UAE AI investor MGX moves closer to strategic stake in TikTok US The state-linked Emirati investment firm is set to acquire a 15% stake in the social media platform's new US business as part of a plan that would avert a nationwide ban starting in 2026. United Arab Emirates
Newsletter: City Pulse Dubai Art at the edge: Kalba show explores borders & belonging Also this week: Lion in the Sun debuts in Dubai, ‘Poetry of Birds’ opens at L’ECOLE and festive cheer lights up Expo City By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
Newsletter: China-Middle East China, UAE and the balancing act The UAE navigates growing ties with China while maintaining its strategic partnership with the US. By Rosaleen Carroll In Washington, DC, US, reporting on the Middle East
Egypt lands $572M UAE-backed solar deal, expanding Gulf's clean-energy footprint Gulf companies have been increasing their investments in North African renewable energy. Egypt
Newsletter: Gulf China, India step up Gulf diplomacy By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Newsletter: FutureVerse AI robots take on UAE construction By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Esper, meeting with Gantz, reaffirms commitment to Israel's regional military edge Israel Defense Minister Benny Gantz and US Defense Secretary Mark Esper expressed confidence the US would maintain Israel's qualitative military edge United Arab Emirates
Team Emirates rider wins Tour de France as cycling gains legs in Middle East The region is warming to investments in sports such as cycling as governments in the region seek to expand their sports diplomacy and soft power. Legacy: Gulf
Abu Dhabi scraps liquor license requirement for alcohol purchases People in the emirate now need only be of age and in a certified drinking area such as a bar to consume alcohol. United Arab Emirates
Israeli opposition wants to know: Is there more to UAE deal than meets the eye? Senior opposition figures suspect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hiding some of the details of the deal signed with the UAE. United Arab Emirates
F-35 deal with UAE could benefit Israeli defense industries Israel’s leadership is against the United States selling the Emirates F-35 jets, but if the deal comes through, Israeli defense industries could also benefit. United Arab Emirates
Israel’s Gulf diplomacy and its discontents As Israel and its new regional partners begin trade talks, Palestinians, Israeli Arabs and the Israeli left are on the sidelines. United Arab Emirates
OPEC+ pressures Iraq, UAE to further cut oil production Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members held a virtual meeting with Russia and other allied oil producers today to discuss the continuing low price of oil amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Saudi Arabia
Travelers to Abu Dhabi tracked during mandatory quarantine The news from Etihad Airways comes as daily COVID-19 cases reach another peak in the United Arab Emirates, which has joined Jordan in using wristbands to track people entering the country. United Arab Emirates
With Angola flight, Emirates airline to reach 15 African destinations by October Since resuming some international flights in May, the Dubai-based carrier has resumed passenger services to more than 85 destinations worldwide. United Arab Emirates
Is Israel-Gulf business ready to take off? Agribusiness, retail, housing, and hospitality look like good bets for Israel-Gulf trade. United Arab Emirates
The Takeaway: Trump scores diplomatic win with eye on November election Iran deal coming after elections, Trump says; Qatar says normalization not the answer; Netanyahu returns home to COVID-19, political crises. Saudi Arabia
State Department officials testify before Congress on arms sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said the May 2019 sale did not warrant an emergency certification, but a State official cited the threat from Iran. Saudi Arabia