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While the UAE has  made most headlines, the governments of Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are all trying to tap into the potential for artificial intelligence to improve public sector productivity and services, often with the help of American technology companies.

Khalid Bin Mohammed Al-Nahyan’s one-day visit to Islamabad was the latest in the Abu Dhabi crown prince’s increasingly busy international schedule and involved a high-level delegation of security, investment and infrastructure officials.

The cabinet has approved a new National Investment Strategy, which includes targets to attract $65bn/yr in foreign direct investment by 2031 and to increase the total value of UAE FDI stock to $600bn.

In one of the largest corporate actions ever seen in the Gulf, Adnoc has agreed to merge its Borouge subsidiary with Austria’s Borealis and will also acquire Mubadala’s Nova Chemicals.

Ajman Ruler Sheikh Humaid’s low-profile brother, Sheikh Saeed Bin Rashid Al-Nuaimi, died in late February.

Dubai-based Amea Power has signed agreements to develop 1,500MWh of battery energy storage systems (Bess) in Egypt and started construction of a 50MW solar power plant in Côte d’Ivoire.

A series of memoranda and other agreements were announced during President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan’s brief state visit to Rome, in MBZ’s second trip to Europe in a matter of weeks.

A new record was set for the value of defence deals signed by the UAE authorities at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference’s latest edition, with local groups Edge and Calidus securing most of the orders

Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum and three of his sons – Ahmed, Hamdan and Mansoor – visited the Dubai International Boat Show, held on 19-23 February.

Three stalwarts of the Abu Dhabi economy – Ahmed Al-Mazrouei, Sultan Al-Jaber and Mohammed Al-Suwaidi – have joined the AI council.

The initial days of Donald Trump’s second stint in the White House seemed to pick up where his first term left off, with big investments promises by Gulf states to secure the president’s favour. However, deal-making has been quickly overtaken by more strategic concerns and grandiose political posturing, with suggestions the US could force Gaza’s population to move to Jordan, Egypt or even Saudi Arabia, while Trump has renewed his ‘maximum pressure’ campaign on Iran, hinting darkly that Washington could support Israel ‘bombing the hell out of them’.

Revenues grew by more than 50% in 2024 but profits were down by a third, as the conglomerate chaired by UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan dealt with a mixed performance from some key subsidiaries including Multiply Group and Alpha Dhabi.

Sharjah Art Foundation president Sheikha Hoor Bint Sultan Al-Qasimi’s appointment to head the newly-created Creative Quarter adds to her portfolio of jobs in the arts and fashion.

Emirates Council for Balanced Development (ECBD) chairman Sheikh Theyab Bin Mohammed Al-Nahyan travelled to Ras Al-Khaimah in early February to talk to Ruler Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi about the council’s Emirates Villages project.

The visit by four vessels from the IRGC Navy and the regular Iranian Navy to a port in Sharjah in early February was the first of its kind and is part of a planned exchange of naval visits. It is part of Iran’s efforts to bolster its diplomatic relations with its neighbours and comes as a time when it is also strengthening its domestic defences against potential attacks.