GCC Relations

Jared Kushner, founder and CEO of Affinity Partners, and Steve Witkoff, US Middle East envoy, during a panel discussion at the FII Priority summit, Miami Beach, Feb. 20, 2025.

UAE, Qatar investments fuel Jared Kushner's firm assets to $4.8 billion

Commitments from Abu Dhabi–based asset manager Lunate and the Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund, increased Affinity’s assets by $1.5 billion over a year.

United Arab Emirates

UNSC

Bahrain to bid for UN Security Council seat: What to know

If its candidacy is successful, it would allow the Arab world's smallest nation to have a significant say in critical decisions impacting the Middle East, particularly the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images

UAE’s Sheikh Tahnoon makes first US visit since Trump reelection: What to know

The UAE's influential national security advisor, who chairs some of the country's most important funds and firms, will reportedly meet with White House officials and business leaders including Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

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

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

Kuwait revokes citizenship of 464 as restrictions tighten under new emir

A voter holds his proof of Kuwaiti citizenship upon arriving at a polling station during parliamentary elections in Kuwait City on June 6, 2023.

Analysis

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

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

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

JPMorgan to reclassify Qatar, Kuwait as developed markets: What it means

JPMorgan

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (L) and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) host the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Tehran, Feb. 19, 2025.

Why is Iran urging Qatar to release $6B in frozen oil payments?

The payments, by South Korea for Iranian oil, were initially frozen in Seoul bank accounts in 2019, after the Trump administration increased sanctions on Iran, before transfer to Qatar.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (L) walks with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Feb. 18, 2025.

Analysis

Qatar to invest $10 billion in India as trade ties expand beyond energy

The announcement came as Qatar's emir wrapped up a two-day state visit to India.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

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

Republican presidential nominee, former US President Donald Trump, speaks during an Oct. 7 remembrance event.

Analysis

Fearing Iran's gains, Jordan & Egypt instability, Gulf states try to counter Trump's Gaza plan

As they mull an alternate plan, Gulf states' response to Trump includes diplomatic unity, strategic messaging and potential geopolitical shifts away from Washington.

Giorgio Cafiero

By Giorgio Cafiero

Shaibani

At Dubai summit, Syrian FM expresses interest in Baghdad visit

On his second trip to the United Arab Emirates since assuming his role, new Syria Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stressed the need for good neighborly relations, lifting of sanctions and guaranteed rights for minorities in the country.

This picture shows a construction site for Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in Riyadh, on April 16, 2023.

Saudi Arabia’s non-oil private sector grows at fastest rate in over a decade

Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Statistics said last week that the kingdom's non-oil GDP growth rate was up 4.3% from 2023, while oil activities declined by 4.5%.

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud meets with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in AlUla, Saudi Arabia January 26, 2025. Saudi Press Agency

Analysis

Italy revamps ties with Saudi Arabia, eyeing investments and defense trade

On her first visit to Saudi Arabia, Meloni is seeking to rebrand Italy's political engagement in the Middle East and bring about a new era for Italian industry in the region.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

INTERNATIONAL WATERS RED SEA, YEMEN - NOVEMBER 20: This handout screen grab captured from a video shows Yemen's Houthi fighters' takeover of the Galaxy Leader Cargo in the Red Sea coast off Hudaydah, on November 20, 2023 in the Red Sea, Yemen. On Monday, the Houthi movement in Yemen released footage and photos of the Houthi-run coastguard taking over the Israeli-linked Galaxy Leader Vessel in the Red Sea, which had 52 people onboard. Galaxy Leader is owned by Galaxy Maritime Ltd in the Isle of Man and is li

Analysis

How will Trump's terrorist designation of Houthis impact Red Sea attacks?

Oil trade via the Houthi-controlled Bab el-Mandeb strait decreased by 50% after the Yemeni rebels launched maritime attacks, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan attends a session on the closing day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, on Jan. 19, 2024.

Exclusive

Saudi finance minister hints kingdom could meet 2030 renewables target early

On Monday, the kingdom commissioned its largest battery energy storage system to its grid, with a capacity of 500 megawatts and the ability to store 2,000 megawatt hours of electricity.

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

US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC, March 20, 2018.

In first Trump call, Saudi crown prince says trade with US could hit $600B

US President Donald Trump spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in his first phone call to a foreign leader after his inauguration on Jan. 20.

Saudi's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud attends the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Kuwait City, Kuwait, Dec. 26, 2024.

Saudi FM set to travel to Lebanon, will press Beirut for 'real reform'

Prince Faisal said he would meet Lebanon's new leadership to gauge potential for Saudi investment and noted that Trump's reelection lessened the prospect of war in the region

Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi visited Abu Dhabi and met with Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed on Jan 8.

Analysis

By hosting Taliban FM, UAE seeks to expand influence in Afghanistan

Abu Dhabi plans to invest up to $400 million in Afghanistan and upgrade the Central Asian country's consulate in Dubai.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics