Nikolay Kozhanov is a Research Associate Professor at the Gulf Studies Center of Qatar University, Qatar. His research interests are focused on the geopolitics of the Gulf hydrocarbons, Russian foreign policy in the Middle East and Iran’s economy and international relations. Mahfoud Amara is an Associate Professor in Sport, Social Sciences and Management in the Physical Education and Sport Science Department, College of Education at Qatar University, Qatar. Dr Amara’s work focuses on sport, business, culture, politics and society in the MENA region, and sport, cultural diversity and Muslim communities in the West. Mahjoob Zweiri is a Professor in Contemporary Politics and History of the Middle East, with a focus on Iran and Gulf region, and the former Director of Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University. Professor Zweiri has more than 90 publications in the areas of Iran and Contemporary Middle East History and Politics, Gulf Studies and Social Sciences.