Venue: Gulf Research Center, Dubai

With globalization on the rise and a multitude of international issues such as migration, new security challenges and environmental degradation at hand, an exponentially growing demand exists for IR related expertise as well as transnational understanding and cooperation. Responding to these imperative needs, the Free University of Berlin (FU) - in cooperation with the Gulf Research Center (GRC) – are offering a Masters of Arts (M.A.) degree program in International Relations (IR) beginning in November of 2006. More Details

This symposium will present and discuss the various issues and developments concerning the current reality and the future of relations between Yemen and the GCC countries with special focus on the strategic, security political and economic prerequisites for the incorporation of Yemen into the GCC. Also it will discuss the importance of economic adaptation of Yemen, its mechanisms and requirements, the potential gains and mutual interests of both Yemen and the GCC states at the political, economic, and security levels. More Details

July 3-7, 2006

Venue: Geneva. Switzerland

A primary focus of the Gulf Research Center is to conduct a variety of high level learning programs with practical policy value. Following the successful establishment of its Executive Learning Program, the Gulf Research Center is organizing a series on “Global Leadership Issues.  More Details

The upcoming workshop will be the third in a series of meetings organized by the GRC as part of its Research project to promote declaring the Gulf region a Weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone (GWMDFZ).   More Details

Trading relations between Asia and the GCC have been developing by leaps and bounds in the recent years. While the GCC is the most important energy supplier to Asia, the latter, in turn, exports machinery, cars and engineering goods to the Gulf countries. The GCC countries are also developing closer ties with Asia in security and cultural matters. South Korea is one of the most developed and most important countries in Asia and already entertains close trading relations with GCC. More Details

It has been shown that in nearly every area of human achievements, from business, to the arts, to science, to sports and in the political arena there are teams of people that produce outstanding and innovative results by getting more than the full-value of the talent potential of the assembled individuals. Such work groups are referred to as Virtuoso Teams. More Details

Given the current regional climate, the Gulf Research Center feels it necessary to provide a closer in-depth look into the political and security implications of events in the Gulf region as well as the associated economic repercussions of recent developments.  More Details

GCC Financial Markets: Where Do We Go From Here?

March 19, 2006

Venue: Gulf Research Center, Dubai

The GRC Economics Program at the Gulf Research Center (GRC) invites you to a GRC media workshop on March 19 at GRC, Dubai. The workshop, entitled “GCC Financial Markets: Where Do We Go From Here?” will help journalists and media research departments get a better understanding of international and regional economic trends and factors impacting the GCC stock markets. More Details

Green Gulf: Threats, Challenges and Solutions

February 8, 2006

Venue: American University of Sharjah

Seeking solutions to the environmental issues that on the horizon is top priority today. Environmentalists across the globe are urging governments, authorities and the public at large to change their attitudes, approaches and actions towards the earth’s finite natural resources and the environment.  More Details

Gulf Yearbook 2005-2006

January 4, 2006

Venue: Grand Hyatt Hotel, Duba

The Gulf Research Center (GRC) will hold its third annual conference on January 4, 2006. Entitled “The Gulf in the Year 2005,” the conference will see the release and presentation of the GRC"s annual yearbook entitled “Gulf Yearbook 2005.”  More Details

Dr Jan Thiele – Hamburg City Senate

Hidenobu Sato – Public Security Directorate, Ministry of Justice, Japan

Johann Adolf Cohausz – General Consul FR Germany

Mehran Kamrava – Georgetown University, Qatar Branch, Doha.

Gary Samore – Council on Foreign Relations, US

Julia Dixon – Australian Embassy

Royal Swedish Academy

A delegation organized by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) visited the Gulf Research Center on 13 November 2007. The IVA is an independent network for the exchange and generation of knowledge that functions by initiating contacts between different disciplines and countries. The delegation visiting GRC consisted of Vice Chancellors and Presidents from Swedish universities of technology, research institutes and business schools.

The main theme of discussion was the current and future situation of education and research in the Gulf region. Fruitful information exchange and networking took place relating to existing education and research issues in the Gulf Region. Future goals and potential cooperation were also addressed.

The delegation consisted of the following members:

- Professor Lars Bergman, President of Stockholm School of Economics

- Dr.Agneta Bladh, Rector at the University of Kalmar

- Professor Kåre Bremer, Vice chancellor and President of Stockholm 

   University

- Chairman Peggy Bruzelius, Chairman of the Swedish National Agency for

   Higher Education

- Romulo Enmark, PhD, Vice chancellor, Halmstad University, Sweden

- Professor Janerik Gidlund, Vice chancellor Örebro University, Sweden

- Assistant Professor Lars Haikola, Rector of Campus Helsingborg, Lund

   University

- Tekn Dr Hans Hentzell, President  of  Acreo and Swedish ICT Research

- President Henrik Landerholm, Swedish National Defence College, SDNC

- Vice Chancellor Leif Larsson, University of Skövde

- Professor Thomas Lindstein, Vice chancellor of Mid Sweden University

- Professor Klas Malmqvist, Pro-rector, Engineering Faculty,  Lund University

- Professor Mille Millnert, Rector Linköping University

- Professor Margareta Norell Bergendahl, Deputy President of KTH (Royal

  Institute of Technology)

- Rector Kerstin Norén, Rector of Karlstad University

- President Ingegerd Palmér, President of Mälardalen University

- Ms Mari-Anne Roslund, Deputy Managing Director, The Swedish Foundation

  for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education, STINT

- Dr Jörgen Sjöberg, Senior Advisor to the President of Chalmers University

   of Technology

- Dr Tomas Thorvaldsson, President of Swerea AB

- Professor Lena Treschow Torell, President of the Royal Swedish Academy

  of Engineering Sciences, IVA

- Professor Rolf Wolff, President of the School of Business, Economics and

  Law, Göteborg University

- Mrs Caroline Ankarcrona, LL.M, Project Manager

- Mr. Staffan Eriksson, MSc, Project Manager

- Ambassador Bruno S. Beijer, Ambassador of Sweden to the U.A.E.

A delegation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands came to the GRC including Pieter de Gooijer, Director-General for Political Affairs; Joan J.J. Wiegman, Deputy Head for Nuclear Affairs and Non-Proliferation Division; Dr. Jeroen Boender, Senior Policy Officer in Political Affairs Department; Herman Quarles van Ufford, Head of the Gulf States Division in the North Africa and Middle East Department and Gilles Beschoor Plug, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the UAE. The visit covered a discussion about the regional security environment in particular with regard to the issue of the Iranian nuclear program.

George Costoulas, Ambassador of Greece to the UAE, visited the GRC to discuss aspects of cooperation between the GRC and Greek institutions as well to look into the overall Greek-Gulf relationship

Delivered presentations on “The challenges of post-war Lebanon: assessment and prospect” as well as “Creating a viable Palestinian state: How can Europe and the Gulf contribute?” in the Eurogolfe Forum 2007 in Riyadh. It was organized by Sciences Po, Paris and The Institute of Diplomatic Studies of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the theme “Europe and the Gulf: A Step Forward”. Eurogolfe is a network of Gulf and European academics launched in October 2003 to enhance relations in the field of education between Europe and the GCC countries.

Panelist in four discussion sessions at the World Economic Forum on Middle East in Dead Sea, Jordan – Creating Sustainable Partnerships in Education Reform; Securing Peace, Building Stability; and Global Risk for the Middle East; and Iran and the Region

Attended a meeting of the German Near and Middle East Association in Berlin.

Served as the “Lead Knowledge Partner” for the Global Action Forum’s Arab-Asian Dialogue organized by the Young Arab Leaders in Singapore. The GRC provided concept papers for the plenary sessions, summarized topics for the debates, drew up questions for the moderators to use in various sessions, and provided relevant background literature and documentation services.

Delivered research papers on the nuances of translation and the role of private sector in education at a conference on education and labor market organized by the Arab Thought Foundation in Amman.

Attended the Arab Reform Initiative Advisory Board Meeting in Amman.

Speaker at the session on "Global Growth and its Inherent Risks" at the Arab

World Competitiveness Roundtable held in Doha. Organized by the World

Economic Forum, the GRC emphasized the risks that are especially relevant

for the GCC countries, those which have the potential to negatively affect

the region's growth.

Made a key note address titled “Key Economic Challenges Facing the GCC Countries” at the inaugural session of the annual conference of the Middle East Economic Association at the Sheikh Zayed University in Dubai. Also delivered a lecture titled “A New Age of Petrodollar Recycling?”

Delivered a lecture on “The Macroeconomic Scenario in the GCC Countries” at the German Business Council in Abu Dhabi.

Participated in the Jeddah Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia. The theme of the forum was “Economic Reform: Flourishing Grounds and Expanding Horizons”.

Delivered a lecture on “The Gulf and Europe’s Energy Security” at the German Business Council in Dubai, UAE. Apart from highlighting the future importance of the GCC countries for European energy supplies, the emphasis was on the challenges of enhanced oil recovery, role of natural gas exports, issues of security of transport routes, energy conservation and renewable energy.

January 24-25, 2007

Speaker at two workshops at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland – “Democracy Beyond Elections: The Future of the Western Model” and “The Future Series: Building the Skills of the Future”. Also participated in “The GCC Countries and the World: Scenarios to 2025” workshop.

GRC, SIPRI joint workshop: The Gulf as A weapons of Mass Destruction Free Zone.

The workshop was the second in a series of meetings organized by the GRC as part of its recently created Research Program to promote declaring the Gulf region a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Free Zone.

(English) (Arabic)

GRC Lecture: Oil for Gold or Oil for Paper? Financial Stability, Gold and the ongoing Rise in Commodity Prices.

(English)  (Arabic)

GRC, AUS formalize cooperation agreement

The Dubai-based Gulf Research Center (GRC) and American University of Sharjah (AUS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate, collaborate and support each other in the areas of research, knowledge dissemination, networking, internships and related events.  

After the signing ceremony, GRC Chairman Abdulaziz Sager said: “In line with our ‘knowledge for all’ mission, the motive of the agreement is to enhance information dissemination about the Gulf region openly and as widely as possible.”

As a first step towards pursuing their common objective, the GRC will provide all AUS students and faculty members with free access to its research website (www.grc.ae) and media website (www.gulfinthemedia.com) until April 2006.

According to AUS Chancellor Prof. Winfred Thompson, the MoU “will facilitate information exchange among scholars, researchers, faculty and students by convening joint conferences, seminars, workshops and lectures as well as through the sharing of relevant data and databases.”

The two institutions have also agreed to cooperate effectively to enhance on-the-job experience by sponsoring internships for AUS students at GRC in various subject areas relevant to the region and specialized by the center; collaborate in research activities; publish selected joint publications in both electronic and hard copy forms; encourage networking of scholars and regional experts; improve technical capabilities by exchanging relevant information and transferring knowledge, including best practice information; and promoting capacity building through the conduct of joint training programs.

Support for Iran nuclear program ideological, says South African minister

South Africa on Wednesday denied it had any form of nuclear cooperation with Iran, but said it reserves the right to access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes on ideological grounds and supports all countries wishing to have access to such technology without violating the non-proliferation treaty (NPT), including Iran.

Addressing a press conference at the Gulf Research Center in Dubai, South African Foreign Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said: “NPT stands on three legs – non-proliferation, disarmament and access to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. The West wants to pretend that there is only one leg – non-proliferation – and ignores the other two, which is unacceptable.” 

Dr. Dlamini-Zuma emphasized that South Africa is urging Iran to clear the air about the present ambiguity, but would support Iran’s right to nuclear technology as long as it does not violate the principles of NPT.

The minister’s visit to the UAE is part of a week-long tour of the Gulf region, during which she will also visit Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Yemen. Apart from strengthening bilateral political, economic and cultural relations with the region, where more than 32,000 South Africans live, the minister’s interaction is focusing on issues pertaining to multilateralism, poverty eradication, peace and stability, as well as the rule of law.

Commenting on the issue of supporting independence for the Western Sahara after traditionally backing the Polisario Front, overriding Morocco’s objections, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma said South Africa – because of its history of freedom struggle – supports all self-determination movements, including the Palestinian struggle against Israel.

“We delayed the decision to back the Western Sahara movement for 10 years following requests from Saudi Arabia, the United Nations and Morocco, but after realizing that there was no Moroccan move towards a referendum, we formalized our support in 2004,” the minister said, adding that “if the people of Western Sahara are given a chance to decide and they favor to be part of Morocco, we will support it too.”

Similarly, “we will not abandon the Palestinians till they achieve freedom. We support their right to self-determination, the roadmap and the two-state solution. We have been and will continue to hold talks with Palestinian and Israeli groups to resolve the crisis and convince them of the benefits of peace,” she said.

On its role in Iraq, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma said South Africa was against the war and was hence not involved in the reconstruction process at the official level. “But private individuals and companies are involved in Iraq through Western institutions, especially as part of the private security apparatus,” she added. 

South Africa’s interaction with Iraq has changed after the elections, the minister pointed out. “We have now agreed to have an ambassador in South Africa, will resume normal relations and even consider how to get involved in the reconstruction process.”

On issues concerning better ties between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Africa, the minister urged the region to realize that the “forgotten continent” will be quite awake during the next decade. “We look forward to support for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) by way of investments in the field of energy, information technology and transportation infrastructure,” she said.

Earlier, the minister was briefed about the political, economic, social and security developments in the region by experts at the Gulf Research Center (GRC), an independent think tank, education provider and consultancy. The GRC, “which is pursuing a dedicated research program on GCC-South Africa Relations, intends to facilitate better cooperation between the two sides. Further, given South Africa’s fundamentals and capabilities, it could also play an important role in boosting the GCC’s relations with the Sub-Saharan African countries,” the center’s Chairman, Abdulaziz Sager, said.

GRC, Cigre explore cooperation

A delegation of over 25 experts from the Paris-based International Council on Large Electric Systems (Cigre) held talks with the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center (GRC) on April 20 to explore avenues of working jointly in the electricity sector and its related areas within GRC’s energy research program.

“Since our energy research program deals with oil, gas and electricity sectors, we are keen to work in synergy with organizations like GCC-Cigre,” said GRC Chairman Abdulaziz Sager.

The Cigre delegation was particularly interested in the GRC’s ‘research and business model’ as a benchmark for its own activities. It also discussed the various aspects of privatization of the water and electricity sectors in the region and the GCC pricing in comparison with their international counterparts. 

The visit of the delegation – headed by Dr. Ibrahim Al-Hamoudi, Chairman of Doha-based GCC-Cigre Technical Committee – coincides with the work on the multibillion-dollar GCC power grid project getting under way in September. The plan – which links the six GCC countries with an integrated electricity network – was first discussed 20 years ago, but is now scheduled to be completed by 2010.

While phase one will link Saudi Arabia with Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, the second phase will link the UAE with Oman. The two resulting mega grids will be linked in the final phase. The power grid is expected to boost electricity network in the region, help exchange electricity to meet growing needs, utilize surplus output, save on new power projects and ensure uninterrupted power supply.

Cigre is a non-profit making organization established in 1921 and is mainly devoted to encouraging and developing scientific research and studies in the field of electricity systems. The Regional Committee for Large Electric Systems, GCC-Cigre, is an affiliate of the Paris organization.

The Social Sciences and Humanities Forum 2005

A two day workshop on e-learning in social sciences and humanities ended in Dubai on Friday with a call to evolve an effective mechanism to blend the modern information technology (IT) and communication components with the traditional educational system to ensure maximum impact.  (English) (Arabic)

A forum on ‘Globalization and new growth strategies for business’ in Dubai on Wednesday urged the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to actively promote free trade, create the right environment for foreign investment and diversify the non-oil economy   (English)

• Qatar University hosts conference on EU-GCC relations

  Source Name: Gulf Times
  Date: May 01, 2013

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• Arab Spring enhanced EU-GCC ties

  Source Name: The Peninsula
  Date: April 30, 2013

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• Tension rises between Iran and Gulf countries

  Source Name: Al-Ahram (weekly online)-Egypt
  Date: April 29, 2013

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• Pattern seen in alleged chemical arms use in Syria

  Source Name: ABC News Online
  Date: April 29, 2013

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• Building strong Saudi-Japan ties

  Source Name: Arab News
  Date: April 28, 2013

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• Lockheed's pitch for Gulf defence: fast as a bullet, wide as the sea

  Source Name: The National
  Date: January 31, 2013

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• Abu-Ghazaleh calls for a change in the traditional learning system

  Source Name: AME Info
  Date: May 31, 2012

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• Syrian Forces Attack Hama Before UN Security Council Meets

  Source Name: Bloomberg.com
  Date: January 30, 2012

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• Suicide bomber kills 33 at Shiite funeral in Iraq

  Source Name: Associated Press
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• Plot to smuggle $5bn gold thwarted

  Source Name: The National
  Date: December 27, 2011

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