5 Top Points
- Qatar’s Emir met with Russia’s President and Iran’s Foreign Minister in Moscow ahead of the US-Iran talks in Rome.
- The Oman-mediated US-Iran nuclear talks advanced in Rome, with the next round scheduled for Muscat.
- Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defence made a landmark visit to Tehran amid regional realignment.
- Oman’s Sultan met with Russia’s President in Moscow as US-Iran nuclear diplomacy intensified.
- 538 prisoners exchanged in the 14th Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap mediated by the UAE.
‘Round and About the Gulf
Kingdom of Bahrain
Monday, 21 April—Bahrain’s King, Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, and Prime Minister and Crown Prince, Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, extended condolences to Cardinal Pietro Parolin on the passing of Pope Francis, praising the Pope’s historic efforts in promoting interfaith dialogue, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence. Leaders from other GCC countries also conveyed their condolences, remembering Pope Francis as the first pontiff to visit the Arabian Peninsula, notably the UAE and Bahrain, in a significant step forward in interfaith relations between Christian and Muslim communities.
State of Kuwait
Wednesday 16 April—Kuwait hosted the GCC and Central Asian Foreign Ministers for the third strategic dialogue meeting to strengthen cooperation across key sectors, including trade, investment, transport, energy, digital infrastructure, food and water security, and AI. The meeting also addressed regional security, counterterrorism, and support for Palestinian rights, while preparing for the upcoming second GCC-Central Asia Summit in Uzbekistan aimed at deepening strategic ties.
Sultanate of Oman
Saturday, 19 April—Oman’s Foreign Ministry stated that during the Rome talks, mediated by Omani Foreign Minister, Badr Al-Busaidi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, and US Presidential Envoy, Steve Witkoff, agreed to advance to the next phase of talks aimed at reaching a binding agreement to ensure an Iran free of nuclear weapons and sanctions while preserving its right to peaceful nuclear energy. The next round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in Muscat.
State of Qatar
Monday, 21 April—Qatar will be pushing for US sanctions relief to enable financial support for Syria’s new government, including salary payments and gas supply funding, Foreign Minister of State, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, confirmed ahead of meetings with US officials in Washington. The diplomatic effort coincides with Syria’s participation in the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings and a Saudi-World Bank roundtable on restoring Syria’s access to global financial assistance.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Friday, 18 April—Saudi Arabia introduced major changes to its VAT law, expanding the tax base to include online transactions and tightening rules on VAT grouping, business transfers, and input VAT recovery, while also clarifying the responsibilities of e-commerce platforms and reforming refund procedures. The new regulations aim to boost compliance, support tourism through a streamlined VAT refund system for visitors, and align with global standards amid efforts to diversify revenue beyond oil.
United Arab Emirates
Saturday, 19 April—The UAE mediated the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine since the war began, involving 538 prisoners of war, bringing the total to 3,771 prisoners exchanged through UAE mediation.
Monday 21 April—UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, appointed Badr Jafar as Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy.
EU Corner
Wednesday, 16 April—UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, met with a European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee delegation, led by MEP David McAllister, to discuss strengthening UAE-EU relations, with a focus on economic, trade, and investment cooperation as well as security and regional stability. The talks highlighted the launch of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement as a key step towards deepening strategic collaboration and promoting development. McAllister said that the EU should elevate the partnership with the UAE to the strategic level.
Key Official Visits & Contacts
Wednesday, 16 April—Saudi Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel concluded his visit to France, where he met with French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, Laurent Saint-Martin, and Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Elisabete Weiderpass, to enhance cooperation in healthcare investment, digital health, and innovation, and to explore collaboration in cancer research and global health. They witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Saudi Health Holding Company and France Biotech.
Thursday, 17 April—Qatar’s Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, visited Russia for the first time since 2018 to deepen ties in energy, trade, diplomacy, and investment during talks with President Vladimir Putin, which also covered Syria and Gaza. The Emir relayed Syria’s interest in closer ties with Moscow. On the occasion, they held the Qatar-Russia Business Forum. On the sidelines, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, met with Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, to discuss bilateral cooperation, the Palestinian situation, and upcoming US-Iran nuclear talks.
Thursday, 17 April—The Foreign Ministries of Qatar and the United Kingdom held a preparatory videoconference ahead of the second Qatari-UK Strategic Dialogue, set for 27 April in Doha, co-chaired by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, and UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy. The Qatari delegation was led by Khalid bin Fahad Al-Khater, Director of Policy and Planning Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the UK side was headed by Tom Allen, Joint Head of the Iraq and Arabian Peninsula Department at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Friday, 18 April—In a major diplomatic development, the Saudi Minister of Defence, Khalid bin Salman Al-Saud, led a delegation to Tehran where he met with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, Mohammad Bagheri, and the Supreme National Security Council Secretary, Ali Akbar Ahmadian.
Friday, 18 April—Omani Foreign Minister, Badr Al-Busaidi, met with Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation and reaffirm their shared commitment to diplomacy and regional stability. Al-Busaidi also expressed gratitude for Italy’s support in hosting the Iran-US talks in Rome.
Friday, 18 April—Qatar’s Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, sponsored a meeting in Doha between Syria’s President, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, and Iraq’s Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, in a bid to enhance cooperation and coordination between Syria and Iraq.
Sunday, 20 April—Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Waleed Elkhereiji, received French Senator, Olivier Cadic, Vice-President of the Senate’s Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Armed Forces Committee, to review Saudi-French relations and explore avenues for strengthening cooperation. The two sides also discussed regional and international developments and ongoing efforts to address shared challenges.
Monday, 21 April—Oman’s Sultan, Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said, visited Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin, shortly after Muscat hosted the first round of US-Iran nuclear negotiations and mediated the second round in Rome, Italy. The visit focused on regional and global cooperation, with discussions also covering trade and economic ties, as Russia expressed its willingness to mediate in the nuclear talks.
Monday, 21 April—During his first official visit to Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan’s President, Sadyr Zhaparov, held talks with King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and senior officials to strengthen bilateral cooperation. On the occasion, the two countries signed several agreements in key areas, including economic cooperation, air services, healthcare, justice, youth policy, culture, religion, and sports.
Tuesday, 22 April—India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, visited Jeddah for talks with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud, focused on trade, energy, technology, investment and cultural ties. Ahead of the visit, Modi hailed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a 21st-century Silk Route that will drive long-term regional connectivity and economic growth and emphasised deepening Indian-Saudi commercial, energy, and strategic ties, highlighting shared goals in security, development, and digital cooperation between Saudi Vision 2030 and India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 initiative.