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Even before the new Gaza war shattered comfortable assumptions about regional security, the global economic climate had been hostile, as shown in analysis of the International Monetary Fund's new reports on the global outlook and regional economic performance.

Iran has discovered its largest-ever dry gas field at Lamerd, in the south of Shiraz province, petroleum minister Javad Owji announced during a visit to provincial capital Fars. The discovery is estimated to contain reserves of 623bcm of natural gas.

Sheikh Mubarak Bin Fahad Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al-Thani was named as Qatar's ambassador to Oman. Mubarak has previously served as ambassador to Azerbaijan (2008-14) and Serbia (2015-21).

Dubai Deputy Ruler and federal finance minister Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum opened the Expand North Star 2023 exhibition and conference at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Dubai-based port operator DP World signed a 30-year concession with Tanzania Ports Authority to operate and modernise Dar Es Salaam Port. DP World plans to invest $250m to upgrade the port, a figure it said could rise to $1bn alongside related projects.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan opened the eighth World Investment Forum, organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Revised October 2023, this map illustrates the estimated missile ranges for various types of Houthi missiles. Included are the locations of Saudi Arabian International airports, oil refineries,  oil tanker terminals and LNG liquefaction plants and export terminals. The map is available as a PDF file using eps graphics, meaning that there is no loss of resolution as the file is enlarged.

Kuwait was one of 15 countries elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council. It will serve a three-year term, starting 1 January 2024, alongside Albania, Brazil, China, France and others. The 47 seats on the council are distributed on a regional basis.

The turmoil that has broken out in Israel and Gaza in recent days may lead to a recalibration by Yemen's Houthis of what they should put on their list of demands and how much pressure they can exert on Saudi Arabia in any further rounds of talks. It might also concentrate minds in Riyadh about the need to secure a viable settlement in Yemen, so that the land beyond its southern border is not a long-term harbour of potential danger.

Italian major Eni has withdrawn from Block 1, relinquishing a licence it gained in 2019 and casting fresh doubt on Bahrain's ability to exploit its offshore resources. 

Two Saudi state-owned bodies, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), launched a new electric vehicle (EV) charging company on 8 October, in which ownership is split 75/25 in the PIF’s favour.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud returned to Riyadh, after over a month in the northwest city of Neom. In that time, he chaired several weekly cabinet meetings. 

Supreme Council for Youth and Sports deputy chairman Sheikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa opened the fourth edition of Bahrain Comic Con at the Bahrain International Circuit, with some of his children attending, along with children of national security adviser Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.

Emirati Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saqr Bin Hamad Al-Qasimi was promoted to the role of chairman of the Labour Standards Development Authority (LSDA) in a decree issued by Sharjah Ruler Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al-Qasimi early October.

Revised September 2023, this map illustrates proposed trade routes through the Gulf States.  Included are the India-Middle East-Europe Economic, International North-South Transport, North-South Transitional, Afghanistan-Iran-India Trade corridors, the Iraq Development Road and the Middle East to India Deepwater Natural Gas and Iran-Pakistani Gas pipelines. This map accompanies the article, Saudi Arabia and UAE sign up for India-Europe trade corridor, examining the India-Europe trade corridor plan, launched at the early September G20 summit, which could be developed as a counter to rival schemes that have Iranian, Iraqi, Russian and Turkish backing. The map is available as a PDF file using eps graphics, meaning that there is no loss of resolution as the file is enlarged.