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United Arab Emirates

March 16, 2025

Abu Dhabi 6:01 am

23°C

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani meets with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed on March 16,2023. — UAE Presidency

Analysis

As Gargash delivers Trump letter, can UAE play mediator role on Iran?

While the UAE seeks a greater mediator role in the region, covert rivalries among Gulf states and fragile Emirati-Iranian ties may limit its role.

Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

By Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In London, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

Participants arrive to attend the annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh on Oct. 29, 2024.

UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia finance startups lead Forbes Middle East Fintech50

Some 119 fintech startups across the Middle East and North Africa raised $700 million in 2024, accounting for 30% of the total MENA startup funding for last year.

The Prism

AL-Monitor Dubai: Step into The Prism’s world

United Arab Emirates

Diplomatic advisor to the United Arab Emirates President Anwar Gargash arrives to attend the opening ceremony of the Summit on peace in Ukraine, at the luxury Burgenstock resort, near Lucerne, on June 15, 2024.

UAE's Anwar Gargash visits Iran to deliver Trump's letter: What to know

Anwar Gargash's visit to Iran as an interlocutor would mark the Emirates' foray into mediating between Washington and Tehran, a role Abu Dhabi is uniquely placed to play.

Latest News

AL-Monitor FutureVerse: AI superpowers clash

Digital generated image of abstract AI chat icons over digital surface.

UAE’s XRG to make big investment in US energy, ADNOC chief says

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, President of COP28, speaks during the opening ceremony of the UNFCCC COP29 Climate Conference on Nov. 11, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

United Arab Emirates

Analysis

A year on, UAE walks BRICS tightrope amid escalating US-Brazil rhetoric

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan walks with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, April 15, 2023.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

AL-Monitor Dubai: Hoda Tawakol’s “My Mothers" exhibit at Gallery Isabelle

A man walks near Masjid Al Hudaiba mosque in Dubai on March 6, 2025, during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP) (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)

United Arab Emirates

Jack Dutton

Chief Business Correspondent

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

Adam Lucente

News and Business Correspondent

In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change

Jennifer Gnana

Gulf Correspondent

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Samuel Wendel

Senior Market Research Analyst

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Sabena Siddiqui

In Karachi, reporting on South Asia, Middle East, Iran

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

AFP via Getty Images

Sudan brings genocide case against UAE at International Court of Justice

Sudan accuses the United Arab Emirates of complicity in genocide over its alleged support for the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, which has been found to have committed atrocities against the Masalit ethnic group in Sudan's West Darfur state.

A picture shows the headquarters of UAE's state oil company ADNOC in Dubai on July 27, 2022.

UAE’s ADNOC, Austria’s OMV merge businesses to create $60B plastics firm

Following the acquisition, the new firm, called Borouge Group International (BGI), will be the world’s fourth-largest polyofin company, said ADNOC and OMV.

United Arab Emirates

Voladymyr Zelenskyy meets with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, on Feb. 17, 2025.

Analysis

Amid US rift and Saudi rivalry, UAE offers Zelenskyy economic lifeline

Gulf countries find themselves in a difficult position as they navigate placating Trump, maintaining good relations with Russia, and engaging with Ukraine while also providing mediation and humanitarian aid.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

The United Arab Emirates' assistant sherpa to BRICS, Khamis Al-Shemeili (far right), poses for the family photo at the first BRICS sherpa meeting: (L-R) South Africa's Xolisa Mfundiso Mabhongo, Russia's Sergey Ryabkov, Indonesia's Tri Tharyat, Ethiopia's Mamo Esmelealem Mihretu, China's Tian Bai, Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, Brazil's Mauricio Lyrio, Egypt's Ragui Eletreby, India's Periasamy Kumaran, Iran's Majid Samadzadeh Saber, and Saudi Arabia's Ibrahim Alessa, in Brasilia, Feb. 25, 2025.

UAE attends BRICS sherpa meeting as Brazil plans next summit: What to know

The BRICS nations collectively account for nearly 50% of the world’s population and roughly 30% of global gross domestic product

United Arab Emirates

A teamLab immersive artwork.

AL-Monitor Dubai: Art meets science at teamLab Phenomena

This week we transport you to an immersive realm where art, technology and science meet with the opening of teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi — the second Middle Eastern outpost for the Japanese art collective.

United Arab Emirates

UAE Sheikh Khaled

UAE, Pakistan expand cooperation during crown prince's first visit: What we know

Pakistan is looking to the UAE for economic help, with recent agreements focused on mining, ports and railways.

United Arab Emirates

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C/L) welcomes the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Italy's Meloni secures $40B in UAE investments during MBZ visit: What to know

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has secured a total of $50 billion worth of deals from her engagements with the UAE and Saudi Arabia so far this year.

United Arab Emirates

An oil tanker unloads imported crude oil at Qingdao port in China's eastern Shandong province on May 9, 2022. - China OUT (Photo by AFP) / China OUT (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

US sanctions on Iran’s 'shadow' oil fleet target brokers in UAE, China

The latest sanctions come after President Donald Trump pledged his administration would drive Iran's oil sales down to zero.

A view of the exhibition “Between Sunrise and Sunset: Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim,” at the Maraya Art Center.

AL-Monitor Dubai: Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim at Maraya Art Center

This week we spotlight an exhibition at Maraya Art Center in Sharjah featuring the work of prominent Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, who exhibited his work at the 59th International Venice Biennale in 2022.

United Arab Emirates

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) walks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as they meet at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, on Feb. 19, 2025.

UAE conveys frustrations to US' top diplomat Rubio over Gaza, Ukraine

Arab states have grown increasingly frustrated over the US administration's rhetoric about displacing 2.1 million Gazans from the enclave.

United Arab Emirates

Visitors check weapons during the International Defence Exhibition Idex 2025, on February 17, 2025, in Abu Dhai. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP) (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)

China's defense companies out in full force at UAE's IDEX: What to know

China sent 59 defense and technology companies to the International Defense Exhibition and Conference and the Naval Defense and Maritime Security Exhibition in Abu Dhabi this week.

United Arab Emirates

Zelenskyy

UAE, Ukraine finalize trade deal during Zelenskyy's visit

The agreement is expected to contribute $369 million to the UAE’s GDP and $874 million to Ukraine’s GDP by 2031.

United Arab Emirates