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Recent unrest in the region has not had a significant direct impact on the UAE, despite it being one of the least representative local polities. Thus, the federation formed in 1971 by the seven emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al- Quwain, remains one of the region’s most stable systems.

Iran’s relations with its Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) neighbours have entered a dangerous new phase in the febrile world of Arab politics that has followed the upsurge in popular protest and toppling of North African regimes. Amid claims of bellicose meddling in domestic affairs, it would not be over-dramatic to talk about the emergence of a new Arab-Iranian cold war, reflected in actions such as Kuwait’s 31 March announcement that it would expel an unspecified number of Iranian diplomats for alleged spying and the mid-March attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad.

Prince Abdelaziz, son of King Abdullah,was reportedly in Damascus in March to ask Syrian President Bashir Al-Assad to warn Iran to stop meddling in Gulf affairs. Prince Abdelaziz has taken a lead role in the Syria portfolio in recent years. He owns a 5.2 acre estate in Benedict Canyon, north-west of Beverly Hills, but The Los Angeles Times reported that his proposal for a 85,000ft2 compound on the site had been opposed by neighbours, including singer Bruce Springsteen.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the maverick colonel was named in plots to kill several leaders, including Qatar’s then emir Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Bin Abdullah Al-Thani. In 1984, Qadhafi was accused of plotting for Libyan pilgrims

Qatar has several newspapers – Al-Sharq (its sister English paper is The Peninsula), Al-Watan (its sister English paper is Qatar Tribune), Al-Raya/Arrayah (English paper, the Gulf Times) and Al-Arab.

Major Nigerian political player James Onanefe Ibori was released from a Dubai prison. Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani is being investigated by Oxford University. Qatar is expected to nominate former GCC secretary general Abdelrahman Al-Attiyah as the League of Arab States’ secretary general. Qatar’s newspapers speak out

Large crowds had chanted their support for the opposition in Bahrain, waving flags and protesting at Saudi Arabia’s deployment of Saudi Arabian National Guard (Sang) units to the island state.

Bahrain’s destruction of the iconic Pearl monument in Manama on 18 March, and the ripping up of grass at the roundabout, symbolises one of the state’s most aggressive acts against its people. The circular monument became the base for the opposition movement, acting as a public space where people could meet and share ideas, much like Tunisians did in Tunis’ 7 November Square (newly named Mohammed Bouazizi Square), and Egyptians in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

In a show of force, and an attempt to clear mass protests around Pearl Roundabout, the Bahraini security services with the help of its GCC 'brothers' have been deployed across the country. The long-term implications for Bahrain, politically, socially and economically, remain unknown; however, its ramifications could spread beyond the island's borders.

The oil-rich province has seen thousands of people demonstrating against the deployment of Saudi Arabia in Bahrain, and pushing for more reform in the Kingdom

Living in a democracy is the most important issue for the majority of young Arabs, according to a new report from the Dubai-based public relations company Asdaa Burson-Marsteller. Its third annual Arab Youth Survey, published on 15 March, was based on 2,000 interviews by associate company Penn Schoen Berland between 27 December 2010 and 20 January 2011. Interviews were also conducted with a further 500 youths between 26 February and 5 March, amid unrest in the region. The survey focuses on attitudes among nationals and expatriates aged 18 to 24 in ten countries: the six countries of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq.

Sultan Qaboos on 14 March fired police chief General Malik Bin Suleiman Al-Maamari, who was accused by protesters of covering up corruption. Lieutenant General Hassan Bin Mohsin Al-Shraiqi was named as the new Inspector General

Manama’s crackdown on opposition members combined with the intervention of military forces from Saudi Arabia and police forces from the UAE has left Bahrain’s opposition considerably reduced space to demonstrate. However, opposition members remain as resolute as before to bring about change

As the president’s close allies declare open support for protesters demanding regime change, the balance of power in the capital has shifted

Amid serious sectarian unrest and growing suspicion of Tehran, the ruling monarchy is enlisting foreign assistance in a carefully orchestrated clampdown on the opposition.