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October 3, 2024

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends his first press conference, after taking office. on Sept. 16, 2024 in Tehran, Iran.

Pezeshkian in Qatar as Iran pushes to revive nuclear deal, isolate Israel

Coming just a day after Tehran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel, Iran is expecting the visit to serve as a multifaceted initiative, helping shape its future standing in the volatile landscape and boost prospects of sanctions relief to salvage its battered economy.

A Middle East Airlines commercial aircraft taking off from Beirut's international airport flies amid smoke billowing above the Lebanese capital's southern suburbs, in the aftermath of overnight Israeli airstrikes, on Sept. 28,2024.

Middle East airlines alter, axe flights following Iran missile attack on Israel

Late on Tuesday, Iran launched more than 180 ballistic missiles at Israel in what it said was in retaliation for last Friday’s assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the chief of Lebanon-based militia Hezbollah.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 31: U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, in the Oval Office on January 31, 2022 in Washington, DC. The two leaders were expected to discuss a range of issues, including global energy security as concerns about Russian natural gas supplies continue. (Photo by Tom Brenner-Pool/New York Times/Getty Images)

Qatar to join US visa-free travel list in first for Arab country

Qatar is set to become the second Middle Eastern country, behind Israel, to join the US Visa Waiver Program.

The Olympic rings are seen during preparation works at the Eiffel Tower stadium in Paris on July 24, 2024, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Analysis

Race for historic Middle East Olympics is on post-Paris

Regional players are ready to make their case for the 2036 games but face a crowded field of bidders.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Latest News

Al-Monitor expands Gulf coverage with new talent led by Jennifer Gnana

Jennifer Gnana event

Qatari FM meets Araghchi, Pezeshkian in Iran amid Gaza cease-fire talks

Iran's new foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi (L), meets with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (R) in Tehran, on Aug. 26, 2024.

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Analysis

Qatar rivalry, security concerns drive UAE thaw with Afghanistan’s Taliban

ABU DHABI, 4th June, 2024 (WAM) -- President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received an Afghan delegation led by Sirajuddin Haqqani, Minister of Interior Affairs.

Sabena Siddiqui

By Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Mossad director, US officials back in Egypt for talks on Philadelphi Corridor

An Egyptian army soldier stands among the bushes in the wired border of the Philadelphi Corridor.

Jennifer Gnana

Gulf Correspondent

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Kate Dourian

In Dubai, reporting on energy

Karen Young

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy

Oil pumpers

China’s Bomesc to build $220M Qatar offshore oil, gas facility for Italy’s Saipem

The Tianjin-based engineering, procurement and construction company will build the compression facility for an oil and gas field off the coast of northern Qatar for industrial machine manufacturer Servizi Energia Italia.

Ansari Hagedorn

Inside Qatar’s key role in US-Iran prisoner swap

Majed Al-Ansari, an adviser to the Qatari prime minister, details the behind-the-scenes diplomacy that led to the prisoner deal, and why Doha believes there now exists a “platform for dialogue” between Iran and the United States.

The Telegraph newspaper

Qatari investors in talks with Daily Mail owner to buy rival newspaper group

The influential Telegraph Media Group, which will come up for auction in a few weeks, has strong links to the ruling Conservative government.

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Hungary inks deal for Qatari gas

Hungary and Qatar have signed a gas exportation deal as Europe diversifies its energy sources.

Harry Maguire

Manchester United expected to close $9.15B sale to Qatari royal

Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Jim Ratcliffe, CEO of UK-based petrochemicals company INEOS, have been competing to buy the soccer team.

A worker performs a routine inspection of filters at the Hadera Desalination Facility, in the central Israeli coastal town of Hadera on April 3, 2002. - Israel, a leader in making seawater drinkable, plans to pump excess output from its desalination plants into the Sea of Galilee, depleted by overuse and threatened by climate change. Israel now plans to tackle the challenge by reversing the water flow through its vast network of pumps, pipes and tunnels dating to the 1960s, the National Water Carrier. (Phot

Middle East Water Security: Competition heats up as resources become scarcer

The Middle East and North Africa region is “the most water-scarce region in the world” and is home to 11 of the 17 most water-stressed countries globally.

A man stands in front of Argentina's Central Bank in Buenos Aires, on May 15, 2023.

Qatar loans Argentina $775 million to repay IMF

Qatar continues its practice of assisting financially strapped countries by providing a loan to Argentina, which is also planning to use the yuan to purchase Chinese imports.

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed receives Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Abu Dhabi.

Who is Sultan Al Mansouri, Qatar’s first UAE ambassador in 6 years?

A career diplomat who previously served as Qatar’s ambassador to Austria in 2019 and as the ambassador to China in 2014, Mansouri brings a negotiating and economic skillset to the position.

Man Utd

Manchester United takeover ‘paused’ amid Qatari frustration: reports

The club's owners the Glazer family reported they want around 6 billion pounds ($7.72 billion) for the soccer club, but the two bids value Manchester United at around 5 billion pounds.

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida prepares before a roundtable meeting during the 29th EU-Japan Summit at the European Union building, Brussels, Belgium, July 13, 2023.

Analysis

On Gulf tour, Japan's PM secures energy ties as China’s influence grows

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s three-day trip that began Sunday to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar — its key energy suppliers — is seen as a crucial move to secure Japan’s energy future.

By Salim A. Essaid

KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Qatar leans east to achieve 40% global LNG output by 2029

Qatar took steps last year to maintain its lead in the LNG market and increase future output with the approval of expansion projects set to raise production by 64% to 126 million tons per year by 2027.

By Salim A. Essaid

Patrick Baldwin #7 of Washington Wizards is defended by Ben Sheppard #26 of Indiana Pacers during the first quarter of a 2023 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 08, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

Qatar Investment Authority buys 5% of NBA's Washington Wizards owner

It is the first investment by a sovereign wealth fund in a US sport and the latest move by a Gulf state to increase its influence in sports.