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

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United Arab Emirates

November 5, 2026

Abu Dhabi 9:25 pm

29°C

FADEL SENNA / AFP via Getty Images

UAE taps French firm for first-ever natural hydrogen exploration: What to know

Under the UAE National Hydrogen Strategy 2050, the Gulf country aims to establish itself as a global producer and supplier of low-emission hydrogen by 2031 while supporting its net-zero emissions target by 2050.

United Arab Emirates

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi (R), in a meeting with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (L) on Nov. 2, 2026.

OpenAI's Altman signs UAE energy, government deals amid Gulf funding push

The deals deepen the company’s ties to the UAE as the ChatGPT creator pursues a massive new funding round with help from Middle East investors.

United Arab Emirates

Latest News

UAE's Nusseibeh comes in fourth in latest UNSG straw poll: What to know

Lana Nusseibeh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, speaks at a Sudan Humanitarian Fund event at the Institute of Peace in Washington, DC, on February 3, 2026. (Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

United Arab Emirates

Canada, UAE sign trade pact as Ottawa seeks to diversify beyond US

Dock workers load and unload shipping containers in the Port of Montreal in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

United Arab Emirates

UAE battles tanker oil spill as war's environmental toll mounts

FADEL SENNA / AFP via Getty Images

United Arab Emirates

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

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

UAE's president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (L), speaks with US President Joe Biden as they attend a session of the G20 Leaders' Summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 9, 2023.

UAE in 'realignment mode' as Mohammed bin Zayed heads to US

The UAE president is set to meet US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on his visit. A top advisor refused to say on Thursday if he will be meeting Donald Trump.

United Arab Emirates

US President Joe Biden (R) and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (L) attend a bilateral meeting at a hotel in Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on July 16, 2022. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

UAE president to visit White House as frustrations mount over Gaza endgame

Abu Dhabi has hardened its stance on Israel as Gulf states consider their role in rebuilding Gaza.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Saudi energy minister

How Saudi Arabia plans to lure foreign investors to kickstart nuclear program

Saudi Arabia is looking to begin an ambitious nuclear project and tap into its significant uranium deposits.

Mayssa (C), 15, and Yara (R), 10, from Khan Younis, on board the UAE evacuation flight that arrived from Eilat to Abu Dhabi on Sept. 9, 2025.

UAE evacuates nearly 100 Gaza patients as 10,000+ await transfer

Abu Dhabi has pledged to bring in 1,000 injured children and 1,000 cancer patients from the Gaza Strip to be treated in the its hospitals.

United Arab Emirates

David Ramos/Getty Images

Trial opens in London for UAE-backed Manchester City: What we know

The English Premier League claims Man City breached rules requiring it to provide financial data that "gives a true and fair view of the club's financial position."

United Arab Emirates

The flags of United Arab Emirates and Iran are flown during a national event at the Iranian Pavilion of Expo 2020, Dubai, Feb. 7, 2022.

Analysis

Despite lingering suspicions, UAE-Iran relations stable

Improved bilateral ties benefit Abu Dhabi and Tehran economically and provide security benefits despite some outstanding disputes.

Giorgio Cafiero

By Giorgio Cafiero

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) hosted China’s Prime Minister Li Qiang in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 12, 2024.

China's premier in UAE after Saudi Arabia as Beijing deepens Gulf ties

Prime Minister Li Qiang’s visit to Abu Dhabi follows a similar trip to Saudi Arabia where he discussed Chinese-Gulf ties.

United Arab Emirates

The President of UAE Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (L) walks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of a meeting in New Delhi on January 25, 2017.

Analysis

India, UAE relations move from crude oil imports to nuclear cooperation

India, which sources 51% of its crude from the Middle East, is looking to strengthen strategic ties with the UAE. The South Asian country, which has significant nuclear energy capacity, signed its first nuclear cooperation agreement with Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Cars drive along a street in front of high-rise buildings in Dubai, on February 18, 2023. - Home to towering skyscrapers and ultra-luxury villas, Dubai saw record real estate transactions in 2022, largely due to an influx of wealthy investors, especially from Russia. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE aims to attract family offices to boost stature as wealth hub

Sebastian Castelier

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

Migrant builders take a break while working at a construction site by the Corniche, in Doha, on Nov. 24, 2022, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament.

What's behind the UAE's visa amnesty scheme?

As part of the United Arab Emirates' large-scale amnesty scheme, migrants in the country illegally who have secured jobs can apply for fresh visas, while others will be allowed to leave without facing penalties.

United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (L) listens to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on September 9, 2024.

India’s Modi hosts UAE crown prince, inks 5 energy, nuclear agreements

The agreements were signed during Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to New Delhi.

United Arab Emirates

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

UAE's final unit of Barakah nuclear reactor hooked to grid: What we know

The Emirates is the only Gulf country with a nuclear power program, though neighboring Saudi Arabia also has atomic power ambitions.

United Arab Emirates