Nesibe Hicret Battaloglu is a Research Assistant in the Gulf Studies Center, Qatar University. Currently, she is also a PhD Candidate at the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara. Battaloglu obtained an MA Degree in Gulf Studies at Qatar University with a thesis on Turkey and Iran’s soft power in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Her research interests are international relations of the Gulf monarchies, Turkey-GCC relations and identity and foreign policy nexus in the Gulf.