DUBAI AND THE GULF STATES
November, 2009
The Blueprint: A History of Dubai’s Spatial Development Through Oil Discovery
Working Paper
By Stephen J. Ramos, Research Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
While oil discovery brought revenue to Dubai and would change the city's physiognomy, moving it beyond the initial three settlements along the creek, it is clear that Dubai's status as a dynamic entrepôt for international trade and transshipment, its foundational infrastructure projects, and its "free port" policies to attract merchant communities from throughout the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, along with licit and illicit trade for re-export to Persia/Iran and India, were solidly established before "black gold" was struck in Fateh field.
May 28, 2009
"Economic Crisis as Catalyst"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
Will the Arab world change course, and aim to really develop our vast human talent, free the minds and spirits of our youth, and move us towards a path of sustainable economic growth?
March 23, 2009
"Saudi Arabia, UAE promote energy from sun and wind"
Journal Article, Oil & Gas Journal
By Justin Dargin, Research Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
"The UAE, particularly Abu Dhabi, leads the race to strategically develop sustainable renewable energy sources -- with Saudi Arabia close behind."
Click here for the full text.
November 25, 2008
"Lights out in the Gulf"
Op-Ed, Alexander's Gas & Oil Connections
By Justin Dargin, Research Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
"It seems surprising that an area which has the world waiting breathlessly for any opaque statement about increases in oil and gas production should face a domestic energycrisis at home. In dealing with the crisis, the Gulf has turned to everything from building civilian nuclear plants, engaging in solar energy, looking for renewables and educating the public about conservation.Their reaction to the power crisis concerns the world, because much of our additional gas and oil supplies will be coming from the Gulf, so their reaction directly impacts the rest of us."
Access the full text here.
October 16, 2008
"A Carbon Market for the Gulf"
Magazine or Newspaper Article, N/A
By Justin Dargin, Research Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
DI Fellow Justin Dargin, explores carbon finance in the Gulf in this recent article in Italy's Nuova Energia (New Energy) News Magazine. For the full text, click here.
AP Photo
September 29, 2008
"Trouble In Paradise – The Widening Gulf Gas Deficit"
Op-Ed, Middle East Economic Survey
By Justin Dargin, Research Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
DI Fellow Justin Dargin addresses the gas shortage in the Gulf in this op-ed.
August 27, 2008
"The Incredible Development of the Gulf States"
Op-Ed, Agence Global
By Rami Khouri, Senior Fellow, The Dubai Initiative
The unfathomable wealth and development of the Gulf "statelets" has barely been studied. No serious plans have been devised to create in them institutions of civil society -- nor is there planned assistance for their poorer Arab neighbors.
AP Photo
Summer 2008
Hedging Against Uncertainty: US Strategy in an Interdependent World
Journal Article, National Strategy Forum Review
By William Hogan, Raymond Plank Professor of Global Energy Policy
Energy is important, but energy independence is a dangerous myth. The U.S. National Petroleum Council recently observed: "There can be no U.S. energy security without global energy security." Oil flows in a world market and events anywhere affect the price of oil everywhere. There is no escaping these oil price shocks. Even if the United States were to substantially reduce its own oil consumption, there would be no immunity from the effects of high world oil prices that would determine domestic energy prices and ripple through the world economy. Geology and politics make the world deeply interdependent and policy should be crafted to promote and secure energy interdependence. Real energy security comes from robust energy systems with diversity and flexibility, not through isolation and energy autarky.
AP Photo
Winter 2007-08
"Iran, New Iraq and the Persian Gulf Political-Security Architecture"
Journal Article, Iranian Journal of International Affairs, issue 1, volume XX
By Kayhan Barzegar, Research Fellow, Project on Managing the Atom/International Security Program
This article investigates the necessity of establishing a new political-security arrangement in the Persian Gulf region in the light of new political developments in the region after the 2003 Iraq crisis. The author argues that following the recent political-security changes in the region and with the shift of Iraq's role from its previous threatening position, together with the prospect of building a friendly coalition between Iran and Iraq, the formation of new political-security architecture is inevitable in the Persian Gulf region. The new arrangement has to be based on the new political-security, cultural and economic realities. The author also argues that the nature of security threat in the region has changed. Under the new circumstances, instead of hard inter-states rivalries, the security challenges are more centered in human security and nations' political demands and expectations. Dealing with these new situations requires establishing mutual cooperation in the region.
AP photo
Summer 2008
"Closing Time: Assessing the Iranian Threat to the Strait of Hormuz"
Journal Article, International Security, issue 1, volume 33
How might Iran retaliate in the aftermath of a limited Israeli or U.S. strike? The most economically devastating of Iran's potential responses would be closure of the Strait of Hormuz. According to open-source order of battle data, as well as relevant analogies from military history and GIS maps, Iran does possess significant littoral warfare capabilities, including mines, antiship cruise missiles, and land-based air defense. If Iran were able to properly link these capabilities, it could halt or impede traffic in the Strait of Hormuz for a month or more. U.S. attempts to reopen the waterway likely would escalate rapidly into sustained, large-scale air and naval operations during which Iran could impose significant economic and military costs on the United States — even if Iranian operations were not successful in truly closing the strait. The aftermath of limited strikes on Iran would be complicated and costly, suggesting needed changes in U.S. force posture and energy policy.
