“A New Price Era in a Time of Climate Action: Towards a Resilient and Responsive Saudi Economy” By Noura T Al Saud & Mashael AL-Shalan January 24th, 2016   The relentless pace of major consequential world events in recent years molded some of us into ardent pessimists. The world seemingly feels more vulnerable today than it has ever been; as we struggle to sustain a delicate balance between maintaining security and fostering economic growth. Less imminent and tangible of a threat

By Noura Turki Al Saud Oct 21, 2015   Since the oil price decline in the Fall of 2014, speculations concerning Saudi Arabia’s behavior in the oil market have been mounting. Traditionally viewed as the oil market’s savior, the Kingdom has borne the burden of oil market disruptions and price volatility since the boom of its oil industry, heightened in the years after the Arab oil embargo in the 1970’s. Today, this trend is being disrupted as Saudi Arabia relinquishes its customary role in stabilizing the market, refusing to bear the sole burden of defending prices. This step has unjustifiably generated noise about a globa

By Dr. Saud Al-Sarhan   Abstract: In recent months, as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s organization, known as the Islamic State (IS), has grown in influence and renown, tensions between it and other ِAl-Qaeda affiliates in the Middle East have increased. For the time being, al-Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), led by Abu Basir al-Wuhayshi, is trying to put off a confrontation with IS in order to avoid internecine conflict and divided loyalties within its membership. As al-Qaeda’s major personalities clash over differences in strategy and ambition, the question remains: Is AQAP headed for a bloody civil conflict?