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On 15 February, National Guard minister Prince Miteb Bin Abdullah received Lieutenant General Michael Garrett, commanding general of US Army Central (Arcent), which is based in Carolina, with a headquarters element in Kuwait. Garrett visited the Janadriyah festival and even took part in the traditional ardha sword dance. Garrett was last in the kingdom in summer 2016 when he met military officials and toured facilities.

Two major financial bodies have appointed female leaders. Samba Financial Group appointed Rania Mahmoud Nashar as its chief executive officer on 19 February, taking over from Sajjad Razvi who resigned for personal reasons.On 16 February, Sarah Al-Suhaimi was appointed as chair of the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul). Al-Suhaimi is also chief executive of NCB Capital, the investment banking arm of National Commercial Bank, and is expected to retain that position.

Roula Khalaf has been appointed editor of The Financial Times, taking over from Lionel Barber who has held the job for 14 years. A former Middle East editor and deputy editor since 2016, the FT’s first female editor will assume her new role in January. Khalaf was born in Lebanon and educated in the United States. After a spell with Forbes she entered the FT in 1995 as North Africa correspondent, showing the blend of drive and perception that has taken her to the top of the London-based, Japanese-owned group.

As elections scheduled for 22 November approach, the kingdom of Bahrain remains bitterly divided. The main opposition parties confirmed on 11 October that they would boycott the polls, a decision that was not unexpected but which scuppers any hopes that the election might reinforce the government narrative that Bahrain is stable and on a path of economic recovery.While the boycott will be viewed as a setback by Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad, who has been leading attempts to restart dialogue, others in the royal family will use the decision as further proof that the opposition is obstructionist.

International Petroleum Investment Company chairman and serial entrepreneur Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has again hit the headlines with his investment of some £3.5bn ($5.5bn) in Barclays Bank

Ruler Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi has been receiving condolences on the death of his sister, Sheikha Alia Bint Mohammed Al-Qasimi, on 16 September. Sheikha Alia was also the mother of deputy ruler Sheikh Abdullah Bin Salem Bin Sultan Al-Qasimi. The court announced an official mourning period of seven days, during which flags were to be flown half mast in the emirate. Sheikh Sultan’s brother Humaid died in early 2012

Deputy Crown Prince and defence minister Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) held talks on 12 October with General Electric chairman Jeffrey Immelt. They reviewed GE’s strategic partnership with Vision 2030. GE in May agreed to participate in up to $3bn of investments across Saudi industry ($1bn by end-2017 working with Sabic and subsequently some $2bn in water, energy, aviation and digital projects). On the same day MBS discussed regional developments in a telephone call with British defence secretary Michael Fallon. Also on 12 October, MBS received US Missile Defense Agency commander Vice Admiral James Syring.

The US and UAE have signed an agreement on co-operation in the fight against cross-border crime, and the exchange of information. According to state news agency Wam, interior minister Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan recently witnessed the signing of the agreement in Abu Dhabi by Abu Dhabi police’s director-general of police operations Major General Mohammed Bin Al-Awadhi Al-Menhali, on behalf of the interior ministry, and homeland security investigations deputy executive associate director Peter Edge, on behalf of the US.

In early October, recently appointed deputy defence minister Prince Salman Bin Sultan Bin Abdelaziz attended the closing events of the British-Saudi Exercise Red Alligator 3 in Jazan Region. The prince was pictured in Al-Riyadh attending a weapons demonstration, which included a 40mm grenade launcher.

Prince Khalid Bin Sultan has been in the news this month for his meetings with senior Pakistani military officials and French staff officers.

Kuwait was added to the FTSE Russell Emerging Market Index on 29 September as a secondary emerging market. The indexing firm said the reclassification was a recognition of the recent market enhancements implemented by the Capital Market Authority of Kuwait and Boursa Kuwait. Dubai-based Emirates NBD suggested the change could trigger inflows of up to $800m into the bourse.

Foreign minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal has resumed his busy schedule after returning to the Kingdom on 2 November following months abroad after surgery.

Bahrain’s High Administrative Court ruled on 28 October that the main opposition group Al-Wefaq was in contravention of the law, and should have its activities suspended for three months. The case against Al-Wefaq, filed in July, argued that the society had failed to hold a legal general assembly, or to make the necessary legal filings about the assembly’s outcomes; a similar case filed against Al-Waad, another opposition group, was adjourned after the defence submitted documents it said showed Waad had convened its general conference in accordance with the law, and chosen Radhi Al-Mousawi as its secretary-general.

The appointment of King Abdullah’s half brother Miqrin to the post of second deputy prime minister has delayed the potentially more divisive decision on who in the third generation will succeed.

The World Bank Group has approved a total of $450m in two emergency support grants for Yemen. The grants from the bank’s International Development Association fund, which is targeted at the world’s poorest countries, will finance two nationwide projects to provide vulnerable women and children with access to essential services including health and nutrition.