direct Investment Fund.
GCC construction firms urged to cut staff, procurement costs The consulting firm Strategy& urges construction companies across the GCC to cut budgets and manage costs responsibly.
Saudi Arabia leads surge in arms imports by Middle East states Arms imports to Saudi Arabia drastically increased in the past five years, a new report finds.
Emails Show Hillary Clinton Aides Celebrating F-15 Sales to Saudi Arabia: “Good News” A new set of emails from Hillary Clinton surface, this time regarding an arms deal with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia And Turkish Military Defense Companies Team Up Amid Growing Regional Threats A joint military venture between Saudi Arabia and Turkey will create an arms research facility and factory in Saudi Arabia, according to a report in Defense News.
Saudi Arabia beheads more people for hashish Three people were executed in Saudi Arabia earlier this month for smuggling hashish and amphetamines, making the total number of executions in the country this year to sixty-three.
US Firm's Internationally Banned Bombs Are Killing Civilians in Yemen Saudi Arabia deploys cluster bombs manufactured by a US company, despite an international ban on that type of weapon.
Rare Saudi film shown at Berlin festival Part romantic comedy, part coming of age story, a new film offers a window into finding love in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia recommends giving surface-to-air missiles to Syrian rebels to 'change balance of power' To combat Bashar Al Assad’s latest military gains, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir proposes arming Syrian rebels with surface-to-air missiles.
Saudi Arabia, Russia to Freeze Oil Output Near Record Levels The two countries are the world’s largest oil producers, and this latest move is a chance to stabilize prices.
United Arab Emirates Backs Oil Producers' Output Freeze Plan The UAE will join, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Venezuela, and Zuwait in their plans to freeze oil output.
Saudi Arabia halts $3 billion package to Lebanese army, security aid Regional tensions with Iran played a role in Saudi Arabia’s refusal to provide remaining security aid to Lebanon.
Global Women’s Forum a first for the Middle East Dubai hosted the Global Women’s Forum this week, which included speakers from around the world.
Court fees across the UAE deter small business claims Civil cases in the Emirates require exorbitant court fees, even before the case gets to court.
Abu Dhabi’s Biggest Bank Says U.S. Oil Prices May Drop to $20 A report from the National Bank of Abu Dhabi stated that oil prices may remain low for the entire year.
136 road accidents in Dubai on a foggy day Foggy conditions on Sunday caused accidents across the United Arab Emirates, including a forty-car pileup on a major highway.
Three changes that will affect entrepreneurs in Qatar New policies could ease some hurdles associated with starting a business in Qatar.
Ratings agency: Qatar economy to remain ‘resilient’ amid oil slump Qatar maintained its positive rating from S&P, while Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia all saw reductions.
Kuwait Says Fire at Northern Oil Well Has Been Contained The Environmental Public Authority of Kuwait say that the gas witnessed at the site was not hazardous.
Kuwait to lay off “unnecessary” expats Expatriates comprise seventy percent of Kuwait’s population and a plan is in the works to further cut down the number of expats in the country.
Iran, Oman hold talks to forge closer energy ties: Shana The two countries, which have always shared friendly relations, seek new economic ties through investments in the oil sector.
How Oman Is Helping Obama Shut Down Guantanamo Bay Transferred prisoners from Guantanamo Bay end up in Oman through a resettlement program.
Friend and aide to United Arab Emirates diplomat is sentenced A diplomatic aide to the Emirati diplomatic mission in the United States receives twenty-one months in jail over embezzlement of charity funds.
Top commanders of anti-IS coalition meet in Kuwait The group of military commanders from the US-led coalition met and discussed tactics to fight the Islamic State.
Reports and Opinions
Ending Services of Expatriates A column about the need for gradual transitions in Kuwait’s labor market.
Will the GCC be able to adjust to lower oil prices? Adel Abdel Ghafar looks at the repercussions of low oil prices on GCC economies.
Preparing for the Collapse of the Saudi Kingdom Saudi Arabia’s success cannot last, analysts argue, but is anyone thinking of an alternative?
Saudi Arabia is facing a looming 'catastrophe' Saudi Arabia faces a serious water crisis, with reserves of groundwater quickly drying up.
Crisis in Yemen
Al Qaeda militants seize southern Yemen town, kill militia leader: residents AQAP seizes more land in Yemen, following a series of attacks earlier this week.
The Threat to Yemen’s Heritage A look at the dangers to historical monuments and heritage sites in Yemen.
Yemen’s humanitarian crisis focus of Doha meet Qatar will host ninety humanitarian organizations in an upcoming conference on the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Why the managed transition after Yemen’s uprising led to war A Washington Post article on the chain reaction of events in Yemen after the 2011 uprising.
UN envoy: Divisions in Yemen are blocking new peace talks The UN envoy hopes peace talks between warring sides in Yemen will begin in March.
UN aid official decries lack of attention given to Yemen war A Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan in the works could provide much needed food aid to Yemenis facing food insecurity.
The Saudi Slaughter in Yemen With US backing, Saudi Arabia continues heavy airstrikes on Yemen, decimating infrastructure and displacing millions of civilians.
Yemen will not be easily persuaded to join the GCC A 2007 plan for Yemen to join the GCC by 2015 seem distant, one columnist writes.
Yemen: Journalist Killed in Taiz; Drone Strikes Kill 3 in Huta Drone strikes and targeted shootings continue in Yemen.
There's a Major Unfolding Humanitarian Tragedy in Yemen The Saudi airstrike campaign in Yemen will turn one in March.
War Crimes and US Responsibility in Syria and Yemen Starvation tactics in both Yemen and Syria go on, often times with indirect US support.
Yemen central bank stops guarantees for rice, sugar imports – sources The latest move from the central bank will deepen Yemen’s food security crisis.
Yemen conflict: Al-Qaeda joins coalition battle for Taiz In Yemen’s third largest city, AQAP affiliates and the Saudi-led coalition fight a common enemy, Houthi rebel groups, BBC reports reveal.
Human Rights
Salim Alaradi Case: UN Calls On United Arab Emirates To Release Detained Canadian Human rights advocates say that Salim Alaradi’s detention and possible torture is unjust.
Britain lobbied UN to whitewash Bahrain police abuses Documents reveal two different drafts of a UN report on Bahrain’s human rights abuses.
Bahrain frees U.S. journalists but keeps its own media behind bars Bahraini journalists and bloggers remain in jail, sometimes for life.
Bahrain cracks down on unsafe migrant worker housing Labor accommodations come under scrutiny in Bahrain, where seventy violations were recorded in the span of one year.
Oman: Prison for Online Critics In the past year, Oman arrested two peaceful activists for their comments on social media, according to a Human Rights Watch report.
UAE: Egyptian Detainee Alleges ‘Brutal’ Torture An Egyptian awaits trial after torture in the United Arab Emirates over allegations of involvement with the Muslim Brotherhood, according to a Human Rights Watch report.
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