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United Arab Emirates

August 13, 2025

Abu Dhabi 5:45 pm

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Players in action during day one of the Girl Gamer Esports Festival at Meydan Racecourse on Feb. 21, 2020, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Dubai Police to host expanded esports event amid UAE gaming push: What to know

The UAE wants to grow its esports sector as part of its economic diversification plans, mirroring a similar endeavor in neighboring Saudi Arabia.

United Arab Emirates

adnoc

Landmark $18.7B Santos-ADNOC takeover delayed: What to know

Santos said in a statement that the due diligence period, initially set for six weeks, has been extended until Aug. 22.

United Arab Emirates

Nour Al Hassan, founder and CEO of Tarjama (C), and members of the Tarjama team promoting Arabic.AI, the firm's new platform offering business solutions, 2025.

How an Arabic translation firm from Jordan became a Gulf AI player

Tarjama, now based in Dubai, recently raised $15 million to accelerate the rollout of an Arabic-language AI platform for businesses in the Middle East.

GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/AFP via Getty Images

UAE looks to boost Russia trade to $23B despite Trump tariff threats

The two countries signed a trade agreement focusing on several key sectors, including fintech, health care, logistics, transportation and services.

United Arab Emirates

Latest News

UAE president heads to Russia to meet Putin as ties grow: What to know

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan (L) at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on October 20, 2024. (Photo by Artem Geodakyan / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ARTEM GEODAKYAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

United Arab Emirates

UAE’s ADNOC inks 10-year gas deal with India: What to know

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

United Arab Emirates

Despite travel warning, Israel says diplomatic missions in UAE remain open: What to know

The national flags of the United Arab Emirates (L) and Israel are set side by side at the new Israeli consulate of Dubai ahead of a press conference by Israel's foreign minister on June 30, 2021.

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

Sebastian Castelier

In Dubai, reporting on regional business

Jennifer Gnana

Gulf Correspondent

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

UAE Sheikh Khaled

UAE, Pakistan expand cooperation during crown prince's first visit: What we know

Pakistan is looking to the UAE for economic help, with recent agreements focused on mining, ports and railways.

United Arab Emirates

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C/L) welcomes the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Italy's Meloni secures $40B in UAE investments during MBZ visit: What to know

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has secured a total of $50 billion worth of deals from her engagements with the UAE and Saudi Arabia so far this year.

United Arab Emirates

An oil tanker unloads imported crude oil at Qingdao port in China's eastern Shandong province on May 9, 2022. - China OUT (Photo by AFP) / China OUT (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

US sanctions on Iran’s 'shadow' oil fleet target brokers in UAE, China

The latest sanctions come after President Donald Trump pledged his administration would drive Iran's oil sales down to zero.

A view of the exhibition “Between Sunrise and Sunset: Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim,” at the Maraya Art Center.

AL-Monitor Dubai: Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim at Maraya Art Center

This week we spotlight an exhibition at Maraya Art Center in Sharjah featuring the work of prominent Emirati artist Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, who exhibited his work at the 59th International Venice Biennale in 2022.

United Arab Emirates

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) walks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as they meet at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi, on Feb. 19, 2025.

UAE conveys frustrations to US' top diplomat Rubio over Gaza, Ukraine

Arab states have grown increasingly frustrated over the US administration's rhetoric about displacing 2.1 million Gazans from the enclave.

United Arab Emirates

Visitors check weapons during the International Defence Exhibition Idex 2025, on February 17, 2025, in Abu Dhai. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP) (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)

China's defense companies out in full force at UAE's IDEX: What to know

China sent 59 defense and technology companies to the International Defense Exhibition and Conference and the Naval Defense and Maritime Security Exhibition in Abu Dhabi this week.

United Arab Emirates

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

Emiratis walk past a French Rafale fighter jet displayed during the Dubai Airshow on November 14, 2017, in the United Arab Emirates. / AFP PHOTO / KARIM SAHIB (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

France's burgeoning Gulf military influence: Rafale jets, naval systems and integration

France has emerged as the second-largest global arms exporter, surpassing Russia and solidifying its position as the leading European arms supplier to the Middle East.

Francesco Schiavi

By Francesco Schiavi

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

In this aerial image from a drone, tug boats tow the semi-submersible drilling platform Noble Danny Adkins through the Port Aransas Channel into the Gulf of Mexico on Dec. 12, 2020 in Port Aransas, Texas.

UAE's ADNOC eyes US acquisitions amid Trump's energy boom

Close political ties between the UAE and the Trump administration are likely to bode well for Abu Dhabi-based firms looking to tap the American shale boom.

United Arab Emirates

Workers unload aid from an aircraft upon it's arrival from the United Arab Emirates at the Port Sudan airport, on May 5, 2023. - Air strikes and gunfire rocked the Sudanese capital on May 5 as fighting showed no signs of abating, despite the threat of renewed US sanctions and warnings of a "protracted" conflict. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP) (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE pledges $200M in aid to Sudan as it calls for Ramadan ceasefire

At a conference in Ethiopia, the UAE's minister of state for international cooperation called on the warring parties in Sudan to agree to a Ramadan "humanitarian pause" that will be followed by a political process.

An installation view of “Evil Is Banal,” an exhibition of works by Nour Malas, at Carbon 12.

AL-Monitor Dubai: Syrian Canadian artist Nour Malas at Carbon 12

This week we showcase exhibitions in Dubai featuring paintings by the Syrian Canadian artist Nour Malas, at Carbon 12, and works by the Nigerian British artist Sola Olulode, at Lawrie Shabibi.

United Arab Emirates

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, accompanied by his son, X Musk, speaks to the press as President Donald Trump looks on in the Oval Office at the White House, Washington, DC, Feb. 11, 2025.

Elon Musk's Boring Co. to build Dubai Loop network of tunnels

The loop is a network of underground tunnels, similar to one being developed in Las Vegas, that allows passengers to be transported nonstop, in electric vehicles, to 11 stations.

United Arab Emirates