Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

April 15, 2026 | Natalie Ecanow, Dana Hassan

Emirati Crown Prince’s Trip to China Underscores Importance of Petrodollar Dominance

Gulf energy exports have largely ground to a standstill, but the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains open for business. Emirati Crown Prince Khaled Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan concluded a three-day visit...

April 10, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Syria focuses on diplomacy amid Iran war

On April 9, Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al Shaibani traveled to Turkey, where he met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. It was Damascus’s second meeting with...

April 1, 2026 | Ahmad Sharawi, Dmitriy Shapiro

Ukraine Agrees to Mutually Beneficial Defense Deals With Gulf Arab States

“In terms of expertise, no one today can help the way Ukraine can,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after his visit to the Middle East, referring to defenses against the Shahed drones...

March 19, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iranian-backed militias escalate attacks in Iraq, send mixed signals on next steps

Iranian-backed militias have continued to carry out dozens of attacks in Iraq over the past week, including targeting the US Embassy in Baghdad and the United Arab Emirates consulate in...

March 1, 2026 | Edmund Fitton-Brown, Natalie Ecanow

Overcoming Division, Arab Gulf States Condemn Iran in Harmony After Being Struck by Missiles

Smoke began rising across the Persian Gulf region hours after the United States and Israel launched military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran on February 28. Following America’s opening salvo,...

November 19, 2025 | Samuel Ben-Ur, Aaron Goren

Hamas rejects UNSC vote endorsing key aspects of 20-point plan for Gaza

Hamas rejected a resolution passed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on November 17 that endorsed key aspects of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for ending the...

June 19, 2025 | Natalie Ecanow |

As Israel and Iran Exchange Strikes, Qatar Wants Closer Ties With Tehran

Qatar’s emir and Iran’s president are becoming friendlier amidst the war between Israel and Iran. On June 18, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received a letter from Iranian President Masoud...

December 3, 2024 | Hussain Abdul-Hussain |

Gulf countries talk like Iran, act like Israel

The GCC rhetoric on Israel masks its true aims to decouple Syria's Assad and the Islamic Republic and declaw Hezbollah in Lebanon

December 1, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Syria shores up support from Iran, Iraq, and UAE as Assad loses Aleppo

Now that Damascus has lost Aleppo, it is clear the regime is not stable. However, the regime will need all the help it can get from Iraq and the Gulf, as well as its allies in Iran and Russia.

July 30, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

UAE ship delivers 5,340 tons of food and aid to Gaza through Egypt’s Arish port

A UAE ship carrying 5,340 tons of aid arrived in Al-Arish, Egypt, for Gaza. It includes food, shelter, and medical supplies.

June 12, 2024 | Will Selber |

Analysis: Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani becomes a statesman

Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani in Hajj. pic.twitter.com/TGlhRiPbR9— Muhammad Jalal (@MJalalAf) June 7, 2024 ...

June 7, 2024 | Jonathan Schanzer, Richard Goldberg, David Daoud, Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Joe Dougherty

Hezbollah’s Escalation on Israel’s Northern Border

May 30, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

China may seek greater role in Gaza conflict after Arab summit

Egyptian leader Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, Tunisia’s President Kais Saied, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bahrain King Hamad attended China-Arab States Cooperation Forum

April 10, 2024 | Seth J. Frantzman |

UAE sends 370 tonnes of aid, first land convoy reaches Jabalya in northern Gaza

UAE sends 370 tonnes of aid to northern Gaza via land convoy, marking a significant development amid efforts to provide humanitarian support.

December 1, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Hamas renews rocket fire, Israel responds as pause in fighting ends 

Hamas renewed rocket fire on Israel just before 06:00 local time on Friday, December 1, ending a pause in fighting that had held for one week. The Israel Defense Forces said the Iron Dome air...

November 21, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Iran, Arabic media focus on ceasefire talks

At BRICS summit, leaders of Arab countries, along with Brazil, China, Russia, India, and South Africa discuss ceasefire.

November 20, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Gulf, France aid Gaza, Russia evacuates citizens

Nations continue to vow aid to the Gaza Strip, continuing to also evacuate citizens.

November 13, 2023 | Seth J. Frantzman |

UAE, Saudi Arabia, Gulf states increase aid to Gaza

The UAE is establishing a 150-bed field hospital. Five planes brought equipment for it last week.

October 24, 2023 | Natalie Ecanow |

Did Hamas just prove the Abraham Accords right? 

Four days after Hamas began its massacre of Israeli civilians, King Abdullah II of Jordan addressed his country’s parliament, telling lawmakers that Jordan’s “compass...

October 23, 2023 | |

Egypt and Jordan Condemn Israeli Response to Hamas Massacre

Latest Developments Egypt and Jordan on October 21 condemned Israel’s military response to the October 7 massacre by Hamas. Speaking at a peace summit in Cairo, the leaders of both Arab nations denounced...