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Geopolitical and energy security considerations have brutally shifted since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, prompting the US to regear its relationship with Saudi Arabia.

Qatar is aiming to start supplying Germany with liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2024, according to comments by foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), Masdar and energy major BP are to develop clean hydrogen and technology hubs in a three-way partnership deal .

Kuwait's Crown Prince Mishaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has continued to field calls from regional leaders enquiring after his well-being, following a recent health scare.

Sultan Haitham bin Tarik promoted Brigadier Mohammed Bin Rabe Bin Jamaan Al-Shujaibi to the rank of Major General and appointed him as operations assistant to the Internal Security Service head Lieutenant General Said Bin Ali Al-Hilali.

Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) secretary-general Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo fell victim to a heart attack in his native Nigeria on 5 July, shortly before he was due to leave the post he had held with some skill and grace for six years. Veteran Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and government official Haitham Al-Ghais is scheduled take over as secretary-general in Vienna on 1 August.

US President Joe Biden’s imminent trip to the Middle East has prompted renewed discussion about the idea of a region-wide defence pact to counter Iran. Such ideas have long been floated for the GCC states alone – and always failed due to a lack of commitment among the six countries to pool their defence resources and command-and-control structures. The talk these days is of an even wider arrangement, involving the likes of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Israel.

Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) chair Sheikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa has been dismissed from her post, after reportedly refusing to shake hands with Israel’s ambassador to Bahrain Eitan Naeh.

The first batch of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) arrived at Dukhan Airbase on 27 August, watched by Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, minister of state for defence affairs Khalid Bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, Qatar Armed Forces chief of staff Lieutenant General Salem Bin Hamad Bin Aqeel Al-Nabit and Qatar Amiri Air Force commander Brigadier General Jassem Mohamed Al-Mannai.

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.

Sheikha Mahra Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, a daughter of Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum and the Greek-born Zoe Grigorakos, graduated with a degree in international relations from an unspecified university in London. Mahra (sometimes known as Christina) will turn 29 years old later in February.

Qatar's Sheikh Thani Bin Hamad Al-Thani inaugurated the Aisha Bint Hamad Al-Attiyah Hospital in the Moroccan coastal city of Safi on 20 January, on behalf of Father Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

Kuwaiti diplomat Abdullah Abdulsamad Dashti was appointed United Nations Co-ordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The initiative was launched by Ukraine, Turkey, Russia and the UN to enable exports of grain, foodstuffs and fertiliser from Ukraine via a safe maritime corridor.

Saudi defence minister Prince Khalid Bin Salman was in London on 13 December for talks with his counterpart Ben Wallace and to sign a new bilateral defence agreement.

The United States has approved a request from Doha to buy a $1bn anti-drone system. The approval, announced on 29 November by the US State Department, covers ten anti-drone systems from defence companies Raytheon and Northrop Grumman, including 200 Coyote Block 2 interceptors, launch systems, radars, and other related equipment.