Gulf International Forum

What Gulf International Forum does

Gulf International Forum (GIF) is an independent, Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy research institute founded in 2017 and focused on political, economic, mass communications, social, and security issues affecting the Gulf and broader Middle East region. Its core product is a portfolio of original analysis distributed across multiple formats: Commentary, Policy Focus reports, comprehensive Reports, Translations, and Books, supported by two structured online intelligence tools (the GIF Legislation Tracker and the GIF Energy Tracker), a multimedia channel spanning podcast, video, infographics, and newsletters, and an events program anchored by an Annual Gulf International Conference that has historically drawn more than 500 registrants from academia, business, Capitol Hill, media, and diplomacy. The institute also runs a Leadership Program for students and young professionals. GIF is governed by a Board of Directors and supported by a large Advisory Board comprising former U.S. ambassadors, Gulf ministers, and senior scholars, which functions as the primary source of expert content and institutional credibility.

Name

Gulf International Forum

Legal name

Gulf International Forum

Website

https://gulfif.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gulf International Forum is an independent Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) policy research institute that produces publications, trackers, events, and multimedia analysis on political, economic, and security issues affecting the Gulf and Middle East for scholars, policymakers, and business professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Advisory Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA), Government & Public Sector Conferences (MPAGAGAH)

Keywords

• Policy research
• Middle East analysis
• Gulf region studies
• Geopolitical research
• Think tank services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gulf International Forum is an independent Washington-based 501(c)(3) policy research institute that produces analytical publications, hosts events and conferences, and runs the GIF Trackers on legislation and energy to deliver non-partisan research and dialogue on political, economic, social, and security issues affecting the Gulf and broader Middle East region. It supplements these outputs with corporate memberships, event and research sponsorships, and a Leadership Program for young professionals.

Product overview

Gulf International Forum (GIF) is an independent Washington-based policy research institute focused on peace, progress, security, and stability in the Gulf and greater Middle East region. Rather than a unified software platform, GIF offers a portfolio of research and educational products including analytical publications (Commentary, Policy Focus, Reports, Translations), events and conferences, online GIF Trackers for legislation and energy monitoring, published books, multimedia content (podcasts, videos, infographics), a Leadership Program for students and young professionals, and various sponsorship/membership programs for organizations seeking engagement with Gulf region analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Publications (Commentary, Policy Focus, Reports, Translations) Analytical content covering political, economic, social, and security issues for Gulf states, organized into Commentary, Policy Focus reports, comprehensive Reports, and Translations, written for scholars, policymakers, journalists, and business professionals.
• GIF Trackers (Legislation Tracker and Energy Tracker)
• Events and Conferences
• Books
• Multimedia (Podcast, Videos, Infographs)
• Leadership Program
• Corporate Membership
• Event Sponsorship
• Research Sponsorship

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): Major bipartisan DC policy organization covering international security, diplomacy, and regional affairs including the Gulf; a much larger incumbent whose Gulf-related programming directly overlaps with GIF's scope.
• Chatham House: London-based international affairs think tank with substantial Middle East and Gulf programming (research papers, conferences, podcasts) — overlapping analytical product model, with a different geographic base.
• RAND Corporation: Major policy research organization producing analysis on Gulf security, defense, and energy policy — substantial overlap in research output and policy audience but a far larger and more diversified institution.
• Atlantic Council: Larger DC-based international affairs think tank with dedicated Gulf and Middle East programs, publications, and major convenings — overlapping audience and topic but much broader mandate and deeper funding base.
• Brookings Institution: Premier DC-based think tank with extensive Middle East/Gulf research and convenings; serves overlapping policymaker and corporate audiences at much greater scale.

Direct peers

• Middle East Institute: Washington-based nonprofit policy institute focused on political, economic, and security issues in the Middle East and North Africa, with publications, events, and policy programs — the closest direct functional peer to GIF.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Global policy think tank with explicit Middle East program producing analysis, books, and convenings on Gulf politics, security, and energy — comparable research-product mix and policy audience.
• The Washington Institute for Near East Policy: Washington-based think tank dedicated to fostering peace and security in the Middle East through policy research, publications, and convenings — closely comparable in mission, output mix, and DC-based posture.

Regional players

• German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP): Berlin-based foreign policy think tank producing rigorous analysis on Middle East and Gulf security and energy policy; comparable analytical product mix and policy-research business model, though geographically focused on European policy communities.

Emerging players

• Aljazeera Centre for Studies: Doha-based policy research arm producing reports and analysis on Middle East and Gulf politics, security, and society; comparable thematic focus and research-product format, with a Gulf-region institutional base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/gulfinternationalforum
• Xx.com/gulfintlforum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gulf International Forum