Cross-border Information

20/09/2021

Kuwait: Cabinet reshuffle rumoured amid reform hopes

There is growing speculation that a cabinet reshuffle is imminent, which would be the third change of senior government personnel since 2019. At least four portfolios are likely to change hands, including a new finance minister to take over from Khalifa Al-Hamadah, who tendered his resignation in August, apparently due to unhappiness at being marginalised in the selection of new board members at Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA). http://ow.ly/HtZT50Gd2y0

20/09/2021

Russia provides an authoritarian alternative in vacuum left by US retreat

From buoying up oil markets to increased security co-operation, regional governments appear keen to engage with Russia, as Moscow steps up its interactions while Washington continues to draw down its presence. http://ow.ly/m0NW50GcUcs

From buoying up oil markets to increased security co-operation, regional governments appear keen to engage with Russia, as Moscow steps up its interactions while Washington continues to draw down its presence. President Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian, transactional regime is courting leaders from ...

13/09/2021

Take a look at the latest episode of the African Energy podcast which discusses at a number of stories from last week's issue of the African Energy publication: http://ow.ly/lneJ50G8W8I

In this episode of the African Energy podcast, Jon Marks begins by describing the diplomatic fall out between Morocco and Algeria along with the resulting co...

09/09/2021

Iraqi Kurdistan: KRG shelves gas projects leaving Genel in a mood to dispute

Genel Energy has countered the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)’s notice of its intention to terminate production-sharing contracts (PSCs) to develop the Bina Bawi and Miran natural gas fields with action to resolve a move for which Genel on 20 August said there were “no grounds”. http://ow.ly/627B50G6Wz0

08/09/2021

Preparations for the first Shura Council elections have been overshadowed by a dispute over restrictive citizenship rules which will exclude many Qataris from taking part. http://ow.ly/TB0J50G5iQ2

07/09/2021

Oman/Saudi Arabia: Governments explore support options

Following what GSN has been told was “a remarkable meeting of minds” during Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said’s discussions with King Salman Abdelaziz at Neom on 11 July, both sides appear to be pushing to deepen bilateral economic ties. http://ow.ly/qO6t50G5nGQ

Following what GSN has been told was “a remarkable meeting of minds” during Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said’s discussions with King Salman Abdelaziz at Neom on 11 July, both sides appear to be pushing to deepen bilateral economic ties.

07/09/2021

Preparations for the first Shura Council elections have been overshadowed by a dispute over restrictive citizenship rules which will exclude many Qataris from taking part. http://ow.ly/WisK50G5iGV

07/09/2021

Qatar pulls soft power levers to emerge from Afghan wreckage as a key player

Afghanistan confirmed its historical role as a graveyard of empires, as the US and its allies departed with haste in August, leaving behind fearful millions of Afghans after a botched exercise in nation-building. Global reputations lie in tatters but a few players have enhanced their reputations, led by Qatar which has made itself useful to all the main actors. Meanwhile the Taliban takeover in Kabul provides another litmus test for geopolitical relationships and popular sentiments across the region. http://ow.ly/EDlb50G5hNG

18/08/2021

Confronted by the challenges posed of bringing people together during a period of continued global health, the organisers of the Africa Energy Forum (aef) and Africa Investment Exchange (AIX): Power & Renewables have agreed to work in parallel to hold their industry-leading events in London during the week of 15-19 November. http://ow.ly/4pPH50FTnkB

05/08/2021

Deadline looms in $140m claim on UAE

Two of the UAE’s largest banks, Emirates NBD and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, have until 30 July to reach a settlement with Qatar, in one of the largest claims to have been brought at the High Court of England and Wales – with damages of “over £100m” ($140m) sought. http://ow.ly/yjDG50FL2Yz

 Two of the UAE’s largest banks, Emirates NBD and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, have until 30 July to reach a settlement with Qatar, in one of the largest claims to have been brought at the High Court of England and Wales – with damages of “over £100m” ($140m) sought.

05/08/2021

Three accused of acting as Emirati agents to influence Trump campaign and policy

The UAE is facing an embarrassing diplomatic situation in the United States, after a seven-count indictment was unsealed in a New York federal court on 20 July. This accused Thomas Barrack, Matthew Grimes and UAE national Rashid Sultan Rashid Al-Malik Al-Shahhi of working with unnamed senior UAE officials to influence then-candidate Donald Trump’s foreign policy during the 2016 presidential campaign and thereafter his administration’s programme once Trump was elected. http://ow.ly/vxxr50FKURL

The UAE is facing an embarrassing diplomatic situation in the United States, after a seven-count indictment was unsealed in a New York federal court on 20 July. This accused Thomas Barrack, Matthew Grimes and UAE national Rashid Sultan Rashid Al-Malik Al-Shahhi of working with unnamed senior UAE off...

04/08/2021

Iraq: US ends combat mission

The United States announced an end to combat missions in Iraq by 31 December, following several days of meetings with Iraqi figures in Washington in late July. In April the US had said it planned to take the step, but did not set a date. http://ow.ly/eUUf50FKbTC

04/08/2021

Abu Dhabi-made guided bomb appears in Egypt

The extent of co-operation between the UAE and Egypt was evident during a recent training exercise involving all elements of the Egyptian armed forces, which featured UAE-made guided bombs. Exercise Qader 21 was held to coincide with the opening of the 3 July Naval Base at Ras Gargoub, some 300km west of Alexandria. http://ow.ly/6TFe50FK0RM

The extent of co-operation between the UAE and Egypt was evident during a recent training exercise involving all elements of the Egyptian armed forces, which featured UAE-made guided bombs. Exercise Qader 21 was held to coincide with the opening of the 3 July Naval Base at Ras Gargoub, some 300km we...

03/08/2021

Abu Dhabi and Saudi crown princes try to mend fences

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and UAE Armed Forces deputy supreme commander Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ) travelled to Riyadh on 19 July for talks with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), following a period of public tensions between the two formerly close allies. http://ow.ly/PkKk50FJngT

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and UAE Armed Forces deputy supreme commander Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ) travelled to Riyadh on 19 July for talks with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), following a period of public tensions between the two formerly close allies.

03/08/2021

Saudi sovereign wealth: What the PIF wants, the PIF gets

Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS)’s favoured vehicle for implementing economic change and promoting new-look Saudi values, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has proved a source of fascination for foreign analysts and consultants as it transitioned from a fusty state investor into the developer of ‘giga-projects’ and much more. http://ow.ly/oqO250FJeu9

02/08/2021

Pegasus affair raises uncomfortable questions

The list continues to grow of individuals believed to have been targeted by Gulf governments using Pegasus spyware made by the Israeli company NSO Group. It now includes slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée Hatice Cengiz, dissident Dubai royal Princess Haya, Iraq’s President Barham Salih and founder of Qatar’s BeIN Media Group Nasser Al-Khelaifi. http://ow.ly/MjpE50FIAkR

The list continues to grow of individuals believed to have been targeted by Gulf governments using Pegasus spyware made by the Israeli company NSO Group. It now includes slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée Hatice Cengiz, dissident Dubai royal Princess Haya, Iraq’s President Barham Salih ...

02/08/2021

Saudi Arabia’s biggest construction projects are being heavily promoted by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and funded by his Public Investment Fund despite pressures to cut state spending elsewhere. All of this is in line with his efforts to change the economy and the image of Saudi Arabia – while taking a share of the profits too – but as a Special Report in the latest issue of Gulf States Newsletter shows, it is the old guard that are winning orders for the ‘mega-projects’, with contracts flowing to some of the kingdom’s most well-established contractors. http://ow.ly/zGwP50FIp9b

22/07/2021

- Free article - Riyadh and Abu Dhabi become a coalition of the less willing

Differences between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) and his Emirati counterpart, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ) have been mounting ever since Riyadh led the way towards reconciliation with Qatar at the Al-Ula summit in January. http://ow.ly/pVut50FBmc7

Differences between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) and his Emirati counterpart, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ) have been mounting ever since Riyadh led the way towards reconciliation with Qatar at the Al-Ula summit in January.