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Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan was born in 1970, a son of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan (who became the UAE’s founding president a year later) and his wife Sheikha Aisha Bint Ali Al-Darmarki (of the Dhawahir tribe).

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani travelled to Washington, Houston and Michigan in April, holding talks with US President Joe Biden, major energy and defence companies and members of the Iraqi diaspora.

Born to Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan’s wife Amina Bint Saleh Al-Darmaki, Sheikh Issa Bin Zayed had a small role in the public works department in the early-mid 2000s.  

Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ is buying a 49% stake in Alpha Dhabi Construction Holding, following a major real estate deal involving ADQ and IHC, another part of national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed’s business empire.

Born in 1968 to Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan’s wife Sheikha Aisha Bint Ali Al-Darmarki (of the Dhawahir tribe), Sheikh Nahyan Bin Zayed has chaired the Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation since June 2010 and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council since December 2012.

Under Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said and his longstanding predecessor Sultan Qaboos, Oman has carved out a distinctive place in the Gulf. With fewer oil and gas resources than most of its neighbours, the sultanate has followed a more low-key path on the international stage, building up a reputation as an important mediator to reduce tensions between regional and international powers.

As the GCC region’s big economic powers vie for global business, Dubai is reviving plans to turn Al-Maktoum International into the world’s largest airport, not least preparing for the challenge posed by Saudi Arabia’s eye-watering aviation strategy. The Dubai megaproject’s revival comes as Riyadh pushes to grab a big slice of the international aviation market – if Saudi carriers can overcome the challenge of securing sufficient planes, pilots and passengers needed to meet the kingdom’s hugely ambitious plans.

No official statistics have been released, but media reports in Iran pointed to voter turnout of just 8% in the capital Tehran in run-off election held in May for the final 45 seats in the Majlis-e Shura.

Kuwait Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah formed his new cabinet just two days after parliament was suspended, with most of the key figures retained from ex-premier Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah’s previous government. Although the usual limits on cabinet size are also now suspended, this government is smaller than usual with only 13 members.

Buenos Aires is seeking to arrest Ahmad Vahidi over the bombing of a Jewish community centre in which 85 people were killed, after Argentina’s highest court found Iran to blame for the events 30 years ago.

A second natural gas discovery within six months has made the UAE company into the ‘sweetheart’ of the Indonesian exploration sector, but there will be challenges in balancing local expectations with Mubadala’s own objectives.

The issue leads with an examination of how Gulf governments have sought to manage potentially negative impacts of the Gaza conflict. Across the region – notably Oman and Kuwait – consumers have latched on to a boycott of US franchises to express their anger over Israel’s actions, highlighting the potential for a dangerous divide to emerge between leaders and their subjects on the emotive Palestinian issue, which most regimes had come largely to ignore until Hamas launched its October attack. The issue also focuses on Kuwait, where Emir Sheikh Mishaal has suspended the National Assembly for up to four years is an effort to break the gridlock between the elected chamber and the appointed government that has stymied change for so many years.  Critics fear a new period of repression – and some are planning to flee Kuwait. Whether Mishaal can ‘correct the path’ or will be forced to back down may depend on internal dynamics within the ruling Al-Sabah family. Politics coverage also looks at Iraq, where Shia leader Moqtada Al-Sadr has indicated he plans to return to public life, while local parliamentary elections in Iraqi Kurdistan have been delayed. Defence and security coverage lead with Iran, where there are hints at a potential change to its policy of not developing nuclear weapons. Wealth watch includes an examination of a bond prospectus that has shed light on the finances of Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADQ. Energy and industry coverage includes a look at the award of two GH2 projects from Oman’s second auction round, launched in mid-2023. GSN also focuses on regional aviation rivalry. Dubai has revived long-standing plans for a huge expansion of Al-Maktoum International Airport, as the competitive threat from Saudi Arabia’s hugely ambitious aviation strategy becomes more apparent. The Risk Management Report is on Oman.  

President Ebrahim Raisi, foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials were killed when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed in poor weather in East Azerbaijan province on 19 May. New presidential elections are due to take place within 50 days, amid other major questions for Iran’s political-religious elite.

Revised May 2024, this map illustrates Oman's oil and gas infrastructure as well as governorate populations and their respective governors.  The locations of onshore and offshore oil and gas fields and pipelines are marked alongside associated infrastructure including oil refineries, gas processing plants, tanker terminals and LNG facilities. The map is available as a PDF file using eps graphics, meaning that there is no loss of resolution as the file is enlarged.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al-Maktoum’s private office Alpha MBM Investments has aligned with Abu Dhabi-based Venom Blockchain to develop central bank digital currencies and stablecoins in Uganda, Somalia and Central African Republic, as the ambitious junior member of Dubai’s ruling family and interests in Abu Dhabi move further into African business.