UN right experts urge Qatar to free man jailed for critical poem

Mohammed al-Ajami, 39, was detained in 2012 and initially sentenced to life imprisonment but later got his sentence reduced

Iran returns Saudi accusations of cross-border meddling

Saudi’s foreign minister said this week that Iran’s military role in Syria disqualified it from playing a role in peacemaking efforts there

Saudi says difficult to see role for Iran in Syria peacemaking

Adel al-Jubeir said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had to leave power if peace was to be achieved

Germany’s Steinmeier calls on Gulf States to help more refugees

Germany’s foreign minister urged the Gulf countries to take in refugees

Egypt in second day of “election without voters”

Sunday and Monday’s voting levels were extremely low, a in sharp contrast to the long lines of the 2011-12 election

United Arab Emirates soldier, aid worker killed in Yemen

It was not immediately clear whether there was any link between the killings of the aid worker and the soldier

ISIL claims responsibility for deadly attack on Saudi Shi’ites

A gunman killed five people in an attack on a Shi’ite Muslim meeting hall in Saudi Arabia on Friday

Yemen Houthis say fire missile in retaliation for Saudi “war crimes”

Scuds have been launched at Saudi Arabia from Yemen several times during the nearly seven-month-old war

Arab coalition slowing aid efforts in Yemen – U.S. Navy report

The Arab coalition denied the allegation and said it was keen for ships to take in relief

Saudi foreign minister: No future for Bashar al-Assad in Syria

Adel al-Jubeir said that Riyadh’s position on Syria had not changed

Iranian parliament passes bill approving nuclear deal

The bill will now be submitted to a clerical body for final approval and passage into law

Saudis tell Russia: Syria action will have “dangerous consequences”

The Saudis urged Russia to help fight terrorism in Syria by joning the already established anti-Islamic State coalition

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Russia’s Putin discuss Syria, Yemen

Sheikh Mohamed met the Russian President in Sochi on Sunday

Russia’s Putin, Saudi defence minister agree to cooperate in Syria

Russia’s intervention in Syria has infuriated Syrian President Assad’s regional foes, including Saudi Arabia

Iran judiciary says verdict issued in Rezaian case

The official did not say whether Rezaian had been convicted or acquitted, nor give any further details

Russia’s Putin and Abu Dhabi crown prince to meet, discuss Syria

The two leaders will meet on Sunday, the Kremlin announced

UAE serviceman dies in vehicle accident in Yemen

The soldier was killed when the vehicle he was travelling in overturned on Saturday

At least 95 killed in bomb attack on pro-Kurdish rally in Turkey’s Ankara

Witnesses said two explosions happened seconds apart shortly after 10 am as crowds gathered for the rally

Rights watchdog says second young Shi’ite faces beheading in Saudi

A Saudi court upheld a conviction against Dawoud al-Marhoon for taking part in anti-government protests three years ago and ordered him to be executed

UAE arrests man for insulting FNC elections

The public prosecution clarified that the arrest is not in conflict with the freedom of speech in the UAE

Islamic State kills 22 in attacks on Yemen govt, Gulf troops, mosque

It was the first known direct Islamic State assault on the Yemeni government and the Saudi-led coalition

Saudi opposition clerics make sectarian call to jihad in Syria

Riyadh, along with Turkey and other Gulf states, is a main supporter of rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

UAE provides $581.5m in aid to Syrian refugees

The sum is split between food aid, multi-sector aid, shelter, health and support services

UAE provides $207m of aid to Yemen

The country is contributing towards the recovery and rehabilitation of Aden and neighbouring governorates

UK’s Cameron urges Saudi Arabia not to execute Shi’ite protestor

Ali al-Nimr was handed the death penalty after taking part in demonstrations in Saudi Arabia’s eastern province

Saudi Arabia deters bid for UN human rights probe in Yemen

A Saudi-led coalition of Arab states has been pressing a bombing campaign in Yemen over the past six months to try to restore a Yemeni government forced into exile by Houthi fighters

Saudi forces arrest two foreigners at illegal bomb factory

One of those arrested was a Syrian man, who the interior ministry said was preparing to carry out attacks while the other was a Filipino woman accused of helping him

Iran expels second-ranking Bahraini diplomat in Tehran

Diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Iran have been strained after the former accused Iran of being behind recent bomb attacks on the island kingdom’s security forces

Saudi Arabia signals easing of tension with Islamist cleric

Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawi, a cleric whose fiery sermons have irked Gulf states, appeared alongside the Qatari prime minister and the Saudi ambassador at an event in Doha

Saudi Arabia says deeply concerned at Russian attacks on Syria

Officials from the kingdom have said no ISIL targets were present in the areas attacked by Russia