Manal Shehabi

Associate Faculty Member
manal.shehabi@ames.ox.ac.uk
manal shehabi jpg
Correspondence Address: 
Positions Held: 
  • Seminar Leader, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford (starting October 2023)
  • Founding Director, SHEER Research & Advisory Ltd
  • Research Associate, Centre of Climate & Energy Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australia National University                                                                                                                         
  • Member, Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, The Australia National University
  • Research Fellow, Economic Research Forum (ERF)
Website:
 
Research Interests: 
Dr Shehabi is an applied development economist with research focus and interest in economic-energy-climate nexus and pro-sustainability policy in resource-dependent economies, with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa.  Her research interests include resource economies, Gulf and Middle East economies, public policy, energy, climate policy, industrial policy, and gender.
Current Projects:
Dr Shehabi’s research has three main streams. The first focuses on quantifying economic-energy linkages and policy impacts in petrostates in the Middle East and North Africa region, taking into account the domestic political economy that determined economic, industrial, and labor structures. Employing macroeconomic modeling with political economy analysis, this research made important contributions to the understanding and modeling of energy and economic sustainability and policy alternatives in MENA petrostates facing oil price volatility, diversification, and energy transitions. The second research theme examines impacts of energy transitions and response measures to climate change on developing countries, considering people in vulnerable situations and women.  The third theme expands the economic-environment-energy nexuses, focusing on economic viability of decarbonization pathways and pro-sustainability industrial and fiscal policy. This work covers green and blue hydrogen in low-cost producing Gulf states and industrial decarbonization.
Courses Taught:
Dr Shehabi is a teaching award recipient with experience teaching introductory and advanced economics, economic policy analysis, and other courses to economist and non-specialist undergraduate and graduate students. She conducted capacity building training for economic and climate policymakers in Gulf countries, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Taught courses include: Economic Policy Analysis; Economics for Public Policy; Microeconomics; Macroeconomics; Political Economy of Resource Economies; Research Methods; Energy and Economic Sustainability.
Recent Publications: 
 
Refereed Articles (since 2020):
  1. Shehabi M. (2023). The Hurdles of Energy Transitions in Arab States. in Disruptions and Dynamism in the Arab World (ed. Wehrey). Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Access here.
  2. Shehabi, M. (2022). Quantifying Long-term Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Oil Price Shocks on Gulf oil Economies, Economic Modelling. Access here.
  3. Other version : Shehabi, M. (2021). Quantifying Long-term Impacts of COVID-19 and Oil Price Shocks in a Gulf oil Economy. OIES Paper 25. Access here.
  4. Schumacher, I., Shehabi, M. et al. (2020). Perspectives on the economics of the environment in the shadow of coronavirus. Environmental and Resource Economics, 76, 447–517. DOI Access here. 
  5. Shehabi, M. (2020). Diversification effects of energy subsidy reform in oil exporters: Illustrations from Kuwait, Energy Policy , 123, 110966. DOI Access here.
  6. Other version : Shehabi, M. (2019). Diversification in Gulf hydrocarbon economies and interactions with energy subsidy reform: Lessons from Kuwait, OIES Paper: MEP 23. Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Oxford: UK. DOI Access here.
  7. Shehabi, M. (2020). Is energy subsidy reform in an oil-exporting small economy beneficial to trade?  Illustrations from Kuwait, World Trade Review, 19, s36–s61. DOI Access here.

Other version : Shehabi, M. (2019). Is energy subsidy reform in an oil-exporting small economy beneficial to trade?  Illustrations from Kuwait, OIES Paper: MEP 21. Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Oxford: UK. DOI Access here.     

  1. Shehabi, M. (2020). Quantifying Dutch disease effects and asymmetry in economic responses to oil price volatility in Kuwait. OIES Paper: MEP 24. Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Oxford: UK. DOI Access here.
Refereed Book Chapters
  1. Shehabi, M. (2020). Redefining Economic Sustainability in Resource-Rich States: Comparative Lessons. In Luciani, G., & Moerenhout, T. (eds.), When Can Oil Economies be Deemed Sustainable?. The Political Economy of the Middle East. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. Pelgrave. DOI Access here. 
  2. Hilmi N., Farahmand S., & Shehabi, M. (2020). Climate Agreements Implementation through Energy Transition and Economic Diversification in Kuwait. In Economic Development in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, From Rentier States to Diversified Economies, Miniaoui, H. (ed.), Gulf Studies, Vol: 1, Springer.

  3. Shehabi, M. (2018). Maintaining the Order: Contemporary Kuwaitisation Dynamics and their Historical Perspectives. The Gulfization of the Arab World, Exeter Critical Gulf Series . vol.  1, Jones M.  O., Porter, R., & Valeri M. eds., Gerlach Press: Berlin.

Conference and Workshop publications
  1. Shehabi, M. (2022). Managing the Process of a Just Transition: Examples from Kuwait.  Training presented at the UNFCCC-ILO Event of MENA Climate Week 2022. Dubai, UAE.
  2. Shehabi, M. (2022). Climate Policy Perspectives and Just Energy Transitions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region: Setting the Scene.  Training presented at the UNFCCC-ILO Event of MENA Climate Week 2022. Dubai, UAE. 
  3. Shehabi, M. (2021). Economic Diversification and Low Carbon Development in Resources and Hydrocarbon Dependent Economies.  Presentation at the SBSTA and SBI Technical expert meeting on practical approaches to economic diversification and transformation organized by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  Virtual.
  4. Shehabi, M. (2021). The Case of Hydrogen in the Gulf States: Opportunities and Challenges.  Paper presented at the OIES-KFAS Workshop 2021.  Oxford, UK. 
  5. Shehabi, M. & Dally, B. (2021). Opportunity and Cost of Hydrogen in Kuwait: A Preliminary Assessment.  Paper presented at the OIES-KFAS Workshop 2021.  Oxford, UK.
  6. Shehabi, M. (2005). Islam and Democracy: An Analytic Survey. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Consultancy, Public Engagement, and Positions:
Previously, Dr Shehabi was Academic Visitor at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford (2021-2023) as well as Senior Research Fellow and OIES-KFAS Research Fellow at Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (2016-2021).  She was a doctoral researcher at University of Western Australia, academic visitor in Kuwait, Germany, and the UK, and Research Assistant at Texas A&M University.  She uniquely combines experience in business public with consulting and corporate as well as academia, gained while working in the US, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe.  She advises policymakers and firms, including Fortune 500. She received various honors, awards, and grants.  A polyglot, her language capabilities include Arabic, English, French, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese.
 
Policy Contributions:
 
Her work made important contributions to policy. She constructed an economic model for policymaking in Kuwait, delivered capacity building to economic and climate policymakers, and was lead author on policy briefs to T7 (G7) and T20 (G20). She was Contributing Author to the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean & Cryosphere (6th Assm.), Kuwait Energy Outlook 2020, and a report to the UNFCCC on assessing impacts of response measures in developing countries UNFCCC, presented at COP26. She was an OIES reviewer of the White Paper for a National Hydrogen Strategy in Kuwait, and advised on guidance for hydrogen trade in Europe.  She is a consultant to the IEA and the UNFCCC, and an Advisory Board Member of EFI-KAPSARC joint energy transitions research project.
Dr Shehabi advises policymakers and firms on economic, energy, and climate policy and sustainability.   She is also an invited member of the Advisory Board of the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI)-KAPSARC Joint Energy Transition Research Program.
Consultancies: International Energy Agency (IEA), UN Forum Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, International Labor Organization (ILO).
 
Policy Reports and Articles (Select):

  1. Dally, B., Shehabi, M. et al. (2023).  Decarbonization Pathways of the Cement Industry in Saudi Arabia. King Abdullah University for Science and Technology. Forthcoming.

  2. Shehabi, M ., Aruth, L., Handajani Soejachmoen, M., Jotzo, F., Hondo, D., & Sonobe, T. (2022). International Partnerships for Circular Economy, Energy Transition, and Investments. Policy Brief 2022 T7 Germany, Submitted to 2022 Group of 7 (G7) Germany.  Access here .

  3. Shehabi, M. , Luciani, G., Mansouri, N., Westphal, K., Fattouh, B., Shihab-Eldin, A. (2021). International Cooperation to Accelerate Development and Deployment of Circular Carbon Economy, Policy Brief T20 Italy- Task Force 2: Climate Change, Sustainable Energy & Environment. Access here.

  4. McDonald, S. Shutes, L., Thierfelder, K. & Shehabi, M (2020). Assessing Impacts of the Implementation of Response Measures: The case study of Senegal and Kenya: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis. Pilot Project Policy Report, Bonn: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  Access here. 

  5. Al-Abdullah, Y. M.; Shehabi, M.; & Sreekanth, K. J. (2020). Kuwait Energy Outlook 2020: Current Policies and Necessity of Reform. Kuwait City: Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research. Access here. 

  6. Shehabi, M.  (2019). Is Energy Subsidy Reform in an Oil-Exporting Small Economy Beneficial to Trade?  Illustrations from Kuwait, Non-Technical Commentary. Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Oxford: UK. Access here.

  7. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)- IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC)  (2019). Contributing Author to Chapter 5: Changing Ocean, Marine Ecosystems, and Dependent Communities.  Access here.

  8. Hilmi, N.; Cinar, M.; Djoundourian, S.; Farahmand, S.; Greene, C.; Hassan, A.; Lam, V.; Maliki, S.; Mulsow, S.; Safa, A.; Sameti, M.; Shehabi, M. (2019). Policy brief: Ocean Sustainability and Ocean Economics in Developing Countries, International Hydrographic Organization, Principality of Monaco.

  9. Shehabi, M.  (2019). Slowing the pump?  Why GCC Economies have a diversified base but remain overly hydrocarbon-dependent. Oxford Energy Forum Journal; Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, 118, 8- 14. OIES: UK. Access here.

  10. Shehabi, M.  (2017). Challenges of Kuwaiti Energy Pricing Reform in Response to Petroleum Price Volatility. Oxford Energy Forum Journal; Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, 108, 25- 30. OIES: UK. Access here.