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Dubai has revived plans to turn Al-Maktoum International into the world’s largest airport, pointing to a huge projected upturn in regional carriers’ business in coming decades and the commercial emirate’s determination to counter the challenge posed by regional rivals.

After more than four years on the throne, Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said is slowly and steadily remodelling Oman’s economy, while maintaining a tight grip on the political arena.

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.

Iranian officials have been engaged in a flurry of meetings and phone calls with GCC member states, in a sign that Tehran may be trying to leverage regional anger over the Gaza conflict to improve relations with its Arab neighbours.

State-owned Hydrom has awarded the first two GH2 projects from its second auction round launched in mid-2023, with one licence going to a British/French/Japanese consortium and another to an Australian/British group.

Four export deals have been signed by Oman LNG since mid-April, covering more than 4m t/yr of liquefied natural gas supplies and taking the total deal flow so far this year to 4.6m t/yr.

Oman and Switzerland have been acting as go-betweens in the wake of the Israeli airstrike that destroyed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, sharing messages between Iran and Washington.

More than 1,500 prisoners were pardoned by King Hamad Bin Isa All-Khalifa on 8 April to mark Eid Al-Fitr, a majority of whom appear to be political prisoners.

Sultan Haitham landed back in Muscat on 27 February, following a 19-day trip to the United Kingdom

Sultan Haitham left Muscat for the UK on 8 February, with no indication of how long he might be away for.

Emir Sheikh Mishaal travelled to Riyadh on 30 January for talks with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, further cementing the bilateral relationship. Mishaal then went to Oman in early February to attend the inauguration of Duqm refinery with Sultan Haitham.

Sovereign wealth fund the Oman Investment Authority has launched a third fund in its portfolio. The OR2bn Future Fund Oman will sit alongside the National Development Fund and Future Generations Fund

In a rare inward investment into Yemen, Oman’s Salalah Mills is paying $6.5m for a 50% stake in a grain mills and silos business in Mukalla, Hadhramaut government, which it will run with an unnamed Yemeni partner.

Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said sailed to Khasab port in the isolated Musandam peninsula in mid-January for a meet-the-people tour and to inspect economic developments, directing local officials to push ahead with further housing and commercial projects.