Now that Bahrain is part of the new U.S.-Israel-Middle East corridor of co-operation that is being developed from the U.S. (and Israel), through the UAE (and Bahrain, Kuwait and, in Continue Reading
Bahrain received its first downgrade in over two years from Fitch Ratings, which said it will likely “require further Gulf backing” in the medium term as the government’s finances remain Continue Reading
Given the massive negative hit taken by Saudi Arabia’s economy as a result of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s oil price war, aimed at destroying the U.S. shale oil industry Continue Reading
OPEC’s core Gulf countries of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait appear to have wasted no time in ramping up their crude production after the breakdown of talks with Russia Continue Reading
A cyberattack with a data-wiping malware originating in Iran hit Bahrain’s oil company Bapco in late December, ZDNet reports , citing unnamed sources. According to the report, the attack only Continue Reading
Energy companies in the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf may resume issuing more debt and borrowing more money for expansion plans after oil prices plunged by 40 percent from Continue Reading
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa opened a new oil pipeline between the two countries on Monday, the Saudi Press agency said. Continue Reading
When Bahrain announced the discovery of an 80bn-barrel oilfield in the spring — its biggest find since the 1930s — it was greeted with only cautious optimism by industry analysts. Continue Reading
The higher oil prices and the subsequent higher oil revenues play a part in a significantly improved outlook for the state finances and trade balances of the Arab Gulf countries, Continue Reading
On April 1, Bahrain’s Higher Committee for Natural Resources and Economic Security announced it had made a significant discovery of oil and gas in the offshore Khaleej Al Bahrain Basin, Continue Reading
An oil and gas discovery announced during the weekend off the coast of Bahrain could hold at least 80 billion barrels, the government announced Wednesday. Bahraini Oil Minister Mohamed bin Continue Reading
Kingdom currently has two fields, one shared with Saudi Arabia New undersea deposit lies off Gulf nation’s western coast Bahrain, the smallest energy producer in the Persian Gulf, discovered its Continue Reading
Tehran has denied that it had anything to do with the blow-up of Bahrain’s biggest oil pipeline that carries crude from Saudi Arabia. In a statement carried by media, the Continue Reading
Middle East international bond sales are off to the strongest ever start to a year as borrower demand for funds outstrips the firepower of local banks in an era of Continue Reading
Russian state-owned oil and gas giant Gazprom is currently working out the matter of creating a liquefied natural gas (LNG) distribution hub in Bahrain. The hub will be meant to Continue Reading
For the Gulf states, maintaining unity becomes all the more important amid economic slowdown. Click here to continue reading… Stratfor provides global awareness and guidance to individuals, governments and businesses Continue Reading
The head of the International Monetary Fund on Monday urged energy exporters of the Middle East to raise more taxes as governments across the region grapple with a dramatic drop Continue Reading
Banks for members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Saudi Arabia, face pressure from low oil prices despite government support, Moody’s said. Crude oil prices continue to hold near Continue Reading
The negative impact from the plunge in oil prices rippled further throughout crude-producing nations as Standard & Poor’s cut the credit ratings of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Kazakhstan. Saudi Continue Reading
Bahrain and Oman on Tuesday reduced government subsidies on gasoline, becoming the latest Gulf Arab countries to try to cut back on spending and offset the effect of oil prices, Continue Reading
A caustic slogan is doing the rounds on social networks in the Gulf states this festive season: “All I want for Christmas is for oil prices to go up.” Gloom Continue Reading
MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — The Gulf island nation of Bahrain says it has deployed fighter planes to Jordan, a day after it announced plans to send troops to the kingdom. Bahrain’s brief statement early Monday said the planes would "participate in the international efforts aiming to eliminate terrorism." It did not provide details, and military officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet and like Jordan is part of the U.S.-led coalition carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State militant group. Gulf neighbor the United Arab Emirates previously deployed a squadron of F-16 fighters to Jordan. Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa visited Jordan last week, and his government on Sunday announced it was sending an unspecified number of troops to help support Jordan.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have issued a joint statement withdrawing their ambassadors from Qatar. "The three states have decided to start taking measures they see fit to protect their security and stability, affirming that they are safeguarding the interests of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, including neighbouring Qatar," the statement read. Qatar has failed to "stick to the principles of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states and refraining from supporting all who threaten the security of the council states," the statement added. In response, Qatar said it "regrets" the move, but will not reciprocate, AFP reported Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani committed to a security agreement during a meeting with Kuwait’s emir and the Saudi monarch in Riyadh on 23 November 2013. Calls for Qatar to abide by the agreement were reiterated on 17 February in Kuwait and again during a […]
An explosion killed three policemen in Bahrain on Monday during a protest in a village near the capital Manama, the Interior Ministry said, in one of the worst incidents of violence in recent months. The United Arab Emirates said one of its police officers, serving in a Gulf Cooperation Council force operating in the island kingdom, was among the three dead officers, according to the UAE state news agency WAM. The Bahraini Interior Ministry said on its Twitter account that a group of protesters had broken away from a mourning procession in the village of Daih and started blocking roads. The explosion took place as police were trying to disperse the rioters, it added. There was no immediate word on what had caused the blast. Both the UAE and Bahrain are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, a political and military alliance that also includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman […]
Bahraini authorities say a police officer wounded by a bombing on the third anniversary of the start of the Gulf island kingdom’s anti-government uprising has died. The Interior Ministry said Saturday that the officer was one of two injured in what it called a "terrorist blast" the day before in the village of Dair, near the country’s main airport. It did not identify the officer. The ministry also said it arrested 26 people suspected of rioting and vandalism Friday, the anniversary of widespread protests that began in 2011 and set off three years of ongoing unrest in the country. Activists say dozens of protesters have been wounded in recent clashes with police. Opposition groups dominated by the country’s majority Shiites are seeking political rights from the country’s Sunni rulers. © 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten […]
AP Photo MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Thousands of people have marched in the tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain, demanding more reforms in the country. Among the protesters Friday was prominent opposition figure Khalil al-Marzooq, freed Thursday as he faces charges of encouraging violence. He has denied any support for bombings and other attacks, which have been on the rise. Protesters chanted anti-government slogans Friday and some masked youths confronted police. An Associated Press journalist saw police fire tear gas at demonstrators. Bahrain has been gripped by nonstop unrest after the kingdom’s Shiite majority began an uprising in early 2011 calling for a greater political voice. Many protesters and other senior opposition figures have been jailed during crackdowns in the strategic island nation, which is home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. © 2013 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or […]
