Gulf investment and European cooperation in the Red Sea region

Advisory work for the European Commission and an EU Delegation examined how Gulf investment and regional political relationships shaped cooperation opportunities across the Horn of Africa and Red Sea. The analysis connected investment flows and sector priorities with practical options for European engagement.

Context and purpose

European cooperation in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea needed to account for Gulf investment and the political relationships shaping it. The assignment examined where European engagement could align with regional investment priorities across ports, logistics, energy, agriculture and fisheries.

The work

Investment mapping combined baseline indicators with consultations involving partner-country representatives, Gulf diplomats and private-sector actors. A cooperation matrix covered four Gulf and seven partner states, comparing sectors, financing arrangements and options such as co-funding, parallel finance and sovereign-backed investment.

Outputs and use

A regional investment report and cooperation matrix translated the analysis into options for European Commission programming. They identified potential partnerships and financing approaches for consideration, without treating proposed cooperation as an implemented investment.