Saudi Arabia

The criticism of Saudi Arabia’s human rights abuses is well deserved. But the accusation of sportswashing misses the bigger picture.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have strengthened their economic and security ties, reflecting geopolitical shifts in the Middle East.

While the world remains transfixed by the Israel-Hamas war, other trends that could prove as consequential for the future of the Middle East are gaining momentum. In particular, an increasingly visible transformation of identity discourses in the Gulf and Iran is setting the scene for further shocks to the regional order.