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

UAE cover image

United Arab Emirates

July 4, 2026

Abu Dhabi 6:15 am

31°C

Oil drilling near Dakhiliyah in the desert region of Hasakah, Syria, Jan. 25, 2026.

Syria launches gas project with Saudi firm in latest Gulf energy partnership

The project is the latest in a series of Gulf-backed investments aimed at rebuilding Syria's energy sector after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

Crude oil tankers, bulk carriers and vessels sit anchored around Qaboos Port on June 22, 2026, in Muscat, Oman.

Oil falls below $71 as US-Iran talks continue, Gulf exports rebound

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in an X post on Wednesday that Iran and the United States had made "positive progress."

Latest News

Trump earns $810M from UAE-backed crypto firm: What to know

People walk past a cryptocurrency exchange office with a screen featuring US President Donald Trump holding cryptocurrency coins in Hong Kong on March 12, 2025.

United Arab Emirates

Analysis

Why the UAE wants Indian missiles and a deeper strategic partnership

Brahmos replicas are displayed during India's 60th Republic Day parade, Jan. 26, 2009, New Delhi.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

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

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.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (L) walks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of a meeting in New Delhi on January 25, 2017. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is on an official visit to India and will be the guest of honour at the country's forthcoming Republic Day celebrations. / AFP / Money SHARMA (Photo credit should read MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images)

How critical is UAE-India trade corridor in countering China & Red Sea tensions?

The agreement comes amid continuing Houthi attacks in the sea route that are disrupting global trade, and further indicates strengthening UAE-India relations.

Tucker Carlson, US television personality and founder of the Tucker Carlson Network.

Why is Tucker Carlson in UAE after controversial Russia visit?

The controversial former Fox News host, who recently interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin, addressed a summit in the UAE’s largest city.

his combination of pictures created on April 18, 2023 shows Sudan's army chief, Lieutenant-General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (L), in Juba on October, 14, 2019 and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (R) known as Hemedti, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), addressing the media upon his return from Russia at Khartoum airport on March 2, 2022. - AKUOT CHOL,ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP via Getty Images

How Sudan could become an Iran-UAE proxy war

Iran’s efforts to establish a foothold in Sudan threatens its fragile ties with the UAE, which has its own interests in the war-torn country.

United Arab Emirates

An oil tanker waits near the Marathon Anacortes Refinery, operated by Marathon Petroleum, in Anacortes, Washington, March 8, 2022.

US sanctions UAE entities for allegedly violating Russian oil price cap

The US Treasury Department also moved to crack down on entities buying diamonds from Russia, a key revenue stream for Moscow amid its war against Ukraine.

United Arab Emirates

ISMAILIA, EGYPT - JANUARY 10: A ship transits the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea on January 10, 2024 in Ismailia, Egypt. In the wake of Israel's war on Gaza after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Houthi rebels in Yemen pledged disruption on all ships destined for Israel through the Red Sea's Suez Canal. The disruption on world trade is evident in the number of companies using this container ship route - a 90 per cent decline compared to figures one year ago. (Photo by Sayed Hassan/Getty Images)

Red Sea attacks push global firms to seek overland shipping alternatives

An Israeli company is sending goods overland from the United Arab Emirates through Saudi Arabia and other firms are looking at different arrangements as US strikes fail to deter Houthi attacks.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) shakes hand with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 9, 2023. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

India's government ratifies UAE investment deal as trade booms

The UAE and India have substantial and growing economic ties and Abu Dhabi is seeking to invest more in the South Asian country.

Photo illustration of a selection of front pages from UK daily national newspaper coverage, London, Jan. 18, 2024.

Analysis

UAE-backed fund's planned Telegraph takeover raises press freedom fears

Members of parliament and former state security figures have raised concerns about what it would mean for an entity with close ties to a foreign government to own one of the United Kingdom’s most influential newspapers.

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