Following Doha’s rejection of the demands of the blockading states, it is now clear the Qatar crisis is set to rumble on for a prolonged period.

The potential for the crisis to escalate with the additional sanctions is clear and could have significant consequences for business, with companies being forced to choose between Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Away from the Qatar dispute, MEED has this week been reporting some significant project activity in oil and gas projects in the Gulf, with both Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company moving ahead with key projects.

In Dubai, the unveiling of the $1.3bn Emirates Towers Business Park has underscored the strength of the emirate’s real estate market.