UAE's deputy PM holds first call with Ghalibaf amid push to extend US-Iran ceasefire The Emirati vice president and Iran’s parliament speaker talked de-escalation on the phone in the first such contact since the Iran war began. United Arab Emirates
Bahrain, Saudi Arabia summon Iraqi diplomats over militia attacks: What to know The United States and Kuwait have likewise criticized Iraq over actions tied to Iran-backed armed groups in the country. Iraq
China signals bigger Gulf role as UAE crown prince visits Beijing China, which maintains close ties with both Iran and Gulf states, is hosting one of the UAE's top officials this week as a fragile ceasefire in the region holds. China
UAE says no more 'niceties' with Iran, seeks clarity on fragile truce terms The UAE said Iran must pay “compensation” for damages incurred during the conflict. United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi merges ADQ into new wealth fund L'IMAD: What to know Under the new structure, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, will oversee a broader swath of the emirate’s investment holdings. United Arab Emirates
Saudi defense chief visits White House as Riyadh wary of Iran strike The visit is occurring as the Pentagon amasses an armada off Iran and the United States continues to threaten to strike the Islamic Republic militarily. Saudi Arabia
UAE launches sovereign open-source AI model K2 Think: What to know The Gulf state is one of the few countries in the world developing its own sovereign open-source AI model to counter the dominance of the United States and China in the sector. United Arab Emirates
Thousands rally for South Yemen independence amid Saudi diplomatic push Large protests called for southern independence in Yemen on Friday, reflecting persistent support for the separatists despite the Saudi-backed government’s efforts to quash the separatist movement. Yemen
Herzog: Saudi normalization talks could resume as Gaza ceasefire enters next phase The Israeli president said the rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia “should be the future vision of the Middle East.” Israel
Somalia, Qatar sign defense pact after Mogadishu scraps UAE deals: What to know Somalia and Qatar signed a defense cooperation agreement in Doha on Monday to strengthen bilateral military ties and security collaboration, days after Mogadishu ended all its contracts with the United Arab Emirates. Somalia
UAE, India agree on formalizing defense pact, $200B trade deal: What to know During an official visit to India, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the signing of several memorandums of understanding and letters of intent across multiple sectors, including defense and space. United Arab Emirates
US evacuates some personnel from Qatar air base amid Trump threat to strike Iran Iran's Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned Tuesday that Tehran will retaliate for any attacks on the country. United States
Turkey's Fidan to visit UAE as Iran unrest, Gulf tensions intensify The top Turkish diplomat’s UAE visit coincides with heightened Gaza diplomacy, growing tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, and escalating unrest in Iran. Turkey
CENTCOM opens air defense cell at Qatar's Al Udeid base: What to know Bringing together military officers from regional countries to coordinate air and missile defense marks a nascent step in CENTCOM’s decades-long push to diplomatically facilitate air defense cooperation between Gulf states against Iran. United States
UAE cuts student funding for UK universities over Muslim Brotherhood fears London has not banned the group as a terrorist organization, but UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the option is under "close review." United Arab Emirates
Analysis US response muted as Gulf allies clash in Yemen With Washington’s focus elsewhere, a Saudi-Emirati proxy fight is igniting a new phase in Yemen’s war. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights