Gulf and Red Sea Regions

The US Special Envoy to Yemen, Timothy A. Lenderking, is scheduled to begin an extended tour of the Gulf region in a diplomatic effort to bring an end to Yemen's six year conflict. The visit by Lenderking comes as Houthi forces reach closer to the city of Marib where forces loyal to Yemen's recognised government are trying to defend the last northern governorate in their hands.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reached a temporary bilateral understanding with the Government of Iran to continue monitoring and verification tasks, thereby saving the nuclear deal, for now.  IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, is back in Vienna after two days of intensive diplomacy with Iranian officials in Tehran.

Saudi graffiti artists are transforming blank walls into creative street art across the country. The Saudi Ministry of Culture has launched initiatives and programs to support graffiti work. The Ministry allocated specific locations where "street artists" can express themselves.

Sovereign wealth funds in the Gulf countries are facing unprecedented challenges due to the rise of deficit and pressure to increase financial obligations to their public budgets. The drop in crude oil prices, caused by the pandemic last year, forced Gulf countries to increase their borrowing and thereby withdraw from their sovereign wealth funds.

Bahrain expects a quick return to pre-pandemic levels in tourist arrivals when the Gulf island nation reopens the King Fahd Causeway which links it to Saudi Arabia. The causeway was scheduled to open on 31 March, but that has now been delayed to 17 May. The causeway has been closed since 8 March of last year. 

The northern Iraqi city of Erbil, in the country's autonomous Kurdish region, faced a tense night after rockets struck the area between Erbil international airport and the nearby base hosting US troops on late Monday. The attack killed one contractor working with the US coalition and wounded at least eight other people, according to Iraqi and coalition officials. 

Trade of goods between Saudi Arabia and Qatar is resuming today at various border crossings, according to the Qatari General Authority of Customs. In addition, Qatar Airways Cargo will recommence operating services to and from Egypt, UAE and Saudi Arabia from 21 February. 

The Bahraini Ministry of Interior will train the first patch of female fighters. The ladies will then be incorporated into the country's Civil Defence as fully-fledged firefighters. The Ministry is working to increase the percentage of its female workforce which currently stands at 12.5