On June 3, 2025, the Gulf Research Center (GRC) and the Afghanistan Policy Lab at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs co-hosted a closed-door webinar titled “Rethinking Afghanistan-Gulf Relations in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape.” The session brought together experts and policymakers to examine the evolving dynamics of GCC-Afghanistan relations, with discussions spanning political, economic, and humanitarian dimensions. The speakers of the webinar were Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the GRC; Dean Amaney Jamal, Dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs; Ambassador Adela Raz, Director of the Afghanistan Policy Lab at Princeton School of Public and International Affairs; Ms. Fatima Gailani, Afghan Women's Rights Activist, Former President of the Afghan Red Crescent, and Member of the Afghanistan Peace Negotiating Team; H.E. Dr. Majed Al Ansari, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Spokesperson to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Director of the Center for International Policy Research (CIPR); Dr. Yousuf Al Bulushi, Chairman of the Muscat Policy Council; and H.E. Dr. Sultan Mohammed Al-Nuaimi, Director General of the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. Dr. Christian Koch, Director of Research at the GRC, moderated the webinar.

The webinar covered five themes: 

1. Current Gulf countries’ policies and strategies for Afghanistan 

2. Opportunities for humanitarian, economic, and political cooperation 

3. Perspectives on how Afghanistan fits into the Gulf’s regional and global foreign policy outlook 

4. Practical recommendations for enhancing Afghanistan-Gulf relations in a way that promotes stability, development, and prosperity

 5. Gulf countries’ expectations and demands from the Afghan government