As the world said goodbye to a tumultuous 2015, here's a look at some of the most important events that happened in the Gulf region. Saudi Arabia In January, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman came to power following the death of King Abdullah. King Salman tours several countries after assuming power. In late March, Saudi Arabia led a coalition to support the legitimate Yemeni President Abdrabbu Mansour Hadi against the Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the former Yemeni president, Ali Abdullah Saleh. In April, King Salman announced a shake up at the highest levels of power, shifting the line of royal succession. Interior Minister Prince Muhammad Bin Naif replaced Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz as the next-in-line to lead Saudi Arabia, while Defense Minister Prince Muhammad Bin Salman became deputy crown prince. Saudi Arabia's 2016 budget was one of the topics which made headlines worldwide. UAE Many soldiers died while on duty taking part in the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. UAE increased the prices of fuel and became the first Gulf state to link it to international prices. Emirati woman stabs to death an American citizen in an Abu Dhabi shopping mall. The woman, dubbed the "Reem Island Ghost," who authorities said had sent money to terrorist groups – was later sentenced and executed. Bahrain Bahraini authorities launched for the first time the sales of governmental Ijara sukuks (Islamic leasing bonds) worth $265m through the Manama stock exchange. Kuwait In June, a deadly blast hit the Imam As-Sadiq Mosque in Kuwait City. The bombing, which was claimed by Daesh (the so-called IS) group, killed 27. Diplomatic relations between Kuwait and Iran came under strain after authorities discovered a warehouse full of ammunition they suspect had come from Tehran. Qatar FIFA announced that Qatar's hosting of the World Football Cup 2022 will be held in November instead of the summer. Qatar ended its controversial sponsorship for foreign workers and introduced a new law to regulate the movements of expatriates in and out of the country. Oman In November, a hurricane dubbed "Chapala" hit parts of Oman and Yemen, resulting in massive rains. Yemen Iranian-backed Houthi militias execute a coup against President Abdrabbu Mansour Hadi, resulting in Saudi Arabia forming a coalition to prop up its southern neighbor and restore the internationally-recognized government to power. A conference held in Geneva hosted a dialogue between Yemen's warring parties, in a bid to restore peace to the nation.
