Doha: Qatar’s merchandise trade balance, which measures the difference between total exports and imports, recorded a surplus of QAR 13 billion in February. This figure marks a decrease of QAR 4.6 billion, or 26.4%, compared with the same month in 2025. However, the trade surplus saw an increase of QAR 0.9 billion, or 7.1%, compared with January 2026.
According to Qatar News Agency, other significant developments in the region include a diplomatic meeting between King Abdullah II of Jordan and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is currently visiting the Kingdom. Additionally, the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has condemned an attack targeting the residence of the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani, located in Duhok Governorate.
The Sultanate of Oman has voiced its condemnation of the ongoing war and acts of violence and military aggression against countries in the region. Meanwhile, the General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force reported that 174 missiles and 391 drones have been intercepted since the onset of Iranian attacks on the country.
The Arab League has called for an immediate cessation of Iranian attacks against Arab states, aligning with UN Security Council Resolution 2817. The League also urged an end to threats disrupting navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. In a related effort, Pakistan hosted a quadrilateral ministerial meeting to discuss strategies for containing the crisis in the Middle East. The meeting involved foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey.
In other news, the Council of the League of Arab States, during its 165th ordinary session conducted via videoconferencing, unanimously approved the nomination of Ambassador Nabil Fahmy from Egypt for the position of Secretary-General of the League. This decision comes as the current Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, prepares to conclude his term in June.
Additional reports from the region include Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense announcing injuries to ten members of the armed forces following an attack on a military camp. Iraq’s Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, reaffirmed Iraq’s position against attacks on Gulf states and Jordan, emphasizing the interconnectedness of Arab countries’ security to Iraq’s national security. Saudi Arabia and Lebanon have also expressed strong condemnation of the attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Iranian violations against Arab states’ security and sovereignty, respectively.
Lastly, discussions between the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, and Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, focused on the Iranian attacks on GCC states and their broader implications for regional and international security.