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Ras Al-Khaimah Ruler Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi hosted Tonga’s King Tupou VI on 15 November, affirming the UAE’s interest in strengthening ties with the Pacific islands.

A list of the 22 members of Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani's cabinet, covering agriculture, communications, culture, defence, education, electricity, finance, foreign affairs, health, higher education and scientific research, industry and minerals, interior, justice, labour and social affairs, migration and displacement, oil, planning, trade, transport, water resources, and youth and sports.

Manama continues to make efforts to enhance its credentials for freedom of religion, with King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa holding talks with the Indian Orthodox Church supreme leader Pope Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews III at Al-Safriya Palace.

That the legendary late head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp’s Quds Force, Qassim Soleimani, has not been forgotten following his January 2020 assassination by the United States was underlined by a 2 November tweet on Iranian Rahbar (Supreme Leader) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s Twitter account.

The United States has approved a deal to sell a $3bn air defence system to Kuwait.

Protestors have refused to stand down in the face of sometimes overwhelming state force in the seven weeks since Mahsa Amini died in custody. The movement’s support base has spread across the country and into parts of society not usually associated with political demonstrations, putting Ayatollah Ali Khamenei under unprecedented pressure. His regime is not yet facing the end, but the challenge to the clerical/military leadership will not fade easily or quickly.

Tempers are fraying over the early-October decision by members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies in the Opec+ group to cut oil production. The most prominent members, Russia and Saudi Arabia, remain in a cosy alliance and western efforts to drive a wedge between Moscow and the Gulf countries have yet to show any returns. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi seem unfazed by any possible reputational risks, while they continue to sweat the global economy for revenues.

Diplomat Sayyid Nizar Al-Julanda Majid Al-Said has been named as Oman’s new ambassador to Italy, replacing Ahmed Salim Mohammed Ba’Omar.

Bahrain is heading into another election for its unicameral  parliament, the Council of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab), amid calls by government critics to shun the event.There are doubts about the level of voter enthusiasm even without a formal boycott, with opposition parties such as Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society and Waad (the National Democratic Action Society) still banned

Monaco-based Marss Group said in early September that it had signed a multi-million euro contract to provide a solar-powered perimeter surveillance system. The company did not identify its Saudi customer.

Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah made a brief official visit to Saudi Arabia on 13 September, where he was met at the airport by Mecca Region deputy governor Prince Bader Bin Sultan Bin Abdelaziz and minister of state Prince Turki Bin Mohammed Bin Fahd.

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Mohammed Bin Khalid Al-Nahyan was sworn in as the UAE ambassador to Jordan, in a ceremony in Abu Dhabi on 20 September, in front of President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ). 

Union Investments chairman and founder Sheikh Tariq Bin Kayed Al-Qassimi, a cousin of RAK ruler Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi, has been appointed patron of the new UAE office of the Diplomatic Council. 

Lebanese-Canadian national Wael Sawan has been named the next chief executive of Shell, replacing Ben van Beurden from 1 January 2023. Sawan is currently director of integrated gas, renewables and energy solutions.

Cristian Tudor has taken up the post of head of the newly-opened European Union delegation to Qatar, as of 1 September. Tudor was previously head of the EU delegation to Kuwait and has also served as Romania’s ambassador to Qatar.