Kuwait and Oman hope for peace dividend
More cordial Saudi-Qatar relations raise hopes for economic and energy investment progress in other GCC allies. But serious challenges remain
The new leaders of Kuwait and Oman were among the most relieved when Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman embraced Sheikh Tamim of Qatar on the latter’s arrival for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Saudi Arabia in early January. But any optimism the two men might have that a new era of GCC cooperation could help supercharge their economies and energy sectors is tempered by significant domestic challenges. Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah became emir of Kuwait in September last year, nine months after Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was named sultan of Oman. Both are well aware that minimising regional feuds is essential if GCC states are to cope with the political, economic and health
Also in this section
21 February 2025
While large-scale planned LNG schemes in sub-Saharan Africa have faced fresh problems, FLNG projects are stepping into that space
20 February 2025
Greater social mobility means increased global demand for refined fuels and petrochemical products, with Asia leading the way in the expansion of refining capacity
19 February 2025
The EU would do well to ease its gas storage requirements to avoid heavy purchase costs this summer, with the targets having created market distortion while giving sellers a significant advantage over buyers
18 February 2025
Deliveries to China decline by around 1m b/d from move to curb crude exports to Shandong port, putting Iran under further economic pressure
