Newsletter: City Pulse Dubai Christie’s brings first fine art auction to Abu Dhabi Also this week: Noren’s Japanese cooking, Sotheby’s new gallery and Dubai Film Festival’s comeback By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
Newsletter: Gulf The Gulf's UN agenda The Gulf states are seeking security and diplomatic gains as the Iran war reshapes the region. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Newsletter: FutureVerse Gulf tech ambitions face Trump-Xi test Gulf tech powers have plenty at stake as Xi and Trump discuss US-China AI competition. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: Daily Briefing UAE's Gargash expects 'prolonged' war Turkey, US resume talks on F-16s; China slams US sanctions on Iran airlines as ‘illegal’; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: FutureVerse Middle East confronts AI risks By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Newsletter: City Pulse Dubai Blurring photography and painting Also this week: Jun’s brings bold Asian fusion, Saif Azzuz debuts in Dubai and the literature festival returns By Rebecca Anne Proctor In Dubai, reporting on culture
US envoy pushes for Sudan truce in meeting with UAE’s MBZ after talks in Saudi Arabia Boulos’ meeting in Abu Dhabi follows discussions earlier this week in Riyadh, as the two Gulf countries navigate both Sudan diplomacy and a dispute over Yemen. Sudan
Meet Aidarus Zubaidi: Separatist leader at heart of Yemen’s power struggle Zubaidi’s Southern Transitional Council has experienced massive losses at the hands of the Yemeni government as Saudi Arabia ups its military campaign against the UAE-backed group. Yemen
Yemen separatists accuse Saudi Arabia of 'betrayal' as pro-Riyadh forces advance Southern Transitional Council head Aidarus al-Zubaidi did not board a scheduled flight to Saudi Arabia for talks as Riyadh intensified its airstrikes against the group. Yemen
Analysis From Red Sea to Horn of Africa: How Yemen exposed the Saudi-UAE divide Saudi Arabia’s confrontation with the UAE in Yemen has laid bare a deeper struggle for influence over the Red Sea and surrounding regions. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Newsletter: Gulf Yemen separatists travel to Saudi for talks as tensions ease Saudi Arabia pairs recent military gains with dialogue efforts to ease southern Yemen tensions and reassert Gulf leadership. By Francesco Schiavi In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance
Saudi Arabia, UAE accelerate cashless payment push in 2026: What to know Dubai is targeting 90% cashless transactions by the end of 2026, while Saudi Arabia is now set to enforce an e-payments rule for domestic workers. Saudi Arabia
Newsletter: FutureVerse From oil to algorithms: The Gulf’s AI moment Gulf states launch AI champions, competing for regional dominance with US backing. By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Analysis Venezuelan crisis unlikely to impact MENA crude exporters in short term Oil prices inched up on Monday as global oversupply concerns outweighed output disruption fears over the upheaval in Venezuela. By Jack Dutton In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech
Interview Youth, strong AI adoption make MENA leading region for smartphones: OPPO The Chinese mobile phone manufacturer's Lay Ren, who heads up the company's business in the Middle East and North Africa regions, said the Gulf is the epicenter of regional growth but stressed that North Africa is poised to follow. Lay Ren President of OPPO MENA
Saudi Arabia launches Hadramout offensive as Gulf rivalry haunts Yemen The fighting in Hadramout between the Saudi-backed government and southern separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates is continuing, pointing to the growing rift between the two Gulf heavyweights. Yemen
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump warns Iran over protesters as unrest spreads nationwide Saudi-UAE tensions escalated after the STC blocked a Saudi mediation plane in Aden, prompting Saudi airstrikes, while Trump warned Iran over deadly protests and Israel moved to strengthen strategic ties with Somaliland. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO