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Eagle Hills has signed an MoU with Georgia’s government to develop mixed-use schemes in Tbilisi and the Black Sea resort of Batumi. Meanwhile, the prospects for its Grand Budapest project in Hungary have dimmed significantly.

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Mishaal and Qatar Foundation chief executive Sheikha Hind met the British monarch at the headquarters of his King’s Foundation charity in January – continuing Charles’ long, but not always easy, relationship with Gulf charities.

The UAE artificial intelligence firm, which has close links to national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, is one of four equity partners who plan to invest sums in AI infrastructure in the US.

A government-to-government deal between Doha and Jakarta has committed Sheikh Abdelaziz Bin Abdulrahman’s Qilaa International to building up to 1m affordable housing units in Indonesia – where Abu Dhabi has also been linked to a possible investment in President Subianto’s plans to build 3m homes a year.

Incoming United States President Donald Trump has been having a profound influence on events in the Middle East, even before his inauguration on 20 January.

The Gulf’s younger rulers have become more experienced in managing their polities and more pragmatic in delivering big ambitions, as they balance domestic and international relationships and interests. To better understand their actions in 2025 and beyond, GSN takes a deeper dive into the ruling philosophies of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

A special ministerial court has given former interior and defence minister Sheikh Talal Al-Khaled a 14-year jail term, a $65m fine and ordered him to repay $32m embezzled from the ministries he headed up between 2022 and 2024.

SBI Holdings has signed a series of deals with Saudi companies, including Prince Fahd’s Evision and PIF’s Savvy Games, as the Japanese investor steadily steps up its engagement with the kingdom.

A Dubai businessman favoured by Donald Trump, Hussein Sajwani – profiled by GSN below – in early January said he would invest $20bn in a network of US data centres. His group has also signed a deal to enable $1bn of assets to be traded on a blockchain.

The Higher Authority for Hawar Islands Development replaces a committee set up in 2017 to develop tourism infrastructure on the island – which was previously the subject of a territorial dispute with Qatar. It comes as the islands’ first major hotel development is due to welcome its first guests.

The Sharjah ruler has set out plans for some $11.4bn in spending this year, with higher debt service and salary costs accounting for most of the increase in spending.

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.

Mishaal Bin Sultan has been reappointed chairman of online food delivery service Jahez International.

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.