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Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad made a surprise visit to Tehran this month for talks with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi. The trip came less than two months after the Syrian ruler was in Abu Dhabi.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani has embarked on an extensive tour of foreign capitals over the past week, in a trip that seems designed to shore up hopes of a revived Iran nuclear deal and to bolster Qatari gas exports.

Iran has continued to complain that the trial of former Iranian public prosecutor Hamid Nouri in Sweden is politically motivated.

The UAE Ministry of Defence has cut the length of national service for male recruits holding a high school diploma or above, from 16 to 11 months. However, those without a high school diploma will now have to serve three years, up from two years previously. The national service for female recruits will be 11 months, down from 12 months previously.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has appointed McDermott International as the design contractor for a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Fujairah. The 9.6m t/yr capacity plant is being developed to tap into the growing international demand for natural gas.

Saudi Aramco is said to be considering a stock market listing for its Aramco Trading arm. Analysts have predicted the unit could be valued at more than $30bn. Omani state energy company OQ is reportedly considering a sale of shares in some of its upstream and downstream assets. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Nogaholding is due to complete a comprehensive energy strategy in six months, which could pave the way for an “asset monetisation” programme.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani and Sheikha Jawaher married in early 2005 following an engagement. They have four children: Sheikhas Mayassa and Aisha, and Sheikhs Hamad and Jassim.

Saudi King Salman appointed Ahmed Al-Issa as director-general of the General Directorate of Investigation (Mabahith), part of the Presidency of State Security (PSS), in a series of security-related appointments.

King Salman Bin Abdelaziz was discharged from the King Faisal Specialist hospital in Jeddah on 15 May, following a short stay during which he underwent a colonoscopy.  

Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal has sold a 16.87% stake in his Kingdom Holding investment company to the state-owned Public Investment Fund (PIF) for SR5.68bn ($1.5bn).

The organisers of the Martin Ennals Award – one of the most prestigious in the human rights field – noted Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja's long history of protesting against unlawful detention and torture in Bahrain and his criticism of corruption.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy detained Greek tankers the Prudent Warrior and Delta Poseidon in the Gulf late May, in apparent retaliation for the seizure of an Iranian tanker in April.

Gulf governments have been stepping in to provide more assistance to Jordan’s troubled economy, with fresh investments from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE announced in early June.

Iran Trade Centre in Doha will initially focus on trade in areas including medicines, food and building materials; it will also work to promote medical tourism to Iran.

Oman's energy and minerals minister Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Rumhi has said Oman’s oil production is likely to increase by 5-10% over the next three years, with new discoveries outpacing production.