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International Holding Company (IHC), the investment group chaired by UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, is reported to be considering taking a majority stake in a Zambian state-owned copper mine.

A team from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is to visit the UAE before February, as the Abu Dhabi government continues efforts to secure its removal from the Paris-based money laundering watchdog’s 'grey list' of jurisdictions under increased monitoring.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (Nazaha, meaning integrity) has released summaries of 21 recent cases, offering an insight into its work, the scale of some corruption cases and its willingness to indict senior officials. 

Even before the new Gaza war shattered comfortable assumptions about regional security, the global economic climate had been hostile, as shown in analysis of the International Monetary Fund's new reports on the global outlook and regional economic performance.

KIO allegations: Finance minister Fahd Al-Jarallah has referred the Kuwait Investment Authority’s London outpost, the Kuwait Investment Office (KIO), to the public prosecutor over a series of alleged offences including the illegal disclosure of confidential information between 2018-22. The move was announced by the Ministry of Finance on 16 October.

Gas privatisation: Shares in state energy firm OQ’s gas pipelines business OQ Gas Network (OQGN) began trading on the Muscat Stock Exchange on 24 October. OQGN had raised OR288m ($750m) in its initial public offering of 49% of its shares, making it Oman’s largest IPO, ahead of previous front-runner Oman Telecoms Company, which floated in 2005.

Iran's parliament issued a report recommending that possession of equipment for the satellite internet service Starlink should be made a criminal offence. Deputies have also called for Iran to develop its own low-orbit internet satellite system, in co-operation with China and Russia.

Saudi state Public Investment Fund (PIF) has agreed a joint venture with South Korea's Hyundai Motor Company to set up a $500m vehicle manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia. PIF will hold 70% of the venture, with Hyundai taking the other 30%. 

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al-Baker announced his retirement after 27 years at the helm – during which time the national carrier has been transformed beyond recognition. He will be replaced by Hamad International Airport chief operating officer Badr Mohammed Al-Meer.

Emirati Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Juma Al-Maktoum has been involved in a number of business deals around Africa. During the Covid pandemic, he was connected to efforts to sell Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in several countries in Africa and Asia. 

A Dubai-based company backed by a well-connected but relatively low-profile member of Dubai's ruling Al-Maktoum family has been signing deals across Africa to generate carbon credits – while generating some controversy in the process.

Dubai-based port operator DP World signed a 30-year concession with Tanzania Ports Authority to operate and modernise Dar Es Salaam Port. DP World plans to invest $250m to upgrade the port, a figure it said could rise to $1bn alongside related projects.

Turkish attacks: Türkiye (Turkey) launched a sustained aerial bombardment of Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) bases in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) in early October, following a suicide bombing at the Ministry of Interior building in Ankara on the opening day of the month, a few hours ahead of the reopening of the Turkish parliament after a three-month summer recess.

Saladin governor warrant: An arrest warrant was issued by Iraq's Federal Commission of Integrity against a former governor of Saladin province, following accusations of corruption involving contracts for water services in the area. A statement by the commission on 7 October said the warrant had been issued under Article 331 of the Penal Code.

Two Saudi state-owned bodies, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), launched a new electric vehicle (EV) charging company on 8 October, in which ownership is split 75/25 in the PIF’s favour.