Saudi Arabia’s famous ‘Gulf Source’ Ibrahim Al-Muhanna honored

Ibrahim Al-Muhanna honored.

Ibrahim Al-Muhanna, an adviser to three Saudi oil ministers, has been selected as the recipient of the Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award for the Advancement of International Petroleum Media after being the voice of the world’s largest oil exporter for over a quarter century.
The honor was presented at the 3rd GCC Petroleum Media Forum Gala Dinner Awards in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Al-Muhanna received his doctorate in 1987 from the American University in Washington D.C. in international relations, political economics and international communications. He was essentially the only Saudi official available to the press who had an in-depth knowledge about the Kingdom’s energy policy, which was communicated in an off-the-record fashion only attributable to a person known as the “Gulf source.” His commentary played a vital role in navigating the world through many oil crises, including the collapse of prices to under $10 in the late 1990s.
The goals of the GCC Petroleum Media Forum are to enhance the knowledge competence of communications’ professionals related to the energy industry, while establishing better pathways for dialogue between government energy officials, the media and their industry subjects.
UAE’s Minister of Energy Suhail Al-Mazrouei, said: “Dr. Al-Muhanna embodies all of the qualities that we are looking to advance in the GCC Petroleum Media Forum, such as increasing transparency and providing accurate market data and knowledge.”
The third edition of the forum was held under the patronage of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, president of the UAE. The featured speakers included the energy ministers of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait, alongside 250 members of the media and regional energy industry.
Margaret McQuaile, who led OPEC news coverage for S&P Global Platts, the world’s largest energy pricing agency, for over 20 years, said: “For several decades, Dr. Al-Muhanna has provided a window into the world of Saudi energy — we journalists had his mobile number on speed dial, and failure to get hold of him whenever there was a major development in Saudi Arabia or during frantic OPEC meetings could turn even seasoned reporters into nervous wrecks.”