The Gulf Research Centre

Overview

The Gulf Research Center (GRC) is a prominent, privately funded, non-partisan think tank and consultancy specializing in research and analysis of the Arabian Gulf region. Its mission is to provide in-depth, academically rigorous research and strategic recommendations on the political, economic, security, and social dynamics of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and their neighbors, including Iran, Iraq, and Yemen. The GRC aims to address the imbalance in regional studies by amplifying Gulf perspectives and making its research widely accessible through publications, conferences, and educational initiatives .

Location

The GRC is headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with additional offices in Geneva and Brussels. It previously maintained a significant presence in Dubai from 2000 to 2010 . This multi-location structure enables the GRC to operate both within the Gulf region and internationally.

History and Establishment

The GRC was established in July 2000 by Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Sager, a Saudi businessman and scholar. Dr. Sager founded the center to fill a gap in high-quality, regionally grounded research on the strategic Gulf area, encompassing not only the GCC states but also Iran, Iraq, and Yemen. Since its inception, the GRC has evolved into a leading independent research organization, recognized for its multidisciplinary approach and commitment to public knowledge dissemination .

Founders and Financial Sponsors

• Founder: Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Sager is the founder and current chairman of the GRC. He has been the primary driving force behind the center’s vision and operations .
• Financial Sponsors: The GRC is primarily funded through private contributions, with Dr. Sager himself being the main financial sponsor. The center also generates revenue from projects, consultancies, and conferences. According to consolidated financial statements, the majority of its funding has come from Dr. Sager’s contributions, supplemented by income from its various activities.

Website and Contact Information

• Website: www.grc.ae
• Contact Information: While specific contact details are not listed in the provided sources, the official website offers contact forms and further information for inquiries.

Perspective Relevant to Iran

From an Iranian perspective, the GRC is notable for including Iran within its research scope, alongside the GCC states, Iraq, and Yemen. Its commitment to independent, regionally focused analysis means that its research often addresses issues of direct relevance to Iran’s geopolitical, economic, and security interests in the Gulf. The GRC’s open-access philosophy ensures that Iranian scholars, policymakers, and the public can benefit from its publications and events.

Prominent Research Figures

The Gulf Research Center (GRC) has featured several influential scholars shaping its research agenda:

• Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Sager: Founder and chairman, driving the GRC’s vision of regionally grounded research on Gulf affairs, including Iran’s geopolitical role .
• Dr. Mustafa Alani: Director of the Security and Terrorism Program, analyzing regional security dynamics affecting Iran-GCC relations.
• Dr. Christian Koch: Director of International Studies, focusing on Gulf foreign policies and multilateral partnerships.
• Dr. Eckart Woertz: Program Manager for Gulf Economics, researching energy markets and sanctions impacts relevant to Iran .

Key Fields of Concentration

The GRC’s research prioritizes areas intersecting with Iran’s strategic interests:

1. Geopolitical Dynamics: GCC-Iran relations, regional security frameworks, and conflict resolution mechanisms .
2. Energy Security: Hydrocarbon markets, renewable energy transitions, and sanctions’ economic impacts on Iran .
3. Environmental Sustainability: Water scarcity, climate change, and cross-border environmental policies .
4. Economic Diversification: Strategies to reduce GCC reliance on oil, with implications for Iran’s regional trade .

Relations to the Islamic World

The GRC explicitly includes Iran within its research scope, alongside GCC states, Iraq, and Yemen. It promotes dialogue on Islamic solidarity challenges, such as sectarian tensions and economic cooperation, though its Saudi foundation occasionally aligns with GCC perspectives on regional rivalries . The annual Gulf Research Meeting (hosted at Cambridge University) facilitates academic exchanges involving Iranian scholars, though direct collaboration with Iranian institutions is less documented4.

Publishing and Significant Reports

The GRC produces widely cited publications:

• Gulf Yearbooks: Annual analyses of regional trends, including Iran’s political and economic developments.
• Policy Briefs: Recommendations on Gulf security, energy transitions, and environmental cooperation .
• Edited Volumes: Multidisciplinary research on Iran-GCC relations, such as The Gulf and Latin America: Prospects for Partnership.

Impacts and Partnerships

• Academic Collaborations: Partnerships with institutions like the University of Cambridge (GRM) and Harvard Medical School’s Foreman Program highlight its global reach .
• Policy Influence: GRC’s energy security research has informed GCC strategies, indirectly affecting Iran’s regional calculus .
• U.S. Engagement: A 2015 agreement with the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations strengthened Gulf-focused policy analysis, potentially shaping U.S.-Iran discourse.

From Iran’s perspective, the GRC serves as both a resource for regional insights and a platform reflecting GCC-aligned viewpoints. Its open-access publications provide Iranian analysts with data on Gulf economic and security policies, though its Saudi ties may limit perceived neutrality on sensitive issues like Yemen or nuclear diplomacy .

Critique of the Gulf Research Center’s Work or Hidden Objectives from Iran’s Perspective

Perceived Bias and Strategic Alignment

From the Iranian perspective, the Gulf Research Center (GRC) is often viewed as reflecting the strategic and ideological priorities of Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies. GRC research and commentary frequently frame Iran as the region’s principal security challenge, emphasizing Tehran’s support for non-state actors and its perceived destabilizing role in countries such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. This narrative aligns closely with official Saudi policy, which regards Iran as both a strategic and ideological threat to Gulf security and stability. Iranian analysts may therefore critique the GRC’s work as lacking neutrality, serving to reinforce the GCC’s regional security agenda and justify policies of containment, deterrence, and alliance-building with Western powers .

Hidden Objectives and Policy Influence

Iranian scholars and policymakers may also suspect that the GRC’s research is designed to shape international perceptions and policy responses to Iran’s regional activities, particularly in the context of nuclear negotiations, sanctions, and military posturing. The GRC’s focus on Iran’s involvement in conflicts and its alleged sponsorship of sectarianism is seen as a means to legitimize external intervention and sustain U.S. and Western security commitments to the GCC . This perspective suggests that the GRC’s hidden objective is to maintain a narrative of Iranian threat, thereby securing continued Western military and political support for the Gulf monarchies.

Limited Engagement and Dialogue

Despite the GRC’s stated aim of fostering regional dialogue, Iranian observers note a lack of direct engagement with Iranian viewpoints or collaboration with Iranian research institutions. The center’s publications and events rarely feature Iranian perspectives, which can be interpreted as an intentional exclusion that reinforces regional polarization rather than promoting genuine understanding or conflict resolution4.

Instrumentalization of Research

Iranian analysts may further argue that the GRC’s research output is instrumentalized to support Saudi Arabia’s broader geopolitical ambitions, including efforts to isolate Iran diplomatically and economically. By consistently highlighting Iran’s “destructive” regional role and downplaying the complexities of Gulf-Iran relations, the GRC is seen as contributing to a securitized discourse that undermines prospects for détente and regional cooperation .