Iran has expressed its anger and dissatisfaction with Google after the name 'Persian Gulf' disappeared from Google Maps. Iran is threatening to sue Google and take other measures that will result in "serious damages" if the search engine giant does not reinstate the name on its maps. Google's action means the body of water between Iran and several Arab states is now nameless. Iran's Foreign Minister, Ramin Mehmanparast, said: "We have put it on our agenda to make an official complaint." He said it was "Google's shameless act to drop the name 'Persian Gulf'". He added that: "Omitting the name 'Persian Gulf' is akin to playing with the feelings and realities of the Iranian people." The name of the waterway has caused friction between Iran and its Arab neighbours for decades. The Arab states of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait also have coastlines that border the gulf. Iran says the gulf has been known as the 'Persian Gulf' for centuries. A 2004 website aimed at Internet surfers searching for 'Arabian Gulf' says: "The gulf you are looking for is unavailable. No body of water by that name has ever existed. The correct name is Persian Gulf, which always has been, and will always remain, Persian." In 2010, Iran said it would ban airlines using the term 'Arabian Gulf' from its airspace. Google rejected Iran's claims, saying it had never named the waterway.

Saudi Arabia has built the world’s first underwater mosque. A group of divers constructed the aquatic place of worship off the Saudi coast close to the border with Jordan. It is made from plastic pipes filled with sand. One of the divers Hamadan bin Salim Al Masoudi told the “Al Madina” newspaper: “One of our colleagues came up with this idea last summer and we decided to carry it out.” He added: “When we put the final touches on it, it was time for afternoon prayers, so we performed group prayers.” It is not yet certain whether the mosque will be open for prayers to the general public. Worshippers would need to don scuba diving equipment and there is currently no call to prayer.

The building of the mosque comes as a variety of companies in neighbouring United Arab Emirates has unveiled plans to build underwater hotels. The Dubai-based shipbuilding company Drydocks World penned a deal to develop undersea hotels in Dubai with a Swiss firm. One such project is the World Discus Hotel, a discus-shaped underwater complex. It will be one of five underwater establishments planned by the two companies. The plans are seen as another sign of Dubai’s cutting-edge prowess in the luxury hotel sector. Drydocks chairman Khamis Juma Buamim told reporters: “The discussions are to build these around the world, not just in the UAE.”