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UAE cover image

United Arab Emirates

December 7, 2025

Abu Dhabi 3:53 am

22°C

People walk and drive past a billboard covering the facade of a building on Vali-Asr square, depicting as postage stamps the disputed Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunb islands that were seized by Iran in 1971, in Tehran on October 26, 2024. Residents of Tehran awoke and went about their business as planned on October 26 after their sleep was troubled by Israeli strikes that triggered blasts that echoed across the city. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Iran’s new military drills near disputed islands ratchet up tensions with UAE

By combining high-tech capabilities, publicized warnings to foreign vessels and historical framing of territorial sovereignty, Tehran is seeking to assertively position itself in a dispute that has resisted resolution for decades.

A correspondent in Tehran

By A correspondent in Tehran

In Tehran, reporting on politics

The Red Flag limousine carrying Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed passes a military honour guard as he arrives for a welcoming ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 22, 2019. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP) (Photo credit should read GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images)

China, UAE to hold third air force drills as defense ties warm: What we know

China and the United Arab Emirates are further deepening their defense and military ties with a third round of aerial exercises.

United Arab Emirates

Fighters affiliated with Yemen's separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) man a position as they deploy amid tensions in the southern port city of Aden, on February 3, 2022, after Washington announced sending a warship and fighter jets to help defend its Gulf allies as conflict with Yemeni rebels intensifies. (Photo by Saleh Al-OBEIDI / AFP) (Photo by SALEH AL-OBEIDI/AFP via Getty Images)

Yemen's STC separatists advance in Hadramout as UAE-Saudi rift grows

The fighting between the UAE-backed southern separatists and Saudi-aligned tribal forces, nominal allies against the Houthis, has raised concerns about the division of Yemen.

Latest News

Turkey defense firms break record with $10B in revenues: SIPRI

Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Analysis

US-Gulf critical minerals ties grow in bid to weaken China’s grip on industry

Spots of gold-rich ore speckle a stone pictured during a press tour at the Al-Amar Gold Mine, in the Riyadh region on May 28, 2008.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Analysis

South Korea’s $15B jet offer expands UAE's options as US moves to sell Saudis F-35s

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

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

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

Jennifer Gnana

Gulf Correspondent

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

A Russian flag raised at the Russia Embassy in Washington, DC, April 15, 2021.

US sanctions UAE, Turkey, China firms for allegedly aiding Russia in Ukraine

The move targets the development of Russia’s defense and technology sectors and aims to weaken it in its war against Ukraine.

United Arab Emirates

Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 president, speaks at the Plaza Hotel, New York City, Sept. 19, 2023.

COP28 host UAE, EU and US call for agreement to triple renewables by 2030

Barbados, Chile, Kenya, Micronesia, the International Energy Agency and the International Renewable Energy Agency also support the move.

United Arab Emirates

QatarEnergy

Saudi Aramco, QatarEnergy, UAE’s Emirates among Fortune Arabia top 10

The list of 500 companies from 22 Arab countries posted around $1.6 trillion in revenues in 2022, yielding a net profit of $343 billion.

Drones of Abu Dhabi mangroves

Drones can help fight climate change, says Abu Dhabi environment agency

The government department is looking to plant 10 mangroves in Abu Dhabi for every visitor to the COP28 climate conference in Dubai in November.

United Arab Emirates

Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of the UAE's Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and president of this year's COP28 climate, talks during the "UAE Climate Tech" conference in Abu Dhabi Energy centre on May 10, 2023. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Achieving consensus at COP28 will be test of UAE’s diplomatic skills

The violence between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas could complicate the effort to achieve a consensus agreement on tackling the climate emergency at the forthcoming climate summit in the United Arab Emirates.

Kate Dourian

In Dubai, reporting on energy

Patrick Pouyanne, CEO, TotalEnergies 1

COP28 could allow oil industry to form coalition to cut emissions: TotalEnergies

TotalEnergies CEO and chairman Patrick Pouyanne said that national oil companies as well as public and private ones must join the group.

United Arab Emirates

MBZ Bagheri

Iran's parliament speaker visits UAE, meets MBZ as detente continues

The trip was the latest in a flurry of bilateral diplomacy that has seen top Iranian officials in a chain of meetings with the Emirati leadership, though little progress has been reported on core disputes.

Sustainable fuel

UAE’s Masdar signs sustainable aviation fuel deal with Boeing

Several Gulf entities are investing in the bio-based alternative jet fuel, though its development faces several challenges and is not ready for mass use.

The Pioneering Spirit vessel, which will carry out construction of the offshore section of the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline, passes the Yavuz Sultan Selim Brigde on the Bosporus, Istanbul, Turkey, May 31, 2017.

Abu Dhabi’s ADQ in talks with Turkey to build railway for trade corridor

Amid increasing cooperation between the two countries, an alternative trade corridor is planned linking Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

This photograph taken on Sept. 21, 2023, shows a view of a hybrid solar power plant, with solar panels on ground and floating, in southwestern France.

UAE’s Masdar to triple Southeast Asia’s largest floating solar plant

The new agreement between Masdar and Indonesian power utility PLN Nusantara Power will launch Phase II of the Cirata floating solar plant in the Indonesian province of West Java.

United Arab Emirates

Gold bar wrapped in a financial newspaper.

Russia becomes UAE’s top gold supplier as Ukraine sanctions bite

The United Arab Emirates bought 96.4 tons of gold from Russia in 2022, making it Moscow's top gold importer.

United Arab Emirates

AIIB

China development financier AIIB opens first global office in UAE

Bank officials expect that the new Abu Dhabi location will help extend their reach to finance sustainable development projects.

United Arab Emirates