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The Omani government’s decision to roll out a OR130m ($338m) package of benefits to its citizens is the first indication that Gulf governments are starting to loosen their fiscal policies in response to the oil windfall that has come their way this year.

Opec+ states agreed to bring forward an increase in the cartel’s output to help offset the impact of lost Russian production, in a move widely interpreted as improving relations with the West – notably with US President Joe Biden. However, the group maintained the alliance brokered by Riyadh and Moscow, despite western diplomatic pressure to drop Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

The organisers of the Martin Ennals Award – one of the most prestigious in the human rights field – noted Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja's long history of protesting against unlawful detention and torture in Bahrain and his criticism of corruption.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy detained Greek tankers the Prudent Warrior and Delta Poseidon in the Gulf late May, in apparent retaliation for the seizure of an Iranian tanker in April.

UAE's Sheikha Mozah Bint Marwan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum became the first woman to pilot Leonardo’s AW609 tilt-rotor aircraft, in a flight at the company’s headquarters in Philadelphia. 

Geopolitical and energy security considerations have brutally shifted since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, prompting the US to regear its relationship with Saudi Arabia.

Qatar is aiming to start supplying Germany with liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2024, according to comments by foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), Masdar and energy major BP are to develop clean hydrogen and technology hubs in a three-way partnership deal .

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal has sold a 16.87% stake in his Kingdom Holding investment company to the state-owned Public Investment Fund (PIF) for SR5.68bn ($1.5bn).

With concern rising that Iran is getting ever closer to developing nuclear weapons, the issue leads with a look at the nuclear ambitions and likely response of Arab Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. GSN also looks at Israel's response. Finance and business coverage leads with an examination of Oman's move to roll out a package of benefits to its citizens, the first indication that Gulf governments are starting to loosen their fiscal policies in response to the oil windfall. The issue also looks at the Sultanate's relations with Iran as long-discussed plans are revived to build a gas pipeline between them and to jointly develop the Hengam oil and gas field. GSN also looks at US-Saudi relations with a first meeting between President Biden and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) on the cards and a recent flurry of visits by senior officials to Riyadh and Washington suggesting the ground is being laid for a diplomatic gesture. Risk Management Reports focus on Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s recent visit to Muscat was accompanied by a flurry of announcements hailing their “centuries-old” friendship (as the Iranian leader put it), but with differing expectations over what benefits might be expected from a boost in relations.

The Gulf region’s politicians and business leaders returned in force to the World Economic Forum (WEF) held as ever in Davos, Switzerland, but at a different time of year. The most senior regional leader to turn up was Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, who gave a speech at the opening session.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has been comfortably re-elected as speaker of the Majlis-e Shura-ye Eslami (parliament) for the third consecutive year.

The collapse of the ten-storey Metropol building in Abadan, Khuzestan province, on 23 May has given added momentum to protests around Iran. Crowds booed Rahbar (Supreme Leader) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s envoy Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir when he visited the rescue scene on 29 May.

Royal Court advisor Ahmed Bin Abdelaziz Qattan has racked up more support for Riyadh’s bid to host the Expo 2030 fair, as he resumed his tour of African countries in May.