On the 42nd anniversary of GCC's creation, the comprehensive unity and economic integration of the Gulf states is still underway and subject to the removal of bureaucratic and legal obstacles

A notable feature of this year's Arab summit is that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will be attending for the first time since 2011

Exploration of the options available to Arab nationalists pursuing their perceived best interests across the Gulf prior to the birth of the Syrian state

He was not the only Saudi singer who sang about the colours and heritage of Saudi Arabia, but he was the one that stole the hearts of its people

He has helped introduce people from all corners of the Arab world to Saudi Arabia's dialect and style, and has played a key role in the modernisation that Saudi Arabia is currently experiencing

Saudi Arabia's first-quarter budget figures reflect a steadily diversifying the economy, reducing reliance on oil as the country's main source of income, and boosting opportunities the private sector

A peaceful phase would also facilitate the proper utilisation of Yemen's underdeveloped oil and gas resources, which constitute the largest proportion of the country's undeveloped GDP

Proper respect for citizens' rights and especially an end to politically motivated arrests will help encourage the Yemenis the country needs to return home. Broader, federalised power will be key.

The ceasefire and reconciliation have provided a glimmer of hope in the ongoing crisis, and Yemenis are finally able to find some relief from the long-standing turmoil

The Saudi-Iranian rapprochement in March marked an important milestone that will have major repercussions for the Middle East and beyond. In Yemen, it faces its first test.