UAE

Retail trading activity in Dubai has seen significant growth, driven by market fluctuations related to gold and oil prices and pronouncements from Donald Trump. In the first half of 2026, the Dubai Financial Market’s trading value soared 40% year-on-year to $32.5 billion, while Abu Dhabi's exchange recorded $46.6 billion in trades.

US microreactor company Nano Nuclear Energy has entered a partnership with the UAE, signing its first and only nuclear microreactor deal with the country. This agreement aims to help the UAE achieve off-grid status, power desert data centers, and decarbonize oil and gas fields.

The US Treasury has expanded sanctions to target Iran’s digital asset sector. The action follows allegations that a UAE-based broker processed over $100 million in cryptocurrency intended for oil sales.

Oil flows through Hormuz appear strong despite the ongoing war. The UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia are reportedly transporting oil barrels across the crucial waterway. These materials are being moved toward global markets.

Iran’s rial currency reached a record low amid preparation for new U.S. sanctions described as an “economic D-Day.” The economy faces severe pressure from previous sanctions, inflation, and ongoing conflict. Geopolitically, Iran maintains control over key shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz while regional powers like Oman and the UAE are attempting to negotiate joint management plans or suspending trade.

Following a proposed buyout of Abu Dhabi Ports by the L'Imad wealth fund, investors are questioning if this signals a shift in regional investment strategy. Alan Siow, Co-Head of Emerging Market Corporate Debt at Ninety One, discussed with Abeer Abu Omar on Bloomberg’s Horizons Middle East & Africa whether this delisting sets a tone for other companies within the UAE.

Capital.com plans to offer spot crypto services in the UAE after an affiliate successfully won a license. The expansion will allow UAE clients to buy and hold cryptocurrency through Capital.com's app, moving beyond previous price exposure offered via contracts for difference.

Brent crude surged to a three-week high, rising above $94 a barrel on Thursday. This price surge was attributed to factors that tightened global oil supply. Specifically, deadlocked peace talks and the UAE's suspension of trade with Iran kept supply under pressure.

Trump announced a new drive intended to isolate and crush the Iranian economy. Separately, the UAE, which is noted as a crucial trading hub for Tehran, has suspended commercial ties.

Coinbase announced it is establishing an international tokenization hub in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), boosting the UAE's status as a global digital asset center. This move reinforces ADGM’s role as a key regulatory base for tokenized securities, with local experts noting that the UAE possesses the necessary depth and confluence of factors to become a global leader in tokenization.

Crypto exchange Coinbase has established Abu Dhabi as its "international tokenization hub," basing operations at the Abu Dhabi Global Marketplace (ADGM). From this location, Coinbase will offer licensing to arrange deals in investments and securely hold digital assets to facilitate tokenized securities backed by real shares. This move is part of Coinbase's broader expansion in the UAE, emphasizing the development of a global financial system.

Iran reportedly weighs attacks on U.S. targets in Europe while negotiations between Washington and Tehran have fallen apart. Amid this instability, the UAE has announced it has suspended trade with Iran.

Recent conflicts across the Middle East include an attack on a tanker belonging to ADNOC in the Strait of Hormuz and an Israeli strike in Southern Lebanon that killed seven people. Separately, Iranian-backed Houthis attacked a Red Sea port under government control in Yemen, marking a continued escalation of regional instability.

Trump's foreign licensing business reported booming revenues of $59.5 million, with nearly two-thirds of the fees originating from two Gulf developers in the UAE and Qatar. These developments include one project seeking a U.S. expansion valued at $20 billion.

The Gulf state, identified as the UAE, has become one of America’s most important allies in the Middle East. It reportedly deployed a mixture of cash and charm to achieve this strategic position with Washington.

The UAE reported that a state-owned ADNOC vessel was attacked by an Iranian missile while transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. Concurrently, Yemen's military struck Iran-backed Houthis, prompting United Nations envoy Hans Grundberg to warn of escalated fighting. Separately, a Turkish draft law aimed at advancing peace with Kurdish militants passed its first parliamentary hurdle.

Senator Warren sent a letter to the Commerce Secretary demanding answers about the administration’s treatment of the UAE following investments in the Trump family’s crypto company.

Non-oil business activity in Gulf economies rebounded in July as hostilities eased, with Kuwait and UAE showing growth and Saudi Arabia expanding for four months. Renewed Iranian and US strikes and slower Hormuz traffic threaten a sustained recovery, and all four economies remain below pre-war levels due to delays and costs.

Nomura’s Laser Digital is supporting ZIGChain’s initiative to expand onchain private credit in the UAE. The collaboration aims to advance blockchain-based financial solutions in the region.

Warren is demanding the Commerce Department provide its national-security analysis and disclose whether other agencies raised concerns about technology diversion related to UAE export controls following a Trump-era crypto deal.

Iran's war has revealed a US military risk in ultra-refined aluminum supplies, as shown in a Pentagon war game. The shortage is due to drones damaging a UAE plant, causing tight supplies for fighter jets.

A user on Reddit seeks validation about the legitimacy of WeStaffed.com, a UAE-based recruitment agency for GCC countries, after receiving a job offer for medical technologists. The user verified the recruiter's email and used ChatGPT to fact-check due to concerns about scams.

Multiple explosions were reported in the industrial area of Jebel Ali in Dubai, UAE. Footage shared online shows plumes of smoke rising over the area.

Saudi Aramco reported a 33% surge in profits for Q2 2026, driven by elevated energy prices due to the US-Israeli war on Iran and its ability to bypass the Strait of Hormuz via the East-West Pipeline. The pipeline enabled Saudi Arabia to maintain two-thirds of its pre-war oil exports while other Gulf states reduced shipments. The conflict has spurred regional efforts to develop alternative infrastructure to avoid Hormuz.

KKR closed a $19.2 billion global infrastructure fund, with portions allocated for Gulf energy and digital infrastructure projects. The firm has committed $5 billion to Middle East data centers and recently signed a $16 billion lease on Kuwait’s national pipeline network with Blackstone. Despite recent Iranian drone attacks on AWS data centers in the UAE and Bahrain, KKR’s investments signal confidence in the region’s digital infrastructure growth.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, and Türkiye are deepening security cooperation amid shared concerns over Israel’s military actions, forming a potential 'Regional Four' alliance. The group's cohesion faces challenges from differing threat perceptions, reliance on U.S. military support, and regional rivalries, including Saudi Arabia’s tensions with the UAE, which has its own alliance with Israel and India.

The UAE has emerged as a major regional power through military interventions in Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan, strategic investments in infrastructure and defense, and alliances with global powers. However, shifting geopolitical dynamics, including U.S. disengagement and regional power vacuums, raise questions about the sustainability of its assertive strategy.

The UAE received over $100 million in stolen gold bullion from Sudan’s central bank and state refinery, according to an investigation. Sudan’s civil war has driven a surge in gold trade, with the UAE reportedly facilitating over $1 billion in 2025, while militias use profits to acquire advanced military equipment.

Leaked emails reveal Israel's Elbit Systems discussed selling advanced Hermes 900 drones and SkyEye sensors to the UAE following a 2022 Houthi attack on Abu Dhabi. The $225m deal, described as urgent, aimed to enhance UAE surveillance capabilities after a missile and drone strike targeting oil infrastructure and an airport. The UAE normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020.

Trump claims ongoing talks with Iran, calling it 'Tehran’s last chance' to sign a deal, backed by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and others. Iran has contradicted the assertion that discussions are occurring.

Oil prices dropped over six percent after President Donald Trump announced imminent negotiations with Iran to end the war, though Iran denies such talks. The decline boosted US stocks, with the Dow Jones, Nasdaq, and S&P 500 rising. Trump cited Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in calling off potential 'massive strikes.'

Qatari group Baladna Food Industries is developing a $3.3 billion agricultural project in Syria to produce cotton, wheat, textiles, and other goods. The project is part of Gulf investors' efforts to rebuild Syria as a geopolitical buffer against Iranian influence. Baladna, linked to Syrian-born business moguls Moutaz and Ramez Al-Khayyat, will collaborate with UAE-based Al Dahra on farming techniques in Syria.

Leaked documents suggest Elbit Systems was in discussions to sell advanced drones to the UAE. The Gulf state requested six strategic surveillance systems following a 2022 Houthi attack, but it remains unclear if the sales were finalized.

Middle East holidays are returning, and UAE prices have dropped by 25%, making it a cheaper time to visit. The article questions which destinations are considered chic and which are seen as 'new money'.

President Volodymyr Zelensky met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss securing Ukrainian maritime routes and global food security. Zelensky highlighted Ukraine’s past support for Gulf partners against Iranian attacks, seeking reciprocal aid in the Black Sea amid heightened tensions with Iran over an alleged attack on a commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea.

US President Donald Trump suspended a planned 10-to-14-day military campaign against Iran after requests from Tehran and regional states for rapid negotiations. The proposed deal requires Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt its nuclear program, with Israel supporting the pause. The de-escalation follows US warnings for citizens to leave the Middle East and Iranian threats to target energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Israel.

A user warns that Emiratesvisa.com is a scam, claiming the site stole money and passport images while failing to deliver a UAE tourist e-visa. The user reports unresponsive customer service, repeated requests for passport images, and similar scam reviews on Trustpilot, suggesting the site may be exploiting outdated legitimacy for financial gain.

UK Secretary of State Ed Miliband met with UAE Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah bin Zayed to discuss reducing tensions in the Middle East and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Both parties emphasized strengthening the UK-UAE partnership to promote growth and prosperity.

The Houthis are considering imposing fees on maritime traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb gateway, escalating tensions in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has used this route as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked for US-allied vessels. The Houthis also announced a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, attacking a Saudi tanker and citing alliances with Iran.

The UAE and Iran are easing tensions, with a decline in Iranian strikes against the UAE since April 29 and resumed direct flights and commercial shipping. The UAE is pursuing economic and diplomatic engagement with Iran while strengthening defense ties with Israel and the US, prioritizing 'resilience' as a strategic goal.