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Dubai has revived plans to turn Al-Maktoum International into the world’s largest airport, pointing to a huge projected upturn in regional carriers’ business in coming decades and the commercial emirate’s determination to counter the challenge posed by regional rivals.

After more than four years on the throne, Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said is slowly and steadily remodelling Oman’s economy, while maintaining a tight grip on the political arena.

As the GCC region’s big economic powers vie for global business, Dubai is reviving plans to turn Al-Maktoum International into the world’s largest airport, not least preparing for the challenge posed by Saudi Arabia’s eye-watering aviation strategy. The Dubai megaproject’s revival comes as Riyadh pushes to grab a big slice of the international aviation market – if Saudi carriers can overcome the challenge of securing sufficient planes, pilots and passengers needed to meet the kingdom’s hugely ambitious plans.

Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan has reportedly struck a multi-billion dollar deal with the under-pressure South Sudanese government, although questions remain about the ultimate source of funds accessed by the Abu Dhabi junior royal who previously raised his profile, in the wake of the Abraham Accords, by taking a stake in controversial Israeli football club Beitar Jerusalem, which soon collapsed.

Iranian officials have been engaged in a flurry of meetings and phone calls with GCC member states, in a sign that Tehran may be trying to leverage regional anger over the Gaza conflict to improve relations with its Arab neighbours.

The Capital Market Authority has found 13 investors guilty of violating the Capital Market Law. Among those fined was former ambassador Turki Bin Abdullah Al-Dakhil.

Governor Prince Turki Bin Talal has launched a regional tourism ‘identity’ for Asir to promote his province, which officials say is slated to receive over $13bn for its development by 2030, the majority of which should come from the Public Investment Fund.

Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ has revealed details about its finances for the first time, in a prospectus for a $2.5bn bond issuance on the London Stock Exchange.

The Qatari ruler was reportedly the first Arab leader to visit Nepal when he landed in Kathmandu on 23 April, following trips to the Philippines and Bangladesh – all of which are an important source of migrant labour and are looking to more economic support from one of their wealthiest partners.

Some $35bn worth of potential deals were announced during the Omani leader’s two-day state visit to neighbouring UAE, with the project to develop a rail link between Sohar port and Abu Dhabi now officially up and running – and among measures that could help improve previously sometimes strained relations.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al-Maktoum’s private office Alpha MBM Investments has aligned with Abu Dhabi-based Venom Blockchain to develop central bank digital currencies and stablecoins in Uganda, Somalia and Central African Republic, as the ambitious junior member of Dubai’s ruling family and interests in Abu Dhabi move further into African business.

The volume of seizures of the amphetamine-like stimulant Captagon by Saudi border guards appears to have dropped sharply over the past year – it could be a sign the diplomatic rapprochement with Syria (the main source of the illegal drug) is bearing fruit, or it may just be that the authorities are being less transparent.

Distantly related to Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, Sheikh Ali announced plans to set up a $500m family office in the Chinese territory in March, but that now appears to have been pushed back until late May. 

Dubai’s transport sector was badly affected as more than one year’s worth of rain fell in a day across the UAE, leaving a clean-up operation that is likely to be expensive, although the authorities are trying to shield locals from much of the initial cost.

The G42 artificial intelligence company chaired by UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has raised funds from the US tech giant in return for an unspecified shareholding and a seat on the board.