​GULF WEEKLY: US-Iran deal imminent, Covid surges in Bahrain, Oman’s EDO to raise $5bn

GULF COUNTRIES - Report 21 May 2021 by Justin Alexander

A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines:

* We now see the chances of a US-Iran deal by May 28 as close to 50%, and 80% by July.
* Bahrain’s Covid cases continued to rise s​harply despite its rapid vaccine rollout.
* Vaccinated Saudis were permitted to travel, including across the causeway to Bahrain.
* The Gulf states each responded to the Israeli-Palestinian clashes in very different ways.
* The IEA says no new oil and gas fields should be developed to reach net-zero by 2050.
* Qatar’s giant LNG expansion is discouraging projects elsewhere, including Canada’s Kitimat.
* Qatar’s cabinet approved a draft law for its first elections.
* Fitch affirmed Oman at BB- but maintained its negative outlook despite fiscal improvement.
* EDO won’t take over oil funding from the Omani government until the summer. The minister of oil also said that it will be raising $5bn in debt initially, more than expected.
* A giant green hydrogen project was proposed in Oman but is a long way from being realized.
* Lebanon’s foreign minister resigned after making negative comments about the Gulf states.
* Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, two of Sudan’s largest creditors, supported efforts towards HIPC relief.

Now read on...

Register to sample a report

Register
Sign-in
Forgot your password?
Copyright 2025 GlobalSource Partners. All rights reserved. This report is prepared for GlobalSource Partners’ clients and may not be redistributed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, retransmitted or disclosed, in whole or in part, or in any form or manner, without the express written consent of GlobalSource Partners. This report is distributed simultaneously to our website and other portals used by GlobalSource Partners. The information herein was obtained from various sources and is believed to be reliable but GlobalSource Partners does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Neither GlobalSource Partners nor any Country Analyst, officer or employee accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential damages or losses rising from any use of this report or its contents.