Wednesday, 3 July—Manama hosted the 2019 Middle East and North Africa Regional High-Level Forum on the Green Economy in collaboration with the World Green Economy Organization and the United Nations. The three-day event stressed the successful regional  examples of green economy solutions and strategies implemented to achieve the UN sustainable development goals. The Executive Director of Bahrain’s Supreme Council for Environment, Dr Mohammed Mubarak Bin-Daina, called for amending legislation and preparing for the transition process to the green economy, which, he said, assists also in maintaining economic growth and elimination of poverty. On the sidelines, Bahrain signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Egypt on environmental protection, climate affairs and nature conservation.

Wednesday, 3 July—As part of the efforts to keep up with the new technologies, Bahrain announced it will join the United Kingdom in testing the guidelines for the deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the public sector, designed by the World Economic Forum Centre for the 4th Industrial Revolution. They will be the first two countries in the world to test the AI guidelines, which will then assist governments around the world in understanding and implementing the AI in their everyday work.

Monday, 1 July—Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Oman’s Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, and Badr Al-Busaidi, Secretary General of Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held separate talks with Pascale Baeriswyl, State Secretary at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. They discussed bilateral ties between Oman and Switzerland and ways to enhance them particularly in political and economic fields. They also focused on the regional developments and efforts to strengthen political dialogue to achieve security and stability.

Wednesday, 3 July—A delegation from Oman’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by the the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Qais bin Mohammed Al-Yousef, participated alongside other Arab countries in the Arab-British Economic Summit 2019 held in London. The Summit aimed at enhancing economic cooperation and increase bilateral trade between the Arab countries and the United Kingdom. The UK was chosen as Oman’s first largest investor following the recently issued four new laws aimed at boosting foreign investments in the Sultanate.

Saturday, 29 June—Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, attended the G20 Summit of the 20 world’s largest economies in Osaka, Japan. Speaking on the tensions in the Gulf, he assured the leaders that the Kingdom does not seek war with Iran and stressed the need for the international community to take tougher stance on Tehran and its aggressive policies to prevent further escalation. Mohammad bin Salman agreed on deepening trade, energy security and counterterrorism ties with India, held talks notably with Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, US President, Donald Trump, Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, and Emperor Naruhito of Japan. Riyadh will host the next G20 Summit between 21 and 22 November 2020 with topics such as food security, access to water and energy, environment, healthcare, education, and digital economy, on the top of the agenda.

Tuesday, 2 July—Saudi Arabia will continue the preparations for the initial public offering (IPO) of the world’s largest oil producer, Saudi Aramco. The Kingdom’s Oil Minister, Khalid Al-Falih, said that after the acquisition of a 70% stake in the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), bought for $69 billion from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in March, and a successful debt offering earlier this year, the Kingdom can proceed with the planning of the IPO, scheduled for 2020 or 2021. The IPO was announced in 2016 as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic plan before being partially suspended. The Kingdom seeks to value Aramco for $2 trillion, which would allow it to sell a 5% stake in the company for $100 billion, making it the largest IPO in the history.

Tuesday, 2 July—During the 6th Ministerial Meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC members, known collectively as the OPEC+, in Vienna, the 24 Ministers agreed to extend the voluntary oil production cuts for additional 9 months until 31 March 2020. The cuts by 1.2 million barrels per day were in effect since the previous Ministerial in December 2018. On the occasion, the Energy Ministers also endorsed a draft of the Charter of Cooperation, which, if approved by the national governments, will formalise the relationship and long-term cooperation between the OPEC and non-OPEC countries.

Wednesday, 3 July—The state-owned defence company, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), signed a collaboration agreement with the Paramount Group, a South African global defence and aerospace company, on the development of technologies and capabilities across the land, sea, and air domains, as well as system integration. The deal is in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal to increase the domestic share of military expenditure to 50% by 2030.

Friday, 5 July—Saudi Arabia’s air defence forces intercepted armed drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen towards Jazan. It is yet another attempt in the latest series of Houthi attacks on the Kingdom’s civilian areas.