Gulf-North Africa Relations: Economic Linkages and Strategic Contexts in a Changing Global Order

This workshop is cosponsored with the Middle East Council on Global Affairs.

Workshop Concept 

This workshop examines the growing economic ties between the Gulf and North Africa, focusing on investment flows, trade, energy cooperation, and labor migration. It situates these linkages within broader geopolitical dynamics, including regional conflicts and the influence of external powers such as the U.S., Europe, China, and Russia. By combining economic and political analysis, the workshop seeks to generate policy-relevant insights for building more resilient and mutually beneficial Gulf–North Africa partnerships. 

Economic relations between the Gulf and North Africa have expanded considerably over the past  two decades. Gulf sovereign wealth funds and companies have invested in infrastructure, energy,  banking, and real estate across North Africa. At the same time, North African countries view the  Gulf as a source of capital and a partner in diversification and development. Yet, these ties are shaped by geopolitics: conflicts in Libya and Sudan, instability in the Sahel, and the  competing influence of Europe, the United States, China, and Russia all affect how and where Gulf  actors engage.

Workshop Objectives 

The workshop has four main objectives: 

1. Analyze the scope and drivers of Gulf investment in North Africa, particularly  infrastructure, energy, and diversification projects. 
2. Examine how geopolitical factors influence economic relations, from regional conflicts to  external power competition. 
3. Assess the GCC labor market dynamics and skills mismatch in relation to North African  migration flows, including migration policies, remittances, skills mobility, and  opportunities for knowledge transfer. 
4. Develop policy recommendations for building more resilient Gulf–North Africa economic  partnerships. 

Contribution to the Third Gulf Studies Symposium Theme

Despite their importance, Gulf–North Africa relations remain under-researched compared to the  Gulf’s engagement with the Levant. Yet North Africa presents significant opportunities, including  large markets, strategic geography, renewable energy potential, and ongoing challenges, such as fragile states and uneven economic reforms. 

The workshop seeks to address this gap. It will bring together scholars and experts from across  both regions to map out Gulf–North Africa engagement and generate policy-relevant insights grounded in rigorous research, while also creating a platform for experts’ collaboration. The goal is to generate knowledge that informs both scholarly debates and concrete policy decisions. Although framed under the Geopolitics theme, the workshop also addresses economy and innovation by placing investment flows, trade, energy, and labor market dynamics at the center of discussion, while linking them to the region’s geopolitical landscape and broader global shifts. 

The added value of this workshop lies in connecting economic analysis with the context of foreign  policy. Gulf–North Africa ties cannot be understood purely as investment decisions or diplomatic  alignments; they sit at the intersection of both.

Workshop Themes and Examples of Paper Topics 

The workshop will run for two days, with sessions built around two interlinked pillars: economic linkages at the center, and geopolitics as the frame that shapes them: 

1. Gulf Investments and Economic Partnerships 

Gulf sovereign wealth funds, banks, and private companies have become essential investors in North Africa, shaping sectors, as well as infrastructure, real estate, and agriculture development  strategies. Yet these flows are often unevenly distributed and shaped by political sensitivities and regulatory challenges.  

Relevant discussion papers may include (but are not limited to):  

• Gulf Sovereign Wealth Funds in North African countries: Strategic Leverage or  Development Driver? 
• The Political Economy of Gulf Real Estate Investments in North Africa
• Agriculture and Food Security: Gulf Investment in North Africa 

2. Energy and Climate Transitions 

Energy has long been a bridge between the two regions. Algeria’s gas exports, Egypt’s LNG  capacity, and Morocco’s renewable projects have all drawn Gulf interest. With the global energy transition accelerating, both regions face choices about diversification, renewable investments, and  climate adaptation. 

Relevant discussion papers may include (but are not limited to):  

• LNG Cooperation: Prospects and Limits 
• Joint Investment Opportunities between the Gulf and North Africa in the Global Green  Transition  
• Climate Vulnerabilities and Adaptation Strategies in North African countries: Lessons for  Gulf Partnerships 

3. Trade, Labor, and Skills Mobility 

North Africa is linked to the Gulf through trade routes, airlines, and financial hubs. Labor  migration has been central, with many Egyptians, Sudanese, Moroccans, and Tunisians working  in Gulf states. Tourism flows, particularly from the Gulf to Morocco and Egypt, are another  growing connection. 

Relevant discussion papers may include (but are not limited to): 

• Remittances and Development: The Role of Workers from North Africa in the Gulf
• Tourism Flows from the Gulf to North Africa: Economic Impact and Social Linkages
• How Gulf Airlines and Ports Reshape North Africa’s Global Integration 

4. Knowledge, Education, and the Digital Economy 

Education and innovation offer untapped areas for cooperation. North African universities and  research centers could partner with Gulf institutions, while Gulf venture capital is increasingly  interested in African start-ups. At the same time, both regions are investing in digital governance,  fintech, and innovative government initiatives. 

Relevant discussion papers may include (but are not limited to): 

• Academic Cooperation between Gulf and North African Universities 
• Venture Capital and Tech Start-Ups: Gulf Funding in North Africa’s Innovation Ecosystem
• Prospects for Gulf–North Africa Collaboration in Digital Governance and E-Government 

5. The Geopolitical Context of Economic Engagement 

Broader regional dynamics, including the war on Gaza, renewed instability in Libya and Sudan,  and security challenges in the Sahel influence economic ties between the Gulf and North Africa.  These developments intersect with the growing involvement of external powers such as Europe,  the United States, China, and Russia, shaping risks and opportunities. Regional and multilateral  frameworks, from the Arab League to the African Union, also define the scope for cooperation.

Relevant discussion papers may include (but are not limited to): 

• Regional Conflicts and Economic Uncertainty: Implications for Gulf–North Africa relations 
• Competing Global Interests and Their Impact on Gulf–North Africa Partnerships
• Regional Organizations as Platforms for Gulf–North Africa Cooperation

Publication Plan 

The workshop will generate outputs intended for both policy and research audiences. The expected  outputs include: 

1. ME Council-GIF Workshop Report: A summary of the debates and findings, mapping  the key opportunities and challenges in Gulf–North Africa economic relations. 
2. Commentaries and Op-Eds: Reflections authored by participants to feed into regional  and international debates, potentially to be pitched to the ME Council’s Afkar platform or  other outlets. 
3. Academic Contribution: Depending on paper quality and thematic coherence, the chairs  will explore the possibility of developing an edited volume or a special issue in a peer reviewed journal such as Mediterranean Politics, The Journal of North African Studies, or  Middle East Policy. Individual papers may also be revised for submission to leading  journals in Middle East and North African studies.