Gulf Research Centre
Independent think tank founded 2000 in Jeddah, focused on Gulf and Middle East energy and security.
Last refreshed: 14 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
What does a Jeddah think tank have to do with Europe running out of gas?
Timeline for Gulf Research Centre
Mentioned in: Iran runs Hormuz as a favours system
Iran Conflict 2026Mentioned in: Bahrain and Qatar sign Hormuz coalition pact
Iran Conflict 2026Mentioned in: Iran hits Doha tanker as Qatar PM meets Rubio
Iran Conflict 2026Mentioned in: Where the next data centres should go
Data Centres: Boom and BacklashMentioned in: Iran zone now spans Fujairah, Khorfakkan
Iran Conflict 2026- What is the Gulf Research Centre and where is it based?
- The Gulf Research Centre is an independent think tank founded in 2000 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with offices in Cambridge and Geneva. It focuses on political, economic, and energy affairs across the Gulf States.Source: european-energy-markets
- Who do journalists and policymakers consult on Qatar LNG supply disruptions?
- Organisations like the Gulf Research Centre, which has expertise in Gulf hydrocarbon policy and is accessible to Western media and policy institutions via its Cambridge and Geneva offices.Source: european-energy-markets
- Is the Gulf Research Centre independent or government-funded?
- The GRC describes itself as an independent research institution, though as with many Gulf-based think tanks its funding sources are not fully disclosed publicly.Source: european-energy-markets
Background
The Gulf Research Centre (GRC) is a Jeddah-based independent think tank founded in 2000, focused on political, economic, security, and energy affairs across the Gulf Cooperation Council states and the broader Middle East. It is regularly cited in analyses of Gulf LNG supply dynamics, Qatari energy policy, and the geopolitical dimensions of Middle East energy security, including in the context of the Qatar force majeure event affecting European LNG buyers.
The GRC publishes research and analysis on topics including Gulf regional security, migration, trade, and hydrocarbon policy. It maintains offices in Cambridge and Geneva alongside its Jeddah headquarters, providing access to Western policy communities. The centre is frequently quoted by international media and European policy institutions when they need Gulf-region expertise on subjects ranging from Hormuz shipping security to Saudi-Iranian relations and LNG contract structures.
In the current crisis, the GRC's significance lies in its position as one of the few independent research institutions with deep roots in both the Gulf producing states and Western academic and policy networks. Its analysis of Qatari decision-making, Force majeure precedents, and Gulf state responses to the Iran conflict carries weight with European officials seeking to understand the supply-side dynamics behind the LNG shortfalls now hitting Belgium, Italy, and Poland.
