Posts From Ahmad Taleb
Why the Qatari-Arab tension may remain despite possible settlements
On the 6th of June, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE announced in a coordinated move to cut diplomatic ties with Qatar.
Five trends that will shape the MENA in 2016
Torn between conflicts and insurgency, the Middle East has witnessed a rise of non-state-actors at the expense of states weakened by a struggling global economy and social changes that exceed
What does the Iran nuclear deal mean for the GCC?
The recently struck Iranian nuclear deal poses tough questions and considerations for members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, who will work to preserve their influence in the Gulf and broader Middle
Joint Arab military forces deepens the Saudi-Iran conflict
Arab leaders often concluded their annual Arab Summit meetings with verbal statements regarding the region’s issues, rather than taking any substantial measures. However, this year’s summit held on the 28th of
Piracy in West Africa targets the region’s oil industry
Mostly conducted by Nigerian pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, piracy in West Africa has been on the rise for the last years and has proven to be much more sophisticated
Egypt security forces face infiltration and social changes
The ousting of Egypt’s former president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 was followed by a series of attacks against Egyptian security forces. One of the last attacks, known as the
Compliance risks challenge business in the Middle East
Some markets have avoided rigid laws and regulations as a comparative advantage. But that has changed lately. Compliance has gained in importance worldwide as laws approved in one corner of the
Global security spending continues to rise
Armed conflicts in the 21st century are less common than before, or at least that is what conflict focused databases have shown in the last few years. However, other forms
South Sudan crisis far beyond a power struggle
On December 15, around 10 PM, heavy gun fire clashes between the South Sudanese presidential guards were reported in the capital Juba. The national TV went off air, and the
Qatar state development model holds potentail and risk
Qatar is one of the world’s smallest states, but it also has one of the largest gas reserves. Small and wealthy, Qatar’s policies have echoed elsewhere. Is it a guide
