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Protocol often seems to overwhelm normal news flow in Bahrain, as senior officials – most of them from the Al-Khalifa family – receive foreign visitors and congratulate each other at dutifully-reported occasions and in myriad telegrams. Any hint of speculation about the balance of power in the ruling Al-Khalifa family remains deeply hidden.

Bahrain’s latest GSN Risk Management Report remains unchanged at C3 with the political outlook showing positive momentum while the economic and financial outlook is negative. GCC allies led by Saudi Arabia are pressing harder for economic reforms. The oil price hike may generate some extra funds and but difficult deficit reduction measures are needed. King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa appears to be concentrating more power in the hands of Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, but in an opaque public sphere there is also speculation about his standing compared to that of his brother Sheikh Nasser. Majority Shia community concerns over social disadvantage and human rights abuses remain a big issue that gains only a limited hearing from the authorities and much of the media.

Political rapprochement between GCC rivals, along with rich pickings from high oil prices and a successful coronavirus vaccine rollout meant the past year has been a relatively benign one for those outside the region’s conflict zones, according to GSN’s annual survey of developments across the region. In this special issue, we present refreshed Risk Management Reports for each of the nine countries in the region (as well as the Kurdistan region and individual UAE emirates) and some big picture analysis to complement GSN’s usual detailed focus on the minutiae of political and business life.

A royal decree appointing Sheikh Ali Bin Abdulrahman Bin Ali Al-Khalifa as Bahrain’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia was formally issued by King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa on 28 December. Ali took his oath before the monarch at Al-Sakhir Palace on the day.

Prime Minister and Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa has been awarded a medal named after himself, for his services to the healthcare sector during the Covid-19 pandemic. The heir apparent’s father King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa conferred the Prince Salman Bin Hamad Medal for Medical Merit on his son at Sakhir Palace in Manama on 16 December. 

After nearly a year of post-Qatar boycott rapprochement, Gulf Co-operation Council leaders stressed their unity at the 42nd GCC summit in Riyadh. The 14 December summit was marked by Saudi Arabia’s efforts to put more focus on the perceived threats from Iran.

Several leaders sent deputies to the 42nd Gulf Co-operation Council summit in Riyadh in mid-December, which nevertheless made progress in reuniting the regional bloc after several years of division. Poor health prevented some heads of state from attending but this was not the only reason.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Isa Bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa was appointed undersecretary for ports and maritime affairs at the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry, in a decree issued by King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa on 30 November. Sheikh Ahmed had previously been assistant undersecretary for nationality, passports and residence affairs.

S&P Global Ratings revised its outlook for Bahrain’s sovereign rating to stable from negative on 26 November, citing its expectation that the government will implement further measures to reduce the budget deficit and will also benefit from support from other Gulf sovereigns.

The government announced details of a $30bn investment programme on 24 November. Known as the Strategic Projects Plan, it covers 22 schemes, including the creation of five cities on newly-constructed islands, which will increase Bahrain’s total land area by more than 60%.

Capital Governorate governor Sheikh Hisham Bin Abdulrahman Al-Khalifa has been named Ministry of Interior undersecretary for nationality, passports and residence affairs.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al-Abdullah made a brief tour of the Gulf in November, starting in Manama on 22 November and moving on to Abu Dhabi the following day. It came as the parliament in Amman began debating proposed political reforms which would see the prime minister chosen by parliamentary majority rather than picked by the king.

Sheikh Rashid Bin Khalifa Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa has been named chair of the newly-formed National Council for the Arts.

Mena Aerospace Enterprises (MAE) – a company chaired and one-third owned by Sheikh Ahmed Bin Ali Bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa of Bahrain’s ruling family – is expanding beyond its core business aviation services to become an air cargo operator. MAE is also targeting the aviation services market in Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan has issued hunting permits to 39 Gulf dignitaries for this year’s houbara bustard winter hunting season. According to Karachi-based The News International, 18 permits went to Qatar, 11 to the UAE, seven to Bahrain and three to Saudi Arabia.