Specialized economic and foreign policy advisory.
The global macro environment gets more complex by the day. Fraying historical alliances, the emergence of new power players, technology trends, global health crises, trade protectionism, climate change, ideological conflicts, or the energy transition stand to fundamentally alter the global landscape. Understanding these trends and their consequences is a strategic imperative for national leadership, and an opportunity for the private sector.
Azal Advisors operates across two verticals: specialized advisory to Center of Government decision-makers in the Gulf on economic and foreign policy affairs; and customized research services to investors considering investments in Gulf markets or to commodity traders impacted by policy and political developments in the Gulf.
Areas of Expertise
POLICY RESEARCH
We conduct research on economic, energy and security policy topics to help our clients navigate uncertainty and meet their strategic objectives.
SINO-GULF COOPERATION
Sample of advisors
Dr Eckart Woertz
Food & energy securityJohn Tesh
National risk & resilienceDr Jonathan Fulton
Sino-Gulf relationsDr Jean Francois Seznec
Economic & Industrial PolicyMohamed Elbashir
Global internet governanceMichael Stephens
Europe-Gulf relationsDavid Rundell
Saudi - US relationsAbdulrahman Eryani
Water & environmentAdel Bakawan
EU - Turkey / Iraq relationsKate Dourian
Energy marketsDr Steffen Hertog
GCC economics and political economyDr Izak Atiyas
Economics & industrial policyJoshua Meltzer
Digital trade and international trade lawDr Paul J. Sullivan
Energy and Environmental SecurityRaiman Al-Hamdani
Yemen stabilisation and developmentDr Martin Keulertz
Food & water securityStephen A. Seche
Yemen and Yemen – US relationsDr Giacomo Luciani
Global energy governanceDr Omar Al-Ubaydli
GCC countries' economics expertSean Carroll
International developmentBruce Mann
National risk & resilienceDr Mohammed Al-Sudairi
Sino-Gulf relationsDr Bernard Haykel
Arab identity, Islam and social history of the GCCInsights
A multilateral collateralized digital currency as an instrument of influence for oil-exporting states
Gulf States are in the front line of the strategic competition between China and the United States. The former seeks to secure a steady supply of oil while extending its economic and technology influence. The latter continues to play a dominant role in enabling the defence of Gulf States while leveraging this position to keep them from embracing China. This situation is also reflected in the recurring topic of the dedollarization of global oil-trade and China’s desire to settle oil-purchases in its own currency, the Renminbi, which for a variety of reasons does not yet serve the interests of Gulf-based oil-exporters. This report argues that a multilateral and oil-collateralized digital currency (MCDC) could provide like-minded Gulf oil-exporters with a tool of partial monetary policy independence and enhanced global influence, ultimately enabling them to carve a more independent policy that serves their own interest rather than the one of either of the two super-powers.
How can GCC countries achieve equilibrium in the China-India competition?
The competition between China and India continues to grow, driven by territorial disputes and China’s growing strategic dominance and assertiveness. Both countries are also increasing their demand for energy and raw materials to fuel their economic growth. In our latest report, Dr Naranayappa Janardhan (Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy) and Nicolas Dunais (Azal Advisors) argue that Gulf policymakers should pursue a balanced relationship with China and India, avoid “picking sides”, and where possible, encourage them to cooperate rather than compete in the commercial and security realms.
Nudging GCC citizens to sustainability: the imperatives of cultural awareness & local knowledge
Many GCC governments have established or are in the process of establishing behavioural economics (“nudge”) units as an additional instrument of policymaking, with the support of Western experts. With sustainability considerations becoming more central in the policy development process, nudging has a key role to play in effectively changing citizen behaviour. Yet local specificities mean that replicating models which have worked abroad is fraught with risk: social habits among GCC citizens can result in nudge campaigns having the opposite effects to the ones intended. In this context, it is essential to leverage local expertise to ensure campaigns are effectively delivered and government efficiency is maximized.