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Yacht boats sit in the Marina Bay of Dubai, UAE
Image: Butenkov Aleksey/Zoonar/picture alliance Image: Butenkov Aleksey/Zoonar/picture alliance

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates, or UAE, comprises seven different emirates ruled by different royal families, with Abu Dhabi acting as the capital. The UAE is among the world's 10 largest oil producers.

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All Content on this topic

France's President Emmanuel Macron (R) speaks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as they arrive for the family picture during an EU-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Brussels on October 16, 2024.

EU, Gulf states seek give and take on Ukraine, Middle East

EU states wanted tougher language on Russia, while Gulf countries sought stronger words on Israel and the Middle East.
PoliticsOctober 16, 2024
The Australian team celebrate a wicket

Women's T20 Cricket World Cup: How it works

Australia have won six of the eight Women's T20 World Cups, but challengers are emerging.
SportsOctober 1, 2024
This grab from video shows smoke rising over Khartoum, Sudan

UAE, Sudan blame each other over bombing of ambassador home

Sudan has been gripped by civil war since April 2023, with millions displaced and more than 14,000 killed.
CrimeSeptember 30, 2024
A booth at the Gulf Information Security Expo & Conference in Dubai

Why is the Middle East losing so much money to cybercrime?

In the race to turn their economies digital, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are losing more millions to cybercrime every year
TechnologySeptember 3, 2024
A Ukrainian prisoner of war, released from Russian captivity, smiles at the camera wrapped in a Ukrainian flag.

Russia, Ukraine swap prisoners in deal brokered by UAE

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 115 prisoners of war each in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates.
ConflictsAugust 24, 202401:38 min
People protest in support of Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Amman, Jordan.

Arab nations in Hamas-Israel conflict: What you need to know

Some have quiet-but-close relationships with Israel, while others host Iran-backed groups opposed to the US and Israel.
ConflictsAugust 5, 2024
European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen and Egypt president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi pictured during a diplomatic meeting in Cairo, Egypt, on March 17 2024

EU signs €1bn financing deal for Egypt at investment forum

The funding plan will help Cairo to make economic reforms, along with investments by European companies.
PoliticsJune 29, 2024
An artist's rendering of the appearance of the new project at Al Maktoum International Airport

Dubai reaches for the sky with massive airport expansion

The Dubai government hopes to have an airport capable of handling more passengers than any other airport in the world.
BusinessApril 28, 2024
A man points at an image of an airplane caught in extreme rainfall that is captioned "Dubai experiencing massive flooding after cloud seeding". The image is marked "False"

Fact check: Did cloud seeding cause the Dubai floods?

Are cloud seeding and climate change to blame for the deluge in large parts of the Arabian Peninsula?
ClimateApril 19, 2024
Sudan Zerstörung in Khartoum

AfricaLink 19 April 2024 - Sudan's Civil War, 1 year on

What are the obstacles to peace in Sudan, and why has the international community's response has been so meagre.
PoliticsApril 19, 202429:59 min
Cars are stuck on a flooded road after a rainstorm hit Dubai, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 17, 2024.

UAE: Dubai scrambles to resume flights after deadly floods

Unprecedented floods hit the desert country this week, killing at least one and bringing Dubai city to a standstill.
ClimateApril 18, 2024
Cars are stuck on a flooded road after a rainstorm hit Dubai.

Floods in the United Arab Emirates: Dubai sinks into chaos

Heavy rainfall has flooded the countries bordering the Persian Gulf. Dubai is particularly affected.
CatastropheApril 18, 20247 images
Partially submerged abandoned vehicles are seen on a main street in Dubai.

UAE reels from unprecedented storm

The United Arab Emirates has seen record rainfall, with more rain in 24 hours than at any time since records began.
ClimateApril 18, 202402:05 min
Servicemen of the United Arab Emirates march through the streets of central Dubai.

Why is a 'French Foreign Legion' for the UAE problematic?

The UAE wants their own version of the French Foreign Legion. It may change how the world's secret, private armies work.
ConflictsApril 9, 2024
Mapped Out Gulf States

The Gulf states' power play: Balancing between superpowers

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are shaking off old ties and forging new ones. It's a delicate balancing act.
ConflictsMarch 6, 202414:14 min
On a sunny day, people sit on lounge chairs placed on a sandy beach close to the ocean.

Gulf states are 'buying up' Egypt's coastline

Experts are asking if a $35 billion investment into Egypt will change the country's struggling economy for the better.
BusinessMarch 2, 2024
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan walking alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Modi signs intercontinental trade pact during UAE visit

The deal is a framework for a ship-to-rail trade corridor that would link India with Europe.
PoliticsFebruary 13, 2024
Somali security forces inspect the site of a suicide car bomb attack in Mogadishu, Somalia on August 22, 2023.

Somalia: 3 Emirati troops, Bahraini officer killed in attack

Three members of the UAE's armed forces and a Bahraini officer have died in an attack at a military camp in Somalia.
ConflictsFebruary 11, 2024
Workers unload cargo from the Thorco Liva ship at Somaliland's Berbera port

Ethiopia and Somalia: Conflict brewing over port deal

The controversial deal between Ethiopia and breakaway region Somaliland could cause upheaval in the Horn of Africa.
PoliticsJanuary 8, 2024
Vladimir Putin addresses the BRICS summit in August 2023

Will BRICS expansion set a new agenda for the Global South?

The five-nation bloc is expanding, and so is its influence. Can the alliance challenge Western political dominance?
PoliticsDecember 29, 2023
COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber attends a press conference at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai

COP28 draft disappoints with weak fossil fuel reduction plan

The UAE has presented a watered-down draft deal that merely called for reducing fossil fuel consumption.
Nature and EnvironmentDecember 11, 2023
People walk at the venue of the COP28 United Nations climate summit in Dubai

COP28: Consensus on fossil fuel phaseout proves elusive

With time running out at the UN climate summit, delegates are struggling to reach a key agreement on fossil fuels.
ClimateDecember 11, 202302:28 min
United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, right, greets Russian President Vladimir Putin upon his arrival at an international airport in Abu Dhabi

Putin visits UAE, Saudi Arabia in rare foreign trip

Despite an ICC arrest warrant, Russian President traveled to the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
PoliticsDecember 6, 2023
A man covers his face as he walks at a park during sunset amid heavy smoggy conditions in New Delhi

A fossil fuel phaseout or phasedown: Does it matter?

Early drafts of the COP28 agreement refer to a "phasedown/out" of fossil fuels. The final text will likely be disputed.
Nature and EnvironmentDecember 5, 2023
A man talks on the phone during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai

COP28: Fossil fuel CO2 emissions to hit record high in 2023

As world leaders meet at COP28 in Dubai, research shows that carbon emissions are set to hit a record high.
ClimateDecember 5, 2023
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber speaks at a press conference

COP28 UAE president: 'We very much believe' climate science

Sultan al-Jaber has refuted claims he does not believe the world needs to phase out fossil fuels.
Nature and EnvironmentDecember 4, 2023
Two men in white robes speak with each other in front of a COP28 sign in Dubai

COP28 climate talks in United Arab Emirates draw controversy

World leaders are meeting in Dubai for two weeks to discuss climate action as part of COP28.
PoliticsNovember 30, 202303:02 min
A sign saying "#COP28" in Dubai

How will Israel-Hamas conflict impact COP28 climate summit?

Observers suggest the polarizing conflict could complicate talks at the annual UN climate summit even more than usual.
ConflictsNovember 21, 2023
In this Feb. 26, 1997 file photo, Khaled al-Otaiby, an official of the Saudi oil company Aramco, watches progress at a rig at the al-Howta oil field near Howta, Saudi Arabia.

How the Gulf region is planning for a life after oil

The Gulf countries are marching ahead with an ambitious domestic transition to renewable energy.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 21, 2023
Israeli soldiers and tanks near the Gaza Strip.

Israel-Hamas war: 5 scenarios for Gaza's future

If Israel achieves its stated aim, it leaves the Gaza Strip leaderless. Who could take control after the fighting ends?
ConflictsOctober 28, 2023
A view of the port at Dar es Salaam

Tanzania signs controversial port deal with UAE's DP World

Tanzania's deal with the maritime logistics giant fueled protests in recent months over a lack of transparency.
Cars and TransportationOctober 25, 202301:29 min
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia December 8, 2022.

US-China 'tech war': AI sparks first battle in Middle East

New US export restrictions aim to stop AI-enabling chips from getting to China. But many questions remain unanswered.
TechnologyOctober 2, 2023
Mohammed bin Salman, Narendra Modi und Joe Biden shake hands at the G20.

New India-EU trade route: Bringing the Gulf states closer?

A new trade route between Europe and India will make Saudi Arabia and the UAE even more important to the West.
PoliticsSeptember 23, 2023
President of Al Nassr Musalli Al-Muammar (right) with new signing Cristiano Ronaldo at a press conference

Are Middle East investments in the West a threat?

From football clubs to phone companies, Gulf Arab states are on an investment binge, thanks to high oil prices.
BusinessSeptember 11, 2023
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, China's President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pose for a picture at the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg

BRICS group invites 6 new members to join next year

BRICS leaders said they have invited Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates.
PoliticsAugust 24, 2023
A mask-clad member of the Saudi security forces monitors on screens, the streets and the religious sites of the holy city of Meccca.

AI-enhanced identification: A danger in the Middle East?

Digital biometric identification presents the Middle East's authoritarians with a unique opportunity for repression.
PoliticsAugust 23, 2023
A man with a Saudi Arabian headdress pases by the ground before an English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur

Sportswashing: Manchester, Newcastle 'easy' targets — report

A new report details how the takeovers of Manchester City and Newcastle United were facilitated by local politicians.
SoccerJune 23, 2023
DW Matthew Ford Sports

Champions League: Abu Dhabi's geopolitical triumph

Matt Ford
Manchester City's Champions League triumph constitutes a geopolitical coup for Abu Dhabi, writes DW's Matt Ford.
SoccerJune 11, 2023
Impressions of the UNFCCC SB58 Bonn Climate Change Conference on June on June 8, 2023 in Bonn, Germany.

Global warming surged in past decade, research says

The research said human-induced warming was rising at an "unprecedented" rate.
ClimateJune 9, 2023
Visitors discover images and models of the Neom project during an expo in Riyadh.

Gulf states spending big on AI: Opportunity or oppression?

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are among the world's biggest spenders on artificial intelligence. What will they do with it?
PoliticsJune 7, 2023
A hand holding gold nuggets

In Congo, fighting gold smuggling with transparency

A more transparent form of gold trading has emerged in Congo, in a joint venture with the United Arab Emirates.
SocietyJune 3, 20236 images
Iraqi people stage a protest against the depreciation of the local currency, the dinar, against the US dollar, at Tahrir square in Baghdad.

Why the dollar's dominance is declining in the Middle East

Iraq banned the US dollar, the Saudis plan to sell oil without it, and there are plans for a new currency to bypass it.
BusinessMay 20, 2023
Smoke rises above buildings after aerial bombardment in Khartoum North, Sudan

The complex alliances shaping Sudan's conflict

As the Sudan crisis intensifies despite truces and ceasefires, DW looks at who's backing who amid the unrest.
ConflictsMay 4, 2023
A child watches as a local artist works on a mural painting showing the late Syrian rebel fighter Abdel-Basset al-Sarout in the town of Binnish in the jihadi-held northern Idlib province .

Arabs embracing Assad: Will it help ordinary Syrians?

The Syrian government is being taken back into the fold by Arab neighbors. Will this help Syrians living in poverty?
PoliticsApril 14, 2023
Atul Gupta

Gupta brothers: UAE rejects South Africa extradition request

South Africa learned with "shock and dismay" that the UAE rejected the extradition of the graft-accused Gupta brothers.
Law and JusticeApril 7, 2023
Modern residential architecture of Dubai Marina, United Arab Emirates.

Middle East trend for 'golden visa' schemes accelerating

European countries are backing out. But the Middle East is just getting started in the so-called "citizenship industry."
PoliticsApril 4, 2023
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

UAE president names son as Abu Dhabi crown prince

The president's eldest son is next in line to take over as the leader of the oil-rich country.
PoliticsMarch 30, 2023
Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan welcoming his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in Abu Dhabi on March 19, 2023

Syria's Assad visits UAE as Arab isolation eases

Last month's deadly earthquakes sped up efforts by Arab nations to reconcile with Damascus after the civil war.
ConflictsMarch 19, 2023
Internally displaced Afghans queue up who took refuge in Kabul return to their homes after a year of war

HRW says thousands of Afghan evacuees 'locked up' in UAE

Over 2,000 Afghan asylum seekers are living in "miserable" conditions in the Gulf country, waiting months for a move.
Human RightsMarch 15, 2023
An LNG tanker at sea

LNG for Germany: UAE delivers first shipment

As the first load of liquefied natural gas from the UAE arrives in Germany, debate about its impact continues.
Nature and EnvironmentFebruary 15, 2023