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

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United Arab Emirates

September 3, 2026

Abu Dhabi 5:06 am

33°C

Ongoing construction work is pictured at a site in Marota City, a new mixed-use development project near the Umayyad Square in Damascus on July 22, 2026. Syria's new leaders, who inherited a dilapidated economy, are trying to attract capital without waiting for the full lifting of international sanctions. (Photo by LOUAI BESHARA / AFP via Getty Images)

UAE investment fuels Syria's postwar economic recovery with $7B property deal

The deal would see UAE-based Arada develop a major real estate project in Damascus.

JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

UAE gauges new Lebanon deals amid Levant economic stabilization push

Beirut welcomed a high-level business delegation from the UAE in late August as Abu Dhabi pursues new regional economic engagement amid Iran's waning influence.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Chinese President Xi Jinping and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Analysis

UAE-China air drills deepen with fourth Falcon Shield exercise

The United Arab Emirates and China are preparing for their fourth joint air force exercise in as many years, extending a military relationship that has moved steadily beyond arms sales into increasingly regular operational training.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

Latest News

Lebanon, UAE ink deals, deepen economic ties on Emirati Beirut visit

UAE Foreign Trade Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi (L) and Lebanese Economy Minister Amr al-Bisat after signing a memorandum of understanding, Beirut, Aug. 27, 2026.

Large UAE delegation set to arrive in Lebanon in major investment push

Lebanese Presidency

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

Workers stand outside the Dubai International Financial Center in the Gulf emirate on Nov. 29, 2009.

Dubai regulator announces increased protection for whistleblowers

The UAE is working to increase its financial transparency after being linked to sanctions evasion and the flow of dark money.

United Arab Emirates

Parents wearing protective masks and their children arrive at a school entrance.

Culture

Abu Dhabi private schools returning to in-person classes

Remote education has led to difficulties for students throughout the world, including in Middle Eastern countries.

United Arab Emirates

A bus is pictured carrying workers back from a construction site on Sept. 14, 2016, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Dubai partnering with Singapore to improve public transportation

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also working to make their public transit systems more environmentally friendly, though oil is still a major part of the Emirati economy.

United Arab Emirates

A picture taken on Feb. 6, 2018, shows a visual representation of the digital cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

Report: One third of Israelis and Emiratis own cryptocurrency

Both Israel and the UAE have emerged as centers of cryptocurrency in the Middle East.

Dubai drivers

Israel-UAE friendship continues with mutual recognition of driving licenses

The agreement has been in the works since shortly after the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020.

Dubai crypto

Bybit, Crypto.com head for Dubai as UAE pushes cryptocurrency

The Emirates wants to become a cryptocurrency hub for the region, but faces some competition from Israel.

United Arab Emirates

The Barakah nuclear plant, seen here in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi.

UAE expands nuclear power plant, doubles electricity production

The UAE is still reliant on oil and gas, though nuclear energy is rising in the country and across the region.

United Arab Emirates

Oil storage containers of the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company (EAPC).

Israel, UAE to cooperate on clean hydroelectricity

Israeli companies are eager to cooperate with Emirati partners for the development of clean, cheap and low-energy hydrogen production.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walks alongside UAE's Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan (R).

Emirati and Turkish businesspeople discuss bilateral trade, investment

The meeting between the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Turkey’s ULUSKON business federation occurred in the context of rapprochement between the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

UAE Africa

UAE continues to grow influence in Africa with Zimbabwe trade

The Emirates has expanded its presence on the African continent in recent years via infrastructure investments, military bases and more.

United Arab Emirates

OPEC

UAE sticks to OPEC+ production limits

The Biden administration is asking Gulf partners to increase production in response to rising oil prices, but so far the cartel is holding to its earlier agreement.

United Arab Emirates

US President Joe Biden announces a ban on US imports of Russian oil and gas, March 8, 2022.

Oil price dips as UAE endorses increased production

Global oil prices have skyrocketed due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

United Arab Emirates