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

UAE cover image

United Arab Emirates

August 30, 2026

Abu Dhabi 1:15 pm

44°C

JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

UAE gauges new Lebanon deals amid Levant economic stabilization push

Beirut welcomed a high-level business delegation from the UAE in late August as Abu Dhabi pursues new regional economic engagement amid Iran's waning influence.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Chinese President Xi Jinping and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Analysis

UAE-China air drills deepen with fourth Falcon Shield exercise

The United Arab Emirates and China are preparing for their fourth joint air force exercise in as many years, extending a military relationship that has moved steadily beyond arms sales into increasingly regular operational training.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

Latest News

Lebanon, UAE ink deals, deepen economic ties on Emirati Beirut visit

UAE Foreign Trade Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi (L) and Lebanese Economy Minister Amr al-Bisat after signing a memorandum of understanding, Beirut, Aug. 27, 2026.

Large UAE delegation set to arrive in Lebanon in major investment push

Lebanese Presidency

Samuel Wendel

Senior Analyst, Middle East Business & Tech

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

The empty seat of Syria is seen during a meeting of foreign ministers at the headquarters of the Arab League in the Egyptian capital Cairo, on March 7, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images)

Egypt, UAE call for rethink of Syria’s expulsion from Arab League

Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are calling for Syria to be accepted back into the Arab League as analysts say that its suspension has done little good.

United Arab Emirates

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (not pictured), give a joint press conference at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, on 4 March 2021. (Photo by Olivier Fitoussi / POOL / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER FITOUSSI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Did Jordan generate a crisis, or was it Israel's fault?

It is unclear whether the diplomatic crisis is only the result of poor Israeli judgment, or Jordan actually generating it.

United Arab Emirates

This picture taken on December 16, 2020 shows a view above Israel from the window of a plane aboard a flydubai flight from Ben Gurion International Airport to Dubai upon departure. - The first flydubai aircraft landed in Dubai from Tel Aviv on November 26, inaugurating commercial flights between the two cities following the normalisation of ties between the UAE and Israel. The United Arab Emirates in September signed a landmark US-brokered deal to formalise relations with Israel, the first such agreement by

Netanyahu cancels UAE trip over disagreement with Jordan

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was forced to postpone today's trip to the United Arab Emirates when Jordan dragged its feet on approval to cross its skies.

United Arab Emirates

<<enter caption here>> on February 5, 2015 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Netanyahu to visit Abu Dhabi, meet crown prince

After the trip was delayed three times, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly set to spend a few hours in Abu Dhabi tomorrow.

United Arab Emirates

Intel: US hinders Syria’s return ‘to normal,’ UAE foreign minister says

Flanked by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Abu Dhabi's top diplomat criticized the US-led campaign to economically isolate Syria under President Bashar al-Assad.

United Arab Emirates

Dubai restaurants offer discounts for vaccinated diners

A group of Dubai restaurants is offering discounts to customers who have been inoculated against the novel coronavirus as the emirate fights to control the pandemic without closing its doors.

United Arab Emirates

This picture taken on July 17, 2020 shows an Emirates Boeing 777-31H aircraft taxying upon arrival at the Iranian capital Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport. - The UAE's Emirates airlines landed its first flight in Tehran on July 17 after a five month shutdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by - / AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Emirates to resume flights to Newark

The resumption means the Dubai-based airline will soon have two flights to the New York City area as it continues to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.

United Arab Emirates

UAE, Qatar officials meet in Kuwait amid Gulf thaw

Kuwait hosted delegations from the two countries more than a month after Saudi Arabia and its allies agreed to end their blockade on Qatar.

United Arab Emirates

A Kuwaiti trader wearing a protective mask follows the market at the Boursa Kuwait stock exchange in Kuwait City on March 1, 2020. - Boursa Kuwait decided to close the main trading hall due to the COVID-19 coronavirus disease developments. Stock markets in the oil-rich Gulf states plunged on March 1 over fears of the impact of the coronavirus, which also battered global bourses last week. All of the seven exchanges in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which were closed the previous two days for the Muslim

GCC states race for foreign investment

Despite the Saudi-led effort to bury the hatchet with Qatar, unified economic policies are coming up against by GCC countries’ needs to win foreign investment post-COVID.

Latifa_bint_Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Al_Maktoum_by-Tiina-Jauhiainen.jpg

UAE says Princess Latifa 'cared for at home' amid hostage claims

After Sheikha Latifa claimed she was being held hostage, the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights asked the Emirati government to provide evidence that she is alive.

United Arab Emirates

UAE dismantling base in Eritrea following drawdown in Yemen

Images from The Associated Press show vehicles and structures being removed from the Emirates' military base.

United Arab Emirates

UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash speaks during a press conference in Sudan's capital Khartoum on January 14, 2020. - Gargash arrived in Sudan for a two-day visit. (Photo by ASHRAF SHAZLY / AFP) (Photo by ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE diplomat Gargash replaced in Cabinet reshuffle

Gargash will serve as diplomatic adviser to the Emirati president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

United Arab Emirates