United Arab Emirates - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

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United Arab Emirates

August 23, 2026

Abu Dhabi 4:30 am

35°C

Iranians drive past an anti-US billboard at Enghelab Square in central Tehran, Aug. 3, 2026.

Trump’s Iran ‘economic D-Day’ threat sends oil prices above $94

In a Truth Social post, the president threatened that any country that provides a financial lifeline to Iran will face "tremendous economic consequences."

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP via Getty Images

Explainer

Iraq seeks special Hormuz access from Iran in scramble to keep oil flowing

As Iran's parliament speaker holds talks in Baghdad, Iraq has asked Tehran for special consideration for its oil exports.

Ships are docked along a pier at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in Sharjah Emirate, along the Gulf of Oman on July 14, 2026.

UAE halts all trade ties with Iran after missile attack

The incident follows the UAE blaming Iran for strikes on ADNOC vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

United Arab Emirates

Latest News

Oil nears $92 on UAE missile alert as Trump claims Iran talks stuck

Leon Neal/Getty Images

United Arab Emirates

Sudan ramps up Saudi Arabia, Turkey contacts amid growing Red Sea cooperation

Sudanese army soldier stands in front of a tank

Sultan of Oman meets UAE's MBZ as Iran-Hormuz talks advance

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik pays a private fraternal visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he held a meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE, at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi, on Aug. 17, 2026.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Mohammed Soliman

In Washington, DC, reporting on Gulf politics

A passenger walks along the platform of the Rakosrendezo railway station, site of a controversial redevelopment by the UAE, Budapest, Jan. 12, 2024.

Hungary signs $5.5B deal with UAE firm to develop Budapest neighborhood

The new project around the Rakosrendezo freight train station is expected to bring the futuristic, high-rise style of Dubai and other Emirates to the Hungarian capital.

United Arab Emirates

A view of the platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea is pictured from the Israeli northern coastal beach of Nasholim, on Aug. 29, 2022.

Israel’s NewMed Energy says UAE deal suspended amid Gaza 'uncertainty'

Israel-UAE relations have been negatively impacted by the war but still remain intact.

Women walks through the Museum of the Future in Dubai during the Artificial Intelligence Forum held on October 11, 2023. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

What to know about MGX, UAE’s latest AI investment firm

The launch of the AI-focused firm follows the UAE’s largest company appointing an AI bot to its board, as Abu Dhabi seeks to become a world player in artificial intelligence.

United Arab Emirates

The futuristic cityscape of Dubai with the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.

What’s behind Dubai’s new 20% tax on foreign banks?

The UAE implemented its first-ever corporate tax last year in an effort to boost revenue amid the shift away from oil and gas.

Shipping containers are stored at Berbera Port on Aug. 31, 2021. Dubai-based port operator DP World and the Government of Somaliland, opened a container terminal at Berbera Port in June 2021.

UAE-India ties grow as DP World secures $422M for Gujarat container terminal

Intiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor have seen business deals flourishing between India and the United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates

JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

Could Etihad Airways become first Gulf airline to launch IPO?

The airline reported on Wednesday that it made a net profit for 2023 and 2022 after a string of substantial losses since 2016.

United Arab Emirates

The Ameca humanoid robot greets visitors at Dubai's Museum of the Future, on October 11, 2022. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE's largest company IHC appoints AI bot to board

Several international companies have named AI-based entities to their leadership structures in recent years. The UAE is seeking to become a world leader in artificial intelligence.

Attendees look around the at NIO EP9 during the 2022 Central China International Auto Show on July 14, 2022, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China.

How UAE fits into China’s electric vehicle push

The United Arab Emirates’ electric vehicle ambitions and restrictions from the United States make the Gulf state an attractive partner for Chinese firms, but Abu Dhabi has a way to go before it meets its electric vehicle ownership targets.

A boat sails at the Dubai marina with a view of the Gulf Emirate's skyline on Dec. 15, 2023.

UAE dropped from global watchdog’s illicit finance list in quick turnaround

The Gulf country was added to the Financial Action Task Force's grey list in March 2022.

United Arab Emirates

Lana Nusseibeh speaks during a UN Security Council meeting on the Israel-Hamas war at the United Nations headquarters on Nov. 22, 2023.

Analysis

International law 'cannot be a la carte': UAE, Saudi and Egypt scold Israel at ICJ

The presentations at The Hague could further the rift between Israel and the Arab world amid the Gaza war and efforts to expand normalization, though countries in the region are still interested in maintaining relations with Tel Aviv.

Adam Lucente

By Adam Lucente

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey to play 'important role' in sukuk market despite paused UAE deal

Turkey has been looking to shore up financing to help it rebuild its economy after devastating twin earthquakes in 2023 killed more than 53,000 people and cost the country north of $50 billion.

This picture taken with a fish-eye lens on May 9, 2021 shows a view of the Dubai city skyline as seen from the Burj Khalifa, currently the world's tallest building at 828 meters.

Dubai mega-resort axes casino plans amid UAE gambling ambiguity

MGM Resorts International said its $2.5 billion mega-project in Dubai will not have a casino, though the United Arab Emirates could allow gambling in the not-so-distant future.