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

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United Arab Emirates

April 16, 2026

Abu Dhabi 2:21 am

23°C

FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi stocks hit 2026 high, bucking global war-driven volatility

The kingdom's stock market climbed to its highest level of the year on Wednesday, with the kingdom’s equities now far outperforming the S&P 500 and other global and regional indices.

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

UAE's deputy PM holds first call with Ghalibaf amid push to extend US-Iran ceasefire

The Emirati vice president and Iran’s parliament speaker talked de-escalation on the phone in the first such contact since the Iran war began.

United Arab Emirates

A man walks through the atrium during the 2026 IMF and World Bank Group Spring Meetings in Washington, DC, on April 14, 2026. (Photo by Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images)

IMF slashes Mideast outlook by nearly 3 points as Iran war hits economies

The International Monetary Fund cut gross domestic product forecasts for the Middle East and North Africa, with the fallout from the conflict exposing stark divergences between the region’s energy exporters and importers.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in Beijing on April 13, 2026.

China signals bigger Gulf role as UAE crown prince visits Beijing

China, which maintains close ties with both Iran and Gulf states, is hosting one of the UAE's top officials this week as a fragile ceasefire in the region holds.

Latest News

Oil back above $100 as US moves to blockade Strait of Hormuz

Elke Scholiers/Getty Images

UAE says no more 'niceties' with Iran, seeks clarity on fragile truce terms

TOPSHOT - People watch from a street as a tall smoke plume billows following an explosion in the Fujairah industrial zone on March 3, 2026. Iran's strikes on Gulf neighbours since February 28, following the US-Israeli attack, forced the UAE to shut its airspace, blindsiding travellers who thought they were headed to one of the region's safest holiday destinations. (Photo by Fadel SENNA / AFP via Getty Images)

United Arab Emirates

Iran hits Gulf, threatens truce as Israel escalates in Lebanon: What to know

Firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire following an Israeli strike at the Corniche al-Mazraa neighbourhood of Beirut on April 8, 2026.

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

Vanessa Ghanem

In Dubai, reporting on business, energy and politics

Mohammed Soliman

In Washington, DC, reporting on Gulf politics

KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images

UAE, Egypt partner on sustainable waste management in Sharm el-Sheikh

The partnership between BEEAH Group and Green Planet comes in advance of Egypt hosting a UN climate change conference.

Residential buildings are seen unilluminated in the evening on Sept. 10, 2022, in Berlin, Germany.

UAE to help Germany reduce dependence on Russian gas

Qatar is also reportedly close to supplying the European country with natural gas amid the Ukraine war.

United Arab Emirates

Turkey drone

UAE receives first batch of Turkish armed drones

Turkey’s delivery of 20 armed drones to the United Arab Emirates showcases the rapid advance in Ankara’s regional fence-mending.

Ohood

Minister for the Future says 'Projects of the 50' aims to make UAE global hub

Ohood Khalfan Al Roumi, the UAE's minister of state for government development and the future, explains the Gulf state's strategic plans over the next half-century.

A general view taken on May 29, 2019, shows the seafront promenade in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, with the ADNOC headquarters.

Dubai supplier to replace coal with natural gas in bid to reduce carbon emissions

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company signed an agreement to provide Dubai with natural gas, which will be used to generate electricity. Natural gas is a relatively clean fuel but does lead to carbon emissions.

United Arab Emirates

Queen Elizabeth II with (L-R) Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan, Queen Rania of Jordan, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Princess Anne.

Breaking | Last Updated: September 9, 2022, 7:15 am

UAE, Jordan, Israel mourn passing of Queen Elizabeth of England

Elizabeth II ruled the United Kingdom for more than eight decades.

United Arab Emirates

OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

Dubai-based firm to build offshore wind farm in UK

Many Emirati companies are working on renewable energy projects.

United Arab Emirates

A man walks past an electric car in Masdar City, outside the rich Emirate of Abu Dhabi, on Oct. 7, 2015.

China’s NWTN to build electric vehicle facility in Abu Dhabi

The deal represents the UAE’s push toward green technology, as well as China’s growing influence in the wider region.

A general view during Netflix’s First Arabic Film “Perfect Strangers (ar) أصحاب … ولا أعز” on Jan. 17, 2022 at Bvlgari Yacht Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Culture

Gulf states warn Netflix over content that 'contradicts Islamic values'

The controversy follows some Gulf states cracking down on rainbow colors due to their resemblance to the LGBTQ pride flag, though the Gulf Cooperation Council did not mention what exactly the issue is with Netflix.

An Emirates Airlines Boing 777 plane unload a coronavirus vaccine shipment at Dubai International Airport on February 1, 2021 as key transport hub Dubai announced an initiative to accelerate the delivery of coronavirus vaccines, particularly to developing nations. - The Vaccine Logistics Alliance, which includes Dubai-based Emirates airline and global logistics giant DP World, is designed to "speed up distribution of Covid-19 vaccines around the world through the emirate". The alliance will "support" the Wo

Long-term transport growth bodes well for Middle East airlines, airports as competition intensifies

Afshin Molavi

Egypt economy

UAE more than doubles investment in Egypt

Egypt is seeking to sell state companies, which has attracted Gulf investors.

A picture taken in the Saudi Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on July 14, 2022 shows a Saudi host addressing guests

UAE non-oil trade increases as Gulf state seeks reduced oil dependence

The news follows trade agreements the Gulf state made with Israel and India.

United Arab Emirates