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Following a late October state visit to the UK, Emir Sheikh Hamad made a high-profile visit to Moscow.

The confusion of a post-Saddam Iraq has presented Iran with countless opportunities to extend its tentacles of influence. GSN outlines the Islamic Republic’s strategy for keeping its rival at bay

Iraq’s parliament finally met to select a speaker and allow the formation of a government, to be led

Having seen off his estranged older half-brother Sheikh Khalid Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi in late October, new RAK ruler Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi has been settling in, appointing Sheikh Abdullah Bin Humaid Bin Abdullah Al-Qasimi as his new office director and Jihad Quzmar as legal advisor, while Fuwaz Abdullah Al-Tunaiji was named as Saud’s special secretary.

Confusion is the overwhelming impression as Kuwait’s factions tussle over reform, vested interests, economic strategy and political patronage. These battles are reflected in everything from a dispute over chamber of commerce leadership to control of the Zain telecommunications giant

Chinese visit boosts ties

Meetings with Hariri and Hamad, GCC meeting in Kuwait, Savoy hotel re-opening, Marriage, Caucasus tour, Outspoken comments on Israel

Yemeni deputy finance minister Jalal Yaqoub took the spotlight during his visit to London for the Royal Institute of International Affairs’ Yemen Forum on 1 November. Giving interviews to major news outlets, including The Financial Times, Reuters and CNN,

After a solid performance by Al-Wefaq, Bahrain’s secular liberals now face a critical challenge in the run-off contest for the lower house. For the first time since parliament was restored eight years ago, the opposition has a tangible chance of winning half the seats in the national assembly, after the results of the first-round vote on 23 October.

The campaign of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to stay in office at the head of a new administration has been given fresh impetus with the support of a number of former enemies. Iran has timed a switch of policy to support

Anti-corruption committee, Marriages

Late October saw a flurry of activity in London aimed at boosting Gulf Co-Operation Council-UK ties. If the crowded programme had been the result of a co-ordinated plan by the UK’s (relatively) new coalition government it might be seen as a reaffirmation of UK-Gulf ties organised by a dynamic new administration.

Ras Al-Khaimah ruler Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi died on 27 October after a long illness. Sheikh Saqr, who was in his early 90s, took power in a bloodless coup in January 1948 and was thought to be one of the world’s longest-serving rulers.

After nearly two years out of the limelight, former Saudi ambassador to Washington Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Al-Saud made a high-profile return to the Kingdom in mid-October. Several senior princes met him at the airport, including General Intelligence Directorate chief Prince Miqrin Bin Abdelaziz, assistant defence minister Prince Khalid Bin Sultan, assistant interior minister Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef, state minister and head of the Cabinet Presidency Court Prince Abdelaziz Bin Fahd, Prince Faisal Bin Khalid Bin Sultan (adviser to his uncle, Crown Prince Sultan) and National Security Council assistantsecretary-general Prince Salman Bin Sultan.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan was in London for talks on 25 October with British Prime Minister David Cameron. Foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has been on a tour of Asia. In Vietnam, he held talks with President Nguyen Minh Triet, prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung and foreign minister Pham Gia Khiem.