Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) has embarked on a series of ambitious reforms to reshape the kingdom’s economy, society and international reputation. He has also overseen a push to get more international corporates to set up bases in the kingdom and has been the driving force behind giga-projects and the Public Investment Fund's investment spree.
However, critics point to unrealistically-high ambitions and zero tolerance of public dissent.
GSN has examined how King Salman Bin Abdelaziz’s years on the throne have seen MBS take an iron grip on the kingdom and concentrated power in King Salman’s immediate family – GSN's coverage includes a Bin Salman family tree and influence chart with links to profiles of MBS and other key members of the family.
The UAE has become an assertive actor in Africa, engaging in wide-ranging investments, building up trade ties and offering military support to groups fighting in conflict arenas such as Libya and Sudan.
Minister of state for foreign affairs Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Nahyan Al-Nahyan has been a key figure in this outreach, with an active schedule of trips to Africa and meetings with his counterparts when they visit the UAE. This diplomatic activity fits into a wider strategy by the UAE to forge links with the ‘Global South’ .
While Abu Dhabi and Dubai have, as usual, been leading the way, royal family members and business figures from the Northern Emirates have also been involved in deal-making and diplomacy.
GSN has closely followed the diplomacy and the deal-making and will continue to do so.
The Kuwaiti government, led and appointed by the country's ruling family, is often at odds with the country’s elected parliament, the National Assembly. Tensions and disagreements – over issues ranging from government debt to corruption – have at times forced ministerial resignations, cabinet reshuffles and the dissolution of the legislature itself.
The differences have also stymied much-needed economic reforms.
Emir Sheikh Mishaal took the surprise decision on 10 May to suspend the National Assembly (parliament) for up to four years, saying he was “taking this hard decision to rescue the country.”
Sources argue that Mishaal sees himself as an MBS-style ruler, while the muted initial public reaction suggests many Kuwaitis are preparing for a period of greater authoritarianism. GSN is following the issue closely.
The powerful ‘Bani Fatima’ grouping of late UAE founding president Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan’s six sons by his most prominent wife, Fatima Bint Mubarak Al-Kitbi, have concentrated increasing amounts of power and wealth into their branch of the Al-Nahyan family.
This process has accelerated since Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) succeeded as ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE.
GSN has profiled all the ‘Bani Fatima’ brothers – MBZ, sheikhs Hamdan (ruler’s representative in Al-Dhafra region), Hazza (Abu Dhabi deputy ruler), Tahnoun (national security advisor and Abu Dhabi deputy ruler), Mansour (vice president, deputy prime minister and Presidential Court chairman) and Abdullah (foreign minister) – and closely follows their relationships and business interests.
Take a look at our ‘Bani Fatima’ influence chart and wider Al-Nahyan family influence chart and browse our coverage below.
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