Addressing the gender gap in leadership

Can we realistically wait over a century until governments, businesses and other organisations get the full benefit of equal leadership by men and women?

30% of MENA citizens paid a bribe to access basic services

Transparency International said that governments needed to do more to stamp out corruption

Saudi Arabia risks coup or insurrection – global study

The kingdom had its risk ranking increased alongside Angola and Zimbabwe

Arab youth claim ISIL is biggest challenge in Middle East

Regional youth also highlighted issues of terrorism, unemployment and civil unrest

Egypt agrees to hand over disputed islands to Saudi Arabia

The decision could see the territories used for a proposed bridge between the two countries

UAE’s new youth minister submits 100-day plan

Local youth councils will soon be launched across the UAE

Saudi boosts Egypt ties with $16bn investment fund

New deal is aimed at boosting the Egyptian economy and includes funds for an economic free zone

Iran plans Saudi trip to discuss Hajj pilgrimage

Tehran claims 464 of its citizens were killed during the deadly hajj stampede last year

Indian PM Modi to discuss investment, security during first Saudi visit

Modi will hold key meetings with senior Saudi officials on Sunday

Two Saudi businessmen among hostages freed in Burkina Faso attack

At least 29 people were killed after an attack on a four-star hotel in Ouagadougou

Iran releases 10 detained US sailors

The sailors were held overnight after their boat “inadvertently” entered into Iranian waters

Obama: Middle East undergoing “transformation”; ISIL conflict not world war III

The US President urges for continued fight against ISIL in his final State of the Union speech

GCC countries to condemn Iran in UN Security Council resolution

The announcement followed a GCC Ministerial Council meeting yesterday

Saudi Arabia thwarts attacks, puts 532 ISIL suspects on trial

Officials said that the suspects belonged to six cells and were planning to attack security agencies and the US embassy in Riyadh

UK begins work on first permanent military base in Bahrain

The military base, constructed at a cost of $23m, will be completed next year

Iran threatens Arabs as much as ISIL says Bahrain

Bahrain’s Foreign Minister said that the Houthi militia can have a future in Yemen if it disarms

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi wins EU’s Sakharov rights prize

Badawi has been sentenced by a Saudi court to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail for insulting Islam and for cyber crime

Qatar rules out military intervention in Syria

Qatar has helped in arming, training and giving political support to the rebels throughout most of the four-year-old war

Saudi foreign minister says sees signs Yemen war nearing end

Most of Yemen’s territory that was captured by the Houthi rebels has been recaptured, he said

ISIL suicide attack on Saudi mosque kills one – ministry

The attack on the al-Mashhad mosque occurred as people left after attending evening prayers

Saudi ambassador warns the UK of “repercussions” if mutual respect “breached”

His comments follow Britain’s strong criticism of human rights violations in the kingdom

Omani foreign minister meets Syria’s Assad

Oman sees itself as a conciliator in a volatile region

Saudis see some progress toward Syria solution, more talks needed

Adel al-Jubeir reiterated his country’s long-held stance that Bashar al-Assad should play no role in a future Syria

US, Saudi Arabia to bolster support for moderate Syrian opposition

US Secretary of State John Kerry met King Salman and other Saudi officials on Saturday

Egypt’s Sisi to visit UAE, India and Bahrain

The Egyptian President will begin his trip on October 27 with a visit to Abu Dhabi, state news agency WAM said

Lebanon’s Hezbollah takes aim at Saudi Arabia on Ashura

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah condemned what he called the “US-Saudi aggression” against Yemen

Saudi says Russian actions in Syria “very dangerous”

Foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir also said Assad was the “magnet” attracting foreign fighters from all over the world to fight for ISIL

Bahrain charges 24 with trying to set up ISIL branch in kingdom

Eight of the 24 accused have been arrested and the rest remain at large, according to a statement by Public Prosecutor Ahmed al-Hammadi

Qatar says could intervene militarily in Syria but prefers political solution

Qatar has been a leading supporter of anti-Assad rebel groups, providing arms and financial and political backing

Saudi appoints former investment chief as new US ambassador

Prince Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki Al Saud served as governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority from 2000-2004