Resilience under Fire: The Gulf’s Food Security, Water Security and Business Continuity in Wartime (chapter in "The Gulf at War: Geopolitical, Defence and Geo-economic Dimensions")
Publisher: International Institute for Strategic Studies
Date: 2026
Topics: Governance, Renewable Resources, Weapons, Waste, and Pollution
Countries: Iran, Israel, United States
In the face of significant risks to their economic interests stemming from the United States’ and Israel’s war with Iran, the Gulf states have proved themselves resilient. Economic resilience is defined as an economy’s ability to withstand, absorb, adapt to and recover from exogenous shocks. The Iran war has constituted an unprecedented test of this for the Gulf states. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted both export and import supply chains, endangering business continuity, food security and hydrocarbon revenues in the process. In addition, Iranian targeting of civilian infrastructure has threatened the provision of essential public services. Nonetheless, the Gulf states have exhibited substantial short-term absorptive capacity and have continued to provide essential public services, while Gulf businesses have demonstrated adaptability in response to the shock caused by the conflict.