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Opec+ market discipline has fed into a rise in Brent crude prices to around $90/bbl, which is welcomed in Gulf capitals as an essential element in easing pressure on governments’ huge investment spending. Those higher oil prices are also driven by fears the Gaza war could spread into a much wider regional conflict that Gulf powers have been working to avoid

Group 42 is leading some of Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan’s high-tech investments and the UAE’s growing commercial engagement with Israel. This chart shows how Group 42 connects to Sheikh Tahnoun's Royal Group Holding and some of the international agreements and joint ventures signed by Group 42.

Revised January 2022, this map illustrates energy infrastructure across the Gulf region. 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 inset provides greater detail of the Strait of Hormuz and shipping lanes either side of the Tunb islands. The map is available as a PDF file using eps graphics, meaning that there is no loss of resolution as the file is enlarged.

Allies and enemies are anxiously waiting to see if the Israeli government will escalate regional conflict further after more than 300 projectiles were fired from Iran at Israel on 13-14 April in Tehran’s retaliation to the Israeli strike that killed IRGC commanders in Damascus. Most of the drones and missiles were shot down, but a few hit Israeli military bases, causing limited damage.

Oman and Switzerland have been acting as go-betweens in the wake of the Israeli airstrike that destroyed the Iranian consulate in Damascus, sharing messages between Iran and Washington.

One of the Bani Khaili brothers, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority MD Hamed Bin Zayed has long played a key role in Abu Dhabi’s economic development and also has his own business interests.

The opening of another field hospital in Chad and talk of a ‘foreign legion’ project have led to renewed focus on the UAE’s involvement in the Sudan conflict and Abu Dhabi’s efforts to extend its influence in Africa and other parts of President Mohammed Bin Zayed’s ‘near abroad’

Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, who died in May 2022, lived through a period of extraordinary change for his country. Born at a time when pre-oil Abu Dhabi was relatively isolated and under British protection, as head of state from 2004 until 2022, Khalifa played a key role in the UAE’s emergence on the regional and world stage – while being progressively replaced in decision-making by his half-brothers, led by Mohammed Bin Zayed.

The issue leads with an in-depth look at UAE national security advisor Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan's $1trn-plus investment empire. Through its lead article and five linked charts, GSN examines the structure of Tahnoun’s business empire and the identities of those individuals who work most closely with him. Politics coverage also leads with the UAE. GSN presents a new series of profiles of the Al-Nahyan family, including the powerful Bani Fatima brothers – UAE President Mohammed Bin Zayed and sheikhs Hamdan (ruler’s representative in Al-Dhafra region), Hazza (Abu Dhabi deputy ruler), Tahnoun (national security advisor and Abu Dhabi deputy ruler), Mansour (vice president, deputy prime minister and Presidential Court chairman) and Abdullah (foreign minister). GSN's coverage includes a new Al-Nahyan influence chart that focuses on the family relationships that are central to decision-making in Abu Dhabi and the UAE, alongside a second chart focused on all the sons of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan, including the Bani Fatima brothers. The issue also looks at Kuwait, where elections on 4 April returned a National Assembly that is expected to once again provide resolute opposition to any government. Economy and business coverage focuses on Saudi Arabia, where Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s government is reportedly scaling back some of its vastly expensive megaprojects, such as The Line in Neom, in a sign that Riyadh continues to struggle to attract the foreign direct investment it needs for MBS’ Vision 2030 reform agenda. Energy and industry coverage leads with a look at how wealthy Gulf national oil companies are seeking lower-carbon expansion opportunities across Africa.

Saudi Aramco said on 17 January it would increase the capital allotted to its global venture capital arm Aramco Ventures, from $3bn to $7bn over the next four years.

Sheikha Shamma Bint Sultan, a grand-daughter of the late President Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, has become prominent on environmental issues. This places her in a topical and controversial area following the UAE's hosting of the COP28 summit in November 2023, where it promoted an agenda that was opposed by many climate activists.

Sheikh Zayed was sworn in as the UAE’s ambassador to Qatar in August 2023, two-and-a-half years after the end of the boycott of Qatar by its neighbours.

The QIA’s new $200m fund is designed to bring more foreign investment into Qatar, as the first step of a wider plan to partner with local and international asset management firms.

First among equals in the UAE – as well as a major player in an expanding ‘near abroad’ – President Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ) and his Bani Fatima brothers dominate national politics and business. MBZ and his siblings are among the first in a major series of profiles of Abu Dhabi’s Al-Nahyan family.

Revised March 2024, this graphic illustrates the connections and relationships across key areas of Iranian politics and business. Centred around Rahbar (Supreme Leader) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the chart shows the extent to which officials with an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC or Pasdaran) background occupy key positions across the Islamic Republic. The chart covers politics, judicial appointments, key security institutions and personnel, clerics and religious bodies and bonyads (wealthy economic foundations). Names of key individuals link through to Key Player profiles, with supporting articles from the extensive GSN archive.