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GSN looks at some of the main contenders to be nominated as the heir apparent by incoming Emir Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Selection of another older generation crown prince is the likely outcome.

The late Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is unlikely to be remembered as one of Kuwait’s defining leaders, but he was an affable, honest man who was called upon to navigate a difficult political environment.

A United States-led taskforce has been launched to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea, after Houthi rebels launched more than 100 drone and ballistic missile attacks over the past month. However, most Gulf countries have declined to join, with just Bahrain signing up to date.

Oman’s Crown Prince Theyazin Bin Haitham had words of praise for President Vladimir Putin and one of Russia’s most senior bankers, Andrei Kostin, while in Moscow to attend an investment forum in early December. The visit to Russia, followed by a trip to Abu Dhabi a few days later to meet UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, suggests the Omani crown prince may be seeking to build up his international profile.

Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said has returned from back-to-back state visits to Asian powerhouses Singapore and India, in which boosting business was very high on the agenda.

Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum has set up the Dubai Investment Fund, chaired by deputy ruler Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum, to hold the emirate government’s stakes in operators including utility Dewa and road toll operator Salik. DIF will take its place alongside other Dubai Inc entities including Investment Corporation of Dubai, Dubai Holding and Dubai World.

Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is due to take his oath as emir at a special session of the National Assembly (parliament) in the coming days, following the death of his half-brother Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah on 16 December. Given Mishaal has been the de facto ruler since November 2021, the handover should be seamless, while the more critical element will be his choice of crown prince.

King Salman Bin Abdelaziz has made changes to the leadership of six of Saudi Arabia’s 13 regions and one of its governorates. GSN analyses the new round of appointments and profiles those on the up.

Royal Saudi Air Force pilot Prince Talal Bin Abdelaziz Bin Bandar Al-Saud died on 7 December, the same day an RSAF F-15 crashed in Dhahran.

Red Sea attacks: Houthi forces launched missile and drone attacks against three commercial ships and a United States Navy vessel in the southern Red Sea on 3 December. The first attack targeted Bahamas-flagged bulk cargo ship Unity Explorer at 9:15 am Sanaa time, but the missile missed. Later in the day Unity Explorer was hit by another missile, causing minor damage.

For all its public emphasis on post-carbon development, Oman remains dependent on oil and gas revenues – and National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI) data suggest it has marshalled that income well, despite Opec+ production cuts. The pain of those cuts has been cushioned by record condensate production, which is classed as ‘liquids’ from gas output.

UAE state-owned defence conglomerate Edge Group has been showcasing its drones, guided munitions, electronic warfare products and other wares at the Expodefensa 2023 trade fair in Bogota, Colombia, held from 5-7 December.

An explosion at the Jabal Attan military site in southern Sanaa on 30 November remains unexplained, with pictures of smoke and fire at the base being shared on social media.

The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (Nedaja)’s newest vessel, the frigate Deylaman, officially joined its Caspian Sea fleet in late November. The ship is the seventh Moudge-class vessel, a design of light frigate based on the British-built Vosper Thorneycroft Mk5 Alvand.