Middle East

Policy & Legal Updates

AMF Marks 50th Anniversary With Over $11.8bn In Financing Across Arab States

The Arab Monetary Fund celebrated its 50th anniversary in Abu Dhabi, having provided more than $11.8 billion in financing to member states since 1976. During the event, UAE officials reaffirmed the country's commitment to international tax standards, including the application of a domestic minimum top-up tax from 2025, and announced plans to convert 50 percent of federal services to agentic AI models within two years.

Industry News

AIIB Opens 11th Annual Meeting in Doha Focused on Infrastructure Financing

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank opened its 11th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors in Doha under the theme 'Tomorrow's Infrastructure: Impact and Innovation'. Qatari Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari and AIIB President Zou Jiayi met to discuss cross-border project funding and digital infrastructure. The multilateral bank holds $100 billion in capital and plans to commit $75 billion by 2030.

Middle East Travel Alerts

Kuwait International Airport Operates via Terminals 4 and 5 While Terminal 1 Remains Closed

Kuwait's aviation authorities have reopened the country's airspace to international overflights under an official NOTAM requiring a minimum altitude of FL280. The measure restores a major transit corridor linking Europe, the Gulf, and Asia, cutting flight times on select routes. Carrier adoption remains inconsistent, with Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways resuming flights while Emirates continues routing around Kuwait.

Middle East Travel Alerts

Iraqi Leaders Convene Over Iran Flight Bans and US Airport Sanctions Threats

Iraq's top state authorities are meeting to address restrictions on Iranian flights and US sanctions warnings targeting airports handling Iranian carriers. While no nationwide ban was formally enacted, airports in Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil, and Al-Sulaymaniyah have suspended flights to and from Iran. Washington warned that punitive measures could target entities providing ground-handling, refueling, or landing services to designated Iranian airlines.