Iran’s supreme leader has endorsed the resubmission of two bills designed to tackle money laundering and terrorism financing to the Expediency Council. A different outcome this time for the legislation – which was previously passed by parliament but was rejected by the Guardian Council and Expediency Council – would offer renewed hope for reformists under President Pezeshkian, while another rejection could cement Iran’s rogue status on the international stage.
A new corporation will oversee all official documents related to the emirate’s ruling family, in what appears to be a concerted effort to ensure control of narratives about the Al-Maktoum’s role in Dubai’s history.
The new orchestra, set up in December under the patronage of foreign affairs minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, is recruiting for musicians to perform Emirati and western compositions.
Mishaal Bin Sultan has been reappointed chairman of online food delivery service Jahez International.
Funeral prayers were held for Princess Mona Riad Al-Solh in Riyadh on 5 January. She was the daughter of Lebanon’s first prime minister and had married into the Al-Saud family in the 1950s.
A new central bank chief was appointed by Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said in one of nine decrees issued at the start of the year, which also included a new banking law that could have far-reaching implications.
Oman Investment Authority has bought an undisclosed stake in XAI, the artificial intelligence company set up by US billionaire – and key Donald Trump backer – Elon Musk. It comes as the Trump Organization has struck more real estate deals in Saudi Arabia.
King Charles III’s younger brother is stepping up to promote the United Kingdom’s interests in the region, visiting Manama and Kuwait City in mid-December, after welcoming the Qatari emir to London earlier in the month.
London has been bolstering its defence ties with a number of Gulf countries in early December, during high-level talks with leaders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammed Al-Nahyan visit to Bahrain followed trips to India, Qatar, Norway, Singapore and Brazil in the previous two months. Soon after his visit, Abu Dhabi wrapped up a deal to buy the McLaren luxury car business from Bahrain.
Having achieved outstanding results, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum has graduated from the British military by picking up Sandhurst’s two international ‘sword’ awards.
Abu Dhabi National Energy Company has appointed former BP chief executive Bernard Looney and Blackstone president Jon Gray, alongside Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber and other senior local figures, to the board of its new mega-venture XRG.
Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad has named his younger brother, Sheikh Thani Bin Hamad, as chairman of Qatar’s international development fund.
Two of the three new vessels will be completed in the kingdom and the state-owned General Authority for Military Industries (Gami) will also gain the intellectual property rights to the design, enabling Saudi Arabia to build more of the vessels in the future, including possible export orders.
The Bahraini national security adviser has been appointed by his father King Hamad to a little-known but powerful body that deals with internal disputes and other issues within the ruling Al-Khalifa family.
