In this podcast, the Al-Attiyah Foundation is joined by Mr Tim Callen. Mr Callen is a visiting Fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW) and specialises on the economics of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region.

His impressive background includes over 30 years at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where he was Mission Chief to Saudi Arabia, Head of the GCC Division, and Special Advisor to the Executive Director for Saudi Arabia.
 
In the interview, the following questions are discussed:
• Are Gulf countries now more willing to publish their population statistics than in previous years? 
• What is the effect of this low number of citizens among the general population on government policy?
• Are we in the midst of a cultural shift where women are having more active roles in the public and private sectors in the Gulf?
• Do you anticipate a decline in the Gulf region’s economic prominence as the "energy transition" proceeds?