5 Top Points
- Saudi and Qatari ministers joined Madrid talks on Gaza and the two-state solution.
- Iran’s President visited Muscat a few days after the 5th round of Oman-mediated US-Iran nuclear talks concluded in Rome.
- Poland’s Foreign Minister met the EU Special Representative to discuss a unified EU policy on the Gulf and the two-state solution.
- Malaysia hosted the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit.
- The UAE unveiled an Arabic AI model and plans for a major AI data centre with global tech partners.
‘Round and About the Gulf
Kingdom of Bahrain
Wednesday, 21 May—Speaking at the 5th Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in Morocco, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Abdullatif Al-Zayani, reaffirmed Bahrain’s commitment to peace and regional cooperation, emphasising the two-state solution as the only lasting path to resolving the conflict. He called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, unrestricted humanitarian aid, and reconstruction without displacement. Al-Zayani also noted growing Arab, Islamic, and European support for the initiative and urged all parties to build on this momentum to secure lasting regional peace and stability.
State of Kuwait
Monday, 26 May—Kuwait and Saudi Arabia announced a new oil discovery in the Neutral Zone’s North Wafra Wara-Burgan field, the first since production resumed in 2020. Managed by Wafra Joint Operations, a partnership between Saudi Arabian Chevron and Kuwait Gulf Oil Company, the jointly-operated field is expected to produce over 500 barrels per day.
Sultanate of Oman
Monday, 26 May—Oman and India are nearing the conclusion of a free trade agreement, with expectations of signing it in the coming weeks. The key sticking point remains Oman’s Omanisation policy, which prioritises local hiring, while India is seeking a freeze on these quotas in sectors where Indian professionals are heavily represented.
State of Qatar
Wednesday, 21 May—The investment promotion agency, Invest Qatar, launched a $1 billion programme to attract investment and support economic diversification, offering to cover up to 40% of key business costs for local and international investors over five years. The first phase includes four targeted packages focused on advanced industries, logistics, digital technologies, and financial services, aiming to boost investment, expand operations, create skilled jobs, and promote knowledge transfer.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Wednesday, 21 May—The Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, officially opened its new office in Paris, marking a significant step in strengthening Saudi-French economic ties. The inauguration ceremony was attended by French President, Emmanuel Macron, PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, and senior officials and business leaders from both countries.
Friday, 23 May—Saudi Arabia launched TOURISE, a new global platform to strengthen public-private partnerships and shape the future of tourism. Announced by Tourism Minister, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the initiative will run year-round and be guided by a global advisory board. The first TOURISE Summit will be held in Riyadh from 11 to 13 November.
United Arab Emirates
Wednesday, 21 May—The UAE launched a new Arabic-language AI model called Falcon Arabic, developed by Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), using a high-quality, native Arabic dataset aiming to reflect the full linguistic diversity of the Arab world. It came as OpenAI unveiled plans for a major AI data centre spanning nearly 3 square kilometres in Abu Dhabi. The first phase, the 1-gigawatt Stargate UAE, is set to go live in 2026 and is being developed by G42 in partnership with OpenAI, Oracle, Nvidia, Cisco, and SoftBank.
EU Corner
Sunday, 25 May—Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs at the European External Action Service (EEAS), Olof Skoog, and his accompanying delegation met in Riyadh with Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Waleed Elkhereiji, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy, Adel Al-Jubeir, to discuss Saudi-EU relations. The visit included the 3rd round of political consultations between Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European External Action Service, co-chaired by Ambassador Rayed Krimly and Skoog, focusing on enhancing bilateral relations and addressing regional and international political issues.
Monday, 26 May—Polish Foreign Minister, Radosław Sikorski, met with EU Special Representative for the Gulf, Luigi Di Maio, to discuss joint efforts toward a unified EU policy on the Gulf region and the importance of advancing the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Poland currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Monday, 26 May—Abu Dhabi hosted the 8th EU-UAE Structural Dialogue on Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), reaffirming both sides’ commitment to combating financial crimes and enhancing international cooperation. Co-chaired by UAE and EU officials, the dialogue reviewed judicial, law enforcement, and intelligence collaboration, and addressed global risks and compliance challenges. Both parties agreed to deepen cooperation through concrete technical initiatives, reflecting a shared vision for financial integrity and a resilient global financial system.
Key Official Visits & Contacts
Wednesday, 21 May—Advisor to the Qatari Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed Al-Ansari, held meetings in Brussels with senior Belgian officials, including Deputy Chief of Cabinet and Diplomatic Advisor to the King, Eugene Crijns, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the political, economic, and energy sectors. Both sides addressed key regional and international issues, including Gaza, Syria, and Iran, reaffirming their commitment to joint humanitarian and diplomatic efforts, while Belgian officials praised Qatar’s mediation roles in Gaza, the Great Lakes Region and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Thursday, 22 May—Spanish Minister of Economy, Trade and Business, Carlos Cuerpo, attended the Saudi-Spanish Business Forum in Riyadh, highlighting Saudi Arabia as Spain’s key regional partner and noting a 57% rise in Spanish companies operating in the Kingdom over the past three years. He and Saudi Economy Minister, Faisal Alibrahim, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, to deepen economic cooperation, focusing on policy coordination, SME support, joint projects, and data exchange in areas like technology and innovation.
Friday, 23 May—Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, led a delegation to Paris for talks with France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, as part of regional efforts to address the Gaza crisis. Joined by Jordan’s Ayman Safadi and Egypt’s Badr Abdelatty, the meeting focused on ending the war, ensuring humanitarian aid, halting Israeli violations, and advancing the two-state solution. They also discussed preparations for a UN peace conference in June, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. The talks come amid reports that both countries are working on a proposal to disarm Hamas as part of broader efforts to stabilise the region.
Friday, 23 May—The 5th round of US-Iran nuclear talks, mediated by Oman and held in Rome, concluded with limited progress and key disagreements, particularly over Iran’s uranium enrichment, remaining unresolved. US Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, held over two hours of direct and indirect talks, attended by Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Al-Busaidi. Oman proposed several compromise options, now under review in both capitals. Prior to the talks, Witkoff met in Rome with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister, Ron Dermer, and Mossad Director, David Barnea.
Monday, 26 May—Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan, and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, joined Arab and European officials in Madrid for talks on ending the war in Gaza, supporting the two-state solution, and preparing for a UN conference co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. The group endorsed Gaza’s reconstruction, while Spain called for EU sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel. On the sidelines, the Saudi minister met with his Spanish and Norwegian counterparts.
Tuesday, 27 May—At the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur, leaders from Asia, the Gulf, and China met to strengthen cooperation on global challenges, focusing on sustainability, clean energy, digital transformation, and regional stability. The summit reaffirmed support for the two-state solution and called for more inclusive global economic governance. On the sidelines, Chinese Prime Minister, Li Qiang, met with Kuwait’s Crown Prince, Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, reaffirming China’s commitment to stronger ties and highlighting alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and Kuwait Vision 2035, with plans to boost cooperation in energy, investment, green technology, digital economy, and AI.
Tuesday, 27 May—Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, received Hungarian Parliament Speaker, Laszlo Kover, during his visit to Doha. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and discussed various issues of mutual interest.
Tuesday, 27 May—Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defence, Khalid bin Salman Al-Saud, and his accompanying delegation arrived in the United Kingdom for an official visit to strengthen bilateral relations.
Tuesday, 27 May—Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, began his two-day official visit to Muscat, where he is scheduled to meet with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said to discuss bilateral ties and regional and international developments, including the US-Iran nuclear negotiations.