5 Top Points
- Kuwait held parliamentary elections.
- The Oman Investment Authority launched the $5.2 billion Future Fund Oman.
- The EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region attended the launch of the GCC’s first Vision for Regional Security in Riyadh.
- The UAE Foreign Minister went on an official visit to Italy and Hungary.
- Spain’s Prime Minister travelled to Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to discuss Gaza and bilateral economic cooperation, and announced Madrid’s plan to recognise Palestinian statehood by July.
‘Round and About the Gulf
Kingdom of Bahrain
Thursday, 28 March–Bahrain, along with Austria, Canada, Portugal, and the US, will take a leading role in the year-long initiative titled ‘Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomy’ aiming to establish new safety measures for military AI and automated systems. Bahrain will specifically co-lead the ‘Assurance’ working group with the US, which will focus on implementing three principles outlined in the Political Declaration — that AI and automated systems will be built for well-defined uses, with rigorous testing and appropriate safeguards against failure or unintended behaviour.
State of Kuwait
Thursday, 4 April–Kuwait held parliamentary elections, the first since Emir Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah assumed power in December 2023. The Emir urged voters to choose representatives wisely, emphasising the importance of upholding national responsibilities and unity. 200 candidates, including 13 women, competed for 50 seats in the 21st National Assembly elections.
Sultanate of Oman
Thursday, 28 March–The Oman Investment Authority (OIA) launched the $5.2 billion (about €4.6 billion) Future Fund Oman, which will be gradually deployed over the next five years. 90% of the fund’s capital will be directly invested in large-scale projects, 7% will support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and 3% will be invested in startups in a bid to promote innovation and attract investors.
Monday, 1 April–The Oman-Italian Friendship Association (OIFA) will host the first Oman-Italy Business Matchmaking Forum from 28 to 29 April to explore new opportunities and establish long-term partnerships between Omani and Italian investors and enterprises.
State of Qatar
Sunday, 31 March–Ahead of a massive expansion in liquified natural gas (LNG) output, QatarEnergy signed a number of charter contracts with several Asian shipowners, in Doha, securing 19 LNG vessels and expanding its fleet to 104 vessels.
Tuesday, 2 April–Israel’s Prime Minister pledged to shut down local operations of Qatar’s news agency, Al-Jazeera, following the passing of a law allowing the government to ban foreign news outlets perceived to pose a threat to national security.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saturday, 30 March–The Royal Saudi Air Force will join a multinational combat air exercise, Iniochos 2024, at the Air Tactics Centre in Greece. The exercise, which includes forces from Cyprus, France, Montenegro, Qatar, Romania, Spain, the UK and the US, will aim to enhance readiness and combat effectiveness, sharing and acquiring experience.
Tuesday, 2 April–Saudi Aramco awarded $7.7 billion (about €6.8 billion) contracts to Samsung Engineering, GS Engineering & Construction Corporation from South Korea, and Nesma & Partners to expand its Fadhili gas plant’s capacity to 4 billion standard cubic feet per day, compared to the current 2.5 billion. This aligns with Aramco’s plan to increase gas production by over 60% by 2030. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is exploring investments in LNG projects abroad.
United Arab Emirates
Tuesday, 2 April–The UAE and Cyprus issued a joint statement which strongly condemned Israel’s attack on humanitarian aid workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK). They denounced violence against humanitarian workers, emphasised the importance of upholding international treaties protecting relief staff, but also urged Israel to protect humanitarian workers. Through the Amalthea Initiative, the UAE, Cyprus, and WCK aim to provide urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Tuesday, 2 April–The state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Gas will invest $13 billion (about €11.8 billion) in expanding its liquified natural gas (LNG) production capacity and exploring international opportunities over the next five years. With a focus on doubling its LNG output by 2028, the company aims to capitalise on global demand, securing LNG export agreements worth up to $12 billion (about €10.9 billion).
EU Corner
Friday, 29 March–The EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region, Luigi di Maio, participated in the launch of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) Vision for Regional Security in Riyadh. The GCC’s first unified vision for regional security was adopted by the GCC Ministerial Council in Doha in December 2023. It outlines 15 key pillars, including: prioritising diplomacy; the Arab Peace Initiative and the Palestinian issue; the Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction; use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; combating terrorism, extremism, terrorism financing and money-laundering; criminalising all groups carrying out terrorist acts; boosting maritime security and cybersecurity; stabilising global energy markets; implementing circular carbon economy; and ensuring water and food security.
Sunday, 31 March–Bulgaria and Romania officially joined the Schengen area, marking a significant milestone in European integration. This move eliminates internal air and sea border checks and extends Schengen visa issuance in both countries.
Wednesday, 3 April–The European Union (EU) condemned the attack on an Iranian diplomatic facility in Damascus on 1 April, as well as the reported casualties, and called for restraint amid a highly tense regional situation. The EU further stated that the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises and personnel must be upheld at all times and under all circumstances, in line with international law. The attack killed three senior members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Al Quds Force—Senior Commander, Mohammad Reza Zahedi, Deputy Commander, Haji Rahimi, and Chief of General Staff for Lebanon and Syria, Hossein Aminullah.
Key Official Visits
Monday, 1 April–Bahrain’s Chief of Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fatima Abdullah Al-Dhaen, virtually participated in the Senior Officials GCC-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting in preparation for the 2nd Joint Ministerial Meeting on 15 April in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. They reviewed progress in the Joint Action Plan for the Strategic GCC-Central Asian Dialogue, addressed regional and international issues of mutual interest, and reviewed recommendations for the ministerial meeting and arrangements for the GCC-Central Asia Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in 2025.
Monday, 1 April–Bahrain’s National Space Science Agency (NSSA), represented by the head of the Satellite Image and Data Analysis Laboratory at NSSA, Roya R Bubshait, participated in the SPACEtalks Conference at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in London, hosted by the European Space Agency (ESA). The conference focused on space technology advancements, with global experts discussing key developments.
Monday, 1 April–Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, travelled to Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to discuss the two-state solution, the Gaza crisis and efforts to achieve peace in the region as well as ways to boost bilateral economic cooperation. In Amman, he met with King Abdullah II. In Jeddah, he met with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud, the Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, the Defence Minister, Khalid bin Salman Al-Saud, and the Energy Minister, Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud. In Doha, he met with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, with whom he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Spain-Qatar Strategic Dialogue to enhance cooperation. During the visit, Sanchez announced that Madrid plans to recognise the State of Palestine by July.
Tuesday, 2 April–Bahrain’s King, Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, held a phone conversation with Jordan’s King, Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, where they discussed the longstanding relations between the two kingdoms and ways to strengthen cooperation and coordination across various sectors. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues, focusing on the situation in the Middle East and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Tuesday, 2 April–Following his visit to the Czech Republic on 26 March, the UAE Foreign Minister, Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, continued his European tour with stops in Italy and Hungary. He met with Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, in Rome, and with Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, in Budapest, with whom he discussed bilateral relations, as well as the potential for growth and development in various sectors.
Wednesday, 3 April–Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi, received a phone call from Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Tobias Billström. They explored avenues to strengthen cooperation and decided to conduct regular political consultations at a Foreign Ministry level. Additionally, they exchanged perspectives on various regional matters, including the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and the Israel-Hamas crisis. Both Oman and Sweden emphasised the significance of dialogue and addressing the underlying causes of conflicts while engaging with all relevant parties.
Wednesday, 3 April–The Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Palestine, Mohammed Mustafa, held a series of separate phone calls over the past week with GCC Foreign Ministers, including Abdullatif bin Rashi Al-Zayani of Bahrain, Badr Hamad Al-Busaidi of Oman, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia. They discussed the newly established Palestinian government, as well as recent developments in the Gaza Strip and efforts to achieve a ceasefire and enhance the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Wednesday, 3 April–During a video call, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, and UK Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Commonwealth and the UN at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Tariq Ahmad, signed a diplomatic training agreement to enhance cooperation in information, research, and training programmes. They also discussed bilateral development cooperation and the conflicts in Gaza and Sudan.
Wednesday, 3 April–Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi, received the US Special Envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, in Muscat. During the meeting, they exchanged views on the Yemeni crisis and the need for an immediate cessation of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Wednesday, 3 April–Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, held a phone call with Yemen’s Prime Minister, Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak. They discussed bilateral cooperation and ways to strengthen it, along with the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings. Qatar’s Prime Minister emphasised Doha’s full support for mediation efforts to resolve the Yemeni crisis through negotiations based on the outcomes of the national dialogue, the GCC initiative, and UN Security Council resolutions.