Issue 1193 PDF: Kuwait’s Sheikh Mishaal nears first year as emir, with little to show beyond repression


GSN 1193 cover
Issue 1193 - 11 Nov 2024

The issue leads with Kuwait, where Sheikh Mishaal Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is nearing his first year as emir. After taking office in December 2023, Sheikh Mishaal promised significant reforms to shake up Kuwait’s political and economic systems, but the emir has made little apparent impact during his first year in power, other than suspending parliament and clamping down on critics.

Politics coverage includes a focus on Qatar's move to end future elections to the Shura Council and instead give the emir the power to appoint all members of the chamber.

Diplomatic coverage leads with the recent  Brics summit, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which included the first face-to-face talks between the current UAE and Iranian presidents.

GSN also includes a look at Iraqi politics. The Kurdistan Democratic Party secured a solid win in the October election to the regional parliament, cementing its dominance over its main rival the PUK. In Baghdad, Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani was elected speaker of the Council of Representatives in late October, almost a year after his predecessor was removed by the courts. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mohammad Al-Sudani faces a potentially explosive wiretapping scandal.

Energy and industry coverage leads with Oman, where state-owned energy group OQ is preparing to list a minority stake in its Base Industries subsidiary on the Muscat Stock Exchange.

Wealth watch leads with analysis of an agreement for Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) to acquire a controlling interest in broadcaster MBC from the Ministry of Finance's Istedamah Holding – a vehicle which was set up in late 2017, seven weeks after hundreds of senior figures were arrested in an anti-corruption sweep and held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel Riyadh.

The Risk management report is on Bahrain.

The GSN View focuses on what the Trump win in the US presidential election might mean for the Gulf economies and for regional security. GCC leaders may feel relatively comfortable with Trump’s transactional approach to diplomacy, but Iran will be on edge while waiting to see just how hawkish he and his advisors will be.

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