5 Top Points
- The United Kingdom’s Deputy Prime Minister and several government ministers led the UK’s largest trade delegation in a decade to Saudi Arabia.
- Kuwait’s Emir dissolved the National Assembly and suspended several articles of the constitution for up to four years.
- Bahrain hosted the 33rd Arab League Summit calling for a UN-backed international peace conference to resolve the Palestinian issue in Manama.
- The UAE rejected Israel’s remark suggesting that it could be involved in aiding a future government in Gaza after the war.
- The GCC Members welcomed the UN General Assembly’s vote in favour of Palestinian membership.
‘Round and About the Gulf
Kingdom of Bahrain
Thursday, 16 May–Bahrain hosted the 33rd Arab League Summit in Manama. The Summit aimed to address regional conflicts, economic challenges, and political instability in the Arab world. The Summit gathered leaders of the Arab League member states and the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres. The Arab League Foreign Ministers earlier voted unanimously to adopt the “Bahrain declaration” calling for a UN-backed international peace conference to resolve the Palestinian issue to be hosted in Manama.
State of Kuwait
Friday, 10 May–Kuwait’s Emir, Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, issued a decree dissolving the National Assembly and suspending some articles of the country’s constitution for up to four years, including those stating that a new parliament must be elected within two months of its dissolution and that laws must be approved by the parliament and the Emir. The Emir and the new Cabinet will assume the powers of the National Assembly. Two days later, Kuwait formed a 13-member government under the Prime Minister, Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
Sultanate of Oman
Monday, 13 May–Oman and Kuwait signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at enhancing cooperation in direct investment, metrology activities, and diplomatic studies in various sectors, including energy, infrastructure and logistics. These agreements were formalised during the State visit of Oman’s Sultan, Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said, to Kuwait, notably between the two countries’ Foreign Ministries and Investment Authorities.
State of Qatar
Sunday, 12 May–QatarEnergy signed a farm-in agreement with ExxonMobil, an American multinational oil and gas corporation, to acquire a 40% participating interest in ‘Cairo’ and ‘Masry’ offshore exploration blocks in Egypt. The agreement, subject to Egyptian government’s approval, marks an expansion of QatarEnergy’s exploration activities in Egypt.
Tuesday, 14 May–The two-day 2024 Qatar Economic Forum took place in Doha, under the theme ‘A World Remade: Navigating the Year of Uncertainty.’ The forum featured over 1,000 leaders from corporate and government sectors, focusing on global economic challenges and the Gulf’s growing influence. During the opening session, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, announced the launch of the Fanar AI project, which aims to enhance linguistic programs and the Arabic language through data collection, as part of Qatar’s digital transformation and AI investment efforts.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saturday, 11 May–Saudi Arabia and the other GCC members expressed their support for the United Nations General Assembly’s vote in favour of granting Palestine full membership in the United Nations.
Sunday, 12 May–The Saudi Armed Forces participated in the ‘Eager Lion 204’ military exercise in Jordan, an extensive drill involving 31 regional and international forces. This exercise is designed to enhance military cooperation and readiness among the participating nations, focusing on joint operations and response strategies to regional security threats.
United Arab Emirates
Saturday, 11 May–The UAE rejected the comments made by Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting that the UAE could be involved in aiding a future government in Gaza after the war. UAE’s Foreign Minister, Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, stated that ‘The UAE stresses that the Israeli prime minister does not have any legal capacity to take this step, and the UAE refuses to be drawn into any plan aimed at providing cover for the Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip.’ He also stated that the UAE would be prepared to support a Palestinian government of an independent Palestinian state.
Thursday, 16 May–Abu Dhabi hosted the China-Arab Entrepreneurs Summit, a platform facilitating increased trade and capital exchange between the Arab world and China to boost economic growth and foster opportunities for both regions.
EU Corner
Tuesday, 14 May–The European Union Council announced the expansion of EU restrictive measures against Iran over the supply of drones and missiles to Russia and to armed extremist groups in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. The expanded measures aim to increase pressure on Iran to cease its support for conflicts in these regions.
Sunday, 12 May—The EU hosted the first edition of the EU-GCC Young Leaders in Regional Diplomacy Programme (12-17 May), which brought together 14 young diplomats from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and its member states to Brussels and Bruges to learn about the principles and functioning of the EU and its diplomatic service. During their visit, the GCC diplomats met with senior EU officials, representatives from various European think tanks, the GCC diplomatic missions to the EU, and young European diplomats at the European Diplomatic Academy, at the College of Europe in Bruges. The programme was coordinated by the office of the EU Special Representative for the Gulf, Luigi Di Maio.
Wednesday, 15 May–In a statement, the EU High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, expressed the EU’s deep concern over Israel’s military operation near the Rafah border crossing with Gaza. The statement emphasised the EU’s commitment to security, and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians and the facilitation of humanitarian assistance. Additionally, the EU reiterated its support for a two-state solution.
Key Official Visits
Friday, 10 May–Qatar and Finland held the second round of political consultations in Helsinki, co-chaired by Qatar’s Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed bin Hassan Al-Hammadi, and Finland’s Permanent State Secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Jukka Salovaara. The meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss key regional and international issues. Both parties exchanged views on various topics of mutual interest, including political, economic, and cultural cooperation.
Sunday, 12 May–Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, met with the UK Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Leo Docherty, to review bilateral relations and regional security matters. They exchanged views on various issues of mutual interest, particularly focusing on defence cooperation and efforts to promote stability in the Middle East.
Sunday, 12 May–Ahead of the 33rd Arab Summit in Manama, Bahrain’s Minister of Finance and National Economy, Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, held a series of separate meetings with his Palestinian counterpart, Mohammad Alamour, Saudi counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan, and with his Lebanese counterpart, Amin Salam. They discussed bilateral economic cooperation, including trade, investment and financial collaboration.
Monday, 13 May–Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, met with Lebanon’s Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, in Doha. During the meeting, they reviewed avenues for cooperation and assistance in bolstering Lebanon’s security and stability.
Tuesday, 14 May–On the sidelines of the World Hydrogen Summit 2024 in Rotterdam, Oman’s Minister of Transport, Said Hamoud Al-Maawali, and the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Jan Hendriks Dronkers, discussed joint cooperation in ports and hydrogen techniques, aiming to enhance collaboration for mutual interest, and to explore sustainable energy solutions.
Tuesday, 14 May–On the margins of the 2024 Qatar World Economic Forum in Doha, Qatar’s Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, met with Poland’s President, Andrzej Duda. They discussed bilateral relations, issues of common interest, as well as the ongoing Gaza crisis.
Tuesday, 14 May–Qatar’s Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, discussed the latest developments in Gaza over phone with the UK’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, emphasising the need for immediate action to address the escalating humanitarian crisis.
Tuesday, 14 May–Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in the second Ministerial Working Group meeting on supporting Somalia against violations of its territorial integrity, held on the sidelines of the 33rd Arab Summit, and chaired by Ahmed Moalim Faki, Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The meeting discussed joint Arab efforts to defend the Somali state’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in rejection of the memorandum of understanding signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland.
Wednesday, 15 May–Bahrain’s Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, met with Lebanon’s Minister of Economy and Trade, Amin Salam, in Manama, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in the field of energy.
Wednesday, 15 May–Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon, went on an official visit to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. In Doha, she met with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. In Riyadh, she met with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud. In Abu Dhabi, she met with the UAE’s Foreign Minister, Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. During the meetings, ways to bolster cooperation were discussed, as well as the regional and international developments.
Tuesday, 14 May—The United Kingdom’s Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, led a delegation of several government ministers and the UK’s largest trade delegation in a decade to Saudi Arabia to participate in the Great Futures Forum, a joint summit aimed at promoting bilateral economic ties. Speaking at the event in Riyadh, Dowden expressed optimism that the UK-GCC free trade agreement could be finalised in 2024. The GCC is the UK’s fourth-largest trading partner.