From Dubai rains and Saudi Vision 2030 to Gaza crisis, catch on 7 latest GCC stories here

The six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries – the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar – are ever-evolving. They regularly update policies, engage in important bilateral relations discussions and search for solutions on Israel-Hamas fighting.

The latest happenings in the region include the UAE experiencing a natural disaster in the form of unprecedented rainfall, DXB occupying the second position on top 10 busiest airports list and Saudi’s “Journey Through Time” master plan for AlUla.

Catch on 7 latest GCC stories here

1. Decoding UAE’s record rainfall

The Gulf state recently experienced an intense meteorological occurrence as it received 1.5 years of precipitation in just 24 hours. Is the country’s cloud seeding programme responsible? An official for the National Centre of Meteorology has denied any connection.

2. UAE on list of best countries to launch a startup

Business Name Generator carried out an analysis to find the UAE is one of the best countries globally for entrepreneurs to launch a startup in 2024. The research considered several factors including tax rates, internet service, quality of life score and happiness score.

3. Gaza crisis builds focus on US foreign policy

US President Joe Biden recently said he expects the Iranian regime to attack Israel “sooner rather than later”, and it did. The US has got caught between 2 seemingly conflicting priorities – lending Israel its unconditional support and preventing the Gaza war from expanding.

4. UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain hold talks

UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed recently spoke to the Emir of Qatar, the King of Jordan and the King of Bahrain, discussing bilateral relations and several regional and international issues, foremost among them the situation in the Middle East.

5. DXB on top 10 busiest airports list again

The Dubai International, DXB, has become the second busiest airport globally for the first time, as per Airports Council International, moving up five places from its position in 2022. The achievement further reinforces the airport’s role at the forefront of connectivity.

6. MBS’s plan: AlUla as a leading global destination

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has an ambitious vision for AlUla. He intends to transform this ancient site into a premier global destination for arts, heritage, culture and nature. You can find more details on the same in this article. Give it a read.

7. Sultan Haitham’s high-profile state visit to UAE

Sultan Haitham of Oman has arrived in the UAE on a state visit. He and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed are ready to hold discussions on important events, as both leaders are keen to elevate bilateral relations and maintain security and stability in the region.