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While the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) suffers from its Turkish pipeline closure, the federal Government of Iraq (GoI) is also in an uncomfortable situation when it comes to energy trade – despite the good news that TotalEnergies and its partner QatarEnergy have finalised their headline $27bn deal to develop a roster of major hydrocarbons and renewables projects.

Gulf royal families have generally been closely associated with only a narrow range of traditional preferred sports – including camel racing, horse racing and falconry – but younger Saudi princes and princesses now occupy senior positions in bodies overseeing a far wider range of pursuits, from motorsport and esports to triathlons and diving. Their efforts to promote sports and attract international events feed into Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's economic and social diversification drive.

Saudi Prince Turki Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Kabir died aged 70. Funeral prayers were held at Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. With a PhD in political science from the University of London, he had a long career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Qatari Sheikh Al-Qaqa Bin Hamad Al-Thani – Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani’s youngest half-brother – was elected president of Al-Rayyan Sports Club.

Revised August 2023, this map illustrates UAE oil and gas infrastructure.  The locations of onshore and offshore oil and gas fields and pipelines are marked alongside associated infrastructure including oil refineries, gas processing plants, tanker terminals and LNG facilities. An accompanying box displays population statistics by Emirate as well as their respective Rulers and Crown Princes.  The map is available as a PDF file using eps graphics, meaning that there is no loss of resolution as the file is enlarged.

Pictures of armoured vehicles manufactured by Calidus on parade in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) underline the Abu Dhabi-based military hardware company's growing reach.

Saudi Arabia is continuing to push to join an initiative by Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet. Saudi defence minister Prince Khalid Bin Salman had claimed in March the kingdom was set to join the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme but this was soon politely denied by the UK. 

Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was in London in late August to mark the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Kuwait Investment Office in London. The KIO was set up in February 1953, eight years before Kuwait gained independence from the United Kingdom, and is generally seen as the world's first sovereign wealth fund. It is now part of the Kuwait Investment Authority.

The Specialised Criminal Court in Riyadh has sentenced retired teacher Mohammed Al-Ghamdi to death for a series of tweets in which he criticised corruption and unemployment levels and called for the release of political prisoners.

A Royal Saudi Air Force Tornado fighter jet crashed late August during a routine training mission in Dhahran. The two crew members survived and there were no injuries on the ground.  It was the second loss of an aircraft in as many months.

Some $6bn of Iranian funds that have been frozen in South Korea are expected to be sent to Qatari banks in the coming days, prompting the release of five US citizens held in Iran and the same number of Iranians in American prisons.

Revised September 2023, this collection of graphs chart Saudi Arabian economic trends to accompany the article 'Riyadh posts non-oil growth but hydrocarbons still dictate performance.' from GSN issue 1176. Included graphs measure GDP change, Government lending and borrowing, gross fixed capital formation, oil production, non oil GDP figures and current account balance projections up to 2028. There are also figures on international reserves and current account, unemployment rates, labour participation and tourist numbers up to 2023.  This collection is available as a PDF file using eps graphics, meaning that there is no loss of resolution as the file is enlarged.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stopped in Muscat on 11 September on his way home from the G20 summit in India. Although billed as a "private visit" he arrived with a large delegation and held talks with Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said, covering the Yemen war, Iran and trade.  

Several Saudi ruling family members are involved in the food and hospitality sectors, including Prince Saud Bin Abdelaziz Bin Fahd Al-Farhan,  Prince Waleed Bin Nasser Bin Fahd, Prince Abdelaziz Bin Saud Al-Saud and Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed. 

The Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (Iriaf) has reportedly received two Russian-made Yakovlev Yak-130 advanced training jets. As yet, however, there is no sign of a promised delivery of Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets making their way to Iran.