GCC Relations

Egypt welcomes Saudi cease-fire initiative in Yemen

Saudi Arabia's initiative to settle the conflict and war in Yemen gets support from Cairo.

Baher al-Kady | Egypt | Apr 1, 2021

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud speaks during a press conference in the capital, Riyadh, on March 22, 2021, announcing an offer of a cease-fire with Yemen's Houthi rebels. Saudi Arabia offered Yemen's Houthi rebels a "comprehensive" cease-fire among a series of proposals aimed at ending the catastrophic six-year conflict. The proposals include "a comprehensive cease-fire across the country under the supervision of the United Nations," a government statement said.

Can China balance ties with Iran and the GCC?

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi must take care not to "underestimate the differences" between Iran and the GCC countries.

Sabena Siddiqui | Iran | Mar 30, 2021

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, are pictured during the signing of an agreement in the capital, Tehran, on March 27, 2021. Iran and China signed what state television called a "25-year strategic cooperation pact," as the US rivals move closer together.

Mauritania resumes ties with Qatar following Gulf rift easing

Al-Monitor Staff | Qatar | Mar 22, 2021

Mauritania's Minister for Foreign Affairs Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed speaks during the General Debate of the 73rd session of the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York on Sept. 27, 2018.

COVID accelerates evolution of Gulf economies

The economic policy response to COVID-19 is an acceleration of specific trends already underway across the Gulf Cooperation Council members, variously affecting tax policy, labor market regulation and immigration policy.

Karen Young | Saudi Arabia | Mar 15, 2021

Saudi female employees work at the customers service desk at a hypermarket, newly launched by the operator LuLu and run by a team of women, in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah, on February 21, 2021. (Photo by Amer HILABI / AFP) (Photo by AMER HILABI/AFP via Getty Images)

New Kuwaiti Cabinet takes office after dispute with parliament

The government will be tasked with tending to the country's financial difficulties and the pandemic following a dispute between the prime minister and parliament.

Al-Monitor Staff | Originals | Mar 3, 2021

UAE, Qatar officials meet in Kuwait amid Gulf thaw

Kuwait hosted delegations from the two countries more than a month after Saudi Arabia and its allies agreed to end their blockade on Qatar.

Al-Monitor Staff | United Arab Emirates | Feb 22, 2021

How Egypt-Gulf consensus can advance peace in Yemen

Egypt agreed with the Gulf states on the need to limit Iranian influence in Yemen and support the recent US inclination to end the Yemen war.

Mohammad Hanafi | Egypt | Feb 17, 2021

Egypt's parliament holds back on Qatar normalization

Egyptian parliament members have recently expressed their rejection of reconciliation with Qatar, claiming its attacks against the Egyptian state on its media channels continue.

Alaa Omran | Originals | Feb 12, 2021

Egypt, Bahrain adopt 'wait and see' approach to reconciliation with Qatar

Egypt awaits Qatar to take actions on the ground in accordance with Al-Ula Declaration that ended the boycott of Doha, but amid concerns that Qatar will bail out on its commitments.

A correspondent in Egypt | Bahrain | Feb 11, 2021

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud (R) and Secretray General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Nayef bin Falah Al-Hajraf, hold a press conferece at the end of the GCC's 41st summit, in the city of al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia on January 5, 2021. - Gulf leaders signed a "solidarity and stability" deal after the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar publicly embraced, bringing Doha back into the regional fold after a three-year rift. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AF

US may help keep GCC reconciliation on track

It is unclear how firm or shaky the ground is for Gulf Cooperation Council nations' reconciliation with Qatar, but they may be on more or less good behavior to start off as well as possible with the Biden administration.

Mary Beth Long | Gulf | Feb 5, 2021

Gulf states prepared to support Iraqi sovereignty, fight terrorism: GCC Secretary General

Strengthened Iraq-GCC relations could bolster stability in the country and lessen Baghdad's dependence on Iran.

Al-Monitor Staff | Iraq | Feb 1, 2021

Egypt says it is renewing diplomatic relations with Qatar

Qatar Airways also announced the resumption of its Cairo route as the Gulf rift comes closer to an official end.

Al-Monitor Staff | Qatar | Jan 20, 2021

Qatar renews Gaza aid amid Gulf reconciliation

Qatar has agreed to renew its grant to the Gaza Strip despite reconciliation with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, which previously requested Doha cut ties with Hamas.

Ahmad Abu Amer | Palestine | Jan 18, 2021

Diplomacy in the Gulf follows the money

Recent diplomatic moves among Gulf states closely align with efforts to attract new investment.

Karen Young | Originals | Jan 13, 2021

This picture taken December 12, 2019 shows a view of the board at the Stock Exchange Market (Tadawul) bourse in Riyadh. - Energy giant Saudi Aramco's market value soared above $2 trillion as its share price surged again on its second day of trading. The valuation milestone was sought by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman when he first floated the idea of selling up to five percent of Aramco, the world's largest oil firm, about four years ago. Aramco shares jumped another 9.7 percent to 38.60 riyals ($10

Egypt reopening airspace to Qatar after 3½-year row

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have already announced the end of their bans on flights from Qatar.

Al-Monitor Staff | Gulf | Jan 12, 2021

GCC Relations

Egypt welcomes Saudi cease-fire initiative in Yemen

Saudi Arabia's initiative to settle the conflict and war in Yemen gets support from Cairo.

Can China balance ties with Iran and the GCC?

Mauritania resumes ties with Qatar following Gulf rift easing

COVID accelerates evolution of Gulf economies

New Kuwaiti Cabinet takes office after dispute with parliament

UAE, Qatar officials meet in Kuwait amid Gulf thaw

How Egypt-Gulf consensus can advance peace in Yemen

Egypt's parliament holds back on Qatar normalization

Egypt, Bahrain adopt 'wait and see' approach to reconciliation with Qatar

US may help keep GCC reconciliation on track

Gulf states prepared to support Iraqi sovereignty, fight terrorism: GCC Secretary General

Egypt says it is renewing diplomatic relations with Qatar

Qatar renews Gaza aid amid Gulf reconciliation

Diplomacy in the Gulf follows the money

Egypt reopening airspace to Qatar after 3½-year row

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