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 4:55 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

This picture taken on July 17, 2020 shows an Emirates Boeing 777-31H aircraft disembarking passengers 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 Amman

Beginning Sept. 8, the Dubai-owned carrier will operate daily flights between Dubai and the Jordanian capital.

United Arab Emirates

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (3rdR) look at one of the first two F-35 stealth fighter jets purchased in the United States next to its pilot (2ndR), an Israeli officer, after he landed on December 12, 2016 at the Israeli Nevatim Air force base in the Negev desert, near the southern city of Beersheva.
The first two US F-35 stealth fighters bought by Israel landed at an air base in the Jewish state this evening, an AFP journalist at the site said. Their arrival, hailed as a gamechanger by Israeli

Intel: Netanyahu knew of US proposal to sell arms to UAE, says NYT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of a US proposal to sell the advanced F-35 fighter jet to the United Arab Emirates amid negotiations with the Gulf country over normalizing ties with Israel, the New York Times reported Thursday.

United Arab Emirates

A picture taken on August 31, 2020, shows a view from the window of the the El Al's flight LY971, which will carry the delegation from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, ahead of landing at the Abu Dhabi airport. - A US-Israeli delegation including White House advisor Jared Kushner took off on a historic first direct commercial flight from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi to mark the normalisation of ties between the Jewish state and the UAE. (Photo by NIR ELIAS / POOL / AFP) (Photo by NIR ELIAS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Bahrain to allow Israeli flights to UAE over its airspace

There was speculation that Bahrain would follow the UAE in recognizing Israel, but the country has not signaled a willingness to do so yet.

United Arab Emirates

Yasser Arafat’s widow lashes out at PA over criticism of UAE-Israel deal

The widow of late Palestinian President Yasser Aafat lashed out at the Palestinian Authority, accusing it of threatening her because of her position on the UAE-Israel normalization deal.

United Arab Emirates

A picture taken on August 31, 2020, shows the El Al's airliner, which is carrying a US-Israeli delegation to the UAE following a normalisation accord, landing on the tarmac in the first-ever commercial flight from Israel to the UAE at the Abu Dhabi airport. - A US-Israeli delegation including White House advisor Jared Kushner took off on a historic first direct commercial flight from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi to mark the normalisation of ties between the Jewish state and the UAE. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP) (P

Israel's El Al will operate first cargo plane from Israeli airline to Dubai

Israel and the United Arab Emirates continue to work on flights between the two states following their decision to normalize relations.

United Arab Emirates

The Emirati, Israeli and US flags sway in the wind at the Abu Dhabi airport at the arrival of the first-ever commercial flight from Israel to the UAE, on August 31, 2020. - A US-Israeli delegation including White House advisor Jared Kushner took off on a historic first direct commercial flight from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi to mark the normalisation of ties between the Jewish state and the UAE. (Photo by KARIM SAHIB / AFP) (Photo by KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Qatar, Egypt react to UAE-Israel agreement

The two countries' differing reactions show that Arab states continue to have mixed feelings on the historic normalization agreement.

United Arab Emirates

An Emirati official stands near an air-plane of El Al, which carried a US-Israeli delegation to the UAE following a normalisation accord, upon it's arrival at the Abu Dhabi airport in the first-ever commercial flight from Israel to the UAE, on August 31, 2020. - A US-Israeli delegation including White House advisor Jared Kushner took off on a historic first direct commercial flight from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi to mark the normalisation of ties between the Jewish state and the UAE. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP)

Netanyahu calls opening of Saudi skies 'huge breakthrough’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi hailed Saudi Arabia's decision to open its airspace to "all countries" following the UAE-Israel deal.

This picture taken on September 1, 2020 in Jerusalem shows the front pages of Israeli and Palestinian newspapers with images of the US-Israeli delegation arriving to Abu Dhabi on the first commercial flight from Tel Aviv to mark the normalisation of ties between the Jewish state and the UAE. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel, UAE sign first agreement on investment, financial services

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said announcements in aviation, tourism, trade and other areas of mutual interest will follow.

United Arab Emirates

Israel, UAE discuss establishment of embassies

Director General of Israel’s Foreign Ministry Alon Ushpiz said that in talks with UAE officials the two countries are discussing the establishment of embassies.

United Arab Emirates

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: An Emirates A380 prepares for take off at Sydney Airport on March 25, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced further restrictions on Australians as the government works to stop the spread of COVID-19, including a ban on all international travel from Wednesday. There will be exceptions for aid workers and for compassionate, work-related and other essential travel. A new phase of shutdowns for Australian businesses will also come into place from m

Report: Emirates airline receives $2 billion from Dubai government

Emirates has struggled financially as it works to rebuild its flight network.

United Arab Emirates

Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building is illuminated during festivities marking the one-year countdown to Expo 2020, on October 20, 2019. - Fireworks exploded over the glitzy Dubai skyline today, marking the one-year countdown to Expo 2020, with the city's rulers hoping the big-budget global trade fair will end with a bang, not a fizzle. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

Three killed in UAE in restaurant gas blasts

The two separate explosions in the Emirati cities were blamed on malfunctioning gas connections.

United Arab Emirates

US Presidential Adviser Jared Kushner (C-R) and US National Security Adviser Robert OBrien (C-L) pose with members of the Israeli-American delegation in front of the El Al's flight LY971, which will carry the delegation from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, at the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on August 31, 2020. - The El Al flight, scheduled to leave at 0730 GMT from Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, will carry a delegation led on the American side by President Donald Trump's son-in-law and White House advisor Ja

First commercial flight from Tel Aviv lands in Abu Dhabi

El Al Flight 971 makes history, as first commercial flight from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi.

United Arab Emirates