Qatari emir in Cairo as tensions thaw further: Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held discussions with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Saturday, during the Sheikh’s first visit to Egypt since the two countries normalized relations in early 2021.

Investment at the top of the agenda: The two leaders discussed boosting cooperation in energy and agriculture, upping trade flows, and “maximizing Qatari investments in Egypt,” according to an Ittihadiya statement. However, no concrete investments were announced by the time the emir left Cairo on Saturday evening.

We’re expecting inflows from Qatar: Trade Minister Nevine Gamea and other officials have been in Doha to drum up Qatari investor interest in our economy in recent weeks. The country has joined its Gulf neighbors Saudi and the UAE in offering to help shore up our economy amid global headwinds, in March pledging to invest USD 5 bn.

It’s a summer of love in the neighborhood: Diplomacy has been a priority for our Gulf neighbors lately. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last week visited Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan in a landmark tour, in part to pave the way for the upcoming July summit hosted by Saudi Arabia between US President Joe Biden, GCC countries, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq. El Sisi and Bin Hamad Al Thani welcomed the approaching summit.

This has renewed calls for a MENA Nato: Jordan’s King Abdullah II yesterday told CNBC that he would back the formation of a Middle East version of Nato. “I’m hoping what you’re seeing in 2022 is this new vibe, I guess, in the region to say, ‘how can we connect with each other and work with each other’,” he said.

Bin Hamad Al Thani’s visit got wide coverage from the international press: The Associated Press | Reuters | AFP | The National.

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