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Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) is to invest £25m ($31m) in Xlinks, which is developing an ambitious project to lay the world's longest high-voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea cable, from Morocco to the UK.

Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (MBR) has appointed his son Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed as second deputy ruler of the emirate, while also naming existing deputy Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed as first deputy ruler.

Falling unemployment: The unemployment rate for Saudi nationals fell to 8% in Q4 2022 from 9.9% in Q3 22, according to data released by the General Authority for Statistics (Gastat) in early April. The female jobless rate fell from 20.5% to 15.4% over the same period. The Medina region had the highest rate of unemployment among Saudis at 12.2%, followed by Jazan at 11%. Riyadh had the lowest level at 6.7%, with Eastern Province at 6.9% and Mecca at 7%. 

Bashar Al-Assad's regime in Syria has been readmitted to the Arab League after more than a bloody decade on the sidelines, after Saudi Arabia and the UAE orchestrated a vote in favour ahead of a 19 May summit in Jeddah. Regional opposition to Syria hasn't disappeared, but Qatar and Kuwait decided not to stand in the way of readmission, in a further indication of Riyadh's new-found desire to flex its diplomatic muscles whatever western allies might think.

Stephen Peter Day was a committed Arabist, while also being a guardian of British national interests – positions the diplomat, who has died aged 85, saw as complementary rather than incompatible. His conflicts could be with elements of the British establishment rather than with foreign governments, groups and individuals with whom he engaged with ease.

Ajman Ruler Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al-Nuaimi travelled to Dubai to offer condolences on the death of his sister-in-law Sheikha Mozah Bint Zayed Bin Saqr Al-Nahyan. Other members of Ajman’s ruling family also made the trip. 

Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi was born from an Ethiopian-Yemeni marriage in the early 1940s and moved to Saudi Arabia in the mid-1960s to join relatives. His route to wealth was not dissimilar to other foreigners who joined in the kingdom's boom periods and became associated with senior royals.

Iranian officials said they had conducted a successful test flight for the domestically-produced Simorgh aircraft. A modified version of the Ukrainian-produced Antonov An-140 cargo aircraft, it has been developed as a light military transport plane.

The leading article for issue 1170 explores the effects of regional election and federal budget disputes minimising the chances for reconciliation between the PUK and KDP in Iraqi Kurdistan. GSN looks into this in the context of the Iraqi supreme court’s intervention. This issue also looks into the ousting of Iran's National Security head Ali Shamkhani. The diplomatic brief section addresses Khalaf Abdel Rahman Hamid Al-Rumaithi’s extradition frorm Jordan to the UAE after being convicted of terrorism-related charges. Defence and security is headed by news of the Iranian IRGC’s new Khorramshahr ballistic missile, optimised to reach Israel. This section follows with the Qatari navy receiving its fourth Italian corvette from Fincantieri. Analysis of the soft power wielded by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in the face of large new art and archeology projects serves as the head piece for Finance and business, the reportedly booming art scene in Al-Ula serving as a clear example of these recent efforts. The View is on Oman and Sultan Haitham’s efforts to re-establish the country as a mediating figure amongst its neighbours. A detailed map of Yemen features which includes energy infrastructure and information on disputed zones and borders. Risk management reports for this issue concern Yemen, OPEC as well as regional and international organisations.

Qatar’s Ministry of Labour is reportedly preparing to take legal action against a company accused of leaving hundreds of workers unpaid for months. Stark Security Services, which provided security at five of the Fifa World Cup stadiums, fired hundreds of workers after the tournament ended in late 2022 but before their contracts had expired.

A five-day meeting in Aden concluded with leaders from other factions joining the Southern Transitional Council (STC), prompting warnings from Houthi rebels and others about the growing risk of the secessionist movement gaining ground in Yemen.

Qatari Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al-Thani has made another revised bid to buy Manchester United Football Club (MUFC), in an effort to see off a rival approach from United Kingdom-based petrochemicals giant Ineos Group’s boss Jim Ratcliffe.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has launched an ambitious project to develop a $17bn transport network linking the north and south of Iraq. The Development Road Initiative will start at the under-construction Grand Faw port in the south and travel northwards via 1,200km of rail lines and roads.

The UAE and Malaysia are to start talks on a free trade deal, according to a statement issued during a visit to Kuala Lumpur by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohammed Al-Nahyan in May.

Sharjah Deputy Ruler Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al-Qasimi attended a meeting of the University of Exeter Alumni Association on 8 November, held at the Sultan Al-Qasimi Centre for Gulf Studies.