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Secretary of state Mike Pompeo on 22 April announced the end of exemptions from sanctions for countries still buying oil from Iran. The Trump administration’s decision will end, from 2 May, the regime introduced last November, that allowed eight countries to continue importing oil from Iran. Three of them – Greece, Italy and Taiwan – didn’t import st all, but five did: China and US allies India, Japan, South Korea and Turkey. From 2 May, they won’t be covered by waivers any more, and could face US sanctions if they continue to import Iranian crude.

Riyadh has resumed crude oil exports to Egypt, marking the end of a very public spat between the two countries. The shipments were suspended in October as differences emerged on a number of fronts, including Egyptian support for a Russian resolution at the United Nations Security Council on the Syrian conflict.

Crown prince and interior minister Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef (MBN) is to travel to Paris on 3 March. He is expected to hold talks with French President François Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who was last in the kingdom in October.

An interesting snippet on Ras Al-Khaimah (RAK) appeared in South Africa’s Mail & Guardian on 15 March, in an article on how foreign interests are hoping to get commercial deals in Zimbabwe in return for helping the cash-strapped government fund elections (an estimated $132m is needed). RAK ruler Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi visited Zimbabwe in late February, and was pictured with First Lady Grace Mugabe.

Popular Resistance forces in the southern province of Aden may be forging a united front against northern Zaydi-Shia Houthi militias, but they are far from united. Groups of Sunni Islamist militants, secessionists and tribal elements, engaged in some of the most intense fighting against the Houthis, may face a prolonged conflict among themselves if the northern rebels eventually leave the troubled province. Sources in Aden told GSN that resistance to the Houthi-led assault has brought together Islamist militants allied to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Salafist elements exiled from Dammaj in Sadah, members of tribes from Abyan and Shabwah, and youth from various Hirak (southern secessionist) factions.

Even if its published national accounts are the sole criteria for assessing the emirate’s wealth – and they may not include some of the ruling Al-Thani’s huge investments abroad (see page 16) – Qatar’s economy is very healthy. The oil price crash has forced budget cuts, but Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani’s government has reacted prudently, as reflected in Standard & Poor’s end-March affirmation of Qatar’s AA long-term and A-1 short-term foreign and local currency credit ratings (with ‘stable’ outlook).

In a sign of changing times, the UK Conservative Party’s Middle East Council (CMEC) hosted a forum on 28 October in London to highlight the achievements of Middle Eastern women, and discuss what remains to be done to improve their rights.

Prime minister and interior minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Thani held talks with French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Doha on 22 June on how the two countries could enhance co-operation. On the same day, minister of state for defence affairs Dr Khalid Bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah met US Special Operations Forces commander Darsie Jones for discussions also revolving around how to improve bilateral military co-operation.

Italian defence firm Leonardo handed over the second of six upgraded naval vessels to the Royal Bahrain Naval Force, during a ceremony at Mina Salman at Royal Bahrain Navy Head Quarter. The upgrade of the Al-Muharraq includes a new weapon control system, training services and logistics. The Italian company’s Selex ES division signed a deal in 2015 to upgrade six vessels at a cost of €50m ($56m). The first, Al-Manama, was delivered last December last year, two months ahead of schedule.

The daughter of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has married

Interior minister Lieutenant General Sheikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa officially launched landing ship Safra 1 at the Coast Guard headquarter in Bander Al Dar on 12 February, using the occasion to praise the Coast Guard’s recent efforts to prevent a number of “fugitives” fleeing to Iran. The new vessel, built by the local Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company, is equipped to carry out search, rescue and firefighting operations.

The local Azizi Developments plans to launch a Dh25bn ($6.8bn) residential, commercial and retail project on a 33m ft2 site in central Dubai, including 105 mid- and high-rise buildings offering 30,000 apartments. Group chairman Mirwais Azizi said the project would have a “distinctly British feel” and would be twice the size of his Azizi Riviera development in Meydan One. Construction is scheduled to start in November, to be completed before Expo 2020.

Economic Development Board (EDB) board member Khalid Humaidan has been promoted to become its new chief executive. Humaidan is a former head of global markets Middle East and Africa at BNP Paribas and also sits on the board of Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company. This comes after former EDB chief Khalid Al-Rumaihi was appointed sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat’s chief executive.

Thirty-year-old Prince Saud Bin Abdelrahman Bin Saud Bin Abdelaziz married a daughter of Prince Bandar Bin Abdelaziz on 14 November. Bandar has ten daughters.

Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (MBR) has had his usual round of meetings in the first half of November