5 Top Points
- French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, travelled to Qatar.
- The First European Chamber of Commerce of Saudi Arabia (ECCKSA) was launched in Riyadh.
- Construction works began on the Oman–UAE railway linking Sohar and Abu Dhabi.
- Saudi Arabia hosted Egyptian, Djiboutian, Jordan, and Yemeni forces for the ‘Red Wave7’ mixed naval exercise focused on enhancing maritime security of the countries bordering the Red Sea.
- Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud, and Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, discussed ways to end the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
‘Round and About the Gulf
Kingdom of Bahrain
Tuesday, 7 May–Bahrain’s Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) released its Q1 2024 Foreign Trade report, showing that Bahrain’s non-oil exports increased by 5%, reaching BD1.5 billion (about €3.4 billion), compared to BD1.43 million (about €3 billion) in Q1 2023, in line with its commitment to diversify its economy by reducing dependency on oil revenues.
State of Kuwait
Tuesday, 7 May–Kuwait City hosted the two-day International Forum on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Forum aimed to show how AI technologies are being integrated into various sectors in Kuwait to enhance efficiency, productivity, and innovation. Moreover, the event served as a platform to showcase AI-driven solutions and initiatives to foster economic growth, quality of life, and competitiveness in the global landscape.
Sultanate of Oman
Saturday, 4 May–Oman Rail and the UAE’s Etihad Rail have started the construction work on the railway project linking Oman’s Sohar and UAE’s Abu Dhabi. The project will facilitate the movement of goods and people, and promote trade, tourism and economic integration across the region.
State of Qatar
Tuesday, 7 May–Qatar’s Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, announced that Hamas has responded positively to the proposals presented by mediators regarding the truce with Israel. He stated that a Qatari delegation travelled to Cairo to continue indirect negotiations between the two parties through intermediaries. The Ministry expressed its hope that these discussions will lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as well as facilitate the exchange of prisoners and detainees, and ensure the sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the region.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Sunday, 5 May–Saudi Arabia’s Armed Forces launched the ‘Red Wave-7’ mixed naval exercise with countries bordering the Red Sea, namely Egypt, Djibouti, Jordan, and Yemen, at the King Faisal Naval Base in Jeddah. The participating nations aim to strengthen their capabilities in counterterrorism, combating piracy, and protecting sea lanes, underscoring the importance of multinational collaboration in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The drill included surface and
air warfare, electronic warfare, and maritime security exercises.
United Arab Emirates
Saturday, 4 May–The Sharjah Petroleum Council announced the discovery of a new gas field in Al-Hadiba field in Sharjah. The discovery is expected to boost the Emirates’ energy reserves and contribute to its energy security and sustainability efforts, highlighting the potential for further expansion of the UAE’s hydrocarbon resources.
EU Corner
Monday, 6 May–The Director for the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships, Peteris Ustubs, participated in the ‘2024 Arab-DAC Dialogue on Development’, hosted by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, in Kuwait. The dialogue aimed to foster global solidarity in development financing. Representatives of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Saudi
Development Fund, the Abu Dhabi Development Fund, and the Qatar Development Fund participated as well, among others.
Tuesday, 7 May–The Sixth Senior Officials Meeting on Yemen, chaired by the EU Commissioner, Janez Lenarčič, was held in Brussel. During the meeting, the European Commission announced it will provide €125 million in new EU humanitarian funding to address the most pressing needs of people in Yemen amidst the ongoing crisis and escalating tensions in the region. Representatives of the GCC members participated in the event, among others.
Wednesday, 8 May–Spyros Kouvelis, the Head of the EU-GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project, met with the Acting Director of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), General Mashaan Al-Otaibi, to discuss advancing cooperation in renewable energy, climate change and tackling global environmental challenges.
Wednesday, 8 May–The first European Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia (ECCKSA) was opened in Riyadh, marking a milestone in economic relations. The ECCKSA will serve as a platform to facilitate business cooperation and promote trade and investment between the EU and Saudi Arabia.
Key Official Visits
Friday, 3 May–Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani, met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef, in Doha. They discussed trade collaboration, including economic integration, non-oil exports, national products’ competitiveness, and the flow of mutual investments.
Saturday, 4 May–On the sidelines of the Islamic Summit Conference in Gambia, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, held talks with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The ministers discussed relations and explored avenues to boost ties, and tackled regional and international developments, with a primary focus on the situation in the Gaza Strip.
Saturday, 4 May–Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, met with French Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, in Doha. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral cooperation and ways to further develop it, as well as the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings.
Monday, 6 May–Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom (UK) held the two-day Strategic Dialogue on International Development and Humanitarian Assistance in Riyadh. The UK delegation, led by the Minister of State for Development and African Affairs, Andrew Mitchell, and Saudi Arabia’s
Advisor at the Royal Court and General Supervisor of KSrelief, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz AlRabeeah, discussed humanitarian issues in Somalia, Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen, and Bangladesh and agreed to significantly increase joint funding to support people in these areas. Both sides agreed to a Delivery Framework to align joint aid delivery with the 2030 UN Sustainable Developments Goals. Moreover, agreements were reached to continue dialogue through mutual hosting of
projects around the world.
Monday, 6 May–Bahrain’s First Deputy Speaker of the Council of Representatives, Abdulnabi Salman, participated in the two-day NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group Seminar in Rome. The event provided a platform to exchange views, share insights, and strengthen partnerships with NATO and other participating nations, fostering collaborative efforts towards addressing common security challenges.
Tuesday, 7 May–Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, went on an official tour to Algeria, Libya, and Morocco, where he met with Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Ahmed Attaf; Libya’s Prime Minister and Assigned
Foreign Minister, Abdulhamid Al-Dabaiba; and Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita. Ways to enhance cooperation in various fields, as well as the current regional crisis and the impact on regional security and stability was discussed.
Tuesday, 7 May–Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, held separate phone calls with the UAE’s Foreign Minister, Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ayman Al-Safadi, and Tükiye’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan. They discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the importance for an immediate and enduring ceasefire agreement, the release of prisoners,
as well as strategies to deliver humanitarian aid to the Strip.
Wednesday, 8 May–Kuwait’s Emir, Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, and Turkish President Erdogan held talks on boosting bilateral relations and regional developments, including the Israel-Hamas crisis, in Ankara. During the Emir’s visit, several agreements were signed, notably an executive protocol between Kuwait’s and Türkiye’s Defence Ministry; a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Foreign Affairs Ministries on establishing strategic dialogue; a MoU between
Kuwait’s Investment Authority and the Turkish Presidency Investment Office on the promotion of investment cooperation; among others.
Wednesday, 8 May–Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lolwah bint Rashid Al-Khater, went on an official visit to Mersin, Türkiye. She held a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yasin Ekrem Serim, the Deputy Interior Minister, Munir Karaloglu, Mersin Governor, Ali Hamza Pehlivan, and the Head of Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, Okay Memiş. During the meeting, they discussed
bilateral cooperation and ways to enhance them, in particular in the development sector. They also discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip.
Wednesday, 8 May–Qatar’s Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari, went on an official visit to Stockholm, and held a meeting with the Director General of the Swdish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Dag Juhlin-Dannfelt, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Department, Magnus Hellgren, Secretary-General of the Swedish Parliament, Ingvar Mattson, the Spokesperson for the Social Democratic Party for Foreign Affairs in Sweden’s
Parliament, Morgan Johansson, and a member of the Swedish Parliament, Alexandra Anstrell. During the meetings, they discussed the developments in the Gaza Strip and the Qatari mediation efforts, as well as ways to enhance bilateral relations. As part of his official visit, Majed bin Mohammed Al-Ansari also participated in the plenary session of the Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development, which focused on the current conflicts in Afghanistan, Somalia, and the Gaza Strip.
Wednesday, 8 May–Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Member of the Council of Ministers, and Envoy for Climate, Abel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, received a German Delegation of senior experts and government representatives, in Riyadh. The delegation was organised by the German-Arab Friendship Association and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. During the meeting, they discussed Saudi-German relations and prospects for cooperation in all fields.
Wednesday, 8 May–Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud, held a phone call with Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to discuss bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern, most notably the ongoing developments and efforts to resolve the Ukraine-Russia crisis.
Thursday, 9 May–Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Waleed bin Abdulkarim ElKhereiji, received the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Palestine, Mohammed Mustafa, in Riyadh.