Sovereign and institutional engagement in frontier markets
Azal Advisors helps sovereign and institutional clients seize opportunities, expand influence, and manage risk in complex international environments. We combine structured analysis, diverse expert perspectives, and privileged on-the-ground relationships to produce insight worth acting on — and facilitate the engagements that advance our clients’ objectives. We are politically independent and our advice is always grounded in ethical principles.
WHAT WE DO
PRIVILEGED INSIGHT AND DIALOGUE
Global complexity is intensifying, driven by geopolitical rivalry, economic realignment, and technological disruption. In this environment, sound decisions depend on expertise, access, and trusted relationships. We provide privileged insight to sovereign and institutional clients, through unique access drawn from our network and senior advisors, with the structure of a management consultancy. For sovereign clients, we facilitate confidential dialogue and engagement at civil and institutional levels.
PRIVILEGED INSIGHT
Political, economy, security, regulatory and stakeholder assessments. Bilateral and multilateral engagement and investment strategies.
DISCREET DIALOGUE
For selected geographies, facilitation of structured engagement between government counterparts, including at pre-diplomatic level, helping parties understand each other’s positions before formal processes begin.
THE TEAM
BRIDGING EXPERTISE WITH STRUCTURE
Sound analysis of a multipolar world requires experts who inhabit it from different vantage points. Our network is built on that principle, with geographic, cultural and intellectual diversity because the questions our clients face demand nothing less.
Azal Advisors has a layered structure modeled around our clients’ needs. A principal consultant leads, structures and coordinates engagements; a group of prominent and diverse senior advisors hailing from academia, think tanks and ex government provide strategic perspective; and a network of subject matter experts and relationships in key geographies and sectors provide privileged insights. Our people cover geopolitics, energy, economics, technology, diplomacy, and defense.
Our network includes experts who are affiliated or have been affiliated with organizations including but not limited to:
- Academia: London School of Economics, Princeton University, Georgetown University, Zayed University, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, Tehran University, Johns Hopkins, Kyiv School of Economics
- Think Tanks: RUSI, Chatham House, Arab Gulf States Institute, Hague Center for Strategic Studies, Derasat Bahrain, European Institute for Studies on the Middle East and North Africa, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies
- Ex Government: US Department of State, European Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Eastern European Ministries of Foreign Affairs, European Commission, retired officials from Middle East governments
POLICY BRIEFS
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Saudi Arabia’s Power Sector Transformation: Execution, Resilience, and the European Partnership Opportunity
Saudi Arabia’s energy transformation is driven by economic logic as much as climate ambition: every barrel no longer burned domestically is a barrel available for export. With electricity demand growing at 7.9% in 2025 to a record 349 TWh, the pressure to restructure the power system is acute. The kingdom’s objective of 100 to 130 GW of renewables by 2030, world-record solar tariffs, and a battery storage rollout that would rank it third globally has seen it overtake the UAE as the Gulf’s leading renewables market. The Hormuz disruption of 2026 confirmed that renewables are a security asset as much as a decarbonisation tool, a lesson Europe learnt in 2022. For European policymakers, Saudi Arabia is now positioning itself as a long-term supplier of green hydrogen to European markets, with active engagement in EU certification frameworks signalling a choice to build regulatory convergence, not simply to comply with it.
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.