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July 25, 2026

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A ship sails off the coast of Ajman on July 10, 2026.

Interview

Why Strait of Hormuz no longer rattles oil markets as much: IMF

The fund's Middle East director, Jihad Azour, told Al-Monitor that the big Gulf energy producers now have more capacity to absorb the shock.

Jihad Azour

Jihad Azour

Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund

Latest News

Oil soars more than 6% as Trump rules out Iran deal, threatens more strikes

A cargo ship is pictured off coast of 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 June 28, 2026.

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Karen Young

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy

Reve Chaaban

In Doha reporting on culture

Soccer Football - AFC Asian Cup - Semi-Final - Qatar v United Arab Emirates - Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - January 29, 2019 Qatar's Hasan Al Haydos scores their third goal REUTERS/Suhaib Salem - RC142CB29E70

Qatar scores symbolic victory in soccer win over UAE

An unhealthy rivalry between Qatar and the UAE was on display during the AFC Asian Cup semi-finals, with Emirati fans booing the Qatari national anthem and pelting water bottles at the players.

United Arab Emirates

Qatar sinks into Gaza quagmire

Qatar wanted to please the United States and help Gaza residents with aid money, but has found itself trapped in a standoff between Hamas and Israel.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani meets with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun as he arrives to attend the Arab Economic and Social Development summit meeting in Beirut, Lebanon January 20, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir - RC1CA2F76AB0

Qatar challenges Saudi influence in Lebanon

There has been a vacuum created by a decline of Saudi influence in Lebanon that Qatar now seeks to fill.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan speak during a ceremony to mark the completion of the sea part of the TurkStream gas pipeline, in Istanbul, Turkey November 19, 2018. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC12DCA255B0

Erdogan seeks lifeline from Putin in Syria

The Turkish president will discuss Syria with his Russian counterpart in Moscow this coming week, as Qatar's Sheikh Tamim takes spotlight in Beirut.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the Missile Defense Review announcement at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 17, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque - RC1D4E23D950

Intel: How Trump used his missile defense rollout to take shots at Iran

President Trump chastised Iran for attempting to launch a satellite earlier this week and pledged the United States would take a harder line on Iran.

Qatari artist Ahmed Bin Majed Al-Maadheed stands next to his painting of Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani titled "Glorious Tamim" at a gallery in Doha on July 28, 2017.
Maadheed's painting of the Qatari Emir has been spread widely on social media since Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt broke ties with Qatar on June 5, transforming the artist into a star. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY MENTION OF THE ARTIST UPON PUBLICATION - TO ILLUSTRATE THE

How this royal portrait boosted Qatari national identity

A sense of national identity has been growing steadily in Qatar since the Saudi-led blockade began in June 2017, and it seems as though an image of the Qatari emir has helped it along the way.

Technicians construct a Turkish Attack and Tactical Reconnaissance Helicopter (ATAK), at the Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc (TAI) factory in Ankara, Turkey, April 28, 2015. TAI, which produces F-16 fighter jets and other military aircraft, could float on the Istanbul stock exchange in the second half of this year, its chief executive told Reuters. Ankara-based TAI was established to co-produce Lockheed Martin's F-16 for the Turkish Air Force in 1984. It is almost wholly owned by the Turkish Armed Forces F

Privatization of Turkish military factory draws strong criticism

The lease of the Turkish military’s prominent tank factory to the private company BMC has stirred fierce criticism.

Israel uses Qatari grant to pressure Hamas

In the wake of the military escalation between Israel and the Gaza Strip, Israel has frozen the third transfer of the Qatari grant to Gaza, thus breaching understandings reached with Hamas.

Iran plays Hamas card ahead of Israeli elections

Hamas insists on Qatari money; Iran offers training for Palestinian factions; Russia wrestles with its limits in Syria; UAE leads GCC rapprochement with Damascus.

Security guards stand in front of the United Arab Emirates embassy during its reopening in Damascus, Syria December 27, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki - RC1F43BEB420

Gulf states slowly warm to Damascus

Gulf states are turning their backs on supporting armed groups in Syria and preparing to re-engage the government in Damascus.

Can Qatar help Hamas without embarrassing Netanyahu?

The Qatari emissary asked the Hamas leadership to give him and Israel time to come up with creative ways to transfer the Gaza aid money without causing public opinion in Israel to explode.

Abbas attacks Netanyahu for letting Qatari funds into Gaza

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says Israel is aiding attacks on its own people by acting as a conduit for money to reach Hamas.