Search results

Former military officer Sheikh Zayed Bin Hamdan, who suffered serious injuries in a helicopter crash in Yemen in 2017, has become an influential official with a role in some of the most sensitive media and AI dossiers backed by his Bani Fatima uncles.

Allies and enemies are anxiously waiting to see if the Israeli government will escalate regional conflict further after more than 300 projectiles were fired from Iran at Israel on 13-14 April in Tehran’s retaliation to the Israeli strike that killed IRGC commanders in Damascus. Most of the drones and missiles were shot down, but a few hit Israeli military bases, causing limited damage.

The issue leads with an in-depth look at UAE national security advisor Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan's $1trn-plus investment empire. Through its lead article and five linked charts, GSN examines the structure of Tahnoun’s business empire and the identities of those individuals who work most closely with him. Politics coverage also leads with the UAE. GSN presents a new series of profiles of the Al-Nahyan family, including the powerful Bani Fatima brothers – UAE President Mohammed Bin Zayed and 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). GSN's coverage includes a new Al-Nahyan influence chart that focuses on the family relationships that are central to decision-making in Abu Dhabi and the UAE, alongside a second chart focused on all the sons of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan, including the Bani Fatima brothers. The issue also looks at Kuwait, where elections on 4 April returned a National Assembly that is expected to once again provide resolute opposition to any government. Economy and business coverage focuses on Saudi Arabia, where Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s government is reportedly scaling back some of its vastly expensive megaprojects, such as The Line in Neom, in a sign that Riyadh continues to struggle to attract the foreign direct investment it needs for MBS’ Vision 2030 reform agenda. Energy and industry coverage leads with a look at how wealthy Gulf national oil companies are seeking lower-carbon expansion opportunities across Africa.

A fund owned by Abu Dhabi conglomerate Chimera Investments’ Lunate has acquired a 40% stake in Adnoc Oil Pipelines from private equity giants BlackRock and KKR, in a move to take overwhelming control of a strategic local asset.

Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ)’s supreme authority in both Abu Dhabi and the UAE, long pre-dates his 2022 succession. He and his full Bani Fatima brothers have concentrated power in their hands, and are using it to drive a strong political, diplomatic, economic and security agenda. This influence chart illustrates the Al-Nahyan family tree and the relationships that are central to decision-making in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. Underlined names in the graphic link through to profiles of individual family members.

The six Bani Fatima brothers have concentrated increasing amounts of power and wealth into their branch of the Al-Nahyan family. This process has accelerated since MBZ succeeded as ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE. Gulf States Newsletter has profiled all the sons of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan, with links to several decades worth of detailed reporting from the archive.  

UAE national security advisor Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (TBZ) controls a $1trn-plus investment empire under Royal Group Holding. Sheikh Tahnoun’s empire, mixing private and public funds, is in full expansion mode but many of the entities and the identities of those individuals who work most closely with TBZ often remain opaque, as is the nature of financial links with his powerful Bani Fatima brothers. This chart shows the links between these business interests, with links through to wider Gulf States Newsletter analysis and profiles of key parts of the investment empire.

UAE national security advisor Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (TBZ) controls a $1trn-plus investment empire that, mixing private and public funds, is in full expansion mode. Although now widely commented on, the structure of Tahnoun’s business empire and the identities of those individuals who work most closely with TBZ often remain opaque, as is the nature of financial links with his powerful Bani Fatima brothers.

The Saudi government is reportedly scaling back its ambitions for some vastly expensive megaprojects, such as The Line linear city in Neom, in a sign that Riyadh is still struggling to attract the amount of foreign direct investment needed to underpin Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s long-term economic reform agenda, while the UAE leads rivals in drawing in FDI.

Opec+ market discipline has fed into a rise in Brent crude prices to around $90/bbl, which is welcomed in Gulf capitals as an essential element in easing pressure on governments’ huge investment spending. Those higher oil prices are also driven by fears the Gaza war could spread into a much wider regional conflict that Gulf powers have been working to avoid

The opening of another field hospital in Chad and talk of a ‘foreign legion’ project have led to renewed focus on the UAE’s involvement in the Sudan conflict and Abu Dhabi’s efforts to extend its influence in Africa and other parts of President Mohammed Bin Zayed’s ‘near abroad’

In a reordering of some of UAE national security advisor Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan’s extensive commercial interests, the new 2PointZero holding company will take control of shares in a number of firms. This chart illustrates those changes.

Chimera Investments has bercome an active part of Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan’s investment strategy. This chart shows how Chimera Investments  fits into Sheikh Tahnoun's investment empire, its relationship with Royal Group Holding and the entities that make up its portfolio.

The consolidation of ADQ and IHC’s property assets is a further sign of increasing co-operation between Abu Dhabi’s many state and privately-owned funds, controlled directly or indirectly by Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. This charts show the impact of the March 2024 restructuring and how Q Holdings and its assets fit into Sheikh Tahnoun’s investment empire.

Group 42 is leading some of Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan’s high-tech investments and the UAE’s growing commercial engagement with Israel. This chart shows how Group 42 connects to Sheikh Tahnoun's Royal Group Holding and some of the international agreements and joint ventures signed by Group 42.