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

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United Arab Emirates

March 8, 2026

Abu Dhabi 1:14 am

24°C

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UAE to freeze billions in Iranian assets following strikes

The UAE's move to freeze Iranian assets will hit Iran’s economy hard, as it is straining under high inflation, unrest and now a war.

United Arab Emirates

Attendees take a picture of French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe as he delivers a speech during a visit to the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum on February 10, 2018, on Saadiyat island in the Emirati capital, to launch the French-Emirati "Year of Cultural Dialogue". (Photo by KARIM SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

What we know about UAE blocking X accounts accused of misinformation

A number of X accounts including Al Arabiya Breaking are now not accessible in the Gulf state as Abu Dhabi navigates regional turmoil.

United Arab Emirates

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - MARCH 03: Passengers disembark from an Emirates passenger plane arriving at Frankfurt Airport from Dubai International on March 03, 2026 in Frankfurt, Germany. The flight is among the first to begin ferrying the thousands of German tourists who have been stranded across the Middle East following the U.S.-Israeli air attacks against Iran and the ensuing Iranian missile and drone attacks against the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and other states in the region. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty

Middle East evacuations gather pace as explosions rattle Abu Dhabi airport

Dozens of Emirati flights were forced to hold or diver after the country's Defense Ministry said it had intercepted six ballistic missiles and 125 drones.

United Arab Emirates

world premiere of La Perle

UAE billionaire Habtoor openly lambasts Trump over Iran war

The Emirati businessman condemned the US president, a former business partner, for his “dangerous” attack on Iran and asked whether he had stopped to consider the collateral damage.

United Arab Emirates

Latest News

Analysis

Iran’s assault reveals Gulf defense gaps and reliance on US tech and intel

A plume of smoke rises from the port of Jebel Ali following a reported Iranian strike in Dubai on March 1, 2026.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

US-Iran war rattles global stocks as UAE trading set to resume

Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP via Getty Images

Gulf air corridors reopen cautiously as evacuations take shape

An Emirates passenger plane is landing at Frankfurt Airport from Dubai International on March 3, 2026, in Frankfurt, Germany.

United Arab Emirates

Hormuz traffic slows as Iran threatens to set 'ships on fire'

Small boats loaded with merchandise sail past the St. Kitt's and Nevis-flagged container ship Marsa Victory in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Khasab in Oman's northern Musandam Peninsula, on June 25, 2025.

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

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Mohammed Soliman

In Washington, DC, reporting on Gulf politics

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

UAE's ADNOC to expand gas processing with $3.6 billion contract

ADNOC Gas announced it would award the contract to a joint venture between ADQ state-fund-owned National Petroleum Construction Company and Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas.

United Arab Emirates

MBZ

UAE president meets US national security adviser amid regional tensions

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan’s trip to Abu Dhabi comes amid US military maneuvers aimed at countering Iran in the Gulf.

United Arab Emirates

From Beijing to Chengdu, UAE’s ENOC establishes first China jet fuel network

The Dubai government-owned oil and gas company said the expansion will extend to strategic cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu.

United Arab Emirates

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

UK sanctions entities in Turkey, UAE, Iran for alleged role in Ukraine war

It is not the first time Britain has sanctioned companies from these countries for their alleged role in the 18-month-old conflict.

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

International business development is next challenge for UAE's ADNOC

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has a range of corporate objectives, including oil production growth, self-sufficiency in natural gas and a net zero emissions target by 2045.

Gerald Kepes

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy trends

Barbie movie poster

Culture

Saudi, UAE theaters to screen Barbie this week, despite earlier push to delay

The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar have changed the release date of the record grossing film for a second time to Aug. 10, and the film will open in Saudi Arabia Aug. 9.

United Arab Emirates

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

UAE’s ADNOC buys stake in Azerbaijan gas field

The move follows a wind and solar energy deal between an Emirati firm and Azerbaijan.

AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images

Arab moviegoers wait to see 'Barbie' as UAE, Saudi screenings loom

The summer box office hit is maintaining its delayed premier date of Aug. 31 in the UAE, Al-Monitor confirmed with Vox Cinemas.

United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan arrives at the Elysee Palace for a working lunch with France's President, in Paris, on July 18, 2022. - Emmanuel Macron welcomes the United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, nicknamed MBZ, at the Elysee Palace on July 18, 2022, whose state visit "will confirm the strong ties" between France and the rich Gulf oil country, the Elysee Palace announced on July 14, 2022. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) (Photo by LUDOVIC MA

Iran president Raisi invites UAE's MBZ to visit Tehran

The invite was extended on the same day that Iran conducted a naval drill on Abu Musa Island, which is disputed with the UAE.

United Arab Emirates

A picture taken on Oct. 23, 2018, shows Lubna Olayan, CEO and Deputy Chairperson of Olayan Financing.

Saudi Arabia, UAE lead Forbes’ 2023 Arab family business ranking

Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE dominated the list, with 33 and 29 of the top 100 spots respectively, Egypt’s Mansour Group sat in first place, with the UAE’s Al-Futtaim Group in second and Saudi Arabia’s only female-led company, Olayan Financing Company, at third.

ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images

Gulf investment in UK property expected to reach $3.2 B in 2024

Middle Eastern investors are capitalising on lower property valuations and those investors are likely to refinance when interest rates start falling, the Islamic bank said.

KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images

Japan’s Nomura subsidiary receives crypto license in UAE

The crypto sector is booming in the United Arab Emirates thanks to clear regulations on virtual assets.