United Arab Emirates
Iran demands Gulf states pay compensation for war damage
Iran's UN envoy has demanded that Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Jordan pay full compensation for war damage, accusing them of complicity in aggression, in a claim that reverses the position taken by the six states themselves.
How China captured the Gulf while Washington forgot to send an ambassador
Beijing now trades nearly $400bn a year with the Middle East, runs the region's largest infrastructure programmes, and brokers its diplomacy. America still sells the weapons. It is not enough
How Tehran systematically dismantled America's Gulf military network in the first days of the war- NBC
When US and Israeli forces launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28, striking Iran's nuclear sites, missile factories and military infrastructure, the Trump administration was expecting a walk in the park. It wasn't.
Bursa Malaysia slides as UAE’s OPEC+ exit rattles energy markets
Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session in the red on April 30 as investor sentiment soured following news that the United Arab Emirates will officially exit the OPEC+ alliance on May 1.
Iran's oil sector fails to "explode" as Trump's shut-in deadline passes
The US blockade of tankers serving Iran’s oil exports is intended to cut Iranian oil exports to near-zero and force its production to stop as storage tanks fill, forcing Tehran to return to the negotiation table. The plan hasn't worked.
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UAE announces its withdrawal from OPEC
The United Arab Emirates has announced its withdrawal from OPEC and the broader OPEC+ alliance, effective May 1, 2026, stripping the cartel of one of its highest-capacity and lowest-cost producers.
COMMENT: Russia’s Iran gamble risks sacrificing Gulf strategy for tactical gains
Russia’s deepening entanglement in the crisis around Iran is delivering short-term geopolitical dividends, but at a potentially high strategic cost.
Gulf oil output could recover within months of Hormuz reopening, Goldman Sachs says
Gulf crude oil production could recover to close to pre-war levels within a few months of the Strait of Hormuz safely reopening, according to Goldman Sachs.
UAE launches climate-smart crops initiative to cut food import reliance
The UAE has launched a National Initiative for the Adoption of Climate-Smart Crops, targeting millet, sorghum and salinity-tolerant feed grass to cut import reliance and build drought-resilient food production under the 2051 food security strategy.
Erdogan offers 20-year Turkey tax haven holidays to investors exiting war-shaken Gulf
Officials push line that Turkey's time has come, though the fragility of the rule of law and economy could put off many potential investors.
Iran war's fertiliser shock sets the stage for a slow-burning food inflation crisis
The Iran war's most insidious economic aftershock may not be measured in oil price spikes or shipping costs, but in the price of the nutrients that grow the world's food.
Trump's blockade of Hormuz fails as dozens of tankers pass through - FT
The Trump administration naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz failed after at least 34 tankers with links to Iran passed through the narrow waterway and exited the Persian Gulf in defiance of the US warships attempts to halt Iran’s oil exports.
Dubai to host world's first AI-powered financial centre
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has announced plans to become the world's first financial centre fundamentally built on artificial intelligence taking on regional and global rivals.
COMMENT: Why China is hedging for now in the Middle East
As the US-Israel-Iran war enters its second month, one of the most consequential geopolitical actors has been conspicuous by its silence. China has not intervened, has not condemned, and has not chosen sides in any meaningful public way.
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UAE warns it could sell oil in yuan if dollar liquidity crunch hits
The UAE has warned Washington it could switch to yuan or other currencies to settle oil sales in the event of a severe dollar shortage, with reserves at $270bn as Gulf state faces mounting Iran war pressure.
Middle Corridor in play
Squeezed by a sanctioned Russia to the north and a war prone Middle East to the south, the Middle Corridor that runs through Central Asia and the Caucasus is back in play as the main route connecting Europe to Asia by land.
IMF: War Darkens Global Economic Outlook and Reshapes Policy Priorities
The Middle East conflict halted growth momentum. The right policies and stronger global cooperation are needed to contain the damage.
IMF: Middle East to see economic contractions in 2026 - Statista
Several Middle Eastern economies are expected to contract in 2026 in the wake of the war in Iran, which broke out in late February, according to the International Monetary Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook, reports Statista.
Iran rules out resuming US talks while naval blockade remains in place
Iran says no second round of US talks will take place while the naval blockade on Iranian ports remains in place, hardening Tehran's position as Trump claims a deal could be signed in Islamabad within days.
Could it be Goodbye Dubai, Hello Istanbul?
International investors unnerved by events in the Gulf may look to relocate. Turkey might seem a good choice – but things are rather more complicated than that.