Newsletter: Business & Tech

Gulf marks Eid amid war

Eid al-Adha celebrations continue across the Gulf amid volatile oil markets and conflicting reports of a US-Iran maritime deal, as Iran eases a months-long internet blackout.

By Jack Dutton

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

Newsletter: Daily Briefing

Iran’s Bagheri: No deal on Hormuz yet

US-Iran negotiations drag on as Israel escalates operations in Lebanon and Gaza and Gulf states prepare for Eid under wartime strain.

By Ezgi Akin

In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO

Gulf celebrates Eid al-Adha under shadow of war

The holiday marks the first time in decades that Gulf states are observing one of Islam’s holiest celebrations against the backdrop of a regional conflict.

United Arab Emirates

Israel’s Shin Bet chief meets Mohammed Dahlan in UAE: What to know

Shin Bet Chief David Zini met in the United Arab Emirates with former senior Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan, who is seen by Israel and the United States as a leading candidate to administer the Gaza Strip after the war.

Israel

Explainer

UAE nuclear plant strike clouds Gulf's atomic ambitions: What to know

The US-Israel-Iran war is complicating momentum in the Middle East for civilian nuclear power, which heading into 2026 had been growing in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and elsewhere.

United Arab Emirates

Analysis

Cheap drones, costly threats: Why Gulf states are looking to Turkey for defense deals

Iran’s drone and missile attacks have exposed gaps in Gulf and Iraqi air defenses, giving Turkey an opening for Turkish defense sales, but Ankara has a narrow window before South Korean and European competitors gain ground.

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Newsletter: City Pulse Dubai

Emirati abstraction meets floral forms

Also this week: Fire-cooked flavors and contemporary Arab art in Dubai

By Rebecca Anne Proctor

In Dubai, reporting on culture

Analysis

As Gulf crisis reshapes energy markets, experts warn of new normal

With the US-Israel-Iran war producing a historic supply shock, Al-Monitor hosted a panel of experts to explore how the conflict has ushered in a new era for global energy markets.

Iran’s Hormuz authority declares control over ports in UAE, Oman: What to know

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority released a map showing its “areas of oversight” extending to the United Arab Emirates’ ports, eliciting a rebuke from a senior Emirati official.

Iran

UAE, France renew defense pact after Rafale jets controversy

Last month, French newspaper La Tribune reported that the UAE had withdrawn from a proposal to jointly fund development of the Rafale F5 fighter jet.

United Arab Emirates

Newsletter: Gulf

Pakistan, India redraw Gulf security map

Saudi Arabia’s expanding military partnership with Pakistan and the UAE’s new strategic defence pact with India are accelerating the emergence of parallel Gulf security architectures shaped by the Iran war.

By Francesco Schiavi

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

UAE's Barakah nuclear plant fully operational after first such strike in Gulf

Emirati officials have vowed that the country’s energy ambitions will not be impacted by the strike, which was the first on a nuclear facility in the Gulf since the war began, adding that they have the right to respond to the attack.

United Arab Emirates