Saudi-led alliance wins Yemen battles, but peace remains elusive

The advanced weapons deployed by the Gulf states have powered local fighters against Houthi rebels

Get used to cheap oil, derivatives markets say

Analysts say the futures curve is saying the current collapse in oil prices will be sustained because it has been driven by massive oversupply that is likely to persist

Saudi money market turmoil shows bank jitters over bond issues

The government sold $5.3bn of riyal bonds to banks last week to help to cover a huge deficit caused by low oil prices

To tax or not : How VAT will impact the UAE

The UAE is moving closer to implementing value-added tax. But will it impact the country’s competitiveness?

Oil bulls’ hope for quick price dip dimmed by 2020 crude under $70

Oil prices have continued their gloomy spell as the market is flooded with extra supply from the OEPC and US shale producers

Pressure from US prosecutors may be best chance of FIFA reform

FIFA’s decision to establish its own task force to propose reforms has been blasted by critics

Frontlines of Yemen’s war shift in favour of Riyadh

The GCC-backed national forces managed to recapture the strategic southern port of Aden from the Houthis

Drones and ditches as Turkey tightens border after ISIL bombing

A suicide bombing last week in the southeastern town of Suruc highlighted fears about Syria’s conflict spilling onto Turkish soil

Saudi outreach to Hamas part of wider effort against Iran

Saudi King Salman’s met with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal on Friday

Saudi bond issues to soar as government plugs deficit

Bankers expect heavy issuance in coming months that could change banks’ balance sheets and eventually help to create an active domestic bond market

Iran needs time and favourable conditions to boost oil output

A substantial increase in Iran’s oil exports is probably years away, writes Reuters’ analyst John Kemp

Dubai property market: Flight towards affordability

Affordable housing has become the new buzzword in Dubai’s property scene. Why?

Facing new militant threat, Sisi crackdown risks more instability in Egypt

Critics say Sisi’s hardline tactics risk creating more enemies in Egypt, where militants have killed hundreds of soldiers and police since Mursi’s fall

ISIL weaves web of support in Gulf Arab states

Kuwait attack has raised concerns about the number of young Saudi men willing to travel to attack Shi’ites in smaller Gulf countries, taking advantage of the visa-free travel

France bets on Arab Sunni states as Iran nuclear deal nears

France, which holds close ties with Sunni Arab states, has arguably been the most demanding among the six powers negotiating a final accord

Gulf states get more assertive as Iran edges closer to signing nuclear deal

Six world powers and Iran have started talks to reach a final agreement that swaps increased transparency for sanctions relief by June 30

Qatar building boom proves a challenge for foreign construction firms

Project delays and problems with contracts and bureaucracy have left many in difficulties and their returns uncertain.

World Cup insurers risk flood of claims if Russia, Qatar lose bids

Russia and Qatar could be stripped of their FIFA World Cup hosting rights if evidence emerges of bribery in the bidding process, a senior official has said

Anger over Arab wars fuels jihadi threat in Saudi Arabia

A total of 2,284 Saudis have joined militant groups in Syria since the conflict began in 2011

In Gulf, family business empires wary of going public

Many family firms think they can continue to prosper by modernising themselves without big changes to ownership or control.

Will the Tadawul’s opening be a turning point for Saudi’s economy?

The region is holding its breath as Saudi Arabia finally opens up the Tadawul to foreign investors, but are the doors fully ajar?

Are the US and the GCC states good pals again?

Obama sought to reassure GCC nations at last month’s Camp David summit in the US but were they all convinced?

Attacks on Shi’ites create pivotal moment for Saudi state

The government has allowed Shi’ites to set up community protection groups to search people entering mosques and checkpoints to monitor entrances to villages after the attacks.

Growing regional turmoil challenges UAE’s safe haven status

The UAE was a safe haven for both Arab and foreign investors during the Arab Spring. But as regional tensions loom bigger, will the country be able to uphold that title?

Yemen conflict: will the GCC pay an economic toll?

Will Saudi-led military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen have a major impact on oil prices and GCC economies as a whole?

With oil low, wealthy Abu Dhabi tightens belt a notch

Less money is going towards high-profile investments abroad and there is a renewed emphasis on developing the domestic economy, bankers and businessmen say.

Saudi Arabia rewrites its oil game with refining might

The Kingdom now has stakes in more than five million barrels per day of refining capacity, at home and abroad.

Yemen may never emerge intact from civil war

Secessionist sentiment in the south, stoked by what southerners see as marginalisation by the north, is deepening as result of the damage inflicted upon Aden by the northern Houthis.

Saudi clerics urge calm as village hit by ISIL seethes

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of al-Qadeeh town on Friday evening, hours after a suicide bomber killed 21 worshippers in a packed Shi’ite mosque.

Different Arab money

With oil cheap, public pressure grows on Gulf sovereign funds

With most of the funds publicly disclosing little information, lawmakers in some states are looking out for poor performance or even wrongdoing.