Analysis by Máté Szalai
The aim of the two-part analysis is to present and interpret the challenges the Omani regime is facing in domestic political, economic, and international spheres. In spite of the narrative that Oman constitutes an “island of stability” in the region, the Sultanate is threatened by a number of factors, including the upcoming succession process, the economic challenges, the role of the youth, as well as the shrinking leverage of Omani foreign policy. While destabilization is still unlikely, this set of challenges will need strategic thinking and careful balancing. The second part of the analysis focuses on foreign and security policy challenges in the context of the Saudi–Iranian regional rivalry, the Qatari crisis, and the changing role of Israel.